Senator Kyl: They're holding the border hostage - UPDATE: White House Denies

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Quite Rightly  posted a transcript  of the video below showing Senator John Kyl, who met with constituents at a town hall meeting sponsored by the North Tempe Tea Party explaining to his constituents why Obama refuses to secure the borders.  The meeting was held June 18, shortly after news was broken  that the administration intended to challenge Arizona's immigration law 1070 in court.  Senator Kyl responded to a question from an audience member questioning Senator Kyl about the legal challenge.  Senator Kyl explained President Obama's opposition to securing the border:

I met with the president in the Oval Office, just the two of us . . . and we had a discussion about this. . . . Here’s what the president said:

“The problem is,” he said, “if we secure the border, then you all won’t have any reason to support comprehensive immigration reform.”

In other words, they’re holding it hostage. They don’t want to secure the border unless and until it is combined with comprehensive immigration reform.

Now, I explained, “You and I, Mr. President, have an obligation to secure the border. That’s an obligation. It also has potentially positive benefits. You don’t have to have comprehensive reform to secure the border, but you have to secure the border to get comprehensive reform.” I said, “You’d be surprised. Maybe you don’t think that there would be any more incentive for comprehensive reform. But I’m not so sure that that’s true.” In any event, it doesn’t matter. We’re supposed to secure the border.

But that’s why it isn’t being done. They frankly don’t want to do it. They want to get something in return for doing their duty.

It's entirely debatable whether there would be support for comprehensive reform once the borders were secured.  Both parties want to be seen as catering to the growing Hispanic voting block.  The problem for politicians, however, is simple - the American people want the borders secured before any plan for immigration reform becomes law.  This is hardly asking a lot.  As Kyl points out, it is the responsibility of those elected to govern  to secure the border and protect the citizens of Arizona who are bombarded with the crime that spills across its border.

 Democrats won, or so they keep reminding us.  There is no excuse for their dereliction of duty here but who will hold them accountable?  We have that opportunity in November folks but beyond that it should become common knowledge the Democrats have no intention of securing the border.  Let voters everywhere keep that in mind when AG Holder at the behest of the President sue the state of Arizona for attempting to enforce the borders Democrats refuse to secure.

See the entire video here but I have embedded the transcripted portion below:


UPDATE:
Predictably the White House has issued a denial that all but calls Senator Kyl a liar, then proceeds to affirm the validity of Kyl's statement:

The White House Monday rejected Kyl's account.

“The President didn’t say that and Senator Kyl knows it," White House communications director Dan Pfeiffer told ABC News. "There are more resources dedicated toward border security today than ever before, but, as the President has made clear, truly securing the border will require a comprehensive solution to our broken immigration system.”

Senator Kyl stands by his statement:

Kyl spokesman Ryan Patmintra said the senator stood by his account, which he said was "about as straight forward as you can get."

"There were two people in that meeting, and Dan Pfeiffer was not one of them. Senator Kyl stands by his remarks, and the White House spokesman’s pushback that you must have comprehensive immigration reform to secure the border only confirms Senator Kyl’s account."

 H/T: Hot Air Headlines  Heh -  I love this comment by Daggett:

Yeah, I tried to get someone to install a security system on my home. He said, “I can’t install this until we address amnesty for thieves.”

 I second Janet's comment below:

This is incredible stuff. All I can say is COME ON 2012! 

 Can't wait to see the back of the whole bunch.