WASHINGTON » President Barack Obama dug deep into his Hawaii roots and invoked the memory of the late U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye as he pushed his immigration reform proposal Tuesday evening at a White House event marking Asian-American Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
"Every day, we’re reminded of the many ways in which Asian-Americans, Native Hawaiians, Pacific islanders have all contributed and enriched our nation throughout our history," Obama told the crowd of about 300 in the East Room of the White House.
"Of course, I can dig back into my own memories of growing up in Hawaii and in Indonesia. And so certainly it’s been a central part of my life, the entire Asia-Pacific region," he said.
He called for immigration laws that would honor the contributions of Asian-Americans, Pacific islanders and all other immigrants who sacrificed for the nation.
A White House-backed immigration overhaul is working its way through Congress. The bill would remake immigration laws, enhance border security and put the estimated 11 million people living in the U.S. illegally on a path to citizenship.
"Generations of Asian-Americans and Pacific islanders helped build this country, and helped to defend this country, and to make America what it is today," the president said. "It’s a history that speaks to the promise of our nation — one that welcomes the contributions of all people, no matter their color or their beliefs, because we draw from the rich traditions of everybody who calls America home."
The Obama administration is pushing hard on immigration reform as the Senate plans to take up the issue during the week of June 10. Today, top administration officials are scheduled to meet with the Hispanic Business Leaders Forum in Washington.
Obama, who was born in Honolulu and spent much of his childhood here, began his remarks Tuesday evening with an enthusiastic "Aloha!" and peppered the six-minute speech with Hawaii references, even mentioning two island artists who were among the event’s entertainers.
"We’ve got musicians like Paula Fuga and John Cruz, whose work represents the spirit of my native Hawaii and reminds us that we’re all part of the same ohana," Obama said.
The president said he also wanted to honor the legacy of Asian-American and Pacific islander leaders, "like my friend, the late senator from Hawaii, Daniel Inouye, the first Japanese-American to serve in Congress — and to celebrate the pioneers of this generation, like (Illinois) Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth, one of the first female veterans elected to Congress."
Inouye, a World War II hero and Medal of Honor recipient, died Dec. 17 at age 88 after serving for 50 years in the Senate. Duckworth, who was born in Thailand but graduated from McKinley High School and the University of Hawaii, is an Iraq War veteran who lost her legs in a helicopter crash in combat.
Although the president spent the bulk of his speech focused on Asian-Americans, Pacific islanders and immigration, he received the biggest laughs and the most media attention for how he opened his remarks.
Obama pointed out what he called "a sign of warmth" from the audience gathered in the East Room — a lipstick smear on his collar. He pinned the blame on the aunt of Jessica Sanchez, a runner-up on the talent show "American Idol," who was in the audience.
"I do not want to be in trouble with Michelle," Obama said in a joking reference to the first lady. "That’s why I’m calling you out right in front of everybody."
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The Associated Press, White House media pool reporter George Condon of the National Journal and Bloomberg News contributed to this report.
