Gibbs:No immigration reform without 'healthy bipartisan majority'

Now if only the President's Press Secretary would define 'healthy bipartisan majority'.

Quote:





            The White House is not concerned that taking up such a divisive issue as immigration will be counterproductive to President Obama's signature goal of uniting the country, Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said Thursday. But he added that the Obama administration also doesn't see immigration reform passing Congress until there is "a healthy bipartisan majority" supporting it — something that seems unlikely to happen soon.<br />

"We know this is not an easy issue - I think the president also understands that a number of the issues that he deals with in some way, shape or form are divisive," Gibbs told reporters Thursday night. "But that doesn't alleviate our obligations to deal with them."

Gibbs said that immigration reform would take bipartisan support after he was asked if the strong anti-immigration rhetoric at some of the "tea parties" held around the country yesterday raised concerns about the tone of the debate.

"In order to get immigration reform through Congress and to the president's desk it's going to take a healthy bipartisan majority," Gibbs said. "It's going to take votes from both sides of the aisle, and I don't anticipate it'll happen until there is some agreement to that."

I guess whatever happens in May will be critical for any success towards comprehensive legislation.