Thread: McCain: Time short for immigration bill

McCain: Time short for immigration bill

By HENRY C. JACKSON, Associated Press Writer
1 hour, 55 minutes ago



Republican presidential hopeful John McCain (news, bio, voting record) said Saturday that time is running out on overhauling immigration policy.

"We've got other things to do in the Senate," McCain told reporters. "Hopefully we can come to an agreement, but in all candor — a little straight talk — time is not on our side."

McCain also challenged opponents of the plan to step up.

"The status quo is de facto amnesty — fact," the Arizona senator said. "So for us to do nothing and celebrate the fact that we stopped this legislation, well then those who have a better idea can give it to us. We can consider it and move forward."

A comprehensive plan supported by McCain, President Bush and a group of bipartisan senators fell 15 votes short of the 60 needed on Thursday in a critical test to limit debate and allow a vote on the measure itself. As a result, many in Washington have declared major immigration changes are dead for now.

McCain, though, said it was possible to pass a bill.

He spoke after a town hall event in Newton, where immigration dominated discussion and McCain spent much time defending the stalled proposal.

Opponents of the legislation, he said, are not listening to the public.

"People want us to resolve this issue. The majority of Americans support a comprehensive approach to it," McCain said.

Immigration is a frequent topic at McCain's campaign events in Iowa, where precinct caucuses are expected to launch the presidential nominating calendar in January.

"This is a burning issue," he said. "Every town hall meeting I have there is this kind of deep concern. But there's also a desire to see us do something. They wonder, 'Why won't you fix it?' That's why they send us to Washington. To fix things."


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070609/ap_ ... igration_2

I posted this yesterday but thought it was worth posting again. I hope McCain gets tens of thousands of these. He needs to go to sleep and wake up afer he has lost the election.

If at first you don't succeed, ignore the American people.

Dear Sen. McCain,

I'm amazed by your position on illegal immigration and S 1348. The grand compromise was a grand sellout. You can blame the Democrats, the Democrats can blame the Republicans. You know what? You and the grand deceivers should take the blame. You guys put this piece of garbage bill out there and it failed the American voters' smell test.

How out of touch you've become since you hit Washington. You still don't
know what the people want.

We DON'T want S 1348 back. We don't want to hear you, The President and Lindsey Graham hurling insults at us.

We don't want any deals with the person who started the failure of our immigration policy in the first place, Ted Kennedy.

We don't want foreign nationals dictating American immigration policy. We don't want National Council of "The Race" drafting OUR legislation and we CERTAINLY don't want Mexico's input on OUR border policy.

Do you get that?

What we want is REAL border security; including the fence you duped us into believing would be built.

We want illegal aliens removed from jobs that they took away from
Americans, like meat packing and construction.

We want gang members, terrorists and criminals from other countries tossed out of this country like trash at the landfill.

We want a reduction in the number that are here, no more anchor babies and no more chain migration.

We want anyone who may get to become citizens painfully scrutinized for adding value to our country and for them to return home while they wait. We don't want them to have any advantages over immigrants doing it the right way.

Senator, this bill solidified American's distrust of our government. I
can't understand why you don't see that. We honestly don't believe you
when you say S 1348 will finally secure our borders. Senator Sessions
saved us from being duped on that one. A parade of politicians have said
it in the past and we won't believe it until it happens. Have you all
forgotten September 11th?

Why don't you and the other "Grand Compromisers" enforce the border and then come back to us. Don't bother us again with so-called "comprehensive immigration reform" until then.

All the window dressing in the world won't make S 1348 palatable.

Disappointed,



XXXX

As a follow-up, and FYI...

The 7 Republicans that voted FOR Cloture (bad) on S1348 are:

McCain,
Hagel,
Martinez,
Graham,
Lugar,
Voinivich,
Specter

Hagel is 9% behind his Republican challenger in the GOP Senate primary in Nebraska! Guess he was in the mood for political suicide on Thursday!

On a light note, when I called Craig's office on Friday, I said I was so happy he voted against amnesty and the aide said, "We are, too!"

"People want us to resolve this issue. The majority of Americans support a comprehensive approach to it," McCain said.

Once again mclamebrain you have it wrong. Yes people do want congress to resolve this issue, but not your way! And the majority of Americans DO NOT support a comphrensive approach in this manner. We the people have already told congress and the senate numerous times that we don't need a new guest worker program, we don't want amnesty for illegals already here, and we certainly are not going to buy into your rhetoric that says we the people have to give you all of the things mentioned above in order to secure our borders. That is pure BS and you know it!

I really think mclamebrain needs to either lay off the crack pipe, or stop going bar hopping w/ his amigo teddy.

Opponents of the legislation, he said, are not listening to the public.

We are the public, you dolt.