The Hill News

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said if Republicans continue to focus on the issue of whether President Obama was born in the U.S. instead of housing and the economy it will cost them electorally on Fox News Sunday.

Bloomberg said the American public is primarily concerned with being able to hold onto their jobs and wants Congress to focus on immigration, the debt and the economy, not a futile quest to prove the President was born abroad.

"I think Republicans are making a terrible mistake in making this a big issue," Bloomberg said with regards to birthers, prefacing his remarks by clarifying that President Obama was born in the U.S.

"My girlfriend always says that it's all about housing an jobs. My house, my job. That's what the public cares about. And if the Republican party doesn't start addressing that they will lose and they deserve to."

With regard to immigration reform Bloomberg argued lawmakers should embrace immigration along with a ! path to citizenship for the 11 million illegal immigrants currently in the U.S. He said it would be unrealistic to deport all illegal residents, so instead lawmakers should find a way to make them more productive in the U.S. economy.

"Slamming our thumb with a hammer because it feels good when we stop is a nice thing to talk about but it's not very good policy," Bloomberg said.

"You're not going to solve the problem Chris by yelling and screaming at those people. They came here, they broke the law, and let me tell you this country encouraged them to come here and made sure that we didn't stop them," he added, arguing illegal workers were welcomed by relatives and industries seeking workers.

The Mayor argued New York's economy is thriving in part because of the influence of immigrants and said cities like Detroit are attempting to recruit more immigrants to recover some lost population.

When asked if he is planning to run for presid! ent, Bloomberg replied with a definitive "no."