Feeds: 
symbol identifies content for paid subscribers only.
MCCAIN EMPHASIZES LEGAL IMMIGRATION IN SPEECH TO LATINO GROUP.
Those looking for John McCain to strongly support a path toward citizenship for undocumented immigrants will be disappointed. Today at the League of United Latin American Citizens convention, McCain delivered a boilerplate supply side economic speech followed by just a few bullet points of special interest to the Latino community. For example, did you know:
- John McCain twice tried to pass comprehensive immigration reform. He learned in the process that "many Americans -- with good cause -- didn’t believe us when we said we would secure our border, so we failed."
- The border must be secured "while respecting the dignity and rights of citizens and legal residents of the United States of America."
- There are many Hispanic Americans serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, some of whom are not yet citizens.
- John McCain refused early release from prison camp in Vietnam, and that allowed his Mexican American friend to go home before McCain did.
McCain quote of the day: "For Americans who have lost their jobs to foreign competition, which is sad." Also: "To love your country, as I discovered in Vietnam, was to love your country."
--Dana Goldstein
COMMENTS (6)
One of the things I respect most about Senator McCain is how he refuses to bring up his time as a POW.
Posted by: mds | July 8, 2008 1:20 PM
Bulletpoint 4 is pretty stomach-turning. Using his time as a POW as part of a life story narrative, to demonstrate courage, his character, etc., is one thing. Using it as a kind of pander-filled bargaining chip is just crass.
Posted by: Jennifer | July 8, 2008 1:51 PM
I don't really understand Dana Goldstein's bullet points, but then again I have trouble reducing myself to her level.
What's wrong with the first point? All of the quarter-hearted attempts to secure the border have failed, intentionally so. And, even those weak attempts are opposed by those on the far-left, including those linked to the MexicanGovernment. And, most Americans realize that something's wrong, even if some of them don't realize that PoliticalCorruption lies at the heart of it.
If Dana Goldstein would like to try real reporting for a chance, perhaps she could ask someone from LULAC about this comment from their national treasurer. At least he told us what they really think.
Posted by: TLB | July 8, 2008 2:18 PM
You mean McCain managed to "not" mention his POW time again? Was there any media present? Did Liz Sidoti get him his donuts after he "didn't" mention it again? What a freaking circus. My joy on Nov. 4 will add five years to my life, just watching the GOP scum and their press enablers cry.
Posted by: Nick | July 8, 2008 7:18 PM
TLB:
You aren't worth it, but there's a big difference between rhetorically bringing up the fact that the United States annexed parts of what were once Mexico, in the context of making a point about immigration policy and this country's obligation not to crap on Hispanics, and plotting for a "reconquista".
Really, instead of painting dark conspiracy theories, you might try going to a LULAC meeting and talking to some of these people. They don't believe anything that you imagine they do.
Posted by: Dilan Esper | July 8, 2008 10:08 PM
I do not want to add more to our welfare rolls by allowing mexico to send us theirs.
Both parties are selling us down the river. Those Mexicans who lived in the annexed portions are here already. Those sneaking over the border were not part of the process.
We have laws here and they must be obeyed or we can all just ignore whatever law we want to.
Posted by: Susan R | July 9, 2008 10:53 AM