Every once in a while politicians — from both parties — need to be honest with the voters and give them the whole picture and not just the parts they want us to see.

For instance, everyone knows that President Barack Obama is making a huge effort to pass his comprehensive health care overhaul, one that we know explicitly excludes illegal immigrants from coverage. The reason why the two versions of the bill currently under consideration exclude illegal immigrants is simple; it would cost too much to extend coverage to another 10 million, 12 million, or 15 million undocumented workers already living in the country

At the same time, we keep hearing a murmur in the background. Sens. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., and Lindsey O. Graham, R- S.C., say Obama has promised them a meeting soon to discuss a "bipartisan immigration bill."

A simple question will suffice: Does anybody really believe that the U.S. Congress and the Obama administration are about to approve a comprehensive immigration reform bill? If you do, please call, because I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell.

Already grass-roots immigrant groups have begun to raise their voices to protest how the Obama administration has been dealing with the issue of illegal immigrants. They point out that the promises made by candidate Obama are not being kept by President Obama. And they add that the Obama administration deported a record number of undocumented immigrants in 2009.

Brent Wilkes, the executive director of the League of United Latin American Citizens, or LULAC, recently told The Washington Post: "Our community is angry. We never believed in our wildest dreams that President Obama would have a record like this."

He does and there is little that Hispanics can do about it.

Already embroiled in a scorched earth battle over health care while polls say that the country is most interested in the unemployment rate, the economy and the deficit, Obama has little political capital left for another bruising battle.

If one considers health reform and immigration reform at the same time, it is easy to understand why the administration cannot even consider a comprehensive immigration bill. It's cost would be prohibitive unless part of the new law excluded all those granted legal status from receiving health benefits.

Hispanics should not look for help from Republicans either, at least not in an election year.