Why pick the Arizona fight?
Dick Morris asks why:
Immigration decision will erode Obama support…The Arizona law is massively popular in the United States. Over 60 percent of all American voters support it. But the president has sought and has succeeded in stopping it from taking effect. Now this majority — close to two-thirds of the electorate — that backs the law will be able to focus their blame for its non-enforcement squarely on the president of the United States.
In the long term, the Bolton decision will likely be overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court and Arizona will find itself vindicated. But, in the meantime, the decision endangers the re-election chances of three Democratic Congressmen from Arizona. Their constituents will not be satisfied with statements from these Democrats supporting the Arizona law. They will become embittered because Obama’s Justice Department has overridden their will.
Why did Obama bring the suit in the first place if it hurts him? Because he was seeking to increase the turnout of Latino voters and trying to win them by the same huge margin (2:1) that they delivered to him in 2008. Since he took office, Obama’s approval among Hispanics has dropped to 54%, foreshadowing a massive abandonment of his Congressional candidates in November.
But what Obama miscalculated was the intense support from among most voters that the Arizona law has elicited. As he bid for Latino votes, he has sacrificed much of his liberal, Democratic base. This decision hurts him badly.
It does seem a conundrum, does it not? How could a savvy political team take position after position that are opposed by a majority of American voters? It seems irrational and self-destructive for a politician. Question: how does a politician solve the problem that his policies are opposed by a solid majority of existing American citizens? One possible answer: snap your fingers and create more citizens by fiat.
August 2nd, 2010 at 5:56 am
Hubris. Whomever the gods would destroy, first they raise on high.
August 3rd, 2010 at 3:45 am
These magical citizens created by fiat can be legislated away by supermajorities. The will of the people will prevail. Of course, that won’t matter to the current Jimmy Carter.
August 7th, 2010 at 12:07 pm
On the contrary, Obama is seeking to alter American society regardless of the costs. He is focused and achieving his goals. Who can doubt this?
Even if the GOP wins in November who trusts them to negate everything that Presidente Zero has wrought?