McCain Admits That He Will Cave To Sean Hannity On Immigration, But Ignore Public On Iraq
McCain Admits That He Will Cave To Sean Hannity On Immigration, But Ignore Public On Iraq
Last night, Fox News’s Hannity and Colmes aired an interview with Sen. John McCain (R-AZ). During the segment, McCain confirmed that he turned against comprehensive immigration reform after receiving pressure from the right wing:
HANNITY: After McCain/Kennedy was defeated, you said, I hear you. I understand. People don’t trust us, and they want the borders secured first.
MCCAIN: That’s exactly right. [...]
HANNITY: You are focused on securing the borders?
MCCAIN: Yes, sir.
HANNITY: Not — you look at McCain-Kennedy, the country doesn’t want it?
MCCAIN: We failed. My friend, we failed. I think you noticed, because you were one of the reasons.
Watch it:
The Maverick is willing to switch his positions for the radical right, but unwilling to do so for everyone else. For example, the senator has repeatedly advocated staying in Iraq, despite opposition from the majority of Americans. In 2007, McCain told CBS’s 60 Minutes that he didn’t care what the American public wanted:
“I believe that we can succeed and I believe the consequences of failure are catastrophic. Those who say just withdraw, then you say, ‘What next?’” McCain asked in the 2007 interview.
“I wonder at what point do you stop doing what you think is right and you start doing what the majority of the American people want?” Pelley asked.
“Well, again, I disagree with what the majority of the American people want. Failure will lead to chaos, withdrawal will lead to chaos,” McCain said at the time.
In addition to the Iraq war, McCain switched his position for conservatives on President Bush’s tax cuts, the economic stimulus package, and even his opinions of Karl Rove.
So, to recap: When it comes to hard right conservatives, McCain’s strategy is to cave in to their demands, even if it means switching his own positions. When it comes to the American public, McCain’s strategy is to ignore their opinions and tell them what he (and the right wing) think is best.
Transcript:
HANNITY: I could tell you, Senator, if there was one issue that I know I, as a conservative, and others as a conservative — and I’ve been on the radio 20 years…
MCCAIN: Right.
HANNITY: … and I’ve been expressing my opinions…
MCCAIN: Yes.
HANNITY: … as independently as I think you have yours. And there’s a lot of pride. A lot of people say, well, that’s what they like about Senator John McCain. Hopefully that’s what they like about me as a radio host.
But immigration –
MCCAIN: Yes?
HANNITY: After McCain/Kennedy was defeated, you said, I hear you. I understand. People don’t trust us, and they want the borders secured first.
MCCAIN: That’s exactly right.
HANNITY: What does that mean in terms of practicality?
MCCAIN: It means that I, as president, I would have the border state governors certify that their borders are secure. Americans will trust the border state governors. They won’t trust us in Washington. That’s the message — they want it secure.
And I’m sorry for a long answer, but in ‘86, as you may recall…
HANNITY: President Reagan.
MCCAIN: Yes. We said we’d give amnesty and secure the borders. We didn’t secure the borders. We ended up with 12 million or more people here illegally. So there’s no trust there.
So you’ve got to prove to the American people that your borders are secure. Then you move to temper-proof biometric documents for temporary workers.
HANNITY: Right.
MCCAIN: And any employer who hires someone without that, and an employer electronic verification system, then is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. I mean, and then we address the issue in a humane and compassionate fashion. They are God’s children, and we can be humane and compassionate about this.
HANNITY: Yes. For conservatives, I would argue that the issue is law-breaking, respecting our sovereignty, the laws of the United States…
MCCAIN: Yes.
HANNITY: And if you didn’t, that there is a penalty to pay. Let me ask you…
MCCAIN: Yes. There should be. There should be.
HANNITY: … you had said that…
MCCAIN: And no one will take priority — if someone who either came here legally or waited to come here legally…
HANNITY: All right, we’ve got less than a minute. Would you sign McCain-Kennedy today or…
MCCAIN: It’s not going to be there. The lesson is, they want the border secured first.
HANNITY: And that’s — that’s your mission now. You are focused on securing the borders?
MCCAIN: Yes, sir.
HANNITY: Not — you look at McCain-Kennedy, the country doesn’t want it?
MCCAIN: We failed. My friend, we failed. I think you noticed, because you were one of the reasons.
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Why does he use the term ‘my friend,’ ???
He doesn’t have any friends, except for the lobbyists he services.
March 14th, 2008 at 12:29 pmHe knows when to hold’em, and knows when to fold’em! That’s why he’s called “The Maverick”!
March 14th, 2008 at 12:30 pmOy, grammar…
McCain Admits That He Will Cave To Sean Hannity On Immigration, But Ignore Public On Iraq
should be:
McCain Admits To Sean Hannity That He Will Cave On Immigration, But Ignore Public On Iraq
~Unless McCain finally agreed to that date with Hannity on Saturday night — then it’s perfect. ;)
March 14th, 2008 at 12:36 pmIt should read:
March 14th, 2008 at 12:39 pmMcCain will cede Latino vote on Immigration, alieanate rest of public on Iraq…
Dixie – When lettuce is $8/head and apples are 4 bucks each you’ll re-think that whole thing.
Try to be realistic sometimes.
March 14th, 2008 at 12:39 pmThis is great news for the Democrats. Instead of the politically wise strategy of fighting for the center, McCain continues to whore himself to the far right.
However, the wingnuts are not all that convinced of McCain’s various changes of heart. Those who plan to vote anyway will cast their ballot for McCain instead of Obama (and certainly instead of Clinton), but unenthusiastically. Conservatives who are more apathetic aren’t going to be whipped into an energetic frenzy to go out and vote unless a bunch of anti-gay initiatives get on the ballot again.
Right now, McCain can get away with this. The moderates and independents aren’t paying that much attention to McCain at the moment because the Clinton-Obama battle is more interesting. But come fall, they will look at the newly transmogrified wingnut McCain and vote Democratic.
March 14th, 2008 at 12:39 pmMcPain will Cave to Hannity, anytime Hannity wants some. Some serious manlove goin on there.
Why does McPain think he can tell everybody anything they want to hear, all the time, without anybody calling him on it?
Oh, because the MSM gives him a complete bullshit free pass?
Right.
March 14th, 2008 at 12:40 pm# Zooey Says:
March 14th, 2008 at 12:36 pm edit
Zooey — Actually, the title is deliberately written as it is. He isn’t just admitting it TO Sean Hannity, he is also admitting that he will cave to Hannity — he specifically tells him: “My friend, we failed. I think you noticed, because you were one of the reasons.”
Hannity was part of the reason McCain caved and switched positions.
March 14th, 2008 at 12:42 pmHe’s doing what the American people want. Close the damn borders!!!
——————-
Wrong. Read this and weep troll:
http://www.immigrationforum.org/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=808
So if it were true, then why should McBush pay attention to what the people want regarding immigration but not when it comes to the occupation of Iraq?
March 14th, 2008 at 12:42 pm#5 – Southern Man March 14th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
Then why does he still ignore “what the American people want” in regards to the Iraq occuaption?
Oh, wait, he’s only “doing what the American people want” when it comes to one single issue only. When it comes to the failure that is the Iraq occupation, he’s firmly against “doing what the American people want.”
March 14th, 2008 at 12:42 pmJohn McCain is a bigger whore than Kristen.
March 14th, 2008 at 12:43 pmAll Hail McFloppity!!!
March 14th, 2008 at 12:43 pm#10 – Amanda Says: March 14th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
“Hannity was part of the reason McCain caved and switched positions.”
The main reason is Sen. McCain is the biggeest flip-flopper in the United States Senate.
March 14th, 2008 at 12:44 pmRUCerious Says:
Why does he use the term ‘my friend,’ ???
He doesn’t have any friends, except for the lobbyists he services.
That’s my guess. But, if you listen carefully, you will find that the lobbyists are “my very dear friends”.
March 14th, 2008 at 12:45 pmSouthern Man Says:
March 14th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
He’s doing what the American people want. Close the damn borders!!!
That’s right! Apply a photo-op friendly band-aid to a global economic issue – that’ll fix everything!
March 14th, 2008 at 12:45 pmWHY – o – WHY does anyone give these delusional asses a platform to even speak?
If they want to continue their struggle to get us back to the 16th century send them to Gitmo and leave them to sort it out among themselves…end.
March 14th, 2008 at 12:46 pmtombaker Says:
Dixie – When lettuce is $8/head and apples are 4 bucks each you’ll re-think that whole thing.
Try to be realistic sometimes.
So true. All these “anti immigrant” people will also be screaming once their vacations double in price, the meals they eat out double in price and they can’t find anyone to take care of their children or maintain their lawns.
March 14th, 2008 at 12:47 pmAmanda Says:
March 14th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
Ok, I get your drift. Thanks! :-)
March 14th, 2008 at 12:47 pmSouthern Man Says:
March 14th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
He’s doing what the American people want. Close the damn borders!!!
———————————-
I doubt it. He will talk a good anti-immigration game to get votes, but I’d be surprised if he actually did anything to stop illegal immigration. For two reasons:
1) Corporate interests LIKE having their source of cheap labor. Since McCain’s political success depends on getting into bed with them, I don’t expect him to take away their gravy train.
2) The determination of people to cross into the United States is great enough that “closing the borders” is easier said than done. There will always be coyotes, there will always be holes in any barrier, there will always be tunnels. The only way to slow down the influx is to truly get serious about eradicating the lure of coming here — going after employers who hire illegals.
March 14th, 2008 at 12:49 pmSeriously, does this surprise anyone? John McCain, in case you have forgotten, is a REPUBLICAN. Please name one time in the last few years where one Republican did anything that the majority of Americans wanted (this does not include things they should have known they wanted but were lied to and scaremongered into not wanting them)…
March 14th, 2008 at 12:49 pmI wonder if McCain lovingly patted Hannity on the thigh as he called him “my friend.”
March 14th, 2008 at 12:51 pmMcCain is just a big wad of Play Doh.
it’s called a DICTATOR
we’ve seen this before…..but McCain is Bush on steroids
March 14th, 2008 at 12:54 pmIt’s truly a shame that in order to become a gop candidate you have to strip yourself of all beliefs and principles in order to campaign. what an absolute sham the party is.
March 14th, 2008 at 12:55 pmBut see, “Straight Talk” is when you admit that you’re pandering just to get votes. If the right wing became as anti-war as they are anti-brownpeople, McCain would be calling for immediate withdrawal from Iraq, consequences be damned. If the right wing was anti-torture…
March 14th, 2008 at 12:55 pmmissmolly Says:
The only way to slow down the influx is to truly get serious about eradicating the lure of coming here — going after employers who hire illegals.
Fixing the economies of the countries they’re coming from wouldn’t be a bad idea either. If many of these folks could make a decent living where they came from, I suspect they wouldn’t leave.
Indeed, perhaps that is the multi-national corps’ real plan:
“We’ll treat them badly over there, so we can treat them badly once they finally get over here.”
It’s the Amurican way… ***cue up “Battle Hymn of the Republic”***
BTW, I’d like to thank whoever wrote that piece of music Just. For. Me!
March 14th, 2008 at 12:58 pmmissmolly Says:
March 14th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
2) The determination of people to cross into the United States is great enough that “closing the borders” is easier said than done. There will always be coyotes, there will always be holes in any barrier, there will always be tunnels. The only way to slow down the influx is to truly get serious about eradicating the lure of coming here — going after employers who hire illegals.
And that’s exactly why the border fence is such great policy for the conservatives – it gives them a nice visual to use in campaign commercials to make it look like they’re fixing the problem, without actually fixing anything.
Furthermore, the whole criminalization of undocumented workers makes it so much harder for exploited immigrant farm workers to expose the true criminals who are keeping them in slave labor conditions.
March 14th, 2008 at 1:02 pmMcFlipper again saying what he thinks will get him the crackpot votes.
After the “Great Deportation” the reich-wing clambers for and when the construction, hospitality, long-term care, and agricultural segments of our economy (among others), begin to feel the pinch of losing 12-million laborers, you will pay more for your house, your nursing facility for your parents, the food on your table, and might think maybe it wasn’t such a great idea after all. It will cost you plenty and likely kick the last leg out from under the economy.
And don’t forget, the bullzhit meter maxes out whenever McCain uses the phrase, “My Friend.”
March 14th, 2008 at 1:02 pmThis is great news! It just shows how mcbush would want to run our country into the ground!
rePUKES have ensured america that it will lose for GENERATIONS TO COME!!!
thanks mcINSANE!!!!
March 14th, 2008 at 1:04 pmSo you’ve got to prove to the American people that your borders are secure. Then you move to temper-proof biometric documents for temporary workers.
And then they came for me….
Is anyone else having a GATTACA moment, or is it just me? I can’t wait until we are all biometric hostages and Big Bro knows our every move. Scary stuff if you ask me.
March 14th, 2008 at 1:05 pmI thought the terrorists crossed over our border with Canada.
March 14th, 2008 at 1:11 pmThe reason he caves to the radical right is because they’re doing the wiretaps, they’ve got the dirt!
March 14th, 2008 at 1:13 pmO/T, but I just saw this over at the NYT:
House Rejects Immunity in Eavesdropping Bill
By ERIC LICHTBLAU
Published: March 14, 2008
WASHINGTON — After its first secret session in a quarter-century, the House on Friday rejected retroactive immunity for the phone companies that took part in the National Security Agency’s warrantless eavesdropping program after the Sept. 11 attacks, and it voted to place greater restrictions on the government’s wiretapping powers.
The decision, by a largely party-line vote of 221 to 188, is one of the few times when Democrats have been willing to buck up against the White House on a national security issue. It also ensures that the months-long battle over the government’s wiretapping powers will drag on for at least a few more weeks and possibly much longer.
I’m… I’m speechless.
Are the Dems finally finding their spines?
March 14th, 2008 at 1:14 pmZooey Says:
March 14th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
Oy, grammar…
McCain Admits That He Will Cave To Sean Hannity On Immigration, But Ignore Public On Iraq
should be:
McCain Admits To Sean Hannity That He Will Cave On Immigration, But Ignore Public On Iraq
It should be…McCain pulls out from Presidential race to seek intensive psychotherapy.
March 14th, 2008 at 1:15 pmjb Says: I thought the terrorists crossed over our border with Canada.
————
Did they bring any bacon or maple syrup w/ them?
Just asking… just asking…
March 14th, 2008 at 1:16 pm2MillionLightYearsToAndromeda Says:
March 14th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
It should be…McCain pulls out from Presidential race to seek intensive psychotherapy.
——
Or perhaps… McCain to seek intensive help pulling own head from rear end…
March 14th, 2008 at 1:19 pmThe Republic of Stupidity Says:
Are the Dems finally finding their spines?
They must be tripping over them constantly…
March 14th, 2008 at 1:20 pmAnd who is going to get the contract to build this fence?
March 14th, 2008 at 1:20 pmI see Mr. Golly is also looking forward to being unable to afford groceries. Good for you, Mr. Golly.
March 14th, 2008 at 1:21 pmThe Republic of Stupidity Says:
March 14th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
Did they bring any bacon or maple syrup w/ them?
I’m thinking probably not the bacon.
March 14th, 2008 at 1:21 pm2MillionLightYearsToAndromeda Says:
It should be…McCain pulls out from Presidential race to seek intensive psychotherapy.
The Republic of Stupidity Says:
Or perhaps… McCain to seek intensive help pulling own head from rear end…
Both acceptable alternatives. :)
March 14th, 2008 at 1:21 pmImagine the forthcoming debates between McCain and Obama. Part comedy, part drama. I think we might get to actually see a human being spontaneously combust, live, on national television! McCain will be toast, literally.
March 14th, 2008 at 1:23 pmKeep flipping McCain. The only way you’ll fix immigration in this country — two methods you are sure not to support — are modifying free trade into fair trade and cracking down on employers. Mexico could then regain its economic base and we could implement a visa system for shortage fields in which workers, after every effort, cannot be hired after a local or national campaign.
Such a plan will give the individual freedom to each country, so its citizens can be close to and be able to feed their families. This will also ease the prospect of overpopulation in the United States.
March 14th, 2008 at 1:23 pm“My Friends” is McCode for “I don’t really mean what I’m about to say, but here goes anyway”
I don’t believe that guy has genuine regard for anyone who was not tortured in Viet Nam, or who doesn’t stand to write his campaign a big, fat check.
“the American People” are just an inconvenient hurdle to clear (by lying repeatedly to them)
March 14th, 2008 at 1:25 pmMr. Evil Says:
March 14th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
And who is going to get the contract to build this fence?
Boeing got it in 2006. They’re leading a three-year consortium contract called SBInet:
http://www.democracynow.org/2008/2/27/holes_in_the_wall_texas_border
March 14th, 2008 at 1:26 pmAre the Dems finally finding their spines? —- The Republic of Stupidity
I’ll believe that when impeachment is allowed to move forward.
March 14th, 2008 at 1:27 pm“I would have the border state governors certify that their borders are secure. Americans will trust the border state governors.”
Translation: Since the Federal Govt neither has the money nor the inclination to build said fence, pass the responsibility on to the Border States and make them foot the bill. They can afford it. After all, look at all that cheap labor they have.
March 14th, 2008 at 1:32 pmBut ya hafta admit… it’s a tiny little crybaby step in the right direction…
March 14th, 2008 at 1:33 pm“Americans will trust the border state governors.”
Hmmm… Botch… Texas… Botch… Texas…
March 14th, 2008 at 1:45 pmThanx for the link toasterhead. Good read.
March 14th, 2008 at 1:47 pmTRoS…WTAB??
March 14th, 2008 at 1:48 pmPsst… Mzz J…
What does WTAB mean?
March 14th, 2008 at 1:50 pmYeah, he’d be just great as president. Another tone deaf warmonger, listening to his sycophants, ignoring the voice of the people.
March 14th, 2008 at 2:17 pmHe needs to be challenged on his world views, his about-face on torture, his lack of understanding the economy, his association with preachers who bring hate to the pulpit — if Obama has to walk away form his pastor, so should McCain.
Just like Dumbya.
Well duh. What’s the point in pandering to ppl who aren’t gonna vote for you anyway?
March 14th, 2008 at 2:29 pmDon’t worry about illegals. They will soon be going home. How you ask? Well, getting paid $8 or $10 per hour will never cover the inflation costs. With in the next two months, if the dollar keeps droping, the middle east will demand to be paid in Euro’s. That means with the exchange rate…a $6 per gallon. What will that mean to the price of goods. $8 bucks for a head of lettuce , $4 for apples etc. What happened to the demonstations in the street. Those damm socialists. It’s all there fault. WE NEED A DIFFERENT DIRECTION…go north young man..I hear there doing fine and they have free health care.
March 14th, 2008 at 4:53 pmIf he can’t stand up to Hannity…
March 14th, 2008 at 5:33 pmhow can he stand up to other terrorists?
Typical Republican double-speak. “I’ll tell whomever I’m talking to whatever they want to hear to get them to vote for me. Then I’ll do whatever those who pay me the most bucks want.”
March 15th, 2008 at 12:32 amHe didn’t fail because of Hannity. The bill failed because the PEOPLE didn’t want it. When he says “You were the reason” for it failing, he meant those that gave the information on how the bill was flawed. The people of America saw what the flaws were and rejected it. So he’s not ignoring Americans and folding to Hannity, you twits. It failed because the PEOPLE rejected it.
Post #59, you don’t think that BOTH parties have politicians that have their opinions and agenda’s controlled or at least heavily influenced by special interest groups? I love how this site turns a 100% blind eye to liberals and democrats on everything.
March 18th, 2008 at 10:52 amThis is great news for the Democrats. Instead of the politically wise strategy of fighting for the center, McCain continues to whore himself to the far right.
However, the wingnuts are not all that convinced of McCain’s various changes of heart. Those who plan to vote anyway will cast their ballot for McCain instead of Obama (and certainly instead of Clinton), but unenthusiastically. Conservatives who are more apathetic aren’t going to be whipped into an energetic frenzy to go out and vote unless a bunch of anti-gay initiatives get on the ballot again.
Right now, McCain can get away with this. The moderates and independents aren’t paying that much attention to McCain at the moment because the Clinton-Obama dell inspiron 3800 battery,dell inspiron 4000 battery battle is more interesting. But come fall, they will look at the newly transmogrified wingnut McCain and vote Democratic.
October 15th, 2008 at 4:45 am