Having Flipped To ‘Securing Our Borders First,’ McCain Flops Back To ‘Comprehensive Immigration Reform’
Having Flipped To ‘Securing Our Borders First,’ McCain Flops Back To ‘Comprehensive Immigration Reform’
Speaking on the Senate floor in March 2006, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) argued for comprehensive immigration reform, stating that “while strengthening border security is an essential component of national security, it must also be accompanied by immigration reforms.”
But while seeking the GOP nomination for president, McCain “encountered anger from hard-line immigration foes,” particularly over his support for a bill that would “have allowed most undocumented immigrants to work toward citizenship.” Thus, in order to pander to the far right during the primary, McCain changed his position, saying the U.S. must secure the borders before undocumented immigrants are dealt with, thereby discarding the “comprehensive” nature of his previous immigration position:
[I] have pledged that it would be among my highest priorities to secure our borders first, and only after we achieved widespread consensus that our borders are secure, would we address other aspects of the problem in a way that defends the rule of law and does not encourage another wave of illegal immigration.
But now that McCain has all but locked up the nomination, he has to start dancing. Trying to court Latino voters, McCain flipped back to his original position, saying he now supports “comprehensive immigration reform“:
MCCAIN: We get in this kind of a circular firing squad on immigration reform in the Congress of the United States, and the lesson I learned from it is we’ve got to have comprehensive immigration reform.
Watch it:
During a January 30 GOP presidential debate, McCain stated that he “would not” vote for his own comprehensive immigration bill if it came to a vote on the Senate floor. Yet, just three days earlier, McCain said that as president, he would sign it if Congress passed the bill.
Whether it is Americans’ economic situation, earmarks or bigoted right wing pastors, McCain’s constant flip-flopping makes his presidential candidacy difficult to follow. Indeed, trying to appeal to both the right wing of the Republican Party and independent-minded Americans at the same time can get a little confusing.
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Well it is spring, so flip-flops are back in season…
May 6th, 2008 at 11:17 am*Another* flipflop??
Jebus. It’d be much bigger news if McLame DIDN’T flipflop on everything under the sun – !!
May 6th, 2008 at 11:22 amShorter McCain: I don’t know what the hell I stand for.
May 6th, 2008 at 11:26 amIs McCain going to even be able to remember his own name before this election is over? What happens to his transmission when the clutch completely breaks?
May 6th, 2008 at 11:28 amMcCain gets another free ride on immigration flip-flop:
“The Arizona Republican now says that, in the wake of last summer’s defeat of “comprehensive immigration reform,” he has “gotten the message” that the border must be secured before the status of illegals already in the United States can be dealt with.”
Washington Times, January 14, 2008
“I think we can set up a program where amnesty is extended to a certain number of people who are eligible.”
May 6th, 2008 at 11:29 amJohn McCain, 2003
anymouse19 Says:
Please just move along.
Obviously these topics are WAY too complicated for a microcephalic.
May 6th, 2008 at 11:36 amDNFP: careful there, using polysyllabic words on a troll…
Oops — did it myself…
And actually, I think anymouse19 is anencephalic…
May 6th, 2008 at 11:39 amMy friends, I’ll have a different answer for you tomorrow. It’ll be our little secret, the media won’t give a shit.
May 6th, 2008 at 11:41 amAsk McCain where he stands and he’ll tell you: “Anywhere you want me to.”
May 6th, 2008 at 11:42 amMaybe there is something to this Alzheimer’s claim……
May 6th, 2008 at 11:46 ammisshusseinmolly said at #4:
“Is McCain going to even be able to remember his own name before this election is over? What happens to his transmission when the clutch completely breaks?”
———————–
Months ago, responding to my brother saying that if Hillary didn’t get the nomination he’d vote for McCain, I said that McCain had changed his position so much over the last 8 years that he probably didn’t even know what his position was anymore!
May 6th, 2008 at 11:47 amanymouse19 Says:
How is it flipping to say: I believe in comprehensive immigration reform, but as a first step in that reform we need to secure our borders. Nothing inconsistent there.
May 6th, 2008 at 11:30 am
Because “border security” is nothing more than election year pandering to the Minuteman voting bloc. If he wants to talk comprehensive reform, great. But the “borders first before we can even think about reform” approach is anything but comprehensive.
Thus, these statements are indeed inconsistent.
May 6th, 2008 at 11:49 amMcWars – good morning to you btw. I just saw your friendly greeting now. I’d had to dash off to work.
May 6th, 2008 at 11:50 amThe stupid rich white guys have already had their chance. McCain needs to just go lay down until it is all over.
May 6th, 2008 at 11:51 amMCCAIN: We get in this kind of a circular firing squad on immigration reform in the Congress of the United States, and the lesson I learned from it is we’ve got to have comprehensive immigration reform.
He is dead right. And yes, the first step in comprehensive reform is to greatly reduce the flow of illegal immigrants. There are many ways to do that, mainly greater security combined with harsher penalties for employers. Then you have to find a path to citizenship for the millions already here.
The Devil is in the details, but the politics of the situation are such that McCain-Kennedy wouldn’t pass and won’t pass in its current form.
Feel free to now make unflattering remarks about my brain size in whatever furrin language you choose, but that is the reality.
May 6th, 2008 at 11:52 amHe will continue to speak out of both sides of his mouth as long as the media doesn’t call him on it–which may be right up through the general election!
May 6th, 2008 at 11:52 amjb Says:
The stupid rich white guys have already had their chance. McCain needs to just go lay down until it is all over.
May 6th, 2008 at 11:51 am
______
Very true. Pander bears need a lot of naptime.
May 6th, 2008 at 11:52 amPerhaps he should settle on
May 6th, 2008 at 11:54 am“Securing our Comprehensive Border Immigration First Reform”
Obviously, there is no presumptive Republicanic candidate for President. There is still a battle between John Flip McCain and John Flop McCain to be the nominee. For the good of the Republicanic Party, either “Flip” or “Flop” should drop out of the race.
May 6th, 2008 at 12:00 pm.
McFish on deck!
.
May 6th, 2008 at 12:01 pmMcFish on deck!
I’d like French Fries and a Super Size Diet Coke with mine, thank you.
May 6th, 2008 at 12:04 pmMcCan’t can’t remember today what he said yesterday to repeat tomorrow.
May 6th, 2008 at 12:06 pmGrandpa McSame: I used to have pork chops and gravy with rubber duckies, I really like to slide the duckie across my plate before church on Saturday. Saturday used to be church day, way back when, and I like immigration reform before breakfast. Can i go now?
Uh, nap time gramps, you’re not making any sense again.
May 6th, 2008 at 12:06 pmI’m with John McCain on this issue!
May 6th, 2008 at 12:15 pmSince he likes his flip-flops so much, we should just chip in for some bermuda shorts, hawaiian shirts, sunglasses, and a straw hat to give McCain so he can go on permanent vacation, i.e. retire.
May 6th, 2008 at 12:18 pmKYJurisDoctor Says:
I’m with John McCain on this issue!
And I’ll bet you would love to have a judge say he finds in favor of the defendent…and the plaintiff.
May 6th, 2008 at 12:21 pmMan. And they accused Kerry of flip floping on one or two issues? This guy does it daily. What a joke.
May 6th, 2008 at 12:24 pmtechsong Says:
Man. And they accused Kerry of flip floping on one or two issues? This guy does it daily. What a joke.
Sadly, sometimes its hourly, not just daily.
The only thing he has been consistent about is his flip-floppery.
May 6th, 2008 at 12:38 pmMcFlippityFlop
The only thing we CAN take away from McWar is that his word ain’t worth SHIT.
May 6th, 2008 at 12:43 pmAnd that could never be good thing to have represent the U.S. to the rest of the world. They would laugh him off the stage.
McHuh??
May 6th, 2008 at 1:04 pm