McCain ad contains dubious Spanish translation on new immigration policies.
McCain ad contains dubious Spanish translation on new immigration policies.
Sen. John McCain’s (R-AZ) latest effort to have it both ways on immgration is illustrated in a new English narrated Spanish-language ad. In the ad, McCain touts “pro-innovation immigration policies” in English (a move to seemingly appease the right wing base), but the Spanish text that appears simultaneous to that declaration trumpets “Immigration Policy Innovation,” a term that makes it sound like he supports comprehensive immigration reform. Watch it:
Lost in translation? Maybe. But because McCain’s immigration position has flip-flopped-flipped, the evidence suggests deliberate deception. More on this story over at the Wonk Room.
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.
After Voting To Declare English As The National Language, McCain Launches Spanish-Language Website
After Voting To Declare English As The National Language, McCain Launches Spanish-Language Website
Today, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) launched a Spanish-language campaign website, greeting voters with, “Bienvenido! Estamos Unidos con McCain” (Welcome! We are united with McCain):
This new website comes despite the fact that McCain voted in 2006 for Sen. James Inhofe’s (R-OK) amendment to “declare English as the national language of the United States and to promote the patriotic integration of prospective US citizens.” In March, McCain skipped a vote on an amendment by Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN), aimed at “blocking lawsuits by employees challenging English-only workplace rules.” Both Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and Barack Obama (D-IL) voted against the measure, but McCain left Washington to attend a fundraiser.
McCain is following his conservative colleagues’ leads in political pandering. In January, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney released a Spanish-language campaign ad in Florida, even though he had previously said, “English needs to be the language that is spoken in America.”
Similarly, former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani released a Spanish-language ad in Miami that same month. This move came despite his public embrace of an ardent English-only advocate who once said that Mexicans carry diseases into the United States because they “play and drink out of the same water.” “[Y]ou should be able to have to read English, write English, and speak English if you want to become a citizen,” said Giuliani.
Colorado lawmaker defends calling immigrants ‘illiterate peasants.’
Colorado lawmaker defends calling immigrants ‘illiterate peasants.’
Yesterday, Colorado state Rep. Douglas Bruce — known for kicking a photographer earlier this year — blasted a proposal to aid migrant farm workers, saying on the state House floor, “We don’t 5,000 more illiterate peasants in the state of Colorado.” Though his speaking privileges were stripped for the rest of the day, he defended his remarks:
“I looked up ‘illiterate’ in the dictionary and it means somebody who is lacking in formal education or is unable to read and write,” he said. “I don’t think these people who are planning to come over here and pick potatoes or peaches are likely to have much of a formal education. I looked up the word ‘peasant.’ The word ‘peasant’ means a person who works in agricultural fields. These people, most of them, don’t speak English. Most of them haven’t had any formal education, that’s why they’re coming over here. I don’t blame them for trying, but I don’t think we should pave the way for more aliens to come here.”
The Denver Post reports that Bruce’s remarks “could leave him with a second censure penalty or worse.”
Colorado state lawmaker calls migrant workers ‘illiterate peasants.’
Colorado state lawmaker calls migrant workers ‘illiterate peasants.’
Colorado State Rep. Douglas Bruce (R) was barred from speaking at the House podium today after raging against a program to help foreign farm workers enter the U.S. legally. “We don’t need 5,000 more illiterate peasants in the state of Colorado,” Bruce “told the chamber to an audible gasp.” Earlier this year, Bruce kicked a photographer — and refused to apologize for it — for taking a picture of him during a prayer session in the state House.
Tancredo blasts the pope on immigration.
Earlier this week, Pope Benedict XVI called on the United States to do “everything possible to fight…all forms of violence so that immigrants may lead dignified lives.” Today, Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-CO) blasted the pope’s pro-immigrant position:
I would like to know what part of our lax immigration policy is considered violent. I fail to see how accepting more refugees than any other nation — and providing free health care, education, housing and social service benefits to millions of illegal aliens is in any way “violent” or “degrading.”
Tancredo “was raised Catholic but left the church.” Yesterday, as the pope arrived in the United States to meet with President Bush, the Bush administration carried out massive immigration raids in five states.
As Pope Calls For Treating Immigrants With ‘Dignity,’ Bush Administration Carries Out Raids In Five States
As Pope Calls For Treating Immigrants With ‘Dignity,’ Bush Administration Carries Out Raids In Five States
Pope Benedict XVI has been a vocal supporter of U.S. immigrants, regardless of their legal status. On his flight between Rome and Washington yesterday, the pope made clear that discussing the treatment of Latino immigrants would be a priority during his meeting with President Bush. AFP reports:
The United States must do “everything possible to fight…all forms of violence so that immigrants may lead dignified lives,” the pope said when asked if he would address the issue of Latin American immigrants with the US leader.
The White House viewed the pope’s visit as very important. In a rare gesture, the President and his family even traveled to Andrews Air Force Base to greet the pope as his plane arrived.
Unfortunately, the Bush administration also chose today to carry out immigration raids, arresting more than 280 undocumented workers employed at Pilgrim’s Pride plants in five states. According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), several — but not all — of the immigrants were suspected of identity theft or document fraud. According to a Justice Department press release:
For those arrested solely on immigration violations, that information will assist ICE in making decisions about whether to detain the individual or permit a conditional humanitarian release. Similarly, the information will be provided to the relevant U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and state social services agencies so they are fully informed about humanitarian-related issues that may arise in the individual cases being handled through the criminal justice system. Those being prosecuted on criminal charges will be remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service and housed at various facilities near the arrest sites.
It’s no wonder that the pope is concerned about the treatment of immigrants. At a recent House hearing, Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA) noted that children at immigrant detention facilities have reportedly been “put in cells alone for hours, awakened in the middle of the night with flashlights in their faces and threatened with being permanently separated from their parents.”
Under the Bush administration, deportations have increased sharply. In the last fiscal year ending Sept. 30, ICE deported 280,000 people, a 44 percent jump from the previous year. The Bush administration has also come under intense fire from lawmakers and immigration activists for carrying out politically motivated raids against immigrants who criticize the White House’s policies.
There is a fundamental disconnect between our nation's moral belief that all human beings should be treated with dignity and the implementation of our nation's broken immigration system. For the President to put at risk the sanctity and safety of immigrant families by conducting yet another round of harsh immigration raids flies in the face of the Pope's call for humane treatment of all people.
Bachmann on immigration: ‘We’re losing our country.’
Bachmann on immigration: ‘We’re losing our country.’
Last week, while meeting with the Monticello Chamber of Commerce in Minnesota, Rep. Michelle Bachmann (R-MN) got “particularly emotional” discussing immigration. “We’re losing our country,” declared Bachmann. “People are not assimilating themselves to America. They’re not speaking English, and you must speak it if you want to succeed here in this country,” she said. Bachmann also compared the situation on the border to the Israel/Palestine conflict, saying “the argument that fences don’t work doesn’t hold water. Look at Israel and Palestine. Fences work.”
As He Waives Laws For Bush’s Border Fence, Chertoff Says Immigrants Must ‘Comply With The Law’
As He Waives Laws For Bush’s Border Fence, Chertoff Says Immigrants Must ‘Comply With The Law’
This week, the Department of Homeland Security announced it will use its authority to bypass several laws and regulations it claims are impeding the completion of 670 miles of border fence, including the National Park Service Organic Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Clean Air Act, the Antiquities Act, the Native American Graves Protection Act “and 31 other laws.”
Subsequently, DHS will not have to conduct detailed reviews on the fence’s impacts on wildlife, water, and vegetation.
Secretary Michael Chertoff believes we must follow the law — except when he wants to waive it. In a small blogger roundtable yesterday, Chertoff said that “whatever happens” with immigration reform in the future, the public must be be legally compliant:
I think people on all ends of the spectrum should realize that it is in everybody’s interest to get this job done at the border, to enforce the law against employers. … We also need to resolve the problem of people who are here illegally, who have got to comply with the law but many of whom have been here for a long time, and we’ve got to figure out a way to deal with that issue.
But the foundation for doing this is living up to our obligation as it is now. And I would say that whatever happens eventually with immigration reform, there’s no excuse for not complying with the law as it’s been set forth.
Watch it:
If Chertoff would only apply those standards to himself. His waiver represents “the biggest use of legal waivers since the administration started building the fence.” Even White House environmental adviser Jim Connaughton acknowledged the fence may “not meet the strict requirements of the law.” Chertoff also admitted that without the waiver, his fence would run into legal trouble:
Although we want to be respectful of the environment, we cannot afford to get enmeshed in the kinds of litigation that have traditionally cost projects decades to complete.
While the administration claims Congress authorized the waiver with the Real ID Act of 2005, Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS) noted, the “waiver represents an extreme abuse of authority. … It was meant to be an exception, not the rule.”
My Mexican grandfather worked on the railroad, in the Steel Mill and on the farms. He was neither illiterate nor a peasant and neither are those working today. Migrants are only used as scapegoats in tough economic times and thanks to the neocons and their economic 'policies' everyone is looking for a scapegoat."