At a recent forum that included Republican challenger Ryan Frazier, U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter, D-Colo., blamed “41 Republicans” in the U.S. Senate for the failure on immigration reform. You can hear the incredulous response from the audience, starting at 2:38 of this video.

“This Congress – from which Congressman Ed Perlmutter is a part of – has failed to do its job,” Frazier said first at the event Aug. 20 at the Arvada Center.

When his turn came, Perlmutter cited a relatively modest effort, the Southwest Border Security Bill, recently signed into law by Pres. Obama. Perlmutter then said:

“So, this is a major issue. And the stumbling block, quite frankly, is 41 Republicans in the United States Senate.”

Lynn Bartels of The Denver Post covered the incident that day. Video from the event, posted recently by the Frazier campaign, shows just how poorly Perlmutter’s remarks were received.

Rightly so. Democrats have overwhelming majorities in the House and the Senate, as well as control of the White House. Perlmutter’s citation of “41 Republicans” is an apparent reference to the need for 60 Senators to overcome a filibuster attempt, end debate and put legislation to a vote. Democrats currently hold 59 seats in the Senate.

So Democrats in Washington can’t reform the broken immigration system unless they have total political control; or they can’t devise a reform that could attract even ONE REPUBLICAN in the U.S. Senate to put such a reform to a vote.

Perlmutter’s deflection indicates what’s really needed: a change in leadership, starting in his 7th Congressional District.