Obama Shows Signs of Moving on Immigration Reform

As we have repeatedly argued for months, we find very little to admire in the substance of President Barack Obama's determined attempt to take over 17 percent of the U.S. economy with a health care reform bill riddled with flaws and built on faulty assumptions. Having said that, one can't help but respect Obama's tenacity in pushing through legislation he believes necessary not just to improving health care, but to the economic health of the country. Disregarding polls, elections and town hall meetings, the president is sure he's right, and so he keeps pushing.

In fact, just last week, in a speech on health care, Obama pushed again when he acknowledged the difficulty of the issue but said "that's not an excuse for those of us who were sent here to lead." In an apparent reference to fellow Democrats who are wavering on health care reform, Obama said, "We can't just give up because the politics are hard." What is at stake in this debate, he said, is "not just our ability to solve this problem, but our ability to solve any problem." He concluded with a fiery plea regarding health care reform: "Let's get it done."

Monday, in another speech, Obama reiterated that message once more. The culture of Washington, he said, is based on poll numbers and how a given action impacts one's re-election prospects.

Lawmakers need to put politics aside, he said, and do the right thing now and then.

The president is correct that lawmakers are too driven by politics. We only wish that Obama would channel his tenacity in a more useful and constructive direction.

Such as the pursuit of meaningful immigration reform. Polls show a majority of Americans in favor of a comprehensive approach as opposed to the discredited "enforcement only" route preferred by congressional Republicans in 2006 and 2007. That didn't work then, and it would not work now. We need to look at the problem in full. We need to make it easier for employers to know who is eligible to work by creating a tamper-proof identification card, and punishing those who flout the law. We need to fix the immigration system so that more people can enter the United States legally.

Obama promised to work toward comprehensive reform in his first year. Unfortunately, he didn't keep that promise. Instead, he wasted time, energy and capital on health care reform that will not achieve the goals he set out to achieve. Pro-immigrant activists have lost patience with the White House, and they're planning a massive march in Washington on March 21 intended to draw attention to the issue. That seems to have gotten Obama's attention. He is reportedly holding meetings this week with key senators on how to proceed with immigration reform.

It's about time, Mr. President. Let's get it done.

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