By NiallO’Dowd

RUMOR has it that New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is contemplating a third party run for the White House in 2008. With his billions in wealth and his impressive stewardship of New York City we should not rule him out as a strong contender if he does decide to go.

Last week he appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee’s hearings on immigration in Philadelphia and delivered perhaps the best recent speech by any mainstream American politician on the issue of the undocumented.

As mayor of New York, of course, Bloomberg gets it. He acknowledged that without immigrants New York City could not work; indeed, many neighborhoods would have long since gone into terminal decline.

Crime is down, employment is up, the economy in the city is booming. Bloomberg, for the slow learners in Congress, spelled it out as clear as possible. Immigration has had a huge hand in achieving that.

Bloomberg made clear he had no time for the argument that immigrants take jobs from Americans, and that the nativist anti-immigrant rhetoric of many politicians was a political calculation rather than anything based on fact.

Of course, those who oppose legalizing immigrants have often sought to demonize the illegals and try to prove that they are bad for the economy because they take jobs from other workers. Incidentally, last Sunday’s New York Times Magazine lead story demolished that argument very effectively.

So did Bloomberg, one of the most successful businessmen in America and one who has the unique experience of running a city government as well as a business. When he speaks about the benefits of immigration we should all listen.

In his testimony Bloomberg stated, “For our children to have a bright future, two things are true — a strong America needs a constant source of new immigrants. And in a post-9/11 world a secure America needs to make sure that these immigrants arrive here legally.”

No one could possibly disagree with that. The nonsense peddled by anti-immigrant forces that keeping 11 million people illegal and unknown is somehow better for national security is ridiculous. Bloomberg went on, “There is only one practical solution and it is a solution that respects the history of our nation. Offer those already here the opportunity to earn permanent status and keep their family together.

“For decades the federal government has tacitly welcomed them into the workforce, collected their income and Social Security taxes, which about two-thirds of undocumented workers pay, and benefited immeasurably from their contributions to our country.”

Bloomberg went onto make the point that instead of pointing fingers about the past, Americans should accept the present and the actual situation that exists. He urged Congress to move beyond the simplistic catch cries that have dominated the debate. “Buzz words and polls should not dictate national policies,” he said.

His most powerful statement was, “We need Congress to lead from the front, not the back, and that means adopting a solution that is enforceable, sustainable and compassionate. Perhaps now more than ever it is time to vote for our future, and not pander to parochial fears. A successful solution to our border problems does not rest on a wall alone.”

In his closing remarks Bloomberg requested that all members of Congress “reject the false promise of easy answers and have the courage to do everything necessary to ensure our national security and prosperity.”

Strong words that are badly needed. At a time of inflamed national debate it was good to hear from a leader who made the rational and humane argument so well. Bloomberg did New York City proud.