Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Duckworth lashes out at congressional opponents of immigration reform

Posted in:

Illinois

Senate-seeking U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth appeared with fellow Democrats on Monday to advocate for long-sought changes to immigration laws, casting the November election as crucial to the cause while blasting opponents as “bigots and racists and fear-mongerers.” […]

Duckworth asserted that votes had stalled in Congress on legislation to open citizenship opportunities to students and people who serve in the military “because there are bigots and racists and fear-mongerers who don’t understand that they are in fact weakening this great nation when they turn their backs on immigration reform.” […]

While Duckworth did not direct her comments about racism and bigotry at Kirk specifically, she did cast herself and the Democratic ticket generally as the pro-immigrant choice.

“We’re not going to get anywhere with comprehensive immigration reform unless we have Democrats in charge of the Senate, unless we have a Democratic leader of the Senate, because it will never come up for a vote, just like we never got a vote on a next member of the United States Supreme Court,” Duckworth said. “So if you vote for the Republican, then you are voting for Republican control of the Senate, and that means we’ll never get this issue to come up, it will never pass out of the Senate.”

* Meanwhile, Duckworth’s spokesman is wearing criticism from this blog’s commenters as a sort of badge of honor on his Twitter page…

Heh.

* Related…

* Funds gush in deep blue Land of Lincoln as Kirk struggles to hold seat

* Illinois Dems Discuss Immigration Reform, NYC Terror Attack

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Sep 20, 16 @ 9:48 am

Comments

Duckworth doubles down on expanded immigration. It may be viewed as a reckless move in the current climate.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Sep 20, 16 @ 9:55 am
Whether you agree with Duckworth’s stance on immigration or not you have to give her credit for at least raising a substantive issue which this race has be sorely lacking.

Comment by pundent Tuesday, Sep 20, 16 @ 10:02 am
“bigots and racists and fear-mongerers”

That’s the way to build bi-partisan support for a comprehensive immigration bill.

I think one of the great failings of the Obama administration was not getting something lasting done on immigration. He had a chance early in his presidency with the setup just the way Rep. Duckworth wants, and it never seemed like a priority to him except around election time.

Comment by Ron Burgundy Tuesday, Sep 20, 16 @ 10:03 am
TD beating the partisan drum.

McGrath being a twitter snark and a bad comms guy.

Snore.

Comment by CousinVinny Tuesday, Sep 20, 16 @ 10:09 am
===I think one of the great failings of the Obama administration was not getting something lasting done on immigration.===

Lol. Given the reluctance of Congress to engage in anything substantive, the only choice Obama had was to use executive orders which, by definition, aren’t lasting or permanent.

Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Sep 20, 16 @ 10:09 am
This approach will energize both bases. It may get Trump supporters to vote for Kirk.

The counter is the message “If anything happens on immigration reform, it must be bipartisan. Mark Kirk has a record of working across the aisle. Tammy Duckworth will be partisan and ineffective.”

Comment by Last Bull Moose Tuesday, Sep 20, 16 @ 10:10 am
Wrong issue to champion at the wrong time. They really are a weak org.

Comment by A guy Tuesday, Sep 20, 16 @ 10:13 am
47th - As I noted in my comment, he had a chance early on when his party controlled Congress, and he campaigned heavily on the issue in 2008. Still, nothing happened.

Comment by Ron Burgundy Tuesday, Sep 20, 16 @ 10:21 am
“Vote for me because while I can’t point to anything I did on this issue in my four years as a MoC, I’ll totally vote for whoever is the Dem Leadership and we’ll totally get this done and never raise it as a campaign issue every two years ever again.”

Great message. Really inspiring.

Comment by ChrisB Tuesday, Sep 20, 16 @ 10:34 am
bigots and racists and fear-mongerers”

That’s the way to build bi-partisan support for a comprehensive immigration bill.

I suppose that people like Steve King, Louis Gohmert, etc. are just the types who are gonna reach across the aisle to help enact comprehensive immigration reform. I admire Tammy for calling them what they are.

Comment by Galena Guy Tuesday, Sep 20, 16 @ 10:39 am
For a while I thought Duckworth needed to rid herself of her rabid, over the top, hysterical sounding spokesman. After her “unhinged” statement which she never walked back or tried to, now those opposing her position on immigration are “bigote, racists and fear-mongers.”

I was wrong about her. She is no better than her over the top, hateful spokesmen. Birds of a feather . . .

Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Tuesday, Sep 20, 16 @ 10:40 am
===Still, nothing happened.===

Deferred Action happened. I think he was a little busy in the first two years of his term too, what with the economic collapse, two wars going badly, a massive reorganization of health insurance and a Republican Party that vowed to fight him on everything from day one.

George W. Bush would have signed McCain-Kennedy. That’s the fix you’re pining for, that’s when it should have happened. Blame the right people is all I’m saying.

Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Sep 20, 16 @ 10:45 am
“Tuesday, Sep 20, 16 @ 10:45 am:”

As if the Democrates don’t fight the Republicans on everything from day one.

I will not vote for her and her hateful talking points.

Unfortunately, she will win in this deep blue State

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Sep 20, 16 @ 10:58 am
Awww Matt,

Hey, thanks for the publicity. When commenters on CapFax from both sides of the aisle repeatedly tell you you’re making rookie mistakes and turning off independent voters it might seem worthwhile to at least take a moment to consider your approach rather than giving them all the finger and doubling down. Not you! You da man!

Comment by Responsa Tuesday, Sep 20, 16 @ 11:01 am
“- Louis G. Atsaves - Tuesday, Sep 20, 16 @ 10:40 am:”

I agree with you.

47th, your analysis is wrong. It could have been passed in 2009-2010.

However, I believe that it was a bad bill to begin with.

People who are concerned with immigration are not bad people and Duckworth is very offensive. Unfortunately, she will win in this deep blue State.

I will hold my nose and vote for Kirk. I do not like him either.

We need true reform that will last and take into account all the effects of the reform and at the same time know who is coming into the country.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Sep 20, 16 @ 11:04 am
The elections Tammy wins are the ones where they keep her away, like out in CA fundraising. Why is she being allowed to campaign? lol

Comment by Touré's Latte Tuesday, Sep 20, 16 @ 11:05 am
Illegal immigration has been terrible for African-American unemployment and wages. http://www.theroot.com/articles/politics/2010/02/how_illegal_immigration_hurts_black_america/ (and there’s been subsequent research confirming, though there is an outlier study saying the reverse).

It’s surreal: Progressives stand firm with the Koch Brothers and US Chamber for immigration reform that will glut the labor force at a time of increasing tech disruption, and dismiss the concerns of people like Coretta Scott King and Barbara Jordan as per-se racism. Special interests drive the Democrats on this issue while racism (and concerns about voting demographics) primarily drives the Republicans, but there’s a huge center that would agree to take the top priority of both candidates (build a wall/strict enforcement, but give legal status to everyone already here), but the extremes driving the debate won’t let it get done.

Comment by lake county democrat Tuesday, Sep 20, 16 @ 11:31 am
Heh Responsa. Maybe “She won in spite of my best efforts to screw it up” will look good on the resume down the road. I don’t know.

Comment by Ron Burgundy Tuesday, Sep 20, 16 @ 11:53 am
=Wrong issue to champion at the wrong time.=

The guy at the top of the ticket wants to build a wall. So exactly when would the right time be?

Comment by pundent Tuesday, Sep 20, 16 @ 12:04 pm
–I suppose that people like Steve King, Louis Gohmert, etc. are just the types who are gonna reach across the aisle to help enact comprehensive immigration reform.–

You don’t need their votes for a compromise, nor will you get them. Focus on the reasonable parties from both sides and get to work. Name calling doesn’t make that happen.

Comment by Ron Burgundy Tuesday, Sep 20, 16 @ 12:20 pm
“- lake county democrat - Tuesday, Sep 20, 16 @ 11:31 am:”

Racism is not driving many Republicans.

Talk like this is what drives Republicans away.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Sep 20, 16 @ 12:26 pm
===The guy at the top of the ticket wants to build a wall. So exactly when would the right time be?===

Next time. Or last time. Just not this time.

Comment by A guy Tuesday, Sep 20, 16 @ 1:47 pm
“Duckworth doubles down on expanded immigration. It may be viewed as a reckless move in the current climate.”

No. The current climate outside of the base of the Republican Party is pretty friendly to immigration reform

http://www.gallup.com/poll/1660/immigration.aspx

Not to mention she wants to motivate Latino voters. The person who has a hard time on immigration is Kirk who has a base who doesn’t want immigration reform and needs to attract Latinos.

Comment by ArchPundit Tuesday, Sep 20, 16 @ 3:49 pm
Duckworth seems to think those who oppose her views are a basket of deplorables who are irredeemable.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Sep 20, 16 @ 4:15 pm
Lol that twitter banner is pretty funny

Comment by Boone's is Back Tuesday, Sep 20, 16 @ 5:01 pm