FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
The federal government is trying to play catch-up with Arizona - when it comes to immigration reform.
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President Obama is calling on Congress to start work this year on comprehensive immigration reform. Translation: Nothing will get done this year.
The president acknowledges that the nation's immigration system is "broken," yet criticizes Arizona's new law - saying it undermines "fundamental principles that define us as a nation." Portions of the Arizona law are word for word the same as the federal law which is ignored year after year.
Mr. Obama promised immigration reform during his first year in office. We're now approaching the midway point of his second year. Even some Democrats are getting tired of waiting for the president to do something.
The president has suggested that there's not an appetite in Congress for another fiery debate in an election year; and just yesterday his press secretary said that there's not enough support to move forward. Except in the country… where there is huge support for doing something.
One Democratic Senator is asking Arizona to delay implementing its immigration law for a one year. New York Senator Chuck Schumer - in an act of great chutzpah - tells Arizona governor Jan Brewer the delay would give Congress a chance to pass a federal law, which would be more effective than Arizona's. Brewer says: No way.
She, like the rest of us, has been lied to before. They want another year to do nothing... so they can campaign for the midterms without having to explain to the voters why they refuse to do anything meaningful about border security and illegal immigration.
They're not even any good at covering up their real motives anymore.
Here’s my question to you: How seriously do you take the president and Congress when it comes to immigration reform?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Rick writes:
Congress has no intention of doing anything about illegal immigration, other than legalizing all the illegals. They know the citizens are against that, so they do nothing! Every state needs to copy the Arizona law, and every state needs to apply it. It's time for the citizens to get some action from someone, even if it has to be the states, individually.
Mike writes:
I think what the president and the Democrats are doing is that they are trying to string the Hispanics along, just so they can say that they are "doing" something about immigration, when they are actually not doing anything at all.
Bob in Pennsylvania writes:
The country does not want reform; they want the border closed and our laws enforced.
Alex in Washington writes:
Not very seriously. There are more votes and money for both sides in maintaining the status quo. Taking any action will lose voters for those with the courage to act. Any path towards citizenship will be vilified as amnesty and any crackdown on illegal aliens will alienate (No pun intended) Hispanic voters. So, as usual, nothing will get done.
Michael in Phoenix writes:
I don't take them seriously. The government has failed us over and over. If they do come up with a new policy, it will be the inverse of what the people want. It will cause more problems and there won't be any funding for it.
Lillian in Tucson writes:
I hope Pres. Obama takes this topic seriously and with responsibility. We are living a nightmare in Arizona: people leaving the state, families suffering and afraid of what will happen. This situation can not continue like it is... The Hispanic community says: Today we march, tomorrow we'll vote. We are not one, we're not hundreds, we're not thousands; WE ARE MILLIONS.