You're watching...
Rep. Luis Gutierrez, (D-Ill.), on reports unions are cutting back donations to the Democratic Party and why Obama can’t take the Hispanic vote for g...
Also in this playlist...
Auto-advance: ON
Auto-advance
This transcript is automatically generated
Our turning -- -- politics some of the country's largest labor unions are now reportedly slashing their financial support all of the Democratic Party.
At issue is what they call out tepid response to Republican efforts.
To -- -- collective bargaining powers cut Medicare funding and to require voters to show ID at the polls.
With us now from Washington DC is democratic congressman Luis Gutierrez of Illinois a member of the congressional Hispanic caucus.
And congressman always good to see you thanks for being here.
But should be with the let's start with what is happening here in the Democratic Party with -- we've organized labor.
Making it very clear that -- of them are going to be taken for granted.
In their support.
Of democratic candidates does that surprise you.
Does surprise me at all Lou I think -- labor unions the AFL CIO's should do what's in there.
Best interest within their self interest that is they represent men and women.
That -- a bit better collective bargaining agreement so that's exactly what they should do I kind of think.
Look -- is gonna have to make the decisions like a lot of other people are they first and foremost for the reelection of Democrats.
And president Barack Obama.
Or defending the bath and self interest.
Of the men and women that pay the union dues and elected -- office I think that I think they're they're having to do the former I think that's the correct thing to them.
And and this what seems to be a pain and fracturing.
Coalition that is the Democratic Party.
You yourself have said that you're not going to be taken for granted in terms of a favorite.
Four -- for president.
Do you think that this is is this something we should expect.
From Hispanic voters across the country you know -- your individual decision or how do you see.
Look and I wanna support Barack Obama for reelection.
As president of the United States.
I can do that on my own or I can work to rally hopefully the tens of thousands hundreds of thousands of others who were with them in the last election bring in order to do that he's gonna have to step forward and do more than just go to El -- and -- -- nice speech about comprehensive immigration reform.
He's going to have to take some actions that the way I kind of look at who is I com I think -- of what's my first and basic priority.
As a legislator and I think is to represent a constituency that -- me here to Washington DC.
I might not make the I would is that the dinner list that at the White House are get a nice -- on Air Force One but I'm gonna have a lot of self respect.
And I'm going to respect the people to send me.
Women advanced in this country.
Because they challenge Woodrow Wilson the labor movement advance because they.
Challenged FDR and you know something the civil rights movement in the fix the advance -- they challenged LBJ I think that's what the labor movement is doing today.
Challenging the Democratic Party their friends and their allies to do better and I think that's what brings about change in America.
-- Turning to the issue of Hispanic American voters.
The latest Gallup poll shows Obama's approval rating among Hispanics.
And 59%.
From all time -- last month.
Of 47%.
What are you into what do you attribute that that improved.
While not significant is it it -- it's significant improvement.
I think there are many issues that the Latino community support but let's remember Barack Obama got between 67.
No one disputes -- 67%.
Of the Latino vote up to 70% of the Latino vote and it increased.
Over two million that if there was a gross increase in the number of Latinos voting in the presidential election tool or -- weight of two million.
The question at -- -- up and you and I both know.
It's not just who's eligible to vote for what percentage.
But how many of them actually turn out that you get it that -- it turned out.
You might get 59% but that -- 9% of what about a hundred votes or about thousand both I think you want obviously the latter.
So what does this president is going to have to do to him to win the vote of congressman Luis you're the -- Well I think what he's going to have to do list is key the basic fundamental promise that he may.
He said he was gonna be a defender and a champion that's all I'm asking this president to do is this beaten with the same kind of energy the same kind of bigger.
With the same kind of commitment.
That the immigrant community is under attack across the community that he -- that community and that he show very clearly that he -- Look though I mean certainly 12100 more national Guardsmen that may be a good idea to the border.
Sending.
Making sure that you have secure communities across this new secure communities across with which makes police and immigration agents share information.
You know those things.
Are part of comprehensive immigration reform but they should also be a heart.
And the soul and a compassion for young men and women the dream kids.
Why should.
I think the president should -- what 22 senate democratic senators asked them to do and that is not deport him until the congress of the United States can take action and finally determine.
-- four million American citizen children.
And though I just don't think it's in the best interest of the United States and its good public policy to -- their moms and dad thought that if if the one client.
That's you can find that they're being accused of this working here on document that should allow them let's fix the immigration system.
And in the interim period let's not punish those that have American citizen children and that came here through no fault of their own.
Moving into this that you're you've said for those for a government contracts to verify what would be wrong within India be verified -- importer in the country.
I would have had absolutely no problem with that.
And I want to do that within the context.
Of comprehensive immigration reform.
As you know I introduced I mean when the president goes down to Al paso -- he comes and says I'm for comprehensive immigration reform.
Where in that speech are his partners in the Republican Party.
Where -- partners that he's bringing together Republicans and Democrats talked and I know one thing that when I -- comprehensive immigration reform I did it with congressman flake and a dozen other Republicans here in the house -- and Kennedy and McCain did it together and you know that's the way you create successful.
But advances legislatively.
If I mean just point out as a -- -- as we have to -- -- The president George W.
Bush was the man pushing forward.
Comprehensive immigration reform.
And secondly.
The Democrats control both houses of congress.
For two years under this president.
In that would have been I would -- and significant support for comprehensive immigration reform with.
So do you have some room.
You're -- -- you're absolutely right on both are gonna start with your book coming out right about anything that million -- -- you're right.
We should have done what we were in the majority we failed to deliver.
Congressman thanks for being here -- -- talking to come back -- are right now.
