Thread: Migrant issue could haunt McCain in race

Migrant issue could haunt McCain in race

by Dan Nowicki - Jan. 6, 2010 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic

Two years ago, a push for comprehensive immigration reform nearly unraveled John McCain's bid for the White House. Now, his long-standing support for border reform is complicating his bid for a fifth Senate term.

President Barack Obama and Democratic congressional leaders have signaled their intention to take another crack at overhauling U.S. immigration policy in early 2010, putting Sen. McCain, R-Ariz., back on the spot as his conservative critics take aim at him in the state's GOP primary.

A public outcry killed the most recent attempt in 2007 and undercut McCain's campaign fundraising in the crucial run-up to the 2008 presidential primaries. McCain persevered as the hot-button issue faded from the front pages, and he eventually secured the GOP nomination, only to lose the general election to Obama, a fellow immigration-reform supporter.

Even if Congress once again postpones action, it's unlikely that McCain's outspoken critics on the right will forget that he has been one of the nation's most prominent GOP supporters of a temporary-worker program and a pathway to legal status for millions of the nation's undocumented immigrants.

McCain's foes in the Aug. 24 primary already include Chris Simcox, considered one of the founding fathers of the Minuteman border-watch movement. Former Rep. J.D. Hayworth, R-Ariz., a KFYI radio talk-show host and author of the 2006 book "Whatever It Takes: Illegal Immigration, Border Security and the War on Terror," is considering running, too. On the air, Hayworth frequently rips McCain as a supporter of "amnesty" for illegal immigrants.

And McCain must run the gantlet of anti-illegal-immigration activists who tried to undermine him two years ago.

"Illegal immigration certainly will still be a key issue, because now, more than ever, people are going to see the costs to the taxpayers," Simcox said. "It's about security, it's about rule of law, it's about cost, and it's about jobs, jobs, jobs."

Simcox said he hopes the Democratic-controlled Congress does renew debate on immigration reform this year "because it just makes the people who are in charge right now look like absolute buffoons."

The struggling economy will make it almost impossible to sell a policy overhaul, he said.

New sense of urgency

McCain so far has kept his distance from the new bill being written by Sens. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, Obama's point person on immigration reform, said she would appreciate the support of McCain and Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., who helped negotiate the 2007 version. She also said the new bill would protect U.S. jobs.

McCain has said he won't support the 2010 legislation if it doesn't include the guest-worker plan, a cornerstone of previous bipartisan compromises. Such a program would import foreign workers as needed during economic boom times to meet the temporary labor demands of the U.S. business community.

When asked about the immigration issue, McCain suggested that the rise of Mexican drug-cartel violence adds a new sense of urgency to the already complex border problem. McCain is a member of Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and in April participated in a Phoenix hearing on the crime wave.

"I've been working to try to get the border secure, of course, but also working with the Mexican government to try to help them because these drug cartels are an existential threat to the government of Mexico," McCain told The Arizona Republic. "If Mexico fell under the control of the drug cartels, you could imagine the challenges we would face. The drug cartels also engage in human smuggling."

Of his immigration-fixated foes, McCain added, "All I can say is that I understand their passion about the issue, but I hope they can understand the dimension of this threat of the drug cartels. If they're not defeated, we would find it incredibly difficult to keep our border secure."

Republican distrust

McCain's conservative Arizona critics are relishing the potential challenge from Hayworth, who they believe has the most stature to take on McCain.

Rob Haney, Maricopa County Republican Party chairman and a longtime McCain antagonist, said he personally considers illegal immigration the No. 1 social issue but said the local GOP distrust of McCain goes deeper than his past support of the so-called amnesty legislation.

Some local Republicans believe he has a long history of putting his personal political interests ahead of conservative principles. "In all the meetings I attend, people are enraged at McCain," Haney said. "Whatever is best for him, he's going to try to come down on that side of the issue."

Other observers predict that McCain ultimately has little to fear from Simcox or Hayworth.

"The anti-immigrant zealots are more bark than bite when it comes to electoral success," said Frank Sharry, executive director of America's Voice, a group that supports reform. "They make a lot of noise, but they don't win a lot of races."

Elias Bermudez, founder and chief executive of the Phoenix-based advocacy group Immigrants Without Borders and a Republican, said Hayworth and Simcox likely will hurt the GOP in the long run.

"It is unfortunate that some people are trying to make John McCain look bad for supporting immigration reform, but I think they are totally mistaken if they want to use that against Senator McCain because the fastest growing voting bloc in the United States is the Hispanics," he said.

www.azcentral.com

Two years ago, a push for comprehensive immigration reform nearly unraveled John McCain's bid for the White House. Now, his long-standing support for border reform is complicating his bid for a fifth Senate term.

Nearly unraveled? Well... all I can say is that his continued pandering to mexico and their illegals did in fact cost him substantial votes.

"It is unfortunate that some people are trying to make John McCain look bad for supporting immigration reform, but I think they are totally mistaken if they want to use that against Senator McCain because the fastest growing voting bloc in the United States is the Hispanics," he said.

You know...i'm sick and tired of hearing the word immigration reform being used to describe legislation that will reduce border enforcement and security, as well as reward millions of law breakers who entered this country in violation of our immigration laws!

What the hell is so reformative about that! And stop reminding me that hispanics are the fastest growing voting bloc. The only reason this is is because this country refuses to enforce immigration laws. These people are stealing their way into this country!

WRONG!!!

"It is unfortunate that some people are trying to make John McCain look bad for supporting immigration reform, but I think they are totally mistaken if they want to use that against Senator McCain because the fastest growing voting bloc in the United States is the Hispanics," he said.

The fastest growing voting bloc is Independants!

I somewhat expect McCain will be pulling a Dodd before the Nov. Elections. 50/50 odds I think.

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, Obama's point person on immigration reform, said she would appreciate the support of McCain and Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., who helped negotiate the 2007 version. She also said the new bill would protect U.S. jobs.

Napolitano is a retard if she thinks an immigration reform bill would "protect U.S. jobs"! This woman needs to go.

McCain doesnt stand a chance. I hope the people of Arizona will do the right thing this time.

Added to Homepage with amended title:
http://www.alipac.us/article-4818--0-0.html

Other observers predict that McCain ultimately has little to fear from Simcox or Hayworth.

"The anti-immigrant zealots are more bark than bite when it comes to electoral success," said Frank Sharry, executive director of America's Voice, a group that supports reform. "They make a lot of noise, but they don't win a lot of races."

Really? Well then why hasn't amnesty passed already, hmmm?

We'll see ya in November Frankie.

I do not live in Arizona, but would gladly contribute to a Hayworth campaign to defeat John McCain!

"Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, Obama's point person on immigration reform, said she would appreciate the support of McCain and Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., who helped negotiate the 2007 version. She also said the new bill would protect U.S. jobs."

---------------and smashing your head with a hammer will make the pain in your toe go away!!!!!