Smith Reacts to Latest Obama Attack on State Governments

HIXSON, TN – Third District Congressional Candidate Robin Smith today reacted to remarks by President Barack Obama regarding the recently passed immigration law in the State of Arizona. In remarks during a joint appearance with Mexican President Felipe Calderon, Obama said, “What I’ve directed my Justice Department to do is to look very carefully at the language of this law to see whether it comports both with our core values and existing legal standards, as well as the fact that the federal government is ultimately the one charged with immigration policy.”

In response to the president’s comments, Smith said, “This continuing pattern of the Obama/Pelosi liberals of dictating policy to the states and threatening them when they do not comply should be disturbing to all Americans. As we saw with the government takeover of health care and now Obama’s rhetorical saber-rattling toward Arizona, it’s clear the full assault on the rights of our states to decide how best to address the needs of their citizens is underway. Our message to these liberal elitists is simple: keep your big government hands off the states. It is the failure of the federal government to act in securing our border that has forced Arizona to take the action they have with this law.

While the president threatens the government of Arizona, his Attorney General, Homeland Security Secretary and high-level State Department officials admit they have not taken the time to read the seventeen pages of the law. Instead of wasting time and taxpayer money reviewing a law meant to protect Americans from the flood of illegal immigrants crossing into the United States, he should dial back the rhetoric and put those resources into protecting the homeland, a job he was elected, and so far has failed, to do.”