McCain: Washington Failing the American People

[sippy]

http://www.immigrationwatchdog.com/?p=3236

Here's more BS and crap talk from our most "favorite" senator.
Please read with a barf bag handy.

John McCain: On immigration, Washington is failing the American people
By SEN. JOHN MCCAIN

AMONG THE federal government's most important obligations is to secure America's borders and enforce sensible immigration laws that will keep our nation strong and safe. For far too long, Washington has failed miserably in this vital responsibility. An estimated 12 million people live in the United States illegally -- a problem affecting every state in the union.

Coming from a border state, I have seen firsthand the effect that illegal immigration has on our communities and public services, the rampant exploitation of those who traffic in illegal aliens, and the tragic loss of life that so often attends this enduring problem. As a country devoted to the rule of law, fairness and opportunity, the status quo is simply unacceptable. We know that most illegal aliens are drawn to the United States in the hope of finding a better life for themselves and their families. Many of our own ancestors came for the very same reason. But we also know that others come to do America harm and will exploit any weakness or loophole to achieve their malignant objectives.

Matt Welch: McCain wants to be another Teddy Roosevelt
The truth is that our nation's porous borders and failed immigration policies are a national disgrace, adversely affecting both our economic prospects and national security. A comprehensive immigration control plan that works is long overdue.

To achieve our objectives, America needs the strong reform I've proposed that will:

Vastly improve our border surveillance and enforcement capabilities;

Increase the manpower, infrastructure and capabilities necessary to block, apprehend, detain and return those who try to enter the country illegally;

Strengthen the laws and penalties against those who hire illegal aliens and violate immigration law;

Achieve and maintain the integrity of official documents to stop fraud, verify immigration status and employment, and enforce immigration law;

Encourage immigrants to come out of the shadows so we know who is in this country and develop a sensible guest worker program that will serve the nation's best economic and security interests.

We must devote the resources necessary to do the job right, and our efforts must be sustained. Imagine what we could achieve if we spent less money on pork barrel schemes such as "bridges to nowhere" and more on enforcing our immigration laws and other homeland security imperatives.

The need to bring illegal immigrants out of hiding and end the defacto amnesty that is the status quo is more important than ever in this post-9/11 era of terrorist threat. But this effort must never entail giving away citizenship to those who have broken our laws. Rather it should require those who voluntarily come forward to undertake the hard work of reparation and assimilation that we expect.

Legitimate status must be earned by paying stiff fines and back taxes, undergoing criminal and security checks, passing English and civics tests, remaining employed for six years before going to the back of the line to achieve legal permanent residence status, and adhering to other strict requirements.

Such a program is necessary if we are to protect our country from terrorism and crime by enabling the Department of Homeland Security and law enforcement to focus their resources more effectively where they are most needed, and that is on those who choose to remain hidden because they mean to do us harm.

Above all we must be honest and realistic if we are to achieve both the economic and national security we desire. The straight talk of the matter is that as long as there are jobs in the United States that would otherwise go unfilled, illegal immigrants will come, and the economy will eagerly absorb them, no matter what the obstacles. We are willfully abetting a system that is broken and invites the violation of our immigration laws, the manipulation of vulnerable populations and a degradation of national security.

Rather than tolerating the continued chaos promised by business as usual, we need an orderly system that matches jobs that would otherwise go wanting with a well managed guest worker program that ensures we know exactly who our guests are, why they are here, and for how long. Border security and immigration reform must go hand- in -hand. History has shown us that one will simply never succeed without the other.

I truly believe that Americans want and demand that our leaders work together to solve pressing problems rather than persist in empty rhetoric and petty political gamesmanship. By staying true to our principles, exercising common sense and American resolve, we are up to the job of controlling our borders, keeping our economy on the rise, and making the nation safe in an exceedingly dangerous world.

McCain wants to be another Teddy Roosevelt

Mccain, you're aiming your sights a little too high. You will NEVER be Teddy Roosevelt!

[WhatMattersMost]

Matt Welch: McCain wants to be another Teddy Roosevelt
The truth is that our nation's porous borders and failed immigration policies are a national disgrace, adversely affecting both our economic prospects and national security. A comprehensive immigration control plan that works is long overdue.

I automatically despise and tune out anybody that uses the word "comprehensive" in conjunction with immigration. What is long overdue is the sealing of our borders, a moratorium on all immigration until we get rid of those who should not be here whether they self deport or are forced; rescinding of the 14th Amendment, fining of CEO's and businesses who hire illegals; the deportation of all foreign criminals who are in our jails; and the cutting off of ALL American funding, social programs, education and privileges of citizens that are given to illegal aliens.

[Hosay]

When McCain speaks of Washington failing the American people, he need look no farther than his own nose.

[LegalUSCitizen]

He needs to look in the mirror to know what the problem is.

[MW]

Geez, right after reading the article I was forced to see a McCain ad below it.