Despite health care and Iran debate boiling furiously in the last couple weeks, Pres. Obama has decided to take on immigration reform.  This might seem like a bad idea at first, taking on another major effort while health care reform and the future of Iran hang in the balance. 

But, I think, there's a bit of genius in the idea if you take a closer look.  The uprising in Iran and the development of real, actually possible health care reform has actually left conservatives a lot of room for criticizing Obama, and this immigration diversion gives him a real chance to change the subject, and change the headlines. 

His approval rating has gone down a bit in recent weeks.  People are still economically depressed.  Many people are skeptical of the GM bankruptcy, the stimulus, the bailouts, a little bit scared about health care reform, and wary of another legislative failure.  Until this recession ends, which is obviously a cycle that takes time, Obama's popularity cushion will begin to thin out.  All of this means the current political climate is giving Republican criticisms a lot of press, and time for skepticisms about Obama to grow.  So, it's a great time to talk about something else. 


Also, Republicans will be forced to defend an issue they probably feel content leaving alone right now.  It forces Republicans to reinforce their image as a white-dominated party, and further alienate Latinos while drawing them to the Democratic party by delivering a campaign promise.  It will alienate many moderates in the Northeast and further regionalize the Republican party.   With more and more people in favor of a path to citizenship, they'll be fighting on ground that's slipping away from them.  The only people they'll please, mass deportation enthusiasts, are overwhelmingly down-the-line Republicans anyway.

So, Barack Obama and (presumably) David Axelrod, I just want to say well done, sirs.