Obama Wins Unlikely Allies in Immigration

[alp227]

At a time when the prospects for immigration overhaul seem most dim, supporters have unleashed a secret weapon: a group of influential evangelical Christian leaders.

Normally on the opposite side of political issues backed by the Obama White House, these leaders are aligning with the president to support an overhaul that would include some path to legalization for illegal immigrants already here. They are preaching from pulpits, conducting conference calls with pastors and testifying in Washington — as they did last Wednesday.

“I am a Christian and I am a conservative and I am a Republican, in that order,” said Matthew D. Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel, a conservative religious law firm. “There is very little I agree with regarding President Barack Obama. On the other hand, I’m not going to let politicized rhetoric or party affiliation trump my values, and if he’s right on this issue, I will support him on this issue.”

When President Obama gave a major address pushing immigration overhaul this month, he was introduced by a prominent evangelical, the Rev. Bill Hybels of Willow Creek Community Church in Illinois. Three other evangelical pastors were in the audience, front and center.

Their presence was a testament, in part, to the work of politically active Hispanic evangelical pastors, who have forged friendships with non-Hispanic pastors in recent years while working in coalitions to oppose abortion and same-sex marriage. The Hispanics made a concerted effort to convince their brethren that immigration reform should be a moral and practical priority.

Full story: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/19/us/politics/19evangelicals.html?hp=&pagewanted=all

The article also quotes Jay Sekulow (of the American Center for Law and Justice) and Bryan Fischer (of the American Family Association) criticizing immigration reform. Otherwise, as the saying goes, "a stopped clock is right two times a day." (Immigration reform vs. criminalization and demonization of homosexuality and hating on secularism, science, and rational thought.)

[Oregone]

1. What specifically is Obama's current plan for immigration reform?

Any quick summaries for the lazy?

[alp227]

3. Err...i have an article about his current policy if it works for you

http://colorlines.com/archives/2010/07/obamas_immigration_enforcement_a_carbon_copy_of_bush.html

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. A church here just last week backed out of an anti-immigration event

Apparently they are turning around on this issue. Good news.