Southern Baptist leader on immigration order: ‘I’m trying to figure out what the problem is’
Richard Land, president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, has served as one of the contrary conservative voices when it comes to immigration reform.
Land, part of the bureaucracy of the nation’s largest Protestant denomination, has repeatedly warned Republicans that they risk being on the wrong side of history when it comes to demanding that millions of illegal immigrants, who have lived here for years, exit the country.
This morning on CNN, Land discussed President Barack Obama’s executive order to establish a system of deportation waivers for young people brought here by their illegal immigrant parents. Note that Land does not challenge the legality of Obama’s action. Here’s an abridged transcript:
”These people that were covered by this executive order – this is the low-hanging fruit of immigration reform. These young people – 99.9 percent of them – have done nothing wrong. They didn’t bring themselves here…
“In an election year, everything is going to be perceived as being political. But the president’s been waiting for Congress to do something. Congress hasn’t done it. Congress, I think, was in the process of seeking to do something. [U.S. Sen.] Marco Rubio was making some real headway with a bill that is remarkably analogous to what the president did.
“I would rather have Congress do it, because that way it’s a long-term solution, not a short-term solution. But as Marco Rubio said, the president’s action complicates the politics but reduces the urgency. Because it does keep these young people from the fear of being deported….
“I’m trying to figure out what the problem is…..”
- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider
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92 comments Add your comment
Logical Dude
June 18th, 2012
5:43 pm
“Selective enforcement” is actually necessary.
Imagine, if you will. . . REALITY. People clamoring for smaller government results in say. . (and I exaggerate) 1000 people to ENFORCE immigration. that’s about 20 people per state.
Each state has a million undocumented person (yet, I exaggerate again).
Who do those 20 people want to enforce out of the million who are here? Why, you go for the criminals first (they’re easy, most of them are already in jail). Then you go for the ones easily caught near the border.
The ones that are much harder to catch are the ones who came in LEGALLY, and let their visa expire. They are probably still working, and supporting a family. So, since it’s already been policy to not deport them (you know, because of limited workforce), it’s now just an executive order to confirm the policy.
Now, if congress would actually do their job, we could get past this issue and help the economy. (bahahahahaha!!!! sorry!)
Auntie Christ
June 18th, 2012
5:45 pm
David Granger,Reading your comment, I’m not sure which is true, you are a republican troll who thinks the readers here are uninformed, or whether you are really that uninformed. Just use google to search for topics like bush’s signing statements, his unilateral decision to redefine ‘torture,’ and the 100’s of other laws he chose to ignore or selectively enforce, as he, with cheney’s diabolical assistance, expanded executive powers farther than any of his predecessors. With his rubber stamp congress, his was indeed an imperial presidency.
Attack Dog
June 18th, 2012
5:48 pm
Less we forget the Dixiecrat led Congress ansd President Cheney that brought us the foundation for trillion dollar annual deficits, trillions in debt though offbook budgets, a failed secret energy policy, being attacked, a swiss cheese immigratuin fence polict, and a head of state who was the laughing stock of the world. What did I miss.
Attack Dog
June 18th, 2012
5:53 pm
The Preacher is saying that he would much rather have a Dreamer fighting for the country than an over paid contractor with a hidden agenda
Attack Dog
June 18th, 2012
6:06 pm
Willard’s grandfather gave up his citizenship to move to Mexico where Willard’s’. Dad was born. Is Willard’ Dad really an American? Where is his birth certificate to prove that Willard is any diffferent than Obama?
Bernie
June 18th, 2012
6:18 pm
Mitt ” The Stranger At The Door” Romney is really squirming to find a reasonable position on a reasonable decision.
double
June 18th, 2012
7:01 pm
Well none of this immigration,illegal,no border crossing laws,none of this occured before we elected a half black/white president.Now shape up all you christian whites and vote for for a true white man.One as white as Jesus.
cher
June 18th, 2012
7:23 pm
He’s a RINO.
BehindEnemyLines
June 18th, 2012
7:44 pm
If the problem needs to be explained to Land (or anyone) then they’re a part of the problem themselves and to hell with them.
James
June 18th, 2012
8:22 pm
Obama’s decison not to enforce the law of the land will come back to bite the democrats. Now we ahve established that all the President has to do is to decide not to enforce a law duly passed by the legislative branch. There will come a time when this loser is out of office and a republican president will ignore the law too.
Aaron Burr V Mexico
June 18th, 2012
8:39 pm
@James – Will it? You know independents have shown that any form of extremism is only rewarded, not defeated. OK, so a few tea party candidates were defeated in 2010, but when it is most of the party, independents and moderates say, “Both sides are bad” and that they are equally bad….so for no electoral consequences for Republicans (they’re just as bad as Bush was only crazier, and Moderates and Independents give Obama no real credit for trying to work with them for the first two years of his administration, saying ‘the dems were in charge, why did he get nothing done then’) so really, the lesson here is not ‘more moderation’ for dems, but rather LESS.
If moderates will ALWAYS go to the center, the solution is to push as far to the left as possible and to target right wing power bases (churches, big corporations that donate only to Republicans, red states, the south, rural voters etc) as much as possible to weaken them.
And there are MANY ways to do it with out being as ‘bad’ as Republicans. Independents aren’t and it is time they were exploited by the left just as much as the right already does.
Attack Dog
June 18th, 2012
8:59 pm
The two main differences between a Dixiecrat Redneck wannbe and a migrant worker is that migrant worker doesn’t claim to be something he isn’t and works hard.
Kris
June 18th, 2012
9:07 pm
Well glad to see that the GOP , smitty the newt and (he belongs in a ) sanatorium, not only have they made hard working Americans mad as hell now the Latino’s and the ultimate they have PI%%ED off the southern Baptist
Vote the thieves out (GOP)
OBAMA 2012
Dr. Demento
June 18th, 2012
9:52 pm
Obama’s decison not to enforce the law of the land will come back to bite the democrats. Now we ahve established that all the President has to do is to decide not to enforce a law duly passed by the legislative branch. There will come a time when this loser is out of office and a republican president will ignore the law too.
So, again, you apparently missed the Bush presidency, huh, James? Are you an illegal alien just in from Mexico and blissfully unaware of the Bush signing statements, etc. as noted earlier? Come on, you’re just angry that the President co-opted a good idea and was ahead of the curve. Take your sour grapes and make some whine with them.
Bernie
June 18th, 2012
10:52 pm
Dr. Demento @ 9:52 pm – As Demented as your comments sound, the way things are going president Obama will get a second term, followed by two terms of Hillary then maybe then when all of these Billionaire investors are dead and gone ( “they are already old”) and the republican party recover from the worst lost since Barry Goldwater. They will give a second thought about making any drastic departure from anything sensible, IF, the American people decide to give them a chance at the White House again.
Ol' Timer
June 18th, 2012
10:53 pm
Cubans who arrive on dry American soil are accepted and allowed to stay. Maybe Rubio could sponsor a provision that would allow Mexicans who arrive on dry American soil after fording the Rio Grande to be accepted and allowed to stay. Liberty and Justice for ALL, not just Cubans and the plutocrats of the Republican Party machine.
Steven Reid Harbin
June 19th, 2012
12:12 am
I like the comment of
“Did you read the requirements?” @ 4:34 pm. “Personally, I would like to see one simple law passed in addition to this: Serve our country for 2 years and gain citizenship.”
I think this is a perfect idea, and hope that someday we’ll be sane enough to see it or something like it implemented.
Bernie
June 19th, 2012
1:04 am
The problem is that the Republicans candidate of choice has already stated that all Illegal Aliens should self deport and we all know that will happen ” When PIGS FLY”.
So Presently they are stuck with a candidate that has no plan no idea of a plan what to do and they have a President they hate more than Osama and he is facing a possible reelection with a landslide as big as MT. Rushmore. Whereas their candidate is about to go to London to watch his wife’s very expensive horses dance daintily around the ring and you are wondering what the problem is?
You can not make this stuff up, even if you tried!
BIg Hat
June 19th, 2012
1:21 am
want to solve the illegal immigration problem? Two words: Operation Condor (hint, go look it up). It worked with all the troublemakers in South America back in the late 70’s and early 80’s, and it will work here. Guaranteed.
fire eater
June 19th, 2012
4:20 am
Big churches have always supported the third world invasion and conquest of the West. I guess God spoke to them in the form of the riffle of a stack of dollar bills provided them by the Chamber of Corruption and the hope of a good press. The sleazy “refugee” racket that has flooded America with Somalis and Haitians is largely the work of churches.
All conservatives must read “Suicide of a Superpower” by Patrick J. Buchanan. This book unmasks the forces that sought to replace the people of the Founding Fathers with the teeming hordes of the third world. Pat was fired by MSNBC because the Media Masters stated that the subject of this book “was not fit for a national dialogue.”
Pat
June 19th, 2012
6:58 am
Mr Land as a life long (I’m 65) Southern Baptist, I am disgusted with you and your comments. What Obama did is illegal and 180 degrees to the Constitution of the United States of America. Emperor Obama’s latest dictatorial decree, per illegal immigrants, also puts them under affirmative action. It will be requited that they be hired before Americans are.
Pat
June 19th, 2012
6:58 am
Now do you see what the problem is?
Attack Dog
June 19th, 2012
7:07 am
Same subject. Had it not been for the Union, Texas, the Southwest, and SoCal would be states of Mexico!
Uncle Billy
June 19th, 2012
7:17 am
Attack-dog, What would be wrong with that?
Willis
June 19th, 2012
7:29 am
Remember a few years back when Saxby was booed by Georgia Republicans for supporting Bush’s failed attempt at some kind of immigration reform? The same people still like to boo, but this time the boos are for the President.
Doing nothing is what the Congress seems to do best.
Attack Dog
June 19th, 2012
7:34 am
If you don’t know the law or the understand the Constitution, it is hardly credible to argue the actions of any President. Illegal immigration has declined and illegal businesses have been closed under Obama.
Eustis
June 19th, 2012
7:37 am
“Selective enforcement of the law”
What part of driving over the posted speed limit is breaking the law don’t you understand?
What part of paying workers in cash and not reporting it is breaking the law don’t you understand?
Who’s doing this anyway? Surely not law-abiding citizens.
O.L.Y.
June 19th, 2012
8:08 am
GREAT PRESIDENT – Thanks for the morning laugh!
Misty Fyed
June 19th, 2012
8:12 am
So Eustis, I take it if you were a traffic cop and pulled over a car for driving 80 in a 55 mph zone, you’d write a ticket to the 3 year old sitting in the back seat as well as the driver.
Eustis
June 19th, 2012
8:21 am
Misty Fyed.
Not sure I understand what you’re driving at (no pun intended).
My point is cops use selective enforcement to usually not stop people unless they’re going more than 10 MPH over the posted speed limit.
Misty Fyed
June 19th, 2012
8:25 am
This nation is hamstrung by an ineffective legislative branch. We have serious problems and the “law of the land” isn’t working. Until we remove the “political hacks” that run the house and the senate on both sides; expect more Executive Orders from whoever is President. These clowns simply refuse to work together.
Why you dems haven’t tried to get rid of your leaders in the senate boggles my mind. They refuse to do anything. At least the republicans face tea party challenges if they become too comfortable in DC. The dems controlling the senate vote down their own Presidents budget but refuse to even submit a proposal of their own. If they can’t do that one thing, how can they be expected to deal with something like immigration.
Pat
June 19th, 2012
8:38 am
Eustis… Law enforcement officers are required by state statute to, when using speed detection devices, give motorist a 10mph buffer.
Uncle Billy
June 19th, 2012
8:59 am
Par @6:58…I am 72 and was born and raised as a Southern Baptist but escaped. You think that Mr. Land’s position on immigration does not comport with the Constitution. I think that the cruelty you show toward people who were brought here as little children does not comport well with the Gospel. Did not Christ say: “Suffer the little children to come unto me for of such the Kingdom of God is made”? The Baptists seem principally want to see the sins of others rather than their own.
Eustis
June 19th, 2012
9:00 am
Got it.
MountainDawg
June 19th, 2012
9:05 am
Land and the SBC sold out to total Biblical adherance years ago. This is another example of their slide to the left.
yellowdog.
June 19th, 2012
9:12 am
other than jimmy carter, never have heard a rational statement from so. baptists. i wholeheartedly agree with him…..lets get real people. this is america after all……..republicans are all about punishment for some reason while exclaiming about “this great country of ours……”
Rick in Grayson
June 19th, 2012
9:37 am
Obama has performed an end around on Congress and enacted legislation!
This is not prosecutorial discretion…where is the discretion? An entire class of illegal aliens will not be deported! Maybe that could be done through an executive order, but mass awarding WORK PERMITS should be done by Congressional legislators since this affect STATE labor markets.
Obama is only pandering to Hispanics for the votes of any legal residents with illegal family members. Millions of US citizens are without jobs and Obama wants to award at least 1 million work permits.
Obama has only created about 100,000 more jobs than what existed when Bush (also an idiot) left office. During Obama’s time as President an additional 5 million legal immigrants and entered the US and are looking for jobs. 8 million US citizens have left the job market because they have given up HOPE of finding a job while Obama continues to allow addtional legal immigration into this country. Now he wants to give illegal aliens WORK PERMITS!
Obama is a complete and utter failure! His administration was supposed to be the most transparent of all time…but we have Eric Holder as AG and he hides data, documents, and the truth from Congressional inquiries!
Obama’s administration is leaking high level secrets like a sieve! Can’t protect the doctor in Pakistan who lead us to Bin Laden…this doctor is in jail now.
Obama’s administration provided intel on the US and Israel’s use of computer viruses to slow down the enrichment of uranium they intend to use to make nuclear weapons. They also outed a covert asset the CIA had in Afghanistan.
Bernie
June 19th, 2012
9:59 am
Rick in Grayson @ 9:37 am – Rick, that’s funny that many of your neighbors and communities around you disagree. Just who do you think that has been the largest driving Labor force behind all of the Building in Atlanta and the surrounding areas?
Think of all of the numerous new sub-divisons and industrial parks, Malls, shopping centers, that many of you currently reside in and or around. When things were good and everyone was making money, no one cared or was concerned at all about this issue! Now all of that has changed! They MUST GO! Hmmmmm!
Your claim of 5 million more came in after OBAMA is untrue and a complete falsehood. Truthfully, something you obviously do not ascribe too, was that amount of people that left and moved further south and west. They knew the Hate was coming…the simple harassment by many of the local police departments told them in no uncertain terms. Your other claims too, are Falsehoods of the highest order!
skel0640
June 19th, 2012
10:12 am
This is a test. Did you pass?
Lynnbo
June 19th, 2012
12:51 pm
Give a preacher money and they would say anything to keep getting more. Give them non-profit status and they will sell their souls to the devil.
Its all about money to those peddlers who have destroyed religion in the USA.
Rick in Grayson
June 19th, 2012
1:08 pm
Bernie, check the legal immigration numbers (you won’t believe my numbers, read the official immigration numbers). 1.7 million legal immigrants enter the US EVERY YEAR! That number over Obama years in office are close to 6 million! Obama jobs creation has not even kept up with legal immigration during his time in office.
Rick in Grayson
June 19th, 2012
1:23 pm
Bernie, here are the number of permanent legal immigrants for the last 3 years.
http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/statistics/publications/lpr_fr_2011.pdf