Obama 'confident' about immigration reform in a second term
Davenport, Iowa (CNN) – New details of President Barack Obama's plans for a second term were given in an off-the-record interview with the Des Moines Register Tuesday but made public only after the paper protested that leaving it private would be a disservice to Iowa voters.
The interview was conducted Tuesday but made public Wednesday after the Obama campaign gave permission to the paper releasing them from their off-the-record agreement.
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In the interview, Obama said he is confident his administration will pass immigration reform and achieve the equivalent of a grand bargain with Congress.
After failing to achieve comprehensive immigration reform in his first term, the president said Republicans, given the large Latino vote, will be invested in changing the system.
"I'm confident we'll get done next year is immigration reform," Obama said in the transcript of the interview posted online by the paper. "And since this is off the record, I will just be very blunt. Should I win a second term, a big reason I will win a second term is because the Republican nominee and the Republican Party have so alienated the fastest-growing demographic group in the country, the Latino community."
"So I am fairly confident that they're going to have a deep interest in getting that done," he added.
CNN has previously reported the White House met with a coalition of religious leaders in an effort to broach immigration reform next year.
He also predicted the two political parties reach an agreement over the fiscal health of the United States, buoyed by a combination of financial factors, including the Bush tax cuts expiring, the sequester and a commitment from himself and GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney to reducing the deficit. Obama said he was "confident" about an agreement of $2.50 worth of cuts for every dollar of revenue.
$1.5 trillion in taxes will likely come from allowing the Bush tax cuts to expire, but $848 billion in savings will come from winding the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, in addition to $1 trillion in cuts already agreed to in budget negotiations with Congress.
Reaching agreements on these topics in the first year of a second term, the president said, would allow a focus on "some things that really historically have not been ideological."
"We can start looking at a serious corporate tax reform agenda that's revenue-neutral but lowers rates and broadens the base," Obama said.
Romney campaign spokeswoman Amanda Henneberg said in a statement that if reelected, Obama supports "implementing even more job-destroying policies that will cost the nation over 700,000 jobs. It's clear why Americans can't afford four more years like the last four years."
Obama senior adviser David Plouffe said reaching an agreement is "the responsible thing to do."
"Obviously we want to get to work on this right after the election," Plouffe told reporters Wednesday.
The president emphasized the importance of Iowa during his visit Wednesday, telling the crowd he had to start his 48 hour "extravaganza."
"This is the first stop on our 48-hour fly around, campaign marathon extravaganza," Obama said. "We're going to pull an all-nighter. No sleep. We are starting here in Iowa."
Plouffe said "We win the election if it were held today," adding that the president has a "credible pathway to 50%" in North Carolina, Florida, Virginia, New Hampshire, Iowa, Colorado and Nevada.
"In the next 13 days Gov. Romney's got to pull voters off of the president so you know that's their task," Plouffe said. "We have to make sure voters turn out."
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I think more canidates should have "off the record" interviews which are then later releases. I found the presidents interview more revealing than most of his other interviews and i liked the candor ( although not earth shattering). I wonder what an "off the record" interview with Mitt would have sounded like ... makes you wonder.
That's funny, I think I heard the President say the same thing back in 2008 when he had the House and the Senate under democratic control and still did not even present an Immigration Bill. But now with a Republican House and a smaller majority in the Senate, he is confident that he will pass an Immigration Bill?
Really? Come on Mr. President don't tell us another WHOPPER
He couldn't be bothered with it in his first term, but we are supposed to believe it will be taken care of in his 2nd term? Don't think so. WIll that be between his 1st 3 vacations, or wait until the 2nd month of his 2nd term?
He's also confident about having a transparent presidency, closing Gitmo, improving the economy, not raising taxes on the middle class, stopping lobbyists influence in Washington, equal rights for LGBT...yadda yadda yadda. Yes, Hollywood, we heard it all in 2008. By the way, who killed Stevens? I haven't heard today's version of it yet.
what's he going to offer me for my vote?
CNN is this the only issue fromthe interview that you could bring out and publish? Why not print out or publish every part of it if you are intrested in the truth cos it will increase the president's rating and votes. The interview should be read and discussed by all it is very candid.
What Obama didn't want you to see in the interview with the Des Moines Register #1:
"...making some adjustments in terms of the corporate tax side that could actually bring down the corporate tax overall, but broaden the base and close some loopholes. That would be good for our economy, and it would be good for reducing our deficit."
Um, isn't that Romney's plan?
Obama said that off the record. What did Romney say again "off the record"? I just don't understand how people can vote against their own interests.
Let's see.... He LIED about getting it done in his first year when he ran in 2008 and now has nothing to lose by LYING about getting it done now. Wake up Latinos!! Obama is playing you like an old fiddle to con you into voting for him. Just like he has done with everything else.
What Obama didn't want you to see in the interview with the Des Moines Register # 2:
"So in addition to doubling our fuel-efficiency standards on cars and trucks..."
Are you listening, Ohio? Michigan?
Yes, and them the Latin voters will find out what a liar Obama really is! He will say anything to get re-elected. How come he hasn't touched this reform in the last 4 years? I guess he's been too busy flying around the world and being on television.
What Obama didn't want you to see in the interview with the Des Moines Register #3:
"But nobody who looks at the numbers thinks it’s realistic for us to actually reduce our deficit in a serious way without also having some revenue. And we’ve identified tax rates going up to the Clinton rates for income above $250,000."
Above 250,000 now the super rich, Hollywood?
What Obama didn't want you to see in the interview with the Des Moines Register #4:
"I've expressed a deep desire and taken executive action to weed out regulations that aren't contributing to the health and public safety of our people. And we've made a commitment to look back and see if there are regulations out there that aren't working, then let’s get rid of them and see if we can clear out some of the underbrush on that. Again, that's something that should be non-ideological."
Does anyone remember what it was that he said to Medvedev? Oh, yes. "This is my last election. I will have a lot more flexibility after my election."
So does he plan to declare Executive Privilege about why he did nothing for Immigration Reform in his first term?
Apparently he doesn't appreciate the intelligence of the Latino community when he says," Oh, I'll get that done next time...".
Obama's interview with the Des Moines Register begs for fact checking. President Hollywood paints his most fictional picture yet. I strongly encourage everyone considering voting for Obama to read it.
Guess we will never know, since OBama will not get reenlected.
Doubtful it would even come up in the second term since he cannot by law run for a third term and that's the only reason he mentions it now...votes.
I trust him he is going to deal with Immigration in his second term. Remember Latinos, Rome was not built in one day. It took a century.
He is not a person who changes positions. It was unfortunate that he could not tackle every major issue at one time.
Did he also promise to bring unemployment down AGAIN and get the country moving AGAIN and cut the deficit in half AGAIN???? Sorry.... jsut too laughable. More Hope & Change & Lies & BS. I guess Obama really does think the American people are complete morons that will fall for the same 2008 MARLARKEY.
IF Obama can win a Second Term, MAYBE the Repubs. can devote their energy on the problems facing Middle Class Americans instead trying to "Make Obama a One – Term Prez." Also, the Repub. Adults can bet the Tea Party Kids that they will lose power playing their current game.
The only way WE are going to get immigration reform is to not only re-elect President Obama, WE must also elect a congress who will work with President Obama to achieve this goal.
VOTE DEMOCRAT STRAIGHT TICKET!!!
OBAMA 2012
LOL, another useless campaign promise. Let's put juice in every drinking fountain.
I voted for Obama in 2008, but will not make that mistake in 2012. I will vote for a new President who will serve all Americans, not just those who donate to his reelection. Remember at the poll to ask if Obama is really trying to improve the US economy, reduce the debt, and is proud of American's support for liberty and freedom.
I'm positive immigration reform will get passed in a second term. The President will have less obstructionists to deal with and we'll be able to push his agenda and America's agenda FORWARD!!!
More lies from the uhbama.