Seemingly undeterred by the drubbing in the Congressional elections, President Barack Obama has sent a mixed message to the victorious Republicans, promising cooperation yet making it clear that he will be ready to act unilaterally on hot-button issues like immigration reform if the Congress does not act in time.
At a post-election news conference on Wednesday, Obama made his intentions clear on the immigration issue, declaring: “Before the end of the year, we’re going to take whatever lawful actions that I can take that I believe will improve the functioning of our immigration system.”
Obama did not go into the specifics of the omnibus issue, the central thrust of which is to provide a legal path to earned citizenship for the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants, which includes some 250,000 Indians.
“I think it’s fair to say that I’ve shown a lot of patience and tried to work on a bipartisan basis as much as possible and will keep doing so,” Obama said, noting his preference was to see Congress act on a comprehensive immigration reform bill. But he stressed: “What we can’t do is just keep on waiting. There is a cost to waiting. There’s a cost to our economy.”
Obama’s comments prompted a sharp Republican reaction. “The American people should be very concerned that their president didn’t get the message of yesterday’s election,” said Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus, adding: “He seemed to suggest the only ideas he’s willing to listen to are his own, old, failed ones. That’s the same my-way-or-the-highway approach that the American people rejected.”
Separately, Republican Senator Mitch McConnell, who is set to be the new Senate Majority leader, cautioned Obama against resorting to executive action on immigration this year, saying it would be like “waving a red flag in front of a bull”. Any such move would “poison the well” for bipartisan cooperation during the remaining two years of Obama’s term, McConnell cautioned.
Immigration issue apart, Obama cautioned the Republicans against using their majority in both Houses of Congress to come up with new legislation to repeal his signature health care reform, making clear he will veto any such move.