Is The Media (And Blogosphere) Killing Immigration Reform? - Sally Kohn (HuffPo)

[pampango]

" Immigration reform is a priority --- this year --- for our President, who prioritizes unity and shared prosperity over the lunatic rants of the fringe Right, and for millions of immigrants and their millions and millions of allies who know that as an American community, we can only move forward together . The mainstream media hasn't been skeptical about the commitment to health care reform and budget priorities and for these priorities, the blogosphere has shown its clear support. What about immigration reform? Will the media cover it, the blogosphere champion it, or both be culpable in killing it?"

"So why is the mainstream media in a perpetual state of disbelief? On April 9, 2009, the New York Times ran a front page story citing aides in the Administration who say comprehensive immigration reform, including a workable path to citizenship for America's undocumented population, will be a priority this year. Note that the story was front page news only because it was so counterintuitive --- not to the President, who sees immigration reform as an imperative moral and economic issue , but to the news media, who can't understand why Obama would pursue another complicated priority that the media can joyfully turn into a political soap opera . Shouldn't Obama just take a breather and save the whales?"

"It is no coincidence that the mainstream media is faltering as the opinion-driven blogosphere is on the rise. ... As the blogosphere tries to act at the speed of light to capture and catalyze change, the media reports on change only once it has happened --- inevitably behind the curve . So the prospect of not only sweeping change that would affect the lives of 12 million new Americans and their millions of US-born family members and friends and neighbors and classmates, all for the better, is so hard to believe for the change-adverse media that they require proof. Words from the President and his aides won't suffice. But the trouble is hard proof, like, um, passing legislation, will not happen as long as the media insists it's unlikely. It's a Catch 22 that not only hobbles the possibility of much-needed reform but the credibility and relevance of the media as well."

"Obama has made clear that he intends to help suffering Americans, citizens and immigrants alike , and recognizes that comprehensive immigration reform must be prioritized alongside other strategies to rebuild our struggling economy . Yet a full two weeks later on April 22, with plenty of time in between to read the New York Times cover story in between, Fox News reported, "The Obama Administration has not seemed anxious to deal with this political hot potato, at least not this year." Perhaps it's not fair to pick on Fox News, whose reporters have repeatedly proven they're illiterate, but privately, far more reliable journalists and columnists have expressed their unyielding skepticism. When Vice President Joe Biden told reporters, "We've got to start serious discussions, serious negotiations on immigration now. I hope we'd be able to complete it this year, but whether we can or not, we have to start," the AP reported only that Biden said overhaul of the existing system may have to wait for 2010. This is all a publicity stunt, the media suggests, for Obama to simultaneously woo and placate Latino voters. He couldn't be serious!"

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sally-kohn/is-the-media-and-blogosph_b_193299.html

Sounds like President Obama is determined to push forward with immigration reform. It does not appear to be a side show for him, but one of his many top priorities. There seems to be support for legislation at this point, but it is still very early. Wait until "the lunatic rants of the fringe Right" (amnesty bill, amnesty bill...) allows "the media (to) joyfully turn (it) into a political soap opera" to see if legislation will pass.