Political Ruminations

Morning Quote: Marco Rubio

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fl) to ABC’s David Muir upon learning of President Obama’s immigration policy shift:

“The White House never called us about this no one reached out to us and told us this was on its way. And, I mean, if they were serious about a real solution to this problem and not politicizing it then why don’t you reach out to people?We’re trying to work out a real solution.”

As if. As if President Obama has any reason to confer with a person who is not only trying to defeat him, but is a member of the political party which has consistently blocked the Dream Act, consistently blocked immigration reform.

Morning Quote: Barack Obama

President Obama on the DREAM Act, at a White House Cinco de Mayo celebration on Thursday:

“It is long past the time that we unleash the promise of all our young people and make the DREAM Act a reality. ”

President Obama continued to talk about immigration reform for several minutes. Watch:

SB1070 Supporters Shout Out Their Hate Outside Supreme Court

SB1070 supporters, by their very nature, are despicable human beings. And now we know they aren’t afraid to be counted and recognized. Think Progress:

WASHINGTON, DC — As the Supreme Court heard oral arguments Wednesday on the constitutionality of Arizona’s “papers, please!” immigration law, supporters rallied outside with hate-filled jabs at Latinos and immigrants in general.

Though outnumbered by opponents of SB 1070 at least 20-to-1, supporters made up for their timid numbers with unabashed hate and racism. Among the things SB 1070 proponents said that were overheard by ThinkProgress:

• “Go back to your third-world armpit if you don’t like it!”
• SB 1070 supporter, pointing to SB 1070 opponents, many of whom are Latino: “We can read, unlike some of the people over there”
• Select lyrics from a song called “God Save Arizona” that compared Attorney General Eric Holder to Japanese bombers at Pearl Harbor: “On a clear Sunday morning 1941…they sank the Arizona in a cloud of fire and smoke…And years later in 2010, Arizona is a target once again…Attacked by drug lords, terrorists, and our own Attorney General”
• A button that read, “Don’t Blame me… I voted for the American.”
• “Mexico doesn’t even want them.”
• SB 1070 supporter to a nearby opponent: “Why don’t you put that sign in Spanish?”
• SB 1070 supporter, pointing to SB 1070 opponents, many of whom are Latino: “Those people over there are trespassing!”
• “Obama can’t even come up with a decent birth certificate.”

Wrapped Up

President Obama talked to a friendly crowd in El Paso,Texas today, pushing immigration reform and getting in a few pointed jabs at Republicans on that topic:

"We have gone above and beyond what was requested by the very Republicans who said they supported broader reform as long as we got serious about enforcement," Obama said. "But even though we've answered these concerns, I gotta say I suspect there are still going to be some who are trying to move the goal posts on us one more time."

"Maybe they'll need a moat," Obama said mockingly to laughter from the crowd. "Maybe they'll want alligators in the moat."

 Steve Benen on Liz Cheney, promoter of torture. Digby weighs in.

Chilling. FSU Accepts Funds From Charles Koch In Return For Control Over Its Academic Freedom

If you hate the electoral college system, Ezra Klein’s must read post -- Our undemocratic democracy.