Jorge Ramos the popular Univision news anchor talks about the lack of action on Obama’s part on immigration reform, “Obama broke a promise. It’s that simple.”
That promise which Ramos refer to is Obama’s campaign claims to tackle the issue within one year of his presidency if he were elected. One-year later and still nothing. “When he had a hold on Congress, when he had 60 votes in the Senate, he could have done it,” Ramos says. “And he didn’t. He chose other issues. And that’s why Latinos are so frustrated.”
Ramos is firing back in his new book A Country for All: An Immigrant Manifesto. He will not let the issue lay to rest with the President. At a White House meeting last September, Ramos did not miss the opportunity to inquire about immigration reform, Obama simply replied “I am not backing off one minute from getting this done, but let’s face it, I’ve had a few things to do.” The again last month at a state dinner for Mexican President Felipe Calderón, Ramos once again asked the President about the issue Ramos recalls, “I’m not quoting him exactly—‘How many times do I have to say I’m for immigration reform?’ My answer was, ‘As many times as needed.’”
In political terms, the immigration bill, if one existed does not have a fillbuster-proof majority in the Senate. While Ramos understands this, he wants to push the agenda of the issue to “see how far the White House is willing to go on this issue.”
