Paul Waldman on how President Obama’s call for reform is putting the hot topic back on the map:
It’s good to hear the president make a speech saying the right things about immigration. He not only discussed the legal immigration system, he spoke truthfully about our history of nativism, described the centrality of immigration to the American character and the American economy, detailed the complex but necessary task of moving undocumented immigrants toward citizenship, and even complimented George W. Bush for advocating comprehensive reform. But without a little more courage in Congress — which means tackling the problem even though you’ll be sure some people who would like to live behind walls will yell about it — reform will be put off to a more politically opportune moment.