McCain Says Immigration Reform Should Be Top Priority

[Terri]

NY Times

SAN JOSE—In yet another sign of his pivoting toward the general election, Senator John McCain said at a roundtable with business leaders here today that comprehensive immigration reform should be a top priority for the next president.

Mr. McCain’s willingness to address the issue was striking given how the topic became something of a third-rail for Republican presidential candidates during the primary.

When Mr. McCain’s presidential bid stalled last summer, many blamed his advocacy for the immigration reform bill in the Senate, which included a pathway to citizenship for the illegal immigrants already here in the country.

<snip>

He added: “I believe we have to secure our borders, and I think most Americans agree with that, because it’s a matter of national security. But we must enact comprehensive immigration reform. We must make it a top agenda item if we don’t do it before, and we probably won’t, a little straight talk, as of January 2009.”

More

[Terri]

Team McCain: No Shift Away From Border Security First

I doubt this will mitigate the anger of bloggers like John Hawkins much, but Team McCain tells me there's been no change in his stance on immigration — secure the border first, deal with other aspects of illegal immigration once the border is secure. Recently, McCain made comments that seemed to suggest he was eager to get to the second part, which conservatives and border security types are understandably wary about.

Team McCain tells me the senator's comments were poorly worded. There's been no discussion within the campaign of altering their stance on illegal immigration, and as far as everyone on the campaign is concerned, the policy is still, 'secure the border first.'

I said, "so, this change away from border-security-first wouldn't happen, unless John McCain and his top advisers had gotten together, studied it in great detail, weighed all the advantages and disadvantages, and came to the carefully-considered conclusion that they're really not interested in winning the election?" The strategist laughed and agreed.

We all believe this, right?

[rangerrebew]

NO!! Anyone who is a friend of Kennedy, Lurch, Cllinton, Findgold, Fienstein, Durbin, et al, can't be all good. In fact, that person might be downright dangerous.

[Cynical Pete]

I wonder ef Mr. McCain gets the news then makes statments as to his policy that will please the voters. I do respect this war hero but

[rangerrebew]

Immigration reform means Constitutional reform as Article 1, Section 8, Clause 4 says the poltiburo will make a UNIFORM code of immigration. Not a code for these people and a code for those, but a UNIFORMcode. Anything different, in my not so humble view, would require an amendment.

[Der Alte]

He says they are all God's children. Don't think anyone would argue with that, but lets call it what it is - God's ILLEGAL ALIENS. And to think that he is all we have to vote for.

[Ralph Cringely]

This is still bouncing around. The other day the Philadelphia Bulletin had this
which included the following

After adjusting his immigration stance when his comprehensive immigration bill died last summer, John McCain, now with the Republican nomination in hand, has once again ruffled conservative feathers on the immigration issue by returning to the position that almost stopped his campaign dead in its tracks.

But Mr. McCain's decision to reintroduce comprehensive immigration reform to the presidential debate after securing the GOP nomination has raised concerns the Arizona senator his returning to his amnesty roots.

"Put very simply: John McCain is a liar," argued prominent conservative activist John Hawkins. While Mr. Hawkins was always skeptical of Mr. McCain, he opted to support the Arizona senator after it appeared he won the nomination on the grounds a Democrat would be much worse. But Mr. Hawkins decided to rescind his support, raising the question of whether others will follow suit.

Isn't this coming early? Like, it should have been a few months after inauguration, not before the convention.

[Tiberius]

The man just doesn't get it, a few weeks ago he said that the border was secure, the same week that many officials were executed in Mexico.

This notion that we need comprehensive immigration reform, he keeps shoving it down our throats as if they know better than us when they don't have a clue as to what is going on. If congress forces this on the people, this nothing different than tyranny itself.

[rangerrebew]

McLame is the George Castanza of politics, the only Republican who is so pathetic he couldn't beat BHO.

[Oregon Al]

Terri,
Are you the "me" in post #2?