NBC: GOP Can't 'Control' Conservatives on Immigration, 'Risk' of 'Alienating Latinos'

In the wake of President Obama's announcement Thursday night that he would go around Congress to grant amnesty to millions of illegal immigrants, Friday's NBC Today warned of  Republican overreaction to the presidential power grab. Meet the Press moderator Chuck Todd proclaimed: "Republican leaders are nervous that they won't be able to control their conservative members who would like to lash out and have a fight now with the President."

During a news brief at the top of the 8 a.m. ET hour, correspondent Peter Alexander declared: "In many ways, politically, the ball is now in the Republican's court with a heated debate raging within that party about its best response. But it comes with a risk...potentially alienating Latinos in this country."

Co-host Savannah Guthrie lead off the show by announcing: "Ready for a fight. President Obama unveils his plan to help 5 million undocumented immigrants stay in the country....But will Republicans derail his plans?"

In her discussion with Todd minutes later, Guthrie wondered: "As we see, Republicans are furious about this. But what are they likely to do about it?" Todd replied: "Well, they don't know what they're going to do....they would like to try to use the power of the purse, find some ways to maybe limit the amount of funds that get moved to the agencies that oversee the immigration issues, that that's their way of firing back. There's perhaps going to be a lawsuit or two..."

Todd then made his assertion that the GOP could not "control" conservatives.

Guthrie did point out Obama's flip-flop on the issue: "And what was the President's thinking here about doing it now? Because it's something he had talked about, there was a time when he said, 'I can't do this kind of action.' Then he said, 'I'll postpone it until after election.' What's the thinking at the White House?"

Todd highlighted the crass political motivation behind the controversial move:

Well, it was now or never, in their thinking. If they delayed again....they thought Hispanics wouldn't trust the President because he keeps postponing this action. And frankly, Savannah, they regret that they didn't do this six months ago. They actually think if they did it six months ago, there'd be a Democratic governor of Florida and one more Democratic senator of out Colorado.

Todd never expressed any concern that the President was unable to "control" his liberal base.

Here is a full transcript of Guthrie's November 21 exchange with Todd:

7:05 AM ET

SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: Let's turn to Chuck Todd, he's moderator of Meet the Press and NBC's political director. Chuck, good morning. As we see, Republicans are furious about this. But what are they likely to do about it?

CHUCK TODD: Well, they don't know what they're going to do. The leadership of the Republican Party, the Senate leadership and the House leadership, they would like to try to use the power of the purse, find some ways to maybe limit the amount of funds that get moved to the agencies that oversee the immigration issues, that that's their way of firing back. There's perhaps going to be a lawsuit or two, maybe the state of Texas, maybe the state of Oklahoma, a few states like that file suit against the President on this.

But I'll tell you, Republican leaders are nervous that they won't be able to control their conservative members who would like to lash out and have a fight now with the President. They'd like to keep their powder dry – the leadership, that is. I don't know if they're going to be able to do that.

GUTHRIE: And what was the President's thinking here about doing it now? Because it's something he had talked about, there was a time when he said, "I can't do this kind of action."

TODD: Right.

GUTHRIE: Then he said, "I'll postpone it until after election." What's the thinking at the White House?

TODD: Well, it was now or never, in their thinking. If they delayed again – there was some talk of this idea that he would announce last night. "Here's everything I'm going to do and I'll sign the order on June 1st, 2015," essentially giving Republicans six more months to try to pass some sort of immigration bill. But they decided that would be – they thought that would be too gimmicky, they thought Hispanics wouldn't trust the President because he keeps postponing this action.

And frankly, Savannah, they regret that they didn't do this six months ago. They actually think if they did it six months ago, there'd be a Democratic governor of Florida and one more Democratic senator of out Colorado.

GUTHRIE: And we heard what the President said, saying essentially, "If you don't like what I'm doing, pass a bill." What are the chance that happens?

TODD: Very little. But I have to say, that's the part of this that Republicans are going to have to accept. They've got control of the House and Senate. If they don't like this, they can pass a bill. I just don't know how they pass a bill and that's – the leaders themselves don't know how they do it either, Savannah.

GUTHRIE: Alright, Chuck Todd in Washington, thank you. And of course, you're going to have a lot more on this Sunday morning on Meet the Press.