Senior House Dem: Latinos view President Obama with 'suspicion'

A member of the House Democratic leadership said Wednesday that Latinos view President Barack Obama with "suspicion" for failing to meet expectations.

Rep. Xavier Becerra (Calif.), the House Democratic Caucus vice chairman, offered stern words for Obama, saying that the Latino population wants to see more from the White House on issues that are important to them.

"I think there’s a lot of suspicion, a lot of doubt, a lot of concern," he said on KPCC Radio of Obama's image among Latinos. "The president made a promise. He hasn’t fulfilled that promise. Rightfully, I think a lot of folks are questioning where the president’s priorities are."

Latino groups have been pressuring Congress and the White House to act on comprehensive immigration reform amid doubts that legislation will be passed this year. 

Becerra's comments are one of the most significant broadsides from a lawmaker against Obama's sway with Latinos.

During the 2008 presidential race, Obama was able to galvanize Latinos into a solid Democratic voting bloc after President George W. Bush attracted a record level of Latino support for a GOP presidential nominee in the 2004 election.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who has been negotiating immigration reform with the White House and Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), said last month that the issue is "dead" in the Senate this year because the contentious healthcare debate left Republicans with a sour taste in their mouths. 

The White House rejected that assessment, but said it is necessary to get Republicans on board to pass a bill.

Becerra, whose mother immigrated from Mexico, also expressed disappointment that the new healthcare law does not allow illegal immigrants to buy health insurance on state-run exchanges.

“I think that’s extremely shortsighted, and at the end of the day a cost to the taxpayer," he said. "If you have money and are willing to pay for your care but are told you can’t buy the insurance, guess what? You’re going to end up in the emergency room not able to pay for that care, and who pays? No one but the taxpayer."

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