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In a Switch, Emanuel Now Backs Immigration Reform

Once worried about red-state candidates, chief of staff now pushes Obama's reforms

By Gabriel Winant, Newser User

Posted Apr 10, 2009 9:34 AM CDT

(Newser) – Rahm Emanuel seems to have had a change of heart about immigration reform. In the past, he's been a lukewarm advocate at best for fear it would hurt Democrats at the polls. But in his new job as chief of staff, he’s pushing immigrant-friendly laws and predicting legislation on comprehensive reform by next year, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Sen. Chuck Schumer points out that Emanuel, who used to have to worry about reddish districts in Ohio and Indiana, now is “representing the whole country.” Emanuel says his views have not changed, but adds, “It doesn't matter what Rahm thinks. It matters what President Obama thinks.”

[Images (4)]

[Quotes (1)]

Then-presidential candidate Barack Obama, meets with members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, after a meeting at Democratic National Committee headquarters in Washington, Tuesday, June 17, 2008. (AP Photo/Lawrence Jackson)

This image provided by "Meet the Press" shows Rahm Emanuel on the show. (AP Photo/Meet The Press, Brendan Smialowski)

White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel listens to President Barack Obama deliver remarks at the White House Forum on Health Reform, March 5, 2009, in the East Room of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)

White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel speaks with President Barack Obama as the U.S. delegation meets with Turkey's President Abdullah Gul and his delegation in Ankara, Turkey, April 6, 2009. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

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There's no more brilliant political strategist than Rahm. He was shrewdly trying to lay out vehicles that would provide Democrats cover on this issue. - Janet Murguia, president of National Council of La Raza

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In a Switch, Emanuel Now Backs Immigration Reform