Thread: McCain Changes Course on Immigration

McCain changes course on immigration By JENNIFER TALHELM, Associated Press Writer
21 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - Republican presidential hopeful John McCain on Thursday backed a scaled-down proposal that imposes strict rules to end illegal immigration but doesn't include a path to citizenship.


The move away from a comprehensive measure is an about-face for the Arizona senator, who had been a leading GOP champion of a bill that included a guest worker program and would have legalized many of the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants living in the U.S. It failed earlier this year.

"We can still show the American people that we are serious about securing our nation's border," McCain said in a statement, adding that the new bill would "provide an essential step toward achieving comprehensive reform in the future."

McCain's immigration position has been a campaign liability among Republican voters and hurt his efforts to raise money. Other GOP presidential candidates, fellow Arizona Republicans and immigration opponents throughout the country have loudly decried his position.

Observers said McCain's switch was political. "He recognizes his position on the issue is killing him," said Steven Camarota, research director at the Center for Immigration Studies, which favors vigorous immigration enforcement.

McCain's co-sponsors include Republican Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Jon Kyl of Arizona. All three were leading advocates for the unsuccessful comprehensive immigration measure and were bombarded with criticism for their support.

Immigrants' rights advocates jumped to condemn their decision. "It is fairly stunning they have gone from leaders on comprehensive reform legislation to lemmings running over the cliff" with the Republican opponents of the bill, said Angela Kelley, deputy director of the National Immigration Forum.

Among other things, the bill makes being in the country illegally a criminal misdemeanor and toughens penalties for re-entering after being deported. It mandates an electronic system for employers to check workers' citizenship status and requires illegal immigrants who commit a crime to be held in jail until they are deported.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070802/ap_ ... igration_1

Nice try mclamebrain, but we're not buying it. You're pulling the romney flip flop and the American people don't buy your rhetoric anymore. We believe you as much as we believe that billary would make a good president.

HA! HA! Like we don't know what he is doing.

Observers said McCain's switch was political

No! Ya Think?

HAHAH, he is toast and he knows it. It is great to see tho, it means at the end of the day we are being heard, LOUD AND CLEAR!!!

Once a TRAITOR, always a TRAITOR! You're done mcCain ... give it up!

Once a TRAITOR, always a TRAITOR! You're done mcCain ... give it up!

Ditto Jak Ditto

(puts on devil's advocate hat)

Do you guys think that, maybe, these policians are simply doing what ALL politicians do? IE, listen to the public and then behave as the "voice of the people"?

Do you guys think that, maybe, these policians are simply doing what ALL politicians do? IE, listen to the public and then behave as the "voice of the people"?

You're mighty charitable, Ed. I think they are doing what they deem necessary to save, and further, their own political careers. I can't name one congressman that I still consider to be a statesman. Can you?

Hi JAK, haven't seen you in a bit.

McCain said ... the new bill would "provide an essential step toward achieving comprehensive reform in the future."

I'll take any enforcement that many of our inept, pandering political leaders are [finally] willing to do, but call me cynical, it's obvious he's just doing this to try to his beloved amnesty. He doesn't even try to hide this.

Memo to McCain: we've already had many large amesties; now it's time for interior enforcement and border security only !!