On the recordJune 7, 2013
As surely as past is prologue, this will happen again if we do it in the wrong sequence. Sequencing matters. When I was 6 or 7 years old, my mother pointed out to me that you don't try to butter the toast before you toast it. You toast it first and then put the butter on top. There are all kinds of examples where we need to follow the right sequence. If they don't follow the right sequence, they don't get the results they want. This is another area where sequence matters. I am convinced we can treat those 11 million people who are currently here illegally with the dignity, respect, and compassion we want to treat them with as Americans. I am convinced we can find a way to do that. I am convinced we can find a broad-based bipartisan solution to do that. I am less convinced that it makes any sense to do that now before we fix the underlying problem. Again, it is a matter of simple sequencing. We have to first stop the flow of illegal immigration. After that, we will be in a better position to ascertain the needs of those who are currently here illegally. It is only in that circumstance that we will know best how to address that. Along those lines, I would like to address an issue which sometimes comes up. Sometimes arguments are made by the proponents of this bill that if we don't support this bill--not just if we don't support immigration reform generally, but if we don't support this particular bill--we are somehow anti-immigrant or uncategorically uncompassionate people.…
