Obama Seeks the Hispanic Vote

Democracy and Power 107:  Counting votes

Successful … politicians are insecure and intimidated men. They advance politically only as they placate, appease, bribe, seduce, bamboozle or otherwise manage to manipulate the demanding and threatening elements in their constituencies. – Walter Lippmann (1889-1974), American Journalist and Author

In a democracy, the politician must favorably influence the majority of their voting constituents.  In all political decisions, the politician calculates how many votes are gained by appeasing an interest group versus how many votes are lost.

Obama Seeks the Hispanic Vote

Politicians incessantly count votes.  Before every decision, a politician calculates how many votes are gained and lost.  The Hispanic community believes Obama promised to curb deportations and promote legalization.  Increasingly, the Hispanics are very disappointed with Obama’s inaction.  Last week, Hispanic activists stepped up the pressure on the President and had multiple demonstrations shouting “Legalizacion Si – Deportacion No.”

With polls showing increasing Hispanic dissatisfaction, Obama’s political gurus knew that they must mollify Hispanic voters and the easiest route was to tinker with the deportation process.  Hence, the easiest solution was to mandate priorities i.e., violent criminals first, etc.   Next, the gurus decided to announce the decision when Obama and many Americans are vacationing, and, thus, hoping the decision will receive as little attention as possible.  To further defuse the attention, Obama did not announce the decision and will not be available to respond to press inquiries. 

Thus, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano informed Congress of her decision on setting priorities for deporting illegal aliens.  So far the political strategy is going according to plan.

“After more than two years of struggle, demonstrations, direct actions and other activities, the administration has signaled that they are capable of delivering direct relief for immigrant families,” said Casa de Maryland, a pro-immigrant group, to the Washington Times.

“Today’s announcement shows that this president is willing to put muscle behind his words and to use his power to intervene when the lives of good people are being ruined by bad laws,” said Rep. Luis V. Gutierrez, Illinois Democrat, as quoted in the Washington Times.

The ultimate test will be November 2012.  This appeal to Hispanic voters does little or nothing to change immigration laws.  However, It will slow the number of deportations – over 1 million since 2007.  Will that be enough to appease Hispanics?   Conversely, will this scheme infuriate many law- biding voters.?

Without a doubt, Obama’s political gurus would have preferred not to make the decision.  They tinkered with the least significant rule-change they could find, and definitely hope the Hispanic community is mollified and most voters take no notice.

Alas, politicians have not changed since Walter Lippmann said, “They (politicians) advance politically only as they placate, appease, bribe, seduce, bamboozle or otherwise manage to manipulate the demanding and threatening elements in their constituencies.