MSNBC host Jose Diaz-Balart, a supporter of Obama’s planned executive amnesty, is wondering “what he’s waiting for” — speculating that perhaps “political scheduling issues to do with November” are behind his delay.
For months the White House has been hinting at granting broad legal status to as many as five million illegal immigrants currently in the United States. Those hints have taken on an official cast in the last month, but President Obama refuses to make a decision.
On MSNBC’s “The Cycle” Diaz-Balart questioned why, if this was such an urgent problem that needed addressing, the president keeps dragging his feet.
“What can he and should he do, and what’s he waiting for if he’s going to do something?” he asked. “I’ve interviewed him at least nine times, President Obama, and at least five or six of those times I’ve specifically asked him about executive orders.”
“And in the past, 2012 and 2013, he has said, ‘I am doing what I can, and there are some things that the president cannot do,’ as far as, for example, expanding the amount of people that could be given work permits or temporary deferred action,” the MSNBC host continued. “So let’s see what he is dealing with or balancing.”
“The only political question would be, if you know that you’re going to do something, do it!” Diaz-Balart said, singling out Congress as well as the president.
“Why wait?” he asked. “Well, I think it may have some political scheduling issues to do with November,” he answered sarcastically.
While Diaz-Balart did not specify what he meant, widespread Democratic concern about voter turnout this fall means President Obama may hold off on executive amnesty until it’s close enough to boost Latino turnout in November.