President vs. Congress - It's Deja Vu All Over Again

A copy of President Obama's plan for immigration reform was leaked over this past weekend. The White House is calling it a "fallback" plan that could be presented to Congress if the bi-partisan committee studying immigration reform fails to produce anything viable.

Republican response has been typically negative.

what eye thynk:   First, lets look at the way Republicans have called for leadership from President Obama... 

• "It's the President who needs to take action.  We're hopeful that the President will begin to show some leadership on this and some other issues."  (Paul Ryan, November 13, 2012)
• "Americans elected President Obama to lead."  (John Boehner, December 30, 2012)
• "...but the President needs to lead."  (Paul Ryan, December 14, 2012)
• "The President needs to lead. And that means offering a concrete plan..."  (Mitch McConnell, November 13, 2012)
• President Obama refuses "to lead on the pressing issues of the day".  (Mitch McConnell, January 4, 2013
• "It's no secret that there are more than 11 million people here illegally, many of whom have become part of the fabric of our country. They, like us, have families and dreams...(I) call on the president to help lead us toward a...solution."  (Eric Cantor, February 5, 2013) 

So, now the President is leading...and the Republican reaction?

• The President's immigration plan is "dead on arrival in Congress".  (Marco Rubio, February 17, 2013)
• "The plan is untenable...It shows me he is really not serious (about immigration reform)". (Rand Paul, February 17, 2013)
• The President's leaked proposal is "counterproductive".  It "tells us he's looking for a partisan advantage."  (Paul Ryan, February 17, 2013)
• The proposal "raises the question that many of us continue to wonder about:  Does the president really want a result, or does he want another cudgel to beat up Republicans"...(The President) has had no communication with Republicans on this issue."  (John McCain, February 17, 2013)

Republicans wanted leadership from the President; Eric Cantor begged the president "to help lead us toward a solution".  Now they have what they say they wanted and they don't know what to do with it, so they are falling all over each other condemning the consequences.

John McCain complains that there has been "no communication" while at the same time choosing to ignore that the President has, in fact, communicated his hopes for immigration reform via this proposal.  (Maybe Mr. McCain expected a personal perusal copy, bound in leather with his name embossed on the cover in gold to be made available to him first?)

And the Democratic response?

• "...you know, it's obvious if a Democrat--the President or anyone else--puts out what they want on their own (it) is going to be different than when you have a bipartisan agreement.  (Sen. Chuck Schumer, February 17, 2013) 

Which basically means, if the President is for it, Republicans will be against it.

Welcome to the previous four years all over again.

Read more here: http://blogs.mcclatchydc.com/washington/2012/11/mcconnell-says-obama-has-to-lead.html#storylink=cpy