Thread: McCain: Border fence first, then reform

McCain: Border fence first, then reform
7 commentsby Chris Hawley - Jul. 4, 2008 12:00 AM
Republic Mexico City Bureau


John McCain (second from left) stands with his wife Cindy as Monsignor Diego Monroy Ponce (left) speaks during their visit to the Basilica of Guadalupe in Mexico City on Thursday.

MEXICO CITY - John McCain warned Mexicans that more border walls are needed before he attempts to overhaul U.S. immigration laws again, an unpopular position in a country he visited in hopes of boosting his standing with Hispanics at home.

During a trip to Mexico City, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee also said he opposed unilaterally changing parts of the North American Free Trade Agreement, as liberal Mexican politicians and his Democratic rival, Barack Obama, have suggested.

A year ago, the Republican senator was the co-author of a sweeping immigration-reform bill that had fired hope among millions of Mexicans living illegally in the United States.
That bill stalled in Congress, and instead, the United States announced it would expand its border barriers, angering the Mexican government.

"I believe we must have comprehensive immigration reform. The American people want our borders secured first," McCain said during a news conference in Mexico City.

"That will require some walls. It will require virtual fences. It will require high-technology equipment. We must secure our borders, and then we will address the issue of comprehensive immigration reform."

Some Mexicans called that the wrong strategy.

"What kind of a good neighbor builds a big wall in your face?" said Salvador Rivera, a clerk in a corner store. "As long as there are jobs in the United States, people are going to find a way up there."

Others took a more positive view of McCain.

Raul Benitez, professor at the North American Studies Center at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, said McCain has a better track record than Obama because of McCain's support of NAFTA and his efforts on immigration reform.

"At this point, McCain is more favorable for Mexico," Benitez said.

McCain on Thursday wrapped up a three-day trip to Colombia and Mexico aimed at showcasing his foreign-policy credentials while connecting with Hispanic voters.

On Thursday morning, he visited Mexico's holiest Roman Catholic shrine, the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

The sprawling complex of churches marks the spot where Mary, the mother of Jesus, is said to have appeared to a Mexican Indian in 1531.

Police stood guard outside the main church as McCain laid a wreath of white roses below an Indian tunic bearing the image of Mary.

Mexican Catholics believe that her image was miraculously imprinted on the tunic during one of the appearances.

McCain, who was raised Episcopalian but now describes himself as a Baptist, was accompanied by his wife, Cindy; former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush; and fellow Sens. Joe Lieberman and Lindsay Graham.

Such efforts to connect with Hispanics have so far done little to help McCain in the polls.

A survey released Wednesday by the Gallup Poll indicated Hispanics support Obama over McCain 59 percent to 29 percent. The telephone poll of 1,123 people in June had a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

Some Mexicans said that despite McCain's attempt at immigration reform, they associate him with other members of his party who have favored a hard line against illegal immigrants.

"Nobody here remembers (that McCain tried to pass an immigration-reform bill)," said Lucio Lopez, a 54-year-old videographer for television commercials. "And besides, talking about immigration reform is like putting a rope around your neck in the United States.

"It's not like he's going to be able to help our migrants if he gets elected."

Other Mexicans said McCain is tainted by his support for the Iraq war. Mexico has historically been suspicious of U.S. interventions around the world after losing half its territory to an American invasion in the 1840s.

"McCain, you imperialist pig! Don't mess with our religion!" passer-by Jose Alfonso Corral Correa shouted outside the basilica.

During a lunch with Mexican business leaders, McCain defended the 1994 NAFTA pact.

Obama has said he would withdraw from NAFTA if Canada and Mexico did not agree to renegotiate certain clauses to protect U.S. jobs.

Mexico's opposition Democratic Revolutionary Party has made similar demands, and earlier this year, it organized protests to demand more protection for Mexican farmers.

"I am disappointed at the suggestion that the United States should unilaterally reopen NAFTA," McCain said.

"If there are issues that exist between our countries, whether it be the United States, Canada and Mexico . . . the best way to do that is not in a unilateral fashion, but mutual respect of sovereignty of our respective nations."

McCain also met with President Felipe Calderón and visited a new center where Mexico is training federal agents to fight drug smugglers and terrorists.

As rain pounded on the roof of a helicopter hangar, McCain praised Calderón's efforts to fight drug cartels and pledged continuing support for the Merida Initiative, a $1.4 billion package of U.S. anti-drug aid.

Congress approved the first $400 million of the package last week.

Many Mexicans worry that their country has taken a back seat to Iraq and the U.S. economy during the campaign, said Benitez, the professor.

"There is a perception that McCain and Obama don't have any kind of policy toward Latin America," Benitez said.
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/ ... o0703.html

"At this point, McCain is more favorable for Mexico," Benitez said.


What a telling statement. We are trying desperately to find a presidential candidate best for America...

McCain's lapdog, Joe Lieberman, appears to be with him on this panderfest (standing to the right of mcCain's wife). I'm sure we (taxpayers) are paying for his tuckus, too.

John McCain is campaining in mexico! Just think about what that actually means and the message conveyed here.

This is absolutely insane and nobody within the GOP leadership seems to find anything wrong with this. This is how corrupted our political system has become when a presidential candidate is pandering for votes in mexico to appease the illegal invaders in this country who supposedly, are not allowed to vote in the first place. I would have to assume that Americans citizens who are hispanic would not cast their vote for McCain simply because he has visited mexico.

The fact that McCain is campaigning in mexico is disturbing to begin with. We already have issues with mexico meddling in our political affairs. The very fact of him campaigning there would seem to erroneously convey to mexico they somehow have a role to play or a stake in the outcome of our political process.

This is NOT the message we need to be sending to mexico!

A year ago, the Republican senator was the co-author of a sweeping immigration-reform bill that had fired hope among millions of Mexicans living illegally in the United States.
That bill stalled in Congress, and instead, the United States announced it would expand its border barriers, angering the Mexican government.

awww....why so bummed out, mexico?? Becuase you can't dump your poor illiterate, bottom of the barrel, job stealing illegals on America as easily? Take care of your OWN, you third world cesspool!

Geeze, they are SO selfish!!!!!!!!! All they think about is themselves!

Good points NoBueno.

Memo to McCain: you're still not listening. The only reform that is needed is to finally enforce our laws -- and NO more amnesties.

And note that whiny liberal Joe Lieberman has a career grade of D- from ABI.

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Border security "first" is code for amnesty. We the people demand border security period.

Originally Posted by Populist

Good points NoBueno.

Memo to McCain: you're still not listening. The only reform that is needed is to finally enforce our laws -- and NO more amnesties.

And note that whiny liberal Joe Lieberman has a career grade of D- from ABI.

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Border security "first" is code for amnesty. We the people demand border security period.

And don't forget that Obama is ONLY interested in COmprehensive Immigration Reform. He doesn't care about border security - he will do amnesty first.

I would argue that McCain is also only really interested in "comprehensive" reform, i.e. amnesty. Sure, he talks about securing the border now, but it's obvious he wants a quick claim of border secured, "certified" by amnesty-friendly border governors so he can have political cover to move onto his mass amnesty scheme ASAP.

Originally Posted by Populist

I would argue that McCain is also only really interested in "comprehensive" reform, i.e. amnesty. Sure, he talks about securing the border now, but it's obvious he wants a quick claim of border secured, "certified" by amnesty-friendly border governors so he can have political cover to move onto his mass amnesty scheme ASAP.

McLame has been a Senator for 26 years AND the Arizona border is still far from being secured. That is why McLame is not serious at all about the fence or border security. If he were, he would have taken a leadership position and gotten Arizona's border secured a long time ago as an example to follow.

McLame has no interest in securing the border but he has great interest in amnesty.

Agreed zeezil. If Amnesty John had any interest in border security, he would have already meaningfully acted on it (like he did his amnesty schemes). This is why it's frustrating to hear otherwise excellent talk radio hosts such as Roger Hedgecock apparently buy into McCain's ruse.