---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Senator Obama and I had been on the same…"
description: "\"Senator Obama and I had been on the same side of many fights, and we had worked together on the issue that is most urgent to me - comprehensive immigra..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f8/luis-gutierrez-8772_immigration_senator-obama-and-i-had-been-on-the-same_1060172.jpg"
---

#  Senator Obama and I had been on the same side of many…

![“Senator Obama and I had been on the same side of many fights, and we had worked together on the issue that is most urgent to me - comprehensive immigration reform.” quote by Luis Gutierrez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f8/luis-gutierrez-8772_immigration_senator-obama-and-i-had-been-on-the-same_1060172.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f8/luis-gutierrez-8772_immigration_senator-obama-and-i-had-been-on-the-same_1060172.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f8/luis-gutierrez-8772_immigration_senator-obama-and-i-had-been-on-the-same_1060172.jpg)

> “Senator Obama and I had been on the same side of many fights, and we had worked together on the issue that is most urgent to me - comprehensive immigration reform.”

[Luis Gutierrez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-gutierrez/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Collaboration across party lines can advance critical policy like immigration reform.

**In simple terms:** Working together on urgent issues.

Key Takeaway

Build bipartisan coalitions.

Themes

politics immigration collaboration

Mood

determined optimistic

Type

political inspirational

When to use this quote

- legislative negotiations
- community organizing
- public advocacy

Key Concepts

policy change advocacy

Questions to Reflect On

- How can bipartisan trust be sustained?
- What compromises are necessary?

A Different Perspective

Political realities may limit progress despite shared goals.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Immigration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigration/) [Immigration reform](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigration-reform/)

## Related quotes

> [We need to decouple the movement for comprehensive immigration reform and justice for immigrants from the legislative process and from the Democratic Party process.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-gutierrez/we-need-to-decouple-the-movement-for-comprehensive-immigration-reform/)

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> [A lot of people assumed for all those years that I was the official announcer for HBO because I had done almost all their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-buffer/a-lot-of-people-assumed-for-all-those-years-that-i-was-the-official/)

[Michael Buffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-buffer/)

> [Part of comprehensive immigration reform is not just the path to citizenship for undocumented workers, but also the ability for families to be together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pramila-jayapal/part-of-comprehensive-immigration-reform-is-not-just-the-path-to/)

[Pramila Jayapal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pramila-jayapal/)

> [I am glad to see the wheels are moving at last toward comprehensive immigration reform after last year's election. I am glad that immigrants…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lam/i-am-glad-to-see-the-wheels-are-moving-at-last-toward-comprehensive/)

[Andrew Lam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lam/)

> [Beyond budget fights, the Obama second-term agenda was supposed to be about passing comprehensive immigration reform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-williams/beyond-budget-fights-the-obama-second-term-agenda-was-supposed-to-be/)

[Juan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-williams/)

> [We can pass practical, comprehensive immigration reform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-polis/we-can-pass-practical-comprehensive-immigration-reform/)

[Jared Polis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-polis/)

> [Hard-working immigrant workers in this country deserve a real path to citizenship as a part of comprehensive immigration reform...We will continue to work with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sweeney/hard-working-immigrant-workers-in-this-country-deserve-a-real-path-to/)

[John Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sweeney/)

> [We know that the United States Senate has passed comprehensive immigration reform. We know it can happen. And that, to me, is what we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-cortez-masto/we-know-that-the-united-states-senate-has-passed-comprehensive/)

[Catherine Cortez-Masto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-cortez-masto/)

> [I support comprehensive immigration reform that includes a path to full and equal citizenship for undocumented immigrants who are playing by the rules, staying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacky-rosen/i-support-comprehensive-immigration-reform-that-includes-a-path-to/)

[Jacky Rosen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacky-rosen/)

> [It is my firm belief that it will be in the interests of the United States, especially our economic interests, to pursue comprehensive immigration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/it-is-my-firm-belief-that-it-will-be-in-the-interests-of-the-united/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [We can't go on forever with 11 million people living in this country in the shadows in an illegal status. We cannot forever have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/we-can-t-go-on-forever-with-11-million-people-living-in-this-country/)

[John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/)

> [Send me a comprehensive immigration reform bill in the next few months, and I will sign it right away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/send-me-a-comprehensive-immigration-reform-bill-in-the-next-few/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [I think comprehensive immigration reform while securing your border and dealing rationale with 11 million is the only way we're going to solve this problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-graham/i-think-comprehensive-immigration-reform-while-securing-your-border/)

[Lindsey Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-graham/)

> [But I can tell you another engine for growth and job creation would be comprehensive immigration reform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/but-i-can-tell-you-another-engine-for-growth-and-job-creation-would/)

[Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/)

> [We need to pass comprehensive immigration reform, period.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamala-harris/we-need-to-pass-comprehensive-immigration-reform-period/)

[Kamala Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamala-harris/)

## More by Luis Gutierrez

> [Uncertainty and fear and ignorance about immigrants, about people who are different, has a history as old as our Nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-gutierrez/uncertainty-and-fear-and-ignorance-about-immigrants-about-people-who/)

[Luis Gutierrez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-gutierrez/)

> [DACA is a lifeline for individuals who have grown up in the U.S. but who lack immigration papers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-gutierrez/daca-is-a-lifeline-for-individuals-who-have-grown-up-in-the-u-s-but/)

[Luis Gutierrez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-gutierrez/)

> [We must stand on principle and practicality, and we should be very clear that a policy aimed at driving out 10 or 11 million…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-gutierrez/we-must-stand-on-principle-and-practicality-and-we-should-be-very/)

[Luis Gutierrez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-gutierrez/)

> [As a Democrat from Illinois, as a member of Congress who believes in and admires President Obama, it genuinely pains me to say that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-gutierrez/as-a-democrat-from-illinois-as-a-member-of-congress-who-believes-in/)

[Luis Gutierrez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-gutierrez/)

> [On Tuesday 26 July 2011, I was arrested in front of the White House along with a dozen other pro-immigrant advocates and clergy. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-gutierrez/on-tuesday-26-july-2011-i-was-arrested-in-front-of-the-white-house/)

[Luis Gutierrez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-gutierrez/)

> [It is so difficult to, day in and day out, hear these incredibly painful stories of the destructive nature of our broken immigration system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-gutierrez/it-is-so-difficult-to-day-in-and-day-out-hear-these-incredibly/)

[Luis Gutierrez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-gutierrez/)

> [BP should be Banned Permanently because they are too failed to be big.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-gutierrez/bp-should-be-banned-permanently-because-they-are-too-failed-to-be-big/)

[Luis Gutierrez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-gutierrez/)

> [We should be clear that we prefer a system that allows people to come to the U.S. with visas, not in the hands of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-gutierrez/we-should-be-clear-that-we-prefer-a-system-that-allows-people-to-come/)

[Luis Gutierrez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-gutierrez/)

> [We watched the U.S. citizenship immigration services web site in March. They had six million, two hundred thousand hits, and two million people downloaded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-gutierrez/we-watched-the-u-s-citizenship-immigration-services-web-site-in-march/)

[Luis Gutierrez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-gutierrez/)

> [I mean, the greatest laugh I always get is, if darkness, right, just overwhelms the Earth one day and Obama had the key to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-gutierrez/i-mean-the-greatest-laugh-i-always-get-is-if-darkness-right-just/)

[Luis Gutierrez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-gutierrez/)

> [The American people are much more practical than Republican lawmakers on equal pay, on the minimum wage, on same-sex marriage, and on basic civil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-gutierrez/the-american-people-are-much-more-practical-than-republican-lawmakers/)

[Luis Gutierrez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-gutierrez/)

> [The immigrant blame game is constant. Cynical politicians believe it drives poll numbers; cynical commentators believe it drives TV ratings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-gutierrez/the-immigrant-blame-game-is-constant-cynical-politicians-believe-it/)

[Luis Gutierrez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-gutierrez/)

> [We need legal immigration as an alternative to illegal immigration and a way of getting the millions of unauthorized immigrants already here to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-gutierrez/we-need-legal-immigration-as-an-alternative-to-illegal-immigration/)

[Luis Gutierrez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-gutierrez/)

> [I will argue until my last breath for a pathway to citizenship that is quick and efficient because I want to end this chapter.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-gutierrez/i-will-argue-until-my-last-breath-for-a-pathway-to-citizenship-that/)

[Luis Gutierrez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-gutierrez/)

> [I have never pretended to be a legal scholar, but when scores of lawyers are lining up to agree with the Supreme Court that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-gutierrez/i-have-never-pretended-to-be-a-legal-scholar-but-when-scores-of/)

[Luis Gutierrez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-gutierrez/)

[Explore all 78 Luis Gutierrez quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-gutierrez/)

## More Immigration quotes

> [That's what this country is. It's made up of immigrants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bria-vinaite/that-s-what-this-country-is-it-s-made-up-of-immigrants/)

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> [Europe is creating the flight of refugees that's tearing it apart politically, and leading rightwing nationalist parties to gain power to withdraw from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hudson/europe-is-creating-the-flight-of-refugees-that-s-tearing-it-apart/)

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> [We need to fight to prove to people that it is possible to form an E.U. migration policy that is in line with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-orban/we-need-to-fight-to-prove-to-people-that-it-is-possible-to-form-an-e/)

[Viktor Orban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-orban/)

> [All of us take offense to anyone who reaps the rewards of living in America without taking on the responsibilities of living in America.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/all-of-us-take-offense-to-anyone-who-reaps-the-rewards-of-living-in/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [A lot of Broadway has that immigrant narrative of America as a place where you can become something else against all odds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-kass/a-lot-of-broadway-has-that-immigrant-narrative-of-america-as-a-place/)

[Deborah Kass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-kass/)

> [Ed Koch once said that New York City is where immigrants come to audition for America. That's what happened to my parents; that's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lin-manuel-miranda/ed-koch-once-said-that-new-york-city-is-where-immigrants-come-to/)

[Lin-Manuel Miranda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lin-manuel-miranda/)

> [“If all the developed countries would let in just 3% more immigrants, the world’s poor would have $305 billion more to spend, say scientists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/if-all-the-developed-countries-would-let-in-just-3-more-immigrants/)

[Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/)

> [“...the haunted always take refuge in stillness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-dodd/the-haunted-always-take-refuge-in-stillness/)

[Christina Dodd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-dodd/)

> [These men of many nations must be taught American ways, the English language, and the right way to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/these-men-of-many-nations-must-be-taught-american-ways-the-english/)

[Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/)

> [Let's be honest, if the Democrats didn't support ignoring our nation's immigration laws, there is no way they could win the presidency or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nugent/let-s-be-honest-if-the-democrats-didn-t-support-ignoring-our-nation-s/)

[Ted Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nugent/)

> [I think what Democrats need to do is they need to work for the country and make sure that not only the southern border…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-tester/i-think-what-democrats-need-to-do-is-they-need-to-work-for-the/)

[Jon Tester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-tester/)

> [We need to remain a nation that doesn't just welcome but that celebrates legal immigrants who come here seeking to pursue the American Dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/we-need-to-remain-a-nation-that-doesn-t-just-welcome-but-that/)

[Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/)

> [The Chinese describe themselves as political refugees. Many base that claim on China's strict population laws, which allow them to have only one child.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-koch/the-chinese-describe-themselves-as-political-refugees-many-base-that/)

[Ed Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-koch/)

> [“The next morning, the refugees rose from their agitation to the realization that they were slowly being erased from the world, from its history…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-next-morning-the-refugees-rose-from-their-agitation-to-the/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

[Browse all 4,018 Immigration quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigration/)

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