Outside a fundraiser headlined by House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) and Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) for Rep. Mike Coffman (R-CO) today, local leaders staged a rally to protest the fact that these three House Republicans are key obstacles standing in the way of immigration reform that would keep Colorado immigrant families together.
See a photo and excerpts below from ColoradoPols, “Immigration Activists Crash Boehner/Cantor/Coffman Fundraiser.” Read online and see photos here.
One of the effects of Rep. Mike Coffman’s lip service to the idea of reforming the nation’s immigration system has been very delicate public treatment of Coffman on the issue, for as long as proponents had any reason to believe Coffman might be helpful. The problem is that Coffman’s words have never been backed up by actual votes, and Coffman’s inability (or unwillingness) to prevail on leadership in the U.S. House to prioritize the issue is increasingly a sore point among the same immigration activists Coffman has been courting.
Lots of Democrats we know have maintained from the outset that giving Coffman “maneuvering room” on immigration was a futile exercise, and that Coffman was knowingly exploiting immigration activists to extend his embattled political career. Seeing Coffman at a fundraiser with Republican House Speaker John Boehner and Majority Leader Eric Cantor merely adds insult to injury, and lends credence to the more cynical view of Coffman’s motives.
Based on the comments in this release, though, Coffman is about out of time.
322 Days Since Senate Passed its Immigration Bill; 42 Days Left Until Window of Opportunity Closes