It’s telling that the Washington Post’s Greg Sargent wrote a piece on today’s immigration announcement headlined, “What did Republicans win in the immigration deal?” That seems to be the question to ask any time a “bipartisan agreement” is reached on Capitol Hill; that or, “Did Republicans win anything this time?”
The fight over spending is still going on, with the House GOP trading a four-month suspension of the debt ceiling for spending cuts to something, somewhere down the road. As for the pathway to citizenship? Republicans are saying they won’t move to legalize illegal aliens until tougher border security measures are in place. Which means …
Repeat of 1986: Citizenship first, Border security later (if ever) http://t.co/5XR5kXsn
— Katie Pavlich (@KatiePavlich) January 28, 2013
@Hardline_Stance The important thing is border security first. Dems rolled Reps on that score twice before. #thefive #FOOL
— Tom Reynolds (@Beregond) January 28, 2013
https://twitter.com/BornUnderReagan/status/296015779516801025
We've seen these games before. Tax hikes now for cuts years out. Amnesty now and border security to come. It's a sham. We're broke & invaded
— Random Guy (@rmasters78) January 28, 2013
Way to cave Republicans: Repeat of 1986: Citizenship to Come First, Border Security Later – Katie Pavlich http://t.co/Q2GlIrN3
— StridentConservative (@StridentConserv) January 28, 2013
https://twitter.com/ConservArmyof1/status/295983482767814656
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Even the Democrats behind the “new” immigration reform plan say that they’re totally serious about the border security part this time.
Schumer says the agreement would not allow immediate path to citizenship until border security is addressed
— Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree) January 28, 2013
Addressed, huh? That’s pretty tough talk. Not all Democrats are getting on board with the idea of chaining border security metrics to the issuing of green cards, at least not publicly. President Obama is expected to address immigration reform tomorrow in Las Vegas, but until then, the White House isn’t talking. Press Secretary Jay Carney gave some hints to the press today.
Jay Carney: Our borders are more secure now than they have ever been in history.
— Steven Dennis (@StevenTDennis) January 28, 2013
Jay Carney ducks specific Reuters question on Senate plan linking citizenship to border security.
— Steven Dennis (@StevenTDennis) January 28, 2013
Carney won’t comment on whether Obama supports linkage of border security and path to citizenship in Senate plan
— Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) January 28, 2013
Carney won't say whether WH supports linking path to citizenship w border security, says he's "not in a poz 2 negotiate"
— lesley clark (@lesleyclark) January 28, 2013
Carney dodges question about Senate immigration proposal linking border security to citizenship
— Jennifer Bendery (@jbendery) January 28, 2013
Carney still ducking questions about Senate bill tying border security to citizenship. "We have not seen any legislative proposal."
— Jennifer Bendery (@jbendery) January 28, 2013
Alrighty then, so the WH doesn't want to talk about how the Senate proposal links border security to citizenship. Got it.
— Jennifer Bendery (@jbendery) January 28, 2013
Sen. Marco Rubio was ready to do some talking this afternoon as people questioned the power (if any) of the proposed border security commission.
https://twitter.com/conncarroll/status/295953129994866688
Rubio says role of commission not yet worked out. Unclear if they'll "certify" border security or just advise. cc: @ThePlumLineGS
— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) January 28, 2013
f'd again. MT @ByronYork @conncarroll: Rubio's border security commission is "advisory" & "entirely nonbinding." http://t.co/GVxJ9gRT #tcot
— Ammosexual Deetz (@tahDeetz) January 28, 2013
@michellemalkin Rubio going wobbly was just a matter of time. Who does he think he's fooling w/ "border security" BS? Same poop, diff pol.
— G. Brock ?? (@mickeysooner) January 28, 2013
* * *
Update: Speaking with Sean Hannity tonight to clarify his position, Sen. Rubio assured him border enforcement “absolutely” must come before green cards are passed out.
Hannity: Is no enforcement-first an immigration deal-killer? Rubio: "Absolutely."
— Marc Caputo (@MarcACaputo) January 29, 2013
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