Thread: McCain, Kennedy Work on Stealth Amnesty Bill

McCain, Kennedy Work on Stealth Amnesty Bill

Posted by Bobby Eberle
March 2, 2007 at 7:56 am

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The debate over so-called “immigration reform” is beginning to heat up again in the U.S. Senate. However, rather that putting issues on the table for discussion, the leading pro-amnesty senators, such as Ted Kennedy and John McCain, are working on the bill behind closed doors. This action has not only angered other senators but sends up a huge red flag on what will be contained in the bill.

As noted in the Washington Times, Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) warned Kennedy that working on the bill in secrecy threatens passage of any type of guest worker plan this year.

“If you want to be in at the landing, you have to be in at the takeoff,” Mr. Specter of Pennsylvania yesterday cautioned Mr. Kennedy, Massachusetts Democrat, and Sen. John McCain, Arizona Republican, saying Mr. Kennedy has broken a promise to consult with other senators’ staffs on a new bill. That bill, details of which were first reported by The Washington Times, would grant citizenship rights to most illegal aliens already in the U.S.

There you have it! Despite public opinion against rewarding illegal behavior, Kennedy and McCain continue to press on. McCain’s involvement is even more disappointing given that conservatives overwhelmingly oppose amnesty, and McCain comes from a border state. He should know better. The sad part is that he probably does, and is choosing to play politics instead.

In a story featured in The Hill, reporters describe how immigration will be a key issue for GOP presidential contenders.

Another Republican staffer agreed that McCain has much to lose in this year’s run at immigration reform.

“[For conservatives], the fight is going to be multiplied this year because of concerns that [Speaker Nancy] Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Ted Kennedy and McCain will be in charge,” the aide said. “This is definitely a strange timing for this in [McCain’s] courtship of conservatives.”

The secrecy has frustrated other senators such as John Cornyn of Texas who said in a Houston Chronicle story, “It’s not a good way to try to build consensus and to solve problems by withholding information.”

According to the Chronicle, “Kennedy and McCain, renewing the partnership they began in the last Congress, have had their aides closeted for weeks crafting legislation with the input of a select few, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, other business interests and immigrant advocates.”

McCain seems to be going out of his way to distance himself from conservatives. At this year’s Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) currently being held in Washington, DC, Sen. McCain is the only leading presidential contender who declined to address the gathering.

The senator from Arizona cannot get elected without the help of conservatives, and conservatives do not support amnesty for illegal aliens. As grassroots activists we must all be alert and let our senators know that we do not support immigration reform that contains amnesty.
http://www.gopusa.com/theloft/?p=416

Another Republican staffer agreed that McCain has much to lose in this year’s run at immigration reform.

Got that right!

McCain is a joke. You'd think that when he lost the straw poll (in his own state) to Duncan Hunter, that might have given him a message.
Obviously not. The guy has the IQ of house fly.