Obama and Reid dare to DREAM

As the lame duck session in Congress begins, Obama has a last chance to encourage essential bills without the incoming massive partisan resistance. One that is on the agenda, and should be number one priority, is the DREAM Act.The DREAM Act provides education funding and legal residence status for minors who are in the country illegally and are trying to obtain a college degree or serve in the military.  
 
The stakes are high this lame duck session. First, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid must keep all of the promises made to his constituents , including those to the Latino voters, who re-elected him over Sharon Angle because of his support for the DREAM Act. The Democratic Party has to act quickly, as they currently still hold the majority in the House and Senate. But come January, the DREAM Act and other immigration bills will probably be blocked in the House by the new Republican Majority.
 
Secondly, passing the DREAM Act is important to help secure Obama’s re-election. On average, President Obama’s approval rating has dropped from 64% in January 2009 to a minority of 46% in November 2010. In fact, organizations have launched campaigns to garner support for the unpopular president, such as the “what the fuck has Obama done so far” website that details different accomplishments of the Obama Administration with the click of a button. Passing the DREAM Act can be extremely crucial to Obama’s re-election because in 2008, 67% of the Latino vote went to Obama largely because of his promises to create a comprehensive immigration reform. Minorities, always thought to be loyal to the Democratic Party, will only take so many broken promises before becoming disillusioned and staying home (or even voting Republican!) on Election Day in 2012.
 
Lastly, passing the DREAM Act has greater implications for the future of the Democratic Party. As the Latino population rises, the Democratic Party has an opportunity to be a clear majority of the United States. In fact, it is predicted that Latinos will represent 30% of the United States population by 2050. The problem is that Latinos, while normally Democratic, tend to be morally conservative because of strong Catholic beliefs. As they settle in and become more successful, evident in an increase of small businesses, they will also become more financially conservative. If the Democratic Party doesn’t keep courting the Latinos, they will be losing a battle they don't even realize they are fighting. They have grown complacent, but must always put Hispanics first. Therefore, if the Democratic Party can help pass the DREAM Act they will further establish themselves as the immigrant-friendly party—for years to come they can expect a growing voter turnout from Latinos.