A few readers, responding to this post, write in to point to Obama’s statement to a Planned Parenthood audience that “the first thing I’d do as president is sign the Freedom of Choice Act.”

Putting aside the issue of whether Obama was offering standard-issue pandering in that appearance, the issue is really what legislation passes both houses of Congress and gets to the president’s desk first. The decision of what bill he signs first hinges heavily on what the Congressional leadership deems its first priority.

A right of center lobbyist-type offered more insight on this:

One of our Democratic lobbyists says neither Card Check or Fairness Doctrine will be some of the first passed off the Hill. But I disagree with that assessment, and here’s why: as with any other candidate who has promised the world, a President Obama would quickly come down to earth once he’s actually forced to learn the realities of his job and the America’s standing in the world. He can not pull troops out of Iraq. He probably can not close down Guantanamo as fast as some might like. He likely will get a cool reception in Europe. He can’t turn back the Patriot Act. All of these things are prized by the radicalized left that funded him and elected him. They will be restless and mad. He will need to give them something. That “something” will be CC (most Americans aren’t focusing on it, and probably don’t care). And the Fairness Doctrine (by the way, I think they will find a way to extend it to the Internet as well, but that’s another story for another time). The latter many Americans do care about, but not the kinds of Americans a President Obama would care about. He will care about his “Citizens of the World” coalition based here in the U.S., and a return to the Fairness Doctrine is exactly what his type of Americans want to see. They will be happy and give him breathing room on the “tougher” challenges he promised to address. This gives him six months of good graces from them, it seems to me.
Finally, even if Obama is inclined to tell Pelosi/Reid to not push these issues, I’m not sure Pelosi in particular is going to be able to contain the House on either piece of legislation.While she can work the Rules Committee and will have some control over the system, the hue and cry to push on these things is going to be too great for them to contain.
This may also be good for conservatives: we will have great Supreme Court challenge if the Fairness Doctrine passes, and perhaps for Card Check as well. Good issues to tee up third-party and grassroots support.

The other thing I would note is that I write that Card Check and reinstating the Fairness Doctrine would be “two of the first” bills signed into law by a President Obama, not necessarily the first two. Nonetheless, they seem quicker and easier to pass than an Iraq withdrawal, comprehensive health care, an alternative energy bill, etc.