McCain: “We must enact comprehensive immigration reform”
posted at 8:05 pm on May 22, 2008 by Allahpundit
You guys think I’m kidding about writing in Hillary. Okay then.
In yet another sign of his pivoting toward the general election, Senator John McCain said at a roundtable with business leaders [in San Jose] today that comprehensive immigration reform should be a top priority for the next president…
“Senator Kennedy and I tried very hard to get immigration reform, a comprehensive plan, through the Congress of the United States,” he said. “It is a federal responsibility and because of our failure as a federal obligation, we’re seeing all these various conflicts and problems throughout our nation as different towns, cities, counties, whatever they are, implement different policies and different programs which makes things even worse and even more confusing.”
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.”
The boss reminds us that this sunny little pander directly contradicts what he said in the heat of the Republican primary about having “gotten the message” on immigration and agreeing that we should secure the border first. Consider it the answer to Obama’s pitiful climbdown from promising to meet with Ahmadinejad at the YouTube debate last year — an early empty promise aimed squarely at the gullible idiots in his own base who need to hear it to nominate him, and who’ll then merrily acquiesce as he abandons that position for a more electable centrist footing in the general. Hell of a day to say this, though, coming as it does within hours of the Hagee un-endorsement that’s going to annoy evangelicals. Serious exit question: Would Obama really be much worse for Iraq than McCain would? The more security gains there are, the harder it’ll be for him to pull the rug out from under Petraeus and Odierno. Even his own advisors admit that the Hopenchange rhetoric about abandoning Iraq is crap along these same lines, to soothe the savage liberal beast for long enough to get him elected while he plots a more responsible strategy. The real question is whether he’d be much worse on Iran, which he very well might. We can’t afford that, and McCain knows it. Which is precisely why it’s suddenly become the centerpiece of his campaign.
Blowback
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Secure the border. Prove it for a few years. Sigh, why is this so damn hard to grasp?
funky chicken on May 22, 2008 at 8:09 PM
Worse? Hardly for these cities and states.
Enforce the laws on the book, Mac. You don’t have to give us “it won’t come to my desk” crap. Enforce the laws already on the book. Stop the continual disregard for the rule of law, and then we can have a discussion on what’s the next best step for the nation.
Spirit of 1776 on May 22, 2008 at 8:11 PM
The Democrats DO NOT want to secure the border, so why vote for Hillary?
Chakra Hammer on May 22, 2008 at 8:11 PM
And his poll numbers just dropped 7 points at least. He still doesn’t get it. WE are right. HE is wrong.
SouthernGent on May 22, 2008 at 8:11 PM
When will they understand that a commodity, in this case low and unskilled labor, will continue to move across the border until the price reaches equilibrium. Further, the more you limit wage growth for the lowest rung of the economic ladder by letting the supply increase unfettered, there more demand you create for leftist government programs for the poor, and the more you will elect leftist politicians who will enact them. Those politicians will enact their leftist ideals in non economic areas as well, including national security.
The price we pay for letting this stupidity continue will be huge.
trubble on May 22, 2008 at 8:12 PM
Nothing in this statement really precludes passing legislation for border security first, not that McCain has the intention of doing it.
phronesis on May 22, 2008 at 8:14 PM
Well, that’s it for me. I was gonna hold my nose & vote for McCain, just in the hope of keeping Obama out, but that’s it. McCain is no conservative. He does not care about me, or the people like me, who are the backbone of this country. I think I’ll just write in my own name.
BeachBaby on May 22, 2008 at 8:14 PM
Never has this Republic faced such perils on its own shores as the actions that are unfolding before our very eyes are being fomented and encouraged by those who would claim to be loyal to the oaths they swore when they took office.
Beware of Progre$$ives in wolves clothing. They know no party lines but share a common goal and will never quit until they are soundly defeated.
normsrevenge on May 22, 2008 at 8:15 PM
AP, we all know that you love Hillary however since the Democrats killed her off show your protest vote by voting for McCain, like lots of other Hillary supporters are going to do.
Chakra Hammer on May 22, 2008 at 8:16 PM
Hillary and Obama at a Debate said AMNESTY in the first 100 days in office.
Chakra Hammer on May 22, 2008 at 8:17 PM
All the more reason, by the way, to vote in the down ballot elections. We MUST not let the democrats and McCain or Obama get that 60 vote threshold!!
SouthernGent on May 22, 2008 at 8:19 PM
What’s new about this? We knew this and let the indies and moderates nominate him anyways.
I know you aren’t. Especially in NY, as it won’t matter anyway. I’m in PA, a battleground state, and I think our national security is too important to hand over to Obama. I’m certainly not happy about having to vote for McShamnesty, but this doesn’t make it any worse. We already knew all this.
malan89 on May 22, 2008 at 8:20 PM
I live in CT. I am writing in Mitt.
ctmom on May 22, 2008 at 8:21 PM
This is why I cannot vote for him. I love the way that Rush puts it when he describes conservatives that don’t for McCain as “Mavericks”.
Mormon Doc on May 22, 2008 at 8:22 PM
But Congress has already passed 7 amnesties (code word: “pathway to USA Citizenship”; code word: “Comprehensive immigration reform”) since 1986, and that has not stopped illegal immigration at all:
http://www.numbersusa.com/interests/amnesty.html
Rewarding illegal behavior with the gift of USA citizenship only serves as an effective encouragement and incentive for more illegal immigration in the future.
What does McCain want to do with Visa Overstays? Give them USA citizenship as a reward for breaking our laws?
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,198298,00.html
http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/4721
I do not think McCain really cares about stopping illegal immigration.
ColtsFan on May 22, 2008 at 8:22 PM
Looks like Juan “Z-Visa” McCain has givin’ up on getting money and volunteers for his campaign. He might as well go all out for AMNESTY and hope he can pull enough of the New Direction Democrats from Obama. Good Luck!
STAY HOME ’08
DfDeportation on May 22, 2008 at 8:22 PM
BTW, for all of you pulling the whole “I’m staying home” act, remember, every conservative member of Congress YOU let get voted out because of childish “I’m not voting!” games is one more vote McShamnesty has to enact, well, shamnesty.
malan89 on May 22, 2008 at 8:22 PM
Núñez sees racial bias in attacks on his spending
By Jim Sanders – jsanders@sacbee.com
Published 12:00 am PDT Thursday, May 22, 2008
Former Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez, saying he now can speak more openly, is blasting accusations that he spent lavishly on overseas trips and retail purchases as racially motivated.
Núñez, who is termed out of the Assembly in December, lashed out Saturday during an interview on Spanish-language television.
The Los Angeles Democrat said he has no regrets over his spending of campaign funds, despite controversy over tens of thousands of dollars spent on high-priced hotels, wine, gifts and other purchases.
“Everyone’s done it like this,” Núñez said of previous legislative leaders. “The difference is there are some in politics who want to judge me in a certain manner.
“Because of the fact I am Mexican, they think I have to sleep under a cactus and eat from taco stands.”
Núñez’s spending included more than $47,000 in plane fare, more than $5,000 at a wine cellar in France, and more than $2,500 for “office expenses” at Vuitton, the Los Angeles Times reported last October.
In the interview on Univision’s Voz y Voto program, Núñez defended in Spanish his accommodations in fine hotels overseas.
“What’s a luxury hotel? A stay at a Sheraton? … I am, you could say, like a head of state. I’m the leader of the Assembly of the state of California. Where am I supposed to sleep?”
Núñez’s spending became a target last year in the campaign against Proposition 93, which would have altered term limits and allowed him to serve as Assembly leader an extra six years.
“The only thing that really results out of this is that groups that don’t like Latinos use this as a weapon to inflame anti-Mexican, anti-Latino politics,” he said.
Hector Barajas, communications director of the California Republican Party, called Núñez’s racial comments disgraceful and disheartening.
“Questioning someone’s expenses, especially when they’re in public office, is something the public should do,” he said.
Kevin Spillane, a GOP strategist who ran the campaign against Proposition 93, noted that the campaign also accused President Pro Tem Don Perata, who is white, of political corruption.
“Political corruption is colorblind,” Spillane said.
Steve Maviglio, who served as Núñez’s spokesman, said the speaker was justified in feeling that some people exploited controversy over his spending for racial purposes.
“You cannot deny there’s some overtly racial overtones to this,” Maviglio said.
——————————————————————————–
DfDeportation on May 22, 2008 at 8:22 PM
Moron.
malan89 on May 22, 2008 at 8:22 PM
I don’t even know how to write in a candidate – we vote electronically – but I’m going to find out. La.’s going to vote for this SOB in any event, but I’m not doing it.
Laura on May 22, 2008 at 8:23 PM
Please don’t copy and paste full articles, it’s copyright infringement. Try quoting the relevant passages or linking it. I’m pretty sure RushBaby covered this the other day.
malan89 on May 22, 2008 at 8:23 PM
As long as
means buildinga borderfence and sending them back home to get in line and do it the right way… yeah… I’m for that.
CynicalOptimist on May 22, 2008 at 8:24 PM
SECOND LOOK AT ANYONE ELSE!
Allahpundit on May 22, 2008 at 8:25 PM
LMAO
I am so glad this tool is termed out.
Mark1971 on May 22, 2008 at 8:25 PM
Is it possible he includes border enforcement in “comprehensive immigration reform”? Or that they are not mutually exclusive?
mikeyboss on May 22, 2008 at 8:26 PM
I hear people say “You can’t deport all of the illegals so you have to make them legal.” My question is WHY NOT? I know it wouldn’t be easy or be done quickly but the fact is that they all got here somehow. Why can’t we send them all packing? Even if it takes the rest of my lifetime to get 50% of them out of the country. Why not start now?
It’s like the question of drilling in ANWR. Even if we started now we wouldn’t have oil from there for at least 2-5 years. So if we start now then it will be that nearer at hand.
Imagine that same argument used for dissuading someone from going to college. For example, what if any of us were told “Even if you start college at 18, you won’t be done until you’re at least 22.”
That kind of logic baffles me.
Mormon Doc on May 22, 2008 at 8:27 PM
Yeah, that bugs me, too. Talk about short-sighted.
mikeyboss on May 22, 2008 at 8:29 PM
We need to have reforms so that those who are in the system get processed in a timely manner.
We also should have illegals build our fence, to cut down on costs.
originalpechanga on May 22, 2008 at 8:30 PM
Interesting that the best the sycophants in this thread have to offer is extortion and browbeating.
Don’t worry your pretty little heads. If he wins, it will be in spite of conservative base, not because of it.
spmat on May 22, 2008 at 8:30 PM
Excellent.
Big S on May 22, 2008 at 8:31 PM
If he’s “pivoting toward the general election” then shouldn’t he be advocating policies that the majority of American voters will support? Every poll I’ve seen shows that a majority of voters favor securing the borders, and enforcing immigration laws. Passing “comprehensive” immigration reform — which is just McCain and other open borders’ shills’ code word for massive amnesty — is not what most Americans want, and it is certainly not what McCain promised during the primaries. He said he would make secure borders the first priority, and would ask border state governors to certify that their borders were secure before considering any amnesty plans. If he flip-flops on this, he can kiss my vote goodbye. It was going to be difficult enough to vote for him anyway, but if he keeps pandering to LaRaza and pushing for “comprehensive” amnesty right away, I won’t even make the effort. Paul Begala said last week that Obama can’t win with a coalition of blacks, college kids, and eggheads. Well guess what, McCain, you can’t win with just an open borders/LaRaza coalition.
BTW McCain, those “different policies” that we enacted here in your home state of Arizona (you may have read about it — Arizona employers are now required to verify that their new hires are actual citizens or legal residents) is working just fine. This law doesn’t seem to be “confusing” anyone, although it certainly is vexing many of the Mexicans in the Sonoran government, who’re trying to cope with the large influx of returning Mexican citizens who’d been living illegally in our state.
AZCoyote on May 22, 2008 at 8:33 PM
At the first sign of trouble, Obama would bail out or over react.
McCain’s desperate search for votes is beginning to creep me out. It’s almost like he has a compulsive need that people like him. Given his history that thought really creeps me out.
rockhauler on May 22, 2008 at 8:34 PM
Maybe 2%. Most of us don’t really care for Hagee’s type.
jgapinoy on May 22, 2008 at 8:34 PM
Please don’t copy and paste full articles, it’s copyright infringement. Try quoting the relevant passages or linking it. I’m pretty sure RushBaby covered this the other day.
malan89 on May 22, 2008 at 8:23 PM
Spoken like a true follower of Daily Kos and Media Matters. BTW – the author got credit for the article.
DfDeportation on May 22, 2008 at 8:36 PM
Amen to that!
I’ll be voting this November for Melissa Hart for Congress. The top of the ballet can go to h-e-double hockey sticks.
Zorro on May 22, 2008 at 8:37 PM
McCain’s desperate search for votes is beginning to creep me out. It’s almost like he has a compulsive need that people like him. Given his history that thought really creeps me out.
rockhauler on May 22, 2008 at 8:34 PM
Juan “Z-Visa” McCain is going on Ellen Degenerates Show hoping to pick up votes. That’s very creepy…
DfDeportation on May 22, 2008 at 8:39 PM
I hear that too – and my response every time is that where the laws are enforced, like New Mexico right now, they are leaving voluntarily in droves.
Laura on May 22, 2008 at 8:41 PM
It’s amazing how insane this issue makes you (and many, many others). It’s really unbecoming, and such reactions are the reason why the Right scares moderates so much. Without knowing anything about what kind of “comprehensive reform” McCain has in mind, you’ve assumed the “worst” and are tilting towards a willingness to risk Iraq for it. I’ve long despised Democrats for their willingness to lose Iraq for political gain here in the USA, and I sincerely hope conservatives/Republicans won’t start doing the same thing.
Big S on May 22, 2008 at 8:42 PM
Not me. I’m not voting for McCain either, although I’m more likely to vote for an as yet undetermined 3rd party candidate than to write in Hillary.
Well if it’s too confusing to be an illegal alien in America they should just go home. Buh bye.
FloatingRock on May 22, 2008 at 8:42 PM
No, spoken like someone who has seen Allah specifically request whole articles not be copied and pasted in comments on multiple occasions, you jackass.
doubleplusundead on May 22, 2008 at 8:43 PM
But McCain says that isn’t helping. Go fig. If he did hear the message, he’d have said it’s a good thing. If he did care about rule of law, he’d say it’s a good thing.
Spirit of 1776 on May 22, 2008 at 8:43 PM
you ARE kidding ….Right?
jerrytbg on May 22, 2008 at 8:45 PM
Huckabee/Hunter 08′
SaintOlaf on May 22, 2008 at 8:45 PM
Who says “immigration reform” has to be amnesty? Actually, it never was, unless you count what Reagan did. Pay a big fine, jump through a ton of bureaucratic & geographic hoops, wait-wait-wait, & you become legal.
jgapinoy on May 22, 2008 at 8:46 PM
I keep getting boggled every time you say this because I’m not sure where you’re getting this impression. I know a lot of Southern Evangelicals – my family kind of moves in those circles – and I’d never heard of this loser until he got denounced by McCain.
Lehosh on May 22, 2008 at 8:46 PM
Keep reminding us that you plan on fomenting a racial majority shift in the US that will turn the most scapegoated racial majority in world history into a scapegoated racial minority, Mr. McCain.
It’s important that you don’t let us forget that for a minute.
Buddahpundit on May 22, 2008 at 8:46 PM
malan89 on May 22, 2008 at 8:22 PM
Are you kidding? Have you seen the way they have been voting lately? There are about 10 real conservatives left! They need a wake up call!
ctmom on May 22, 2008 at 8:47 PM
Wasn’t that the plan in 2006? How did that work out?
phronesis on May 22, 2008 at 8:48 PM
Glenn Beck made a great point about illegals tonight. How compassionate is it to let them come here and live like slaves?
ctmom on May 22, 2008 at 8:48 PM
Maybe he wants us to rest assured that the next Mohammed Atta who crosses our southern border, will at least be an American citizen when he barrels into the new World Trade Center….
/sarc
Lockstein13 on May 22, 2008 at 8:50 PM
phronesis on May 22, 2008 at 8:48 PM
What can I say? They aren’t getting the message. Congresspeople are STUPID!
ctmom on May 22, 2008 at 8:50 PM
Before we all jump ship lets stop kidding ourselves. When repubs lost the House and basically the Senate in 06 immigration reform was never going to happen along the lines some of us wished.
My bona-fides on the FENCE go back before McCain/Kennedy even knew there was a border. I won’t bore you with the details but old CQ’s know the battles I waged–for years.
That said our only hope is to campaign to get McCain to listen. Obama has already voiced his open border policy through his church. McCain has come a long way from his original position. In the past he would never have put border security first, hell he wouldn’t even mention it. But like so many others in both houses he’s been embarrassed into it.
Personally after 40 years of an open border I don’t care what they do with the folks that are here. Just seal the border, I just don’t want anymore for a long time. If we can get McCain to do that, I think the rest of the bullshit will work itself out as states past their own laws as they are already starting to do.
But no matter how you feel about this some kind of convoluted reform is coming. We just have to persist in having a fence be part of it. The law is there we just have to guarantee funding and compliance. We can pound him on it at town meetings.
patrick neid on May 22, 2008 at 8:50 PM
Same thing is happening in AZ. Enforce minimum wage laws, penalize businesses that use illegal labor. Agriculture probably needs a guest worker program to meet their labor needs. It’s just a matter of Republicans summoning the political will to stand up to businesses and Democrats standing up to… themselves, I guess.
RightOFLeft on May 22, 2008 at 8:52 PM
Traffic running a little low? Decided to stir the immigration pot again? How is what McCain is quoted as saying any different from his position yesterday or the day before? When did he say that he wasn’t in favor of comprehensive reform?
Since the fiasco that almost destroyed his campaign, he has always said 1) secure the borders, 2) create guest worker and ID programs, 3) deal humanely with the remaining illegal population including paths to citizenship.
No change. No story. In my opinion the only one pandering here is our esteemed host and moderator.
CK MacLeod on May 22, 2008 at 8:52 PM
Juan McCain.
Sounds like Juan wants to do the same thing he tried to get passed with Edwardo.
We’re living in spectacular times. We very well could witness, no live through, the elimination of a country’s entire middle class.
All these new “comprehended – 3rd world – immigrants” are going to get wonderful 1st world benefits.
You make more than 75 grand a year – a number Hussein has thrown out now and then? Get ready. You a) don’t need to make more than that and b) are now defined as down right wealthy. You know? Just like all the movie stars out in Hollywood.
BowHuntingTexas on May 22, 2008 at 8:55 PM
Pandering for votes by destroying the country. Why doesn’t he just change parties already and get it over with.
KSgop on May 22, 2008 at 8:55 PM
I believe it changed when he said ” I hear you”.
ctmom on May 22, 2008 at 8:55 PM
This guy never stops. How about Secure the Borders, deport the Criminals and force businesses to only hire LEGAL citizens, the rest will take care of itself.
Poptech on May 22, 2008 at 8:55 PM
Worst. “Republican.” Evar.
HarryBalzac on May 22, 2008 at 8:57 PM
I’m not gonna hold my breath!!
jerrytbg on May 22, 2008 at 8:58 PM
When:
–a big fine
–paying back taxes
–jumping through lots of bureaucratic hoops
–waiting your turn
is “amnesty”, then consistency is “pandering”.
jgapinoy on May 22, 2008 at 8:58 PM
Okay, let’s see -
McCain: Close to Amnesty
Obama: Full Permanent Amnesty and fast-track citizenship for all, plus I could see:
Safety from unscrupulous coyotes paramount – send caravans of buses to Mexico to transport illegals to cities and towns throughout the US.
HHS to make a prime Federal focus of signing up illegals for social services. Cancelled fence funds will be used to add more free social services.
Eliminate all deportations, including unfair, racist deporations of illegal felons since searching for them “scares” the immigrant community.
Yea, punishing McCain will be great for America
eeyore on May 22, 2008 at 8:58 PM
CK,
You’re free to self-deport over to Daily Kos, just like the Illegal Aliens should, if they had any integrity to speak of. Juan “Z-Visa” McCain stand for AMNESTY, no matter how much you all try to water it down. We’ll continue talking about this because AMNESTY for Illegal Aliens IS the most important issue facing the voters. You can’t cover it up. Simply enforce the laws, deport Illegal Aliens, build the double-layered fence, workplace enforcement, withold taxpayer benefits to Illegal Aliens and their Anchor Babies, and stop taking taxes out of my check to pay for services and benefits for people who shouldn’t be here, and we’ll stop talking about it! I promise!
DfDeportation on May 22, 2008 at 8:59 PM
I’ve come to the conclusion that McCain is targeting niche voters: Hispanics, greens, moderates, Hillary supporters, Huckabee supporters, veterans. Anyone not falling into those categories is not worth his effort. He assumes conservatives will never vote for Obama, so he can stomp on them. If gas goes to $10/gal, if there’s a snowstorm in July, if the Mexican army invades California, nothing will change, because, above all, John McCain is always right and citizens can go scratch.
Blah, this election is becoming some sort of bizarre nightmare.
I’ll be joining Allah in writing Hillary in — it makes more sense than either Obama or McCain at this point. And I hope she hangs on in the race — if she manages to win, she might make McCain have to rethink the strategy he’s obviously set in stone.
Nichevo on May 22, 2008 at 9:01 PM
First of all, they decide to come here on their own, so it isn’t like “slavery”. I find it amusing that some people think deporting millions of illegal immigrants back to squalid conditions in their home countries is somehow the “compassionate” thing to do. They came here because they thought they could do better here, and stay because the conditions here, tough as they may be, are still better than they are in their former homes.
Big S on May 22, 2008 at 9:02 PM
He’s never said he gave up on immigration reform. His change was to change the order of fence-building from concurrent to before to the rest. I’m glad he hasn’t given up on it. In the long run it’s much better to have more immigrants, however we can get them. If you think they can’t or won’t assimilate, once they have the real promise of a path to citizenship, then I think you sell America short. Once people feel part of this country, they learn to love it. As it stands now, border jumping (with no ill intent) is a federal misdemeanor. If they come forward and pay a significant fine for being here illegally, I’d let them stay, and in the long run we’ll all be better off. Those who work hard don’t scare me. Not at all.
RBMN on May 22, 2008 at 9:02 PM
DfDeportation on May 22, 2008 at 8:59 PM
YES!! same page!!!
jerrytbg on May 22, 2008 at 9:03 PM
Laura on May 22, 2008 at 8:41 PM
Thank you so much for responding. I was beginning to think I was the only one who thought that.
Mormon Doc on May 22, 2008 at 9:03 PM
Way to get the issue back on the table and in front of the faces of fellow Citizens that actually think our bureaucrats give a flying f*ck about us……….
Rove, you Magnificent Bastard!!!!!!!!!
Seven Percent Solution on May 22, 2008 at 9:03 PM
Then, FRIEND, secure the damn border and start cracking down on the employment of illegal aliens. The money will soon dry up and this “obligation” will be fulfilled as these non-citizens self deport themselves since they can’t find employment! Got that FRIEND.
Face it you McCain supporters- He didn’t mean it when he said he got it. McCain was probably muttering “that will fool them” as he walked away from the podium. The question you McCain people need to ask yourself is how important is this issue to you. Are you going to sit by defend McCain from all attacks on this issue or are your going to hold Candidate McCain accountabe to securing the border and dropping his no-questions-asked amesty scheme. We now know that Teddy Kennedy has an excuse for supporting this insanity. McCain has no such out and he needs to be sent the anti-amnesty message once again. Sadly, I think McCain’s supporters who were amnesty a year ago will making rationalizations for it now as part of the “shut the f**k up and support McCain” smear campaign of conservative values.
highhopes on May 22, 2008 at 9:03 PM
Big S on May 22, 2008 at 9:02 PM
They are illegal!!!!!!!!
jerrytbg on May 22, 2008 at 9:05 PM
I wouldn’t hold my breath either not after forty years of this.
But this is what I know. Four years ago when I started pounding the table for a fence it was in an echo chamber. Now at least there are a few politicians that see the light in both parties.
Do they actually want a fence–no. This has been and has to continue to be a grass roots issue. So I continue to pound the table rather than pissing and moaning. McCain might listen, Obama definitely won’t.
patrick neid on May 22, 2008 at 9:06 PM
Wow. Very thick people, these Shamnesty supporters (I’m convinced some of them only support it because Johnny Mac tells them to). I’ll tell you what. I’m going to give up my citizenship, not pay taxes for 10 years, collect all kinds of government services for ten years, and then I can come back and pay a few grand as my “punishment”. Sound good? Awesome. You’ll even give me my citizenship back? Even cooler! I don’t have to drive all the way back to Mexico and get in line to come back in legally, do I? Great, all those schmucks that “do it legally” are missing out!
BTW, since when is “jumping through bureaucratic hoops” a valid punishment for a crime? If so, I’ve been punished many times for a crime I didn’t commit every time I visit the DMV.
malan89 on May 22, 2008 at 9:08 PM
Can you say “Job Security”?
CynicalOptimist on May 22, 2008 at 9:08 PM
Big S on May 22, 2008 at 9:02 PM
I don’t think deporting them is compassionate on cruel. I think it is the law. If it isn’t the law then there would be no grounds to do it. Therefore people who break the law are subject to its penalties. But if not, is that the only law that should be disregarded when it suits certain groups. How do we decide which laws should be followed and which ones shouldn’t? If the law should be different then people should vote or send representatives to change it but it was pretty clear from the last amnesty vote what the American people didn’t want.
Mormon Doc on May 22, 2008 at 9:08 PM
THe point is the only ones benefitting from them being here are the employers who are exploiting them. Congress isn’t helping them by not enforcing the laws!
ctmom on May 22, 2008 at 9:10 PM
We welcome those who wish to come here to start better lives. However, you need to follow American laws in doing so. The very first thing they did getting here was violating American immigration laws.
amerpundit on May 22, 2008 at 9:11 PM
Close? You might want to acquaint yourself with the Latinos Immigration Fairness Act of 2000. McCain basically proposed bringing all of Latin America to the US through chain migration. Democrats were seen blushing at this proposal.
He couldn’t get anyone to back his US death plan at the time.
Buddahpundit on May 22, 2008 at 9:11 PM
Keep pounding Pat but I still won’t hold my breath.
I applaud your efforts though.
jerrytbg on May 22, 2008 at 9:13 PM
Well, I’d like to see them go BACK to their homes and protest THEIR government for the RIGHTS they DEMAND from the U.S.!
ctmom on May 22, 2008 at 9:16 PM
You seem to disregard the fact that moving from wherever to the USA is, in the minds of the vast majority of illegal immigrants (I’m sure) a benefit to the immigrants themsleves. Immigration (and employment) laws can change, but you’re not going to be able to change the laws of supply and demand. There is apparently a greater demand for employees in the USA than many other places, and immigrants seem very willing to cross the border to supply their labor. Most things like this don’t happen unless there is mutual benefit between employee and employer. I don’t discount the possibility that explotation exists, but if conditions were worse than they are in Mexico, Guatemala, or elsewhere, we’d see a flow of such people out of the country. That, incidentally, is the Romney policy: make conditions for illegal immigrants here really bad on purpose, so they leave under their own power.
Big S on May 22, 2008 at 9:16 PM
Sometimes the illegals work smarter and harder than the Americans who would replace them. In many cases they’re not being exploited by the employer. They’re being coveted by the employer. That’s not universally true of course, but it’s true in many cases.
RBMN on May 22, 2008 at 9:17 PM
I don’t think it’s particularly compassionate to allow Mexico’s elites to continue running, through corruption and bad policy, a nation into the ground. If they are prevented from exporting their poor – and currently about 10% of Mexico’s entire citizenry lives in the US – then Mexicans may finally demand and get some real reform.
Laura on May 22, 2008 at 9:17 PM
Buddahpundit has it exactly right. “Comprehensive…” is code for creating 20M or more artificial voters (amnesties and their families) that will fundamentally and immorally change America forever. Those votes will forever tilt presidential and senatorial elections in many states not to mention the impact on local elected offices that will be taken by activist-managed (LuLAC, La Raza, et al) voting blocks. I don’t think most people understand the impact of creating so many voters over a period of a few years.
DrDeano on May 22, 2008 at 9:17 PM
Remember: Ronald Reagan faltered on this issue in 1986.
carbon_footprint on May 22, 2008 at 9:17 PM
A big question is:
Who is more arrogant? Juan “Z-Visa” McCain or Barack Obama?
DfDeportation on May 22, 2008 at 9:18 PM
I love that policy! GO MITT!
ctmom on May 22, 2008 at 9:18 PM
Not a very good start, now is it?
Har. Surely you jest.
malan89 on May 22, 2008 at 9:18 PM
I’ve started several posts but just before I hit submit I realize I’ll get the ol’ban hammer on my head. So I highlight it and hit delete.
Why?
Law and order. Allahpundit will offer me neither compassion or compensation if I break the rules.
Law and order. It keeps the place nice and tidy like.
Limerick on May 22, 2008 at 9:19 PM
That doesn’t mean we should make the same mistake 22 years after it failed.
amerpundit on May 22, 2008 at 9:19 PM
You may like it, but there’s not a chance in hell that it will get passed on a federal level.
Big S on May 22, 2008 at 9:20 PM
So I guess he didn’t get the message.
My major issue with McCain on this is that Republicans have made it abundantly clear how we feel about this issue and he’s simply ignoring the opinions of the majority of those he’s supposed to represent. At this point, I’d like to see McCain and his supporters start making positive arguments for why I should vote for this guy instead of the ‘he’s better than the other side’ nonsense the campaign seems to be counting on.
Slublog on May 22, 2008 at 9:20 PM
Also, I admire your compassion.
Big S on May 22, 2008 at 9:20 PM
I don’t see why all the amnesty supporters always feel the need to reference this. It was a FAILED policy. It didn’t meet any of the objectives President Reagan had in mind when he signed it. Why do it again? Those who do not learn from history are bound to repeat it.
malan89 on May 22, 2008 at 9:21 PM
McCain is right. Most of you are wrong. What’s arrogant about that? :)
RBMN on May 22, 2008 at 9:21 PM
Beat me to it.
malan89 on May 22, 2008 at 9:21 PM
Immigration reform?
We have adequate immigration laws on the books. Those who favor amnesty aren’t reforming diddly squat, their mutulating pre-existing law for a boatload of votes from illegals.
Let’s call it what it is. Immigration deform.
fogw on May 22, 2008 at 9:22 PM
It seems like some reform is necessary to encourage legal applications to immigrate. I’m sure the current bureaucracy is a nightmare. Enforcement on illegal employers including day labor would go a long way to curbing the flow. Also, employers or family members should have to post a bond to bring in an immigrant so that if they become a burdent to society there would be some offset of cost.
For those already here, if they can demonstrate responsibility and desire to assimilate it makes sense to allow residency and eventually citizenship. I would give preference to those who have acheived US diplomas and their families.
MRegine on May 22, 2008 at 9:22 PM
And the politicians who refuse to learn the lessons from that amnesty are foolish, suffer from poor judgment, and don’t deserve the right to represent us and make our laws.
Laura on May 22, 2008 at 9:23 PM
What could you possibly say that could get you on the business end of the ban hammer? That’s usually reserved for the trolliest of trolls and I’ve never seen you act troll like at all.
malan89 on May 22, 2008 at 9:24 PM
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