Yesterday, at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C010201 11/24/2014 SLAY FOR MAYOR Centene Corporation 7700 Forsyth Blvd. St Louis MO 63105 11/24/2014 $10,000.00

[emphasis added]

C091061 11/24/2014 SCOTT SIFTON FOR MISSOURI Joe Keaveny for Senate 6219 Westminster St Louis MO 63130 11/24/2014 $10,000.00

[emphasis added]

Previously:

Sen. Scott Sifton (D): running for Attorney General in 2016 (November 10, 2014)

Campaign Finance: the long road to 2016 (November 12, 2014)

A few days ago Governor Nixon announced the formation of a commission to “address the ‘social and economic conditions’ highlighted by protests after the killing of Michael Brown.” While the names of the members of the commission  have been made public, their formal charge hasn’t been released so far as I  have been able to determine. The only statement about what the Commission is supposed to achieve are the three goals that the Governor described when he stated his intention to form the Commission last month: “to study the underlying causes of the unrest, to tap into expertise needed to address those concerns, and to make specific recommendations for ‘making the St. Louis region a stronger, fairer place for everyone to live.'”

You have to admit that as detailed above, the Commission has been given a very  big task. I’m sure that the members of the Commission are all able and dedicated people and perhaps the Governor will give them a realistic, focused charge with a set of clearly delineated deliverables. And if he doesn’t, perhaps they’ll do it for themselves.

Certainly, there are lots of big issues that have to do with race, class and demographic change that need to be addressed in the St. Louis area. However, I’m not sure that sixteen folks working over six months to a year, as the Governor has described the timeframe, will provide the key to solving them. It did occur to me, though, that six months to a year is time enough to let emotions raised by the Ferguson killing cool somewhat while folks are told that their problems are being addressed somewhere off-stage. The Commission allows the Governor to claim that he is serious about change while at the same time leaving him more immediately free to pander to those who want a punitive, authoritarian response to Ferguson unrest – which the Governor signaled he intended to provide when he prematurely called out the National Guard. Nixon, like County Executive Steve Stenger who felt the need to stand in tandem with a county prosecutor tainted by a pereption of bias, knows who butters his bread – or thinks he does – and wants to make it clear to Missourians who seem to harbor unrealistic fears about the extent of the Ferguson protests that strict disciplinarian Daddy Jay won’t take no back-talk from uppity protestors.

It will be a shame if this Commission ends up as yet another missed opportunity because there is a very real, very specific problem that needs to be effectively addressed by just such a group:  police and minority relations. It is this topic that seems to me to lie at the heart of the uproar in Ferguson. And it’s not a little topic; it comprehends overt bias, police brutality, and the disrespectful exercise of power over folks who have little or no recourse against what they perceive as unfair, oppressive police. There are cultural misapprehensions on the part of both police and minority citizens that have to be expunged if our police forces are to be effectve in keeping the peace and combatting crime and we need to addres this divide if we want to see change – and unlike other the more global problems of racial relations, this issue is amenable to fairly rapid change if we give it the focused attention it needs.

Of course, the Justice Department is currently conducting a review of Ferguson police practices. However, the federal effort does not obviate the need for a local examination of policing problems that should be widened to cover the entire county and take into consideration issues relating to potential consolidation of County resources. It should be possible to work cooperatively or build on the federal efforts.

In the context of the DoJ review, it is worthwhile to note that its leader, Christy E. Lopez, has researched issues surrounding the the breakdown of police authority in minority neighborhoods, concentrating on “the ‘widespread’ problem of cops illegally arresting citizens simply because they perceived them as disrespecting their authority, which has been a common occurrence in protests in the St. Louis area over the past two months.” It’s espeially pertinent since video recently surfaced of the police officer at the heat of the Ferguson protests, Darren Wilson, throwing his official weight around in just such dishonest and disrespectful fashion. This fact alone suggests that the findings of the federal probe could profitably be mined to create an action oriented charge for our local Commission that might go a long way to changing the dynamics of police community relations in Ferguson and elsewhere in the St. Louis Metro area.

I am not suggesting that the bigger issues that devil race relations in the St. Louis area do not need to be addressed, just that we need to be smart about how we go about doing so. Making sure that goals are stated in concrete terms and can broken down into bites that are small enough to be easily digested is usually a good way to get something useful from a group. Overlarge, vague charges usually beget overlarge and vague recommendations that go nowhere and it would be a shame to see that happen this time.

Speaker Tim Jones (r) [file photo].

Today the outgoing (due to term limits) Speaker of the Missouri House, Tim Jones (r), took to Twitter with a retweet:

Tim W. Jones retweeted

UnhyphenatedAmerica @UnhyphenAmerica

“The black elite are more dangerous than the The Klu Klux Klan, to Black Americans.” ~ Arthur BigBully Savage…. [….]

He received a media response:

Eli Yokley ‏@eyokley

My other question, @SpeakerTimJones, is what do you mean by this tweet? That’s quite an assertion. #Ferguson 12:15 PM – 24 Nov 2014

And that’s just part of a longer exchange.

A few other reactions about Speaker Tim Jones’ (r) Twitter feed today:

Tony Messenger @tonymess

A city is on edge, and #MO’s Speaker of the House is trolling editorial writers about black-on-black crime. Think about that. #Ferguson 11:35 AM – 24 Nov 2014

Eli Yokley ‏@eyokley

I’m candidly more interested in what @SpeakerTimJones means that Black ldrs have been “more dangerous” than the KKK [….] 12:24 PM – 24 Nov 2014

SharkFu ‏@SharkFu

Re: that last tweet. That’s the Speaker of the Missouri House. [*]sets down iPhone…backs away slowly[*] 2:37 PM – 24 Nov 2014

SharkFu ‏@SharkFu

Sorry, my mind is still blown by that. I had to check it twice, y’all!! Just when you think you’ve seen it all… 3:03 PM – 24 Nov 2014

Derp is an expression associated with stupidity, much like the earlier forms of interjections like “duh” and “dur.” In image macros, the subject is typically portrayed with eyes that are pointed to each side and a caption that reads “DERP.” The words “herp” and “derp” are often used in rage comics to replace nondescript names or parts of conversation. [….]

Representative Vicky Hartzler (r) [file photo].

From time to time members of Congress post innocuous “back in the district” stories (usually with a photo) via social media. Representative Vicky Hartzler (r) is no exception. It’s just that, because of her past record and words, Representative Hartzler attracts sarcastic responses. Today:

Rep. Vicky Hartzler ‏@RepHartzler

Great to be back in the classroom today and speaking to students at Versailles High School! #MO04 9:20 AM – 24 Nov 2014

And the single (so far) response:

Fake Vicky Hartzler ‏@VickiHartzler

@RepHartzler Let’s hope the subject isn’t science. #derp 11:07 AM – 24 Nov 2014

Ouch. It’s a cold, cold world.

Previously:

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): Sesame Street is too complicated (November 18, 2014)

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): cold warrior in the climate conflict  (November 18, 2014)

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): just can’t catch a social media break (November 19, 2014)

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): sigh… (November 20, 2014)  

Oh, wait…

The retail price of gasoline in west central Missouri – November 24, 2014.

This is now, that was then:

Gingrich’s $2.50 gas promise

By Charles Riley @CNNMoney February 24, 2012: 9:23 AM ET

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) — Gas prices are on the rise, and so like clockwork, politicians are now selling the promise of lower prices at the pump.

Newt Gingrich, struggling to regain momentum in the Republican presidential primary, is leading the way, promising to get prices down to $2.50 per gallon.

“I’ve developed a program for American energy so no future president will ever bow to a Saudi king again and so every American can look forward to $2.50 a gallon gasoline,” Gingrich said during his self-introduction at Wednesday’s CNN debate….

[….]

Right wingnut republican think we’re all stoopit. What could have been, eh?

Previously:

Supply and demand, supply and demand (November 15, 2014)

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): shifting tar sands (November 15, 2014)

We need the Keystone XL pipeline because? – part 3 (November 15, 2014)

We need the Keystone XL pipeline because? – part 2 (November 14, 2014)

Charles P. Pierce is meaner (November 14, 2014)

And then all hell broke loose (November 13, 2014)

We need the Keystone XL pipeline because? (November 13, 2014)

Darn that President Obama and his totally misguided national energy policy… (September 29, 2014)

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r) – in Warrensburg – August 22, 2014 (August 23, 2014)

Sounds of silence (gasoline) (December 16, 2013)

What cost, you say? (November 15, 2013)

Still going down… (November 7, 2013)

It upsets right wingnuts… (November 4, 2013)

Thank goodness that Keystone pipeline is up and running (October 28, 2013)

We’re on an express elevator to…going down (October 14, 2013)

Water is wet (October 9, 2013)

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): we don’t need no stinkin’ objective reality (January 21, 2012)

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): not especially prescient (January 9, 2013)

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): strange silence, still (December 19, 2012)

Quick, blame Obama! – part 3 – trickle down (December 8, 2012)

Quick, blame Obama! – part 2 (December 5, 2012)

Quick, blame Obama! (December 1, 2012)

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): make it stop… (November 18, 2012)

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): the price keeps dropping and we’re running out of gas puns (November 15, 2012)

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): on an express elevator… (November 12, 2012)

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): wait, wait, don’t tell me (November 8, 2012)

Vicky Hartzler (r): it’s so quiet when the price keeps dropping (October 31, 2012)

Vicky Hartzler (r): What’s that? Did you say something? Apparently not. (October 29, 2012)

Vicky Hartzler (r): the sound of silence (October 23, 2012)

The past, the gas, and isms (September 24, 2012)

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): let’s pass the gas – part 2 (June 6, 2012)

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): let’s pass the gas (May 27, 2012)

Senator Roy Blunt (r) [file photo]

The junior senator from Missouri weighed in via social media on President Obama’s address to the nation on immigration:

Senator Roy Blunt ‏@RoyBlunt

Pres Obama can’t ignore the law. Congress will act to stop his executive over-reach. [….] 5:27 PM – 20 Nov 2014

You can also ignore Presidents Reagan, Bush I, and Bush II.

And, as always, there are some interesting replies:

James Overholt ‏@JamesOverholt

@RoyBlunt you’re an idiot. 5:27 PM – 20 Nov 2014

Now, now, that’s unfair. He just probably thinks the rest of us are gullible idiots.

Gary Hood ‏@ghoodmo52

@RoyBlunt can’t wait to vote against you. 5:28 PM – 20 Nov 2014

ArmaDoc ‏@ArmaDoc

@RoyBlunt If Congress had done its job POTUS would not have had to do this! 5:47 PM – 20 Nov 2014

Nancy Goth ‏@ngoth

@RoyBlunt POTUS acted because Congress did not. It’s a temp stay. #PassABill on #ImmigrationReform The sooner the better. 6:11 PM – 20 Nov 2014

They’re a might skeptical.

Previously:

President Obama: On Immigration (November 20, 2014)

Sen. Claire McCaskill: On Immigration (November 21, 2014)

In a Friday republican news dump (apparently, it’s the “full truth”):

U.S. House of Representatives

Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence

Investigative Report on the Terrorist

Attacks on U.S. Facilities in Benghazi,

Libya, September 11-12, 2012 [pdf]

[….]

November 21, 2014

Executive Summary

….In summary, the Committee first concludes that the CIA ensured sufficient security for CIA facilities in Benghazi and, without a requirement to do so, ably and bravely assisted the State Department on the night of the attacks. Their actions saved lives. Appropriate U.S. personnel made reasonable tactical decisions that night, and the Committee found no evidence that there was either a stand down order or a denial of available air support. The Committee, however, received evidence that the State Department security personnel, resources, and equipment were unable to counter the terrorist threat that day and required CIA assistance.

second, the Committee finds that there was no intelligence failure prior to the attacks. In the months prior, the IC provided intelligence about previous attacks and the increased threat environment in Benghazi, but the IC did not have specific, tactical warning of the September 11 attacks.

Third, the Committee finds that a mixed group of individuals, including those affiliated with Al-Qa’ida, participated in the attacks on U.S. facilities in Benghazi, although the Committee finds that the intelligence was and remains conflicting about the identities, affiliations, and motivations of the attackers.

Fourth, the Committee concludes that after the attacks, the early intelligence assessments and the Administration’s initial public narrative on the causes and motivations for the attacks were not fully accurate. There was a stream of contradictory and conflicting intelligence that came in after the attacks. The Committee found intelligence to support CIA’s initial assessment that the attacks had evolved out of a protest in Benghazi; but it also found contrary intelligence, which ultimately proved to be the correct intelligence. there was no protest. The CIA only changed its initial assessment about a protest on September 24, 2012, when closed caption television footage became available on September 18, 2012 (two days after Ambassador Rice spoke), and after the FBI began publishing its interviews with U.S. officials on the ground on September 22, 2014.

Fifth, the Committee finds that the process used to generate the talking points HPSCI asked for – and which were used for Ambassador Rice’s public appearances – was flawed. HPSCI asked for the talking points solely to aid Members’ ability to communicate publicly using the best available intelligence at the time, and mistakes were made in the process of how those talking points were developed.

Finally, the Committee found no evidence that any officer was intimidated, wrongly forced to sign nondisclosure agreement or otherwise kept from speaking to Congress, or polygraphed because of their presence in Benghazi. The Committee also found no evidence that the CIA conducted unauthorized activities in Benghazi and no evidence that the IC shipped arms to Syria.

[….]

There go the right wingnut conspiracy theories.

May 2014, from the House republicans:

A Benghazi investigation to uncover the truth

Communications • May 2, 2014

House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) announced today plans to establish a select committee to investigate the September 11, 2012 Benghazi attack that killed four Americans.

[….]

House Republicans expressed resounding support for the Speaker’s decision, and took to Twitter to spread the word.

Ann Wagner ‏@RepAnnWagner

The American people deserve the truth, the families of the fallen deserve accountability & those responsible must go to jail #Benghazi 12:35 PM – 2 May 2014

[…]

Rep. Vicky Hartzler ‏@RepHartzler

I applaud @SpeakerBoehner’s decision to create Select Committee on #Benghazi. Americans deserve the full truth. #PJNET #tcot

[….]

That was then, this is now.

Representative Ann Wagner’s (r) Twitter comment on the release of the House committee report on Friday:

Representative Vicky Hartzler’s (r) Twitter comment on the release of the House Committee report on Friday:

Interesting silence. You were expecting something else?

“…This is great if you live in la-la land where the current House is capable of passing any sort of solution on immigration. Yes, they should “quit stalling, get to work, and do their jobs.” — but you know full well that is not going to happen. So when the chips are down, Claire, where do you really stand? I’m so tired of your ‘bipartisan’ platitudes. Families are suffering because of our broken system. You are part of the problem and I wish Missouri had a better Democrat representing us…”

Senator Claire McCaskill [file photo].

Senator Claire McCaskill piped up via Facebook last night on President Obama’s address to the nation on Immigration:

Senator Claire McCaskill

11 hours ago

“Our immigration system is broken, and I support a comprehensive plan to fix it, but executive orders aren’t the way to do it. The system can only be truly fixed through legislation by Congress. The Senate’s comprehensive plan got overwhelming bipartisan approval, and Republicans in the U.S. House have sat on their hands for a year-and-a-half, refusing to even consider that bill. They should quit stalling, get to work, and do their jobs-debate the comprehensive plan that passed the Senate with a two-thirds margin.” -Claire

A sample of the responses:

[….] I can’t believe I voted for you. I’ve never voted republican in my life.

[….] When did you become a republican?

[….] When you give the voter a choice between Republican and Republican-lite, they’re going to choose the full-flavor choice.

[….] Congress does need to get to work and pass an immigration bill but we all know that isn’t going to happen as long as we have the current president because the republicans will pass nothing. Until we have a comprehensive immigration bill the executive action is the best solution! I am highly disappointed in you lately Claire!

[….] Claire…you’re losing your base…..support our President…or we see no reason to support you…

[….] A “yes” vote for Keystone and now this, Claire? I wish we had more Bernie Sanders in office.

[….] Well they haven’t done a thing! So I support whatever Pres. OBama feels he needs to do. The GOP already want to jump down his throat, funny how they didn’t do that with the Bush presidents or Reagan when they use executive orders!!! You should be supporting him also Claire.

[….] I am really concerned by this trend you seem to be displaying to be at odds with everything that the president has been attempting to do! I worked hard in past election cycles to get you re-elected here in my home town, and I am really regretting my decision to do so! Please, if you are so afraid of losing your senate seat, that you don’t back the president that we, YOUR CONSTITUENTS, elected, then at least have the decency to tell us about your change of party affiliation!

[….] In a prior interview, around 2011, you stated “If my walk doesn’t match my talk, shame on me and don’t ever vote for me again.” so, I will take your advice.

[….] You can tell it is coming to an election cycle. We did not elect you to be on the right. Stand up for Democratic values!

[….] Claire, deeply disappointed in you. Your principles are no longer mine. You have lost my support, both financially and my vote.

[….] Claire, I have recently lost respect for you. You just confirmed why.

[….] I support the President on this issue. Sick of a do-nothing congress.

[….] Hmmm sounds like a republican answer. Time to vote in a democrat.

[….] Senator McCaskill, I have always been a strong supporter of you, but after reading this post and realizing that you no longer stand for the people, nor do you support OUR President, I will be withdrawing all support for you. You have become too much like the far right, perhaps you have been bought by special interests like the rest of Congress, but your behavior (not to mention the behavior of Congress in general) is inexcusable. Shame on you and many of the Democrats. Don’t you understand that your non-support of the POTUS is part of the reason why we lost in the mid-terms? Despicable. I will certainly be finding a new Democratic candidate for my vote next election.

[….] President Obama has already tried to work with Congress and you have already seen what has happened on immigration. He is creating action and helping to eleviate a problem. You should be supporting his efforts!!

[….] We no longer care about what you think, Claire. Not after you sold us out for KXL.

[….] Senator McCaskill – Take a peek at Senator Elizabeth Warren’s post tonight. That’s what a true Democrat looks like. I’m very disappointed in you.

[….] And the hits just keep coming. I am officially not following your feed anymore and you have lost my vote when you decide to re-up for Senate or for the Gov. of Missouri. You know good and well why he had to do what he did. You are now part of the problem in my view… Quit pandering for vote, it doesn’t suit you.

[….] When did Clair become a repubican?

[….] I disagree. Nothing will ever get done that way. I support my President and so should you.

[….] President is doing what has to be done and that’s why I support him.

[….] Claire, they haven’t passed anything – I’m proud our President is taking legal action to get it moving. Be careful you’re leaning the wrong direction!

[….] I thought you are a democrat. You are talking like a republican

[….] Claire, trying to be a centrist for the sake of being a centrist does not a centrist make. Do you actually believe the Republicans are going to bend one inch for the likes of you if you pander to them?

[….] This is great if you live in la-la land where the current House is capable of passing any sort of solution on immigration. Yes, they should “quit stalling, get to work, and do their jobs.” — but you know full well that is not going to happen. So when the chips are down, Claire, where do you really stand? I’m so tired of your ‘bipartisan’ platitudes. Families are suffering because of our broken system. You are part of the problem and I wish Missouri had a better Democrat representing us.

[….] Wow, I remember a time when you dissed Clinton and jumped into Obama’s camp…. why don’t you just turn republican?

[….] You should be applauding our president, not bad mouthing what he is doing! While comprehensive immigration reform passed by Congress is, of course, the ideal, in the meantime, executive action is the only possible way forward. Bravo, President Obama! (BTW – I was out knocking on doors for you during your last election.)

[….] I support the President.

[….] You’ve become a truly lousy senator. I hope someone runs against you in your next primary. You are a political coward.

[….] Stop your nonsense and get on board with our President!

[….] Claire, what planet do you live on? If the last House couldn’t agree on immigration, what makes you think the next (more Republicans, more conservative) House can agree on anything?

[….] What is WRONG with you Senator??? Congress has had its chance. It is most certainly time for executive action. Between this and your pipeline vote, I have to ask: who bought you??

[….] Claire you got my last vote

[….] Such a disappointing response from you! You too run away from a President who has accomplished so much with a worthless Congress and such lack of disrespect I am disappointed in you as a Senator.

And there were several hundred more comments.

By all means, keep bleeding off the base.

Previously:

President Obama: On Immigration (November 20, 2014)

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D): Well, that went over like a lead pipeline… (November 19, 2014)

Padding Mary Landrieu’s resume (November 18, 2015)

A good take on Claire “Lieberman” McCaskill’s dissing of Harry Reid (November 17, 2014)

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): shifting tar sands (November 15, 2014)

We need the Keystone XL pipeline because? – part 3 (November 15, 2014)

We need the Keystone XL pipeline because? – part 2 (November 14, 2014)

Charles P. Pierce is meaner (November 14, 2014)

And then all hell broke loose (November 13, 2014)

We need the Keystone XL pipeline because? (November 13, 2014)

The White House transcript of President Obama’s address to the nation on Immigration:

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release

November 20, 2014

Remarks by the President in Address to the Nation on Immigration

Cross Hall

8:01 P.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT: My fellow Americans, tonight, I’d like to talk with you about immigration.

For more than 200 years, our tradition of welcoming immigrants from around the world has given us a tremendous advantage over other nations. It’s kept us youthful, dynamic, and entrepreneurial. It has shaped our character as a people with limitless possibilities — people not trapped by our past, but able to remake ourselves as we choose.

But today, our immigration system is broken — and everybody knows it.

Families who enter our country the right way and play by the rules watch others flout the rules. Business owners who offer their workers good wages and benefits see the competition exploit undocumented immigrants by paying them far less. All of us take offense to anyone who reaps the rewards of living in America without taking on the responsibilities of living in America. And undocumented immigrants who desperately want to embrace those responsibilities see little option but to remain in the shadows, or risk their families being torn apart.

It’s been this way for decades. And for decades, we haven’t done much about it.

When I took office, I committed to fixing this broken immigration system. And I began by doing what I could to secure our borders. Today, we have more agents and technology deployed to secure our southern border than at any time in our history. And over the past six years, illegal border crossings have been cut by more than half. Although this summer, there was a brief spike in unaccompanied children being apprehended at our border, the number of such children is now actually lower than it’s been in nearly two years. Overall, the number of people trying to cross our border illegally is at its lowest level since the 1970s. Those are the facts.

Meanwhile, I worked with Congress on a comprehensive fix, and last year, 68 Democrats, Republicans, and independents came together to pass a bipartisan bill in the Senate. It wasn’t perfect. It was a compromise. But it reflected common sense. It would have doubled the number of border patrol agents while giving undocumented immigrants a pathway to citizenship if they paid a fine, started paying their taxes, and went to the back of the line. And independent experts said that it would help grow our economy and shrink our deficits.

Had the House of Representatives allowed that kind of bill a simple yes-or-no vote, it would have passed with support from both parties, and today it would be the law. But for a year and a half now, Republican leaders in the House have refused to allow that simple vote.

Now, I continue to believe that the best way to solve this problem is by working together to pass that kind of common sense law. But until that happens, there are actions I have the legal authority to take as President — the same kinds of actions taken by Democratic and Republican presidents before me — that will help make our immigration system more fair and more just.

Tonight, I am announcing those actions.

First, we’ll build on our progress at the border with additional resources for our law enforcement personnel so that they can stem the flow of illegal crossings, and speed the return of those who do cross over.

Second, I’ll make it easier and faster for high-skilled immigrants, graduates, and entrepreneurs to stay and contribute to our economy, as so many business leaders have proposed.

Third, we’ll take steps to deal responsibly with the millions of undocumented immigrants who already live in our country.

I want to say more about this third issue, because it generates the most passion and controversy. Even as we are a nation of immigrants, we’re also a nation of laws. Undocumented workers broke our immigration laws, and I believe that they must be held accountable — especially those who may be dangerous. That’s why, over the past six years, deportations of criminals are up 80 percent. And that’s why we’re going to keep focusing enforcement resources on actual threats to our security. Felons, not families. Criminals, not children. Gang members, not a mom who’s working hard to provide for her kids. We’ll prioritize, just like law enforcement does every day.

But even as we focus on deporting criminals, the fact is, millions of immigrants in every state, of every race and nationality still live here illegally. And let’s be honest — tracking down, rounding up, and deporting millions of people isn’t realistic. Anyone who suggests otherwise isn’t being straight with you. It’s also not who we are as Americans. After all, most of these immigrants have been here a long time. They work hard, often in tough, low-paying jobs. They support their families. They worship at our churches. Many of their kids are American-born or spent most of their lives here, and their hopes, dreams, and patriotism are just like ours. As my predecessor, President Bush, once put it: “They are a part of American life.”

Now here’s the thing: We expect people who live in this country to play by the rules. We expect that those who cut the line will not be unfairly rewarded. So we’re going to offer the following deal: If you’ve been in America for more than five years; if you have children who are American citizens or legal residents; if you register, pass a criminal background check, and you’re willing to pay your fair share of taxes — you’ll be able to apply to stay in this country temporarily without fear of deportation. You can come out of the shadows and get right with the law. That’s what this deal is.

Now, let’s be clear about what it isn’t. This deal does not apply to anyone who has come to this country recently. It does not apply to anyone who might come to America illegally in the future. It does not grant citizenship, or the right to stay here permanently, or offer the same benefits that citizens receive — only Congress can do that. All we’re saying is we’re not going to deport you.

I know some of the critics of this action call it amnesty. Well, it’s not. Amnesty is the immigration system we have today — millions of people who live here without paying their taxes or playing by the rules while politicians use the issue to scare people and whip up votes at election time.

That’s the real amnesty — leaving this broken system the way it is. Mass amnesty would be unfair. Mass deportation would be both impossible and contrary to our character. What I’m describing is accountability — a common-sense, middle-ground approach: If you meet the criteria, you can come out of the shadows and get right with the law. If you’re a criminal, you’ll be deported. If you plan to enter the U.S. illegally, your chances of getting caught and sent back just went up.

The actions I’m taking are not only lawful, they’re the kinds of actions taken by every single Republican President and every single Democratic President for the past half century. And to those members of Congress who question my authority to make our immigration system work better, or question the wisdom of me acting where Congress has failed, I have one answer: Pass a bill.

I want to work with both parties to pass a more permanent legislative solution. And the day I sign that bill into law, the actions I take will no longer be necessary. Meanwhile, don’t let a disagreement over a single issue be a dealbreaker on every issue. That’s not how our democracy works, and Congress certainly shouldn’t shut down our government again just because we disagree on this. Americans are tired of gridlock. What our country needs from us right now is a common purpose — a higher purpose.

Most Americans support the types of reforms I’ve talked about tonight. But I understand the disagreements held by many of you at home. Millions of us, myself included, go back generations in this country, with ancestors who put in the painstaking work to become citizens. So we don’t like the notion that anyone might get a free pass to American citizenship.

I know some worry immigration will change the very fabric of who we are, or take our jobs, or stick it to middle-class families at a time when they already feel like they’ve gotten the raw deal for over a decade. I hear these concerns. But that’s not what these steps would do. Our history and the facts show that immigrants are a net plus for our economy and our society. And I believe it’s important that all of us have this debate without impugning each other’s character.

Because for all the back and forth of Washington, we have to remember that this debate is about something bigger. It’s about who we are as a country, and who we want to be for future generations.

Are we a nation that tolerates the hypocrisy of a system where workers who pick our fruit and make our beds never have a chance to get right with the law? Or are we a nation that gives them a chance to make amends, take responsibility, and give their kids a better future?

Are we a nation that accepts the cruelty of ripping children from their parents’ arms? Or are we a nation that values families, and works together to keep them together?

Are we a nation that educates the world’s best and brightest in our universities, only to send them home to create businesses in countries that compete against us? Or are we a nation that encourages them to stay and create jobs here, create businesses here, create industries right here in America?

That’s what this debate is all about. We need more than politics as usual when it comes to immigration. We need reasoned, thoughtful, compassionate debate that focuses on our hopes, not our fears. I know the politics of this issue are tough. But let me tell you why I have come to feel so strongly about it.

Over the past few years, I have seen the determination of immigrant fathers who worked two or three jobs without taking a dime from the government, and at risk any moment of losing it all, just to build a better life for their kids. I’ve seen the heartbreak and anxiety of children whose mothers might be taken away from them just because they didn’t have the right papers. I’ve seen the courage of students who, except for the circumstances of their birth, are as American as Malia or Sasha; students who bravely come out as undocumented in hopes they could make a difference in the country they love.

These people — our neighbors, our classmates, our friends — they did not come here in search of a free ride or an easy life. They came to work, and study, and serve in our military, and above all, contribute to America’s success.

Tomorrow, I’ll travel to Las Vegas and meet with some of these students, including a young woman named Astrid Silva. Astrid was brought to America when she was four years old. Her only possessions were a cross, her doll, and the frilly dress she had on. When she started school, she didn’t speak any English. She caught up to other kids by reading newspapers and watching PBS, and she became a good student. Her father worked in landscaping. Her mom cleaned other people’s homes. They wouldn’t let Astrid apply to a technology magnet school, not because they didn’t love her, but because they were afraid the paperwork would out her as an undocumented immigrant — so she applied behind their back and got in. Still, she mostly lived in the shadows — until her grandmother, who visited every year from Mexico, passed away, and she couldn’t travel to the funeral without risk of being found out and deported. It was around that time she decided to begin advocating for herself and others like her, and today, Astrid Silva is a college student working on her third degree.

Are we a nation that kicks out a striving, hopeful immigrant like Astrid, or are we a nation that finds a way to welcome her in? Scripture tells us that we shall not oppress a stranger, for we know the heart of a stranger — we were strangers once, too.

My fellow Americans, we are and always will be a nation of immigrants. We were strangers once, too. And whether our forebears were strangers who crossed the Atlantic, or the Pacific, or the Rio Grande, we are here only because this country welcomed them in, and taught them that to be an American is about something more than what we look like, or what our last names are, or how we worship. What makes us Americans is our shared commitment to an ideal — that all of us are created equal, and all of us have the chance to make of our lives what we will.

That’s the country our parents and grandparents and generations before them built for us. That’s the tradition we must uphold. That’s the legacy we must leave for those who are yet to come.

Thank you. God bless you. And God bless this country we love.

END

8:16 P.M. EST

In the last week at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C001135 11/13/2014 A BETTER MISSOURI WITH GOVERNOR JAY NIXON Carey & Danis LLC 8235 Forsyth Boulevard FL. 11 Saint Louis MO 63105 11/12/2014 $15,000.00

C001135 11/20/2014 A BETTER MISSOURI WITH GOVERNOR JAY NIXON Peabody Investments Corp. 701 Market Street Saint Louis MO 63101 11/18/2014 $10,000.00

[emphasis added]

Who knows?