Thread: McCain to Obama: Don't Bow to Labor Unions on Immigration

McCain to Obama: Don't bow to labor unions on immigration

LOS ANGELES TIMES

Tucson, Arizona | Published: 06.26.2009

WASHINGTON — President Obama told congressional lawmakers Thursday that he would push for an overhaul of the nation's immigration system by early next year. But during the White House meeting, a new political obstacle came into view: how to regulate the influx of foreign workers.

The issue was raised by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., a principal architect of past attempts to rewrite immigration laws. McCain challenged Obama and other Democrats to stand up to labor unions that are pushing a plan business groups fear could be overly restrictive in admitting future immigrant workers.

"I would expect the president of the United States to put his influence on the unions in order to change their position," McCain said after the hour-long session that included Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, senior White House officials and about 30 lawmakers from both parties.

McCain's comments came even as the White House took pains to foster the impression that the senator would be a partner in striking a deal.

Obama sat directly beside McCain, his former campaign rival, during the meeting. And the president praised the senator in his public remarks, saying McCain had "already paid a significant political cost for doing the right thing."

Still, Obama offered no commitments on how to handle future immigrant workers, and White House officials said the meeting was not meant to be a forum for policy details.

Obama did offer his firmest pledge yet as president to push aggressively for legislation by the end of this year or early 2010, according to meeting participants. The president has been reluctant to offer a timeline. As his administration in recent weeks focused attention on health care and energy, some Hispanic leaders and immigrant advocates cautioned that delaying on immigration could anger Hispanic voters who turned out strongly for Obama in last year's election.

"What I'm encouraged by is that after all the overheated rhetoric and the occasional demagoguery on all sides around this issue, we've got a responsible set of leaders sitting around the table who want to actively get something done and not put it off until a year, two years, three years, five years from now, but to start working on this thing right now," Obama said.

Obama said that his administration was "fully behind" an immigration overhaul and that Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano would spearhead the effort. A major sticking point is whether the House would pass a key provisions demanded by advocates for immigrants: a pathway to citizenship for many of the 12 million illegal immigrants living in the U.S.

http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/news/298643.php

The issue was raised by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., a principal architect of past attempts to rewrite immigration laws. McCain challenged Obama and other Democrats to stand up to labor unions that are pushing a plan business groups fear could be overly restrictive in admitting future immigrant workers.

I would say that McCain has learned nothing since the election, but truely feel that he fully understood the walk that he was taking.

Notice how McCain is not even stressing his previous position of "securing the border first."

What a farce; all these interest groups poking a stick in the eye of American workers, clamoring for amnesty which the American people overwhelmingly oppose.

Obama said that his administration was "fully behind" an immigration overhaul and that Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano would spearhead the effort.

JUST WONDERFUL!
The whack-job Janet is going to be the head of the Immigration Issue?

Don't fool yourself. McCain wants them all to be citizens too.

I’m not certain McCain's goal was just to be President, he wanted to win the nomination as revenge for his perceived slights in 2000. He hoped his nomination would destroy the Republican Party for Conservatives if he became president or not!

Senator McCain needs to understand that WE THE PEOPLE know his complicity in many matters other than amnesty...like SR511 whereby all the same players as above + leahy,McCaskill,Clinton,chertoff all played Supreme Court one day to interpret the 'NATURAL BORN CITIZEN" clause.I let all of his offices know what a total BENEDICT he is!
Please study this carefully and realize that NEITHER CANDIDATE was eligible.
GOD HELP US PRESERVE TRUTH,HONOR and the CONSTITUTION!

The final sentence is encouraging:

"A major sticking point is whether the House would pass a key provisions demanded by advocates for immigrants: a pathway to citizenship for many of the 12 million illegal immigrants living in the U.S."

We need to make sure our elected officials know that the majority of U.S. citizens of all political persuasions oppose amnesty!

Obama said that his administration was "fully behind" an immigration overhaul and that Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano would spearhead the effort.

I thought Napolitano was in charge of enforcing this nations' immigration laws...and not thinking up creative ways in which circumvent them! Stupid me!

Obummer and Napolitano do not give a damn about this countries immigration laws. Their desire is to dismantle our immigration system so as to make it more favorable to illegal invaders.

Wasn't McJerk born while his parent was in the service?
Service people that have children in other country's are still Americans.

Unlike the placenta of Obama that was left in KENYA!