As Benjy Sarlin tweeted today, “This is a preview of how ‘We couldn’t pass immigration because of Obamacare’ will play in Spanish-language media.”
Speaker Boehner and the House GOP may try to blame their inaction on immigration on President Obama, the Democrats, the legislative calendar, immigration reform advocates — and even national monuments — but one exchange today illustrated just how pointless the facade is.
Univision’s Jorge Ramos made an appearance today at Speaker Boehner’s weekly press conference, where the former flat-out accused the latter of obstruction on immigration. Here’s the exchange:
Ramos: “Why are you blocking immigration reform?”
“Me? Blocking?” Boehner replied.
“Yes, you,” Ramos said. “You could bring it to a vote but you haven’t.”
Boehner went on to bluster some more, saying that “immigration reform is an issue I’ve talked about for 18 months,” before reverting back to the excuse that Republicans can’t trust President Obama to enforce the law, citing Obamacare extensions as proof. Ramos continued to call him out:
“What does Obamacare have to do with immigration reform?” Ramos said. “The Senate passed [immigration reform] almost a year ago, and you haven’t moved on that. Many people are questioning your leadership and your vision on this.”
“I just gave you an answer,” Boehner replied. “There’s nobody more interested in fixing this problem than I am. But the president –“
Ramos interrupted. “You can do it, and you really haven’t done it,” he said.
“I appreciate your opinion,” Boehner said. “Thank you.”
This isn’t the first time that Ramos has stuck it to Republicans on immigration reform. As he wrote in February about the Latino community and their feelings on GOP obstruction:
Really at this point we can only blame Republicans and Speaker John Boehner for blocking immigration reform…What they have to know is that Latinos will remember and that they will blame Republicans. And if they continue doing this, and blocking immigration reform, Republicans will lose again the White House in 2016.
So there you go, Speaker Boehner. You can keep coming up with excuses. But the Latino community correctly knows who to blame. Good luck trying to make up by 2016.
Watch the Ramos-Boehner exchange below:
