Obama Slams Jeb Bush on Immigration Row, Says Republicans Are Scuttling His Reforms

President Barack Obama on Wednesday returned the criticism aired by Jeb Bush against him that he was responsible for complicating immigration reforms. Speaking at a town hall event in Florida, which is the home base of presidential race aspirant Jeb Bush, Obama said, “I appreciate Mr. Bush being concerned about immigration reform. I would suggest though that what he do is talk to the speaker of the House and the members of his party.” The event was televised on Spanish-language network Telemundo and MSNBC.

Mr Obama described Bush’s criticism against him as an “excuse” and noted it was Republicans who blocked an immigration bill passed by the Senate from moving forward. Jeb Bush is a former Florida governor and has announced his plan to seek Republican presidential nomination.

Executive Order Flayed

Bush had held Mr Obama responsible for creating the set back in immigration reforms and blamed him for resorting to Executive actions through orders like work permits and lifting the threat of deportation for 4.7 million undocumented immigrants.

Mr Obama’s Executive order of November 2014 on illegal immigrants was stalled in mid February by a Texas judge. But the Justice Department has asked for an emergency stay on the court order and is appealing on it.

The President told the audience comprising Latin American immigrants that they must blame Republicans for holding up changes he sought to bring into the U.S. immigration laws. Obama advised the Miami’s Latino community to turn up the political heat to solve their worries on deportations.

Conservatives Conference

Meanwhile, at a political conference of Conservatives held on Thursday, potential Republican presidential candidates took on both Democrats and their own party member Jeb Bush, in a bid to cheer the audience. They bashed President Obama, Hillary Clinton and Jeb Bush at the conference.

At Oxon Hill, thousands of activists attended the first full day session of the Conservative Political Action Conference. There was loud cheer when Sen. Ted Cruz, described Mr Obama as “Lawless imperator” or emperor, reports State. The audience cheered again when New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said Jeb Bush would be the favorite of “elites in Washington who make backroom deals.”

Heavy applause followed when former business executive Carly Fiorina’s referred to Hillary Clinton with a question: “Mrs. Clinton, name an accomplishment.” She further challenged Clinton to “please explain why we should accept that the millions and millions of dollars that flowed into the Clinton Foundation from foreign governments don’t represent a conflict of interest.”

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