McCain: Comprehensive immigration reform “will be my top priority yesterday, today, and tomorrow,”

Hot Air ^ | June 28, 2008 | Hot AIr

[GOPGuide]

Top priority overall or just top domestic priority? Iraq and the economy can wait, I guess. The clip comes, via reader Edgar M, from today’s appearance before NALEO, in which he and Obama took turns to see who could pander most cravenly on immigration. Truth be told, there’s little new here: Lip service is duly paid to securing the border despite the questioner’s emphasis on comprehensive reform “and not just enforcement,” and he recycles his old line about illegals being “God’s children too” as a way of insinuating, a la his crony’s notorious remarks about telling “the bigots” to shut up, that one really can’t oppose amnesty and be a minimally decent human being. Par for the course. It’s nice to know, though, that the very first 100 days of a McCain administration will be consumed with an internecine fight on the right to stop his next round of crap legislation from passing. Can’t wait. If you’re curious to see what Obama said in reply, here’s a recap from Reuters. To the left, of course (minus Mickey Kaus), McCain’s problem is that he isn’t a big enough amnesty shill. Exit quotation from Obama, demonstrating a charming obliviousness to the fact that he himself flip-flopped on nearly every issue he commented on this past week: “If we are going to solve the challenges we face, we can’t vacillate, we can’t shift depending on our politics.”

[GOPGuide]

Go to the link to hear the audio. He also calls the illegals "God's children".

[alice_in_bubbaland]

And John, we will fight you tooth and nail!!

[bill1952]

>He also calls the illegals "God's children".

Wait until he kisses ass at his La Raza meeting in July.

[Man50D]

Here's all the immigration reform you need Johnny!

Federal Immigration and Nationality Act

Section 8 USC 1324(a)(1)(A)(iv)(b)(iii) Recruitment and Employment of Illegal Aliens Encouraging and Harboring Illegal Aliens Enforcement RICO —Citizen Recourse Tax Crimes Comment

Section 8 USC 1324(a)(1)(A)(iv)(b)(iii) "Any person who . . . encourages or induces an illegal alien to . . . reside . . . knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that such . . . residence is . . . in violation of law, shall be punished as provided . . . for each illegal alien in respect to whom such a violation occurs . . . fined under title 18 . . . imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both."

Section 274 felonies under the federal Immigration and Nationality Act, INA 274A(a)(1)(A):

A person (including a group of persons, business, organization, or local government) commits a federal felony when she or he:

· assists an illegal alien s/he should reasonably know is illegally in the U.S. or who lacks employment authorization, by transporting, sheltering, or assisting him or her to obtain employment, or · encourages that illegal alien to remain in the U.S. by referring him or her to an employer or by acting as employer or agent for an employer in any way, or · knowingly assists illegal aliens due to personal convictions. ·

Penalties upon conviction include criminal fines, imprisonment, and forfeiture of vehicles and real property used to commit the crime. Anyone employing or contracting with an illegal alien without verifying his or her work authorization status is guilty of a misdemeanor. Aliens and employers violating immigration laws are subject to arrest, detention, and seizure of their vehicles or property. In addition, individuals or entities who engage in racketeering enterprises that commit (or conspire to commit) immigration-related felonies are subject to private civil suits for treble damages and injunctive relief.

Recruitment and Employment of Illegal Aliens

It is unlawful to hire an alien, to recruit an alien, or to refer an illegal alien for a fee, knowing the illegal alien is unauthorized to work in the United States. It is equally unlawful to continue to employ an illegal alien knowing that the illegal alien is unauthorized to work.

It is unlawful to hire any individual for employment in the United States without complying with employment eligibility verification requirements. Requirements include examination of identity documents and completion of Form I-9 for every employee hired. Employers must retain all I-9s, and, with three days' advance notice, the forms must be made available for inspection. Employment includes any service or labor performed for any type of remuneration within the United States, with the exception of sporadic domestic service by an individual in a private home. "Day laborers" or other casual workers engaged in any compensated activity (with the above exception) are employees for purposes of immigration law. An employer includes an agent or anyone acting directly or indirectly in the interest of the employer. For purposes of verification of authorization to work, employer also means an independent contractor, or a contractor other than the person using the illegal alien labor.

The use of temporary or short-term contracts cannot be used to circumvent the employment authorization verification requirements. If employment is to be for less than the usual three days allowed for completing the I-9 Form requirement, the form must be completed immediately at the time of hire.

An employer has constructive knowledge that an employee is an illegal unauthorized worker if a reasonable person would infer it from the facts. Constructive knowledge constituting a violation of federal law has been found where (1) the I-9 employment eligibility form has not been properly completed, including supporting documentation, (2) the employer has learned from other individuals, media reports, or any source of information available to the employer that the alien is unauthorized to work, or (3) the employer acts with reckless disregard for the legal consequences of permitting a third party to provide or introduce an illegal alien into the employer's work force. Knowledge cannot be inferred solely on the basis of an individual's accent or foreign appearance.

Actual specific knowledge is not required. For example, a newspaper article stating that ballrooms depend on an illegal alien work force of dance hostesses was held by the courts to be a reasonable ground for suspicion that unlawful conduct had occurred.

It is illegal for nonprofit or religious organizations to knowingly assist an employer to violate employment sanctions, regardless of claims that their convictions require them to assist illegal aliens. Harboring or aiding illegal aliens is not protected by the First Amendment. It is a felony to establish a commercial enterprise for the purpose of evading any provision of federal immigration law. Violators may be fined or imprisoned for up to five years.

Encouraging and Harboring Illegal Aliens

It is a violation of law for any person to conceal, harbor, or shield from detection in any place, including any building or means of transportation, any illegal alien who is in the United States in violation of law. Harboring means any conduct that tends to substantially facilitate an alien to remain in the U.S. illegally. The sheltering need not be clandestine, and harboring covers aliens arrested outdoors, as well as in a building. This provision includes harboring an alien who entered the U.S. legally but has since lost his legal status.

An employer can be convicted of the felony of harboring illegal aliens who are his employees if he takes actions in reckless disregard of their illegal status, such as ordering them to obtain false documents, altering records, obstructing INS inspections, or taking other actions that facilitate the alien's illegal employment. Any person who within any 12-month period hires ten or more individuals with actual knowledge that they are illegal aliens or unauthorized workers is guilty of felony harboring. It is also a felony to encourage or induce an alien to come to or reside in the U.S. knowing or recklessly disregarding the fact that the alien's entry or residence is in violation of the law. This crime applies to any person, rather than just employers of illegal aliens. Courts have ruled that "encouraging" includes counseling illegal aliens to continue working in the U.S. or assisting them to complete applications with false statements or obvious errors. The fact that the alien is a refugee fleeing persecution is not a defense to this felony, since U.S. law and the UN Protocol on Refugees both require that a refugee must report to immigration authorities without delay upon entry to the U.S.

The penalty for felony harboring is a fine and imprisonment for up to five years. The penalty for felony alien smuggling is a fine and up to ten years' imprisonment. Where the crime causes serious bodily injury or places the life of any person in jeopardy, the penalty is a fine and up to twenty years' imprisonment. If the criminal smuggling or harboring results in the death of any person, the penalty can include life imprisonment. Convictions for aiding, abetting, or conspiracy to commit alien smuggling or harboring, carry the same penalties. Courts can impose consecutive prison sentences for each alien smuggled or harbored. A court may order a convicted smuggler to pay restitution if the illegal alien smuggled qualifies as a victim under the Victim and Witness Protection Act. Conspiracy to commit crimes of sheltering, harboring, or employing illegal aliens is a separate federal offense punishable by a fine of up to $10,000 or five years' imprisonment.

Enforcement

A person or entity having knowledge of a violation or potential violation of employer sanctions provisions may submit a signed written complaint to the INS office with jurisdiction over the business or residence of the potential violator, whether an employer, employee, or agent. The complaint must include the names and addresses of both the complainant and the violator, and detailed factual allegations, including date, time, and place of the potential violation, and the specific conduct alleged to be a violation of employer sanctions. By regulation, the INS will only investigate third-party complaints that have a reasonable probability of validity. Designated INS officers and employees, and all other officers whose duty it is to enforce criminal laws, may make an arrest for violation of smuggling or harboring illegal aliens.

State and local law enforcement officials have the general power to investigate and arrest violators of federal immigration statutes without prior INS knowledge or approval, as long as they are authorized to do so by state law. There is no extant federal limitation on this authority. The 1996 immigration control legislation passed by Congress was intended to encourage states and local agencies to participate in the process of enforcing federal immigration laws. Immigration officers and local law enforcement officers may detain an individual for a brief warrantless interrogation where circumstances create a reasonable suspicion that the individual is illegally present in the U.S. Specific facts constituting a reasonable suspicion include evasive, nervous, or erratic behavior; dress or speech indicating foreign citizenship; and presence in an area known to contain a concentration of illegal aliens. Hispanic appearance alone is not sufficient. Immigration officers and police must have a valid warrant or valid employer's consent to enter workplaces or residences. Any vehicle used to transport or harbor illegal aliens, or used as a substantial part of an activity that encourages illegal aliens to come to or reside in the U.S. may be seized by an immigration officer and is subject to forfeiture. The forfeiture power covers any conveyances used within the U.S.

RICO —Citizen Recourse

Private persons and entities may initiate civil suits to obtain injunctions and treble damages against enterprises that conspire to or actually violate federal alien smuggling, harboring, or document fraud statutes, under the Racketeer-Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO). The pattern of racketeering activity is defined as commission of two or more of the listed crimes. A RICO enterprise can be any individual legal entity, or a group of individuals who are not a legal entity but are associated in fact, and can include nonprofit associations.

Tax Crimes

Employers who aid or abet the preparation of false tax returns by failing to pay income or Social Security taxes for illegal alien employees, or who knowingly make payments using false names or Social Security numbers, are subject to IRS criminal and civil sanctions. U.S. nationals who have suffered intentional discrimination because of citizenship or national origin by an employer with more than three employees may file a complaint within 180 days of the discriminatory act with the Special Counsel for Immigration-Related Unfair Employment Practices, U.S. Department of Justice. In addition to the federal statutes summarized, state laws and local ordinances controlling fair labor practices, workers compensation, zoning, safe housing and rental property, nuisance, licensing, street vending, and solicitations by contractors may also apply to activities that involve illegal aliens.

Comment:

A comment and a published quote by Robert Gaffney, Attorney and County Executive of Suffolk County, LI, NY:

The statutory foundation of United States immigration law has always been the jurisdiction of the federal government, Congress and the federal courts. The preeminent laws concerning the employment of illegal aliens are found in the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. §~ 1101-1503), as amended by the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 CIRCA).

The law states it is a crime to assist an illegal alien who lacks employment authorization by referring him to an employer, or by acting as his or her employer, or as an agent for an employer. 8 U.S.C.S. § 1324a(a)(1)(A) (Lexis 1997). Furthermore, it is unlawful to hire an individual for employment without complying with the employment eligibility requirements for every person hired. 8 U.S.C.S. § 1324a(a)(l)(B) (Lexis 1997). Moreover, conduct tending substantially to facilitate illegal aliens remaining in the United States illegally, where there is knowledge or a reckless disregard of an illegal alien s unlawful status, is a crime, with escalating penalties, encompassed within the provisions of 1324. 8 U.S.C.S. § 1324(a)(l)(A)(iii) (Lexis 1997); United States v. Kim. 193 F-3d 567 (2d Cir. 1999), are considered employees for purposes of immigration law.

[CaspersGh0sts]

*sigh*

I miss Mitt and Fred... :(

[gorush]

If his immigration reform is anything like his campaign finance reform, it will be unconstitutional and we will be screwed...and the Supreme Court won’t have a problem with it and the President will sign it into law.

[Dagnabitt]

Senator McCain reacts to seeing map depicting the USA and Mexico as separate countries.

[goldstategop]

Juan McCain is for amnesty. I can't vote for him on that any more than I can vote for his Algore Lite global warming plank which would destroy our economy.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[Dagnabitt]

Abolishing the USA in favor of his sick dream of a merged Amerexico is his top priority.

A traitor. Pure and simple.

[Roccus]

I guess he didn’t “get it” after all.

What a turd.

[ckilmer]

Conservatives have to be prepared to fight mccAIN ON THIS tooth and claw.

[Perdogg]

I will oppose a President McCain on this.

However, the people who continuously post this in hopes of dissuading me in voting for Sen McCain for President are going to be sadly disappointed because on Election day 2008, I will be up before dawn to go cast my vote for Senator McCain.

[Paladin2]

I’d guess that Juan will be privileged to find out how many folks are also ‘mavericks” this Fall. Just wait Bozo.

[SoConPubbie]

However, the people who continuously post this in hopes of dissuading me in voting for Sen McCain for President are going to be sadly disappointed because on Election day 2008, I will be up before dawn to go cast my vote for Senator McCain.

Good for you!

And you can wave goodbye to the GOP in the process.

Once John McAmnesty grants amnesty, the GOP is going to fracture and nobody is going to be able to put it together again.

The GOP will be in minority status for decades to come.

But you go ahead and feel good about that vote now, you hear!?

[Perdogg]

How is a vote for Obama better?

[napscoordinator]

Sadly, I will too, but not at all excited about it. He is going to be such a disappointment, but at least I know that now.

[Perdogg]

I don’t think so. I agree with some things and I disagree with others.

I think people here like to accentuate the negative with McCain.

His economic speech three weeks ago he talked about tax cuts and reductions yet people just wanted to talk his idea that shareholders approve CEO pay, making it sound like he wanted to enact GOSPLAN.

Where is it written that you have to agree with some one 100% of the time? Like my mother says to me about women, “If you seek perfection, you will be disappointed”.

[napscoordinator]

Like my mother says to me about women, “If you seek perfection, you will be disappointed”.

Smart Mom. lol. As far as President, I like to at least at first be proud to vote for a President. The day I voted for George Bush I, I was so proud. When I voted for George Bush II I was proud too, but he has disappointed me in some ways, but at least at first it was exciting to vote for him. I am already voting for a President (McCain) that I am not excited about. That is not a great way to begin an election.

[okie01]

His economic speech three weeks ago he talked about tax cuts and reductions yet people just wanted to talk his idea that shareholders approve CEO pay, making it sound like he wanted to enact GOSPLAN.

Shouldn't McCain have known that shareholders DO approve CEO pay?

Shouldn't he know how speculation is a legitimate economic activity?

Shouldn't he know what profit margins Big Oil has before he starts accusing them of gouging?

The problem with McCain on the economy is that there is so much he does not know. And, worse, can't conceive that he does not know it.

Yet, this is a man who chaired the Senate's Commerce Committee for a decade. Still, he simply doesn't seem to understand how the economy works.

[itsahoot]

However, the people who continuously post this in hopes of dissuading me in voting for Sen McCain for President are going to be sadly disappointed

Like when we had to vote for Arnold instead of McClintock. How has that worked out for California?

[Perdogg]

I would have voted for McClintock.

[Kevmo]

for the AFIRE ping list

McCain is no beauty on this issue.

[DoughtyOne]

We all have to do what we think is best ItsAHoot. I suport you voting for McCain if you think you must. I sure won’t do it.

[brushcop]

Keep posting this, I saved a copy for friends that don’t have a clue.

[DoughtyOne]

McCain has sure got his priorities straight.  This article touches on his first 100 days.  Click below to watch him state his goal for the very first day.

2007/02/17 McCain states he will close Guantanamo Bay terrorist detainment center on his first day in office  Video  (same as date link on the left)

[DoughtyOne]

I'm so sick and tired of Mr. Juanderful, and it isn't even election day yet.

John McCain's Whimsical World of Conservatism
Food for thought for the Hillary Clinton Wing of the GOP

1982/00/00 McCain enters Congress, with his family accepts first of nine trips some aboard Keating's leer jet, three of which include stayovers at Keating's Caribbean resort (goes unreported for up to 7 years)
1983/09/28 McCain joins 26 other Republicans to vote with the Majority Party Congressional Democrats to demand U.S. Troops exit Lebanon, winds up on the losing side
1986/04/00 Cindy McCain and her father invest $359,100 in a Charles Keating strip mall
1987/00/00 McCain has received $112,000 by this time for Congressional and Senate campaigns, from Charles Keating, his relatives, and his employees, the largest amount to any Keating 5 member
1987/04/02 McCain joins four Democrats to intercede on behalf of his S&L Owner friend Keating with Ed Gray, chairman of the Federal Home Loan Bank Board and also banking regulators (2 meetings)
1988/02/11 McCain votes to affirm Anthony Kennedy as a justice for the SCOTUS
1989/00/00 McCain discloses Keating trips as his involvement in the S&L scandal breaks, reimbursing $13,433.00 with no repercussions as late as seven years after the fact
1990/10/02 McCain votes to Confirm Justice David H. Souter from New Hampshire to be an Associate Justice on the SCOTUS Court
1993/10/10 McCain co-sponsors an unsuccessful bill to cut off funding of United States troops in Somalia
1993/08/10 McCain joins the Democrats and most Republicans voting to confirm Ruth Bader Ginsberg, the worst justice on the court today.  Three Republicans vote Nay.
1993/01/13 McCain and Kerry release the Select Committee report urging the MIA issue be put to rest so that Vietnam could be granted normalized relations with the U.S., over objections by MIA family and veterans groups.  Video1  Video2  ( I do not endorse all of the information presented in video1 here.  The video does touch on a number of topics, and I think most are germane )  If I could have found video that contained most of this information without touching on McCain's POW experience I would have posted it instead.  Still, there are parts of McCain's POW experience that are troubling.  I'd just rather not go there.  Video2 shows how one MIA family rep is treated, confirming some of the reports in Video1.
1994/07/24 McCain joins with the Democrats to confirm nominee Stephen Breyer to be an Associate Justice on the SCOTUS.  Nine Senators voted Nay...
1997/00/00 McCain leads the opposition to the Coats Amendment, preventing government funded fetal tissue research ( derived from "a legal act" [abortion] )  Amendment defeated!
1999/08/19 McCain stated, ""Certainly in the short term, or even the long term, I would not support repeal of Roe vs. Wade,"
2000/00/00 McCain joins Democrat Russ Feingold to introduce Campaign Finance Reform, an effort funded by George Soros  Article
2000/00/00 McCain was the keynote speaker at the ultra-liberal Philadelphia convention sponsored by George Soros while John F. Kerry keynoted at another Soros event on the same day...
2000/11/20 McCain participates in the production of a gun control spot for Oregon's Proposition Five.  (Circa this date, prior to the November election.)  Article
2001/00/00 McCain founded the Reform Institute funded by George Soros
2001/05/15 McCain introduces the Gun Show Loophole bill S890, with Carper, Lieberman, DeWine, Clinton, and Schumer co/sponsoring. Analysis
2003/03/19 McCain joins Democrats to vote against drilling in ANWR
2003/10/30 McCain joins Lieberman again, this time to introduce the Climate Stewardship Act (Gorebal worming et al)  Thomas  Bill S139
2004/06/04 McCain signs letter with 58 Senators, "We write to urge you to expand the current federal policy concerning embryonic stem cell research."
2004/08/05 McCain announces he deplores the Swift Boat adds against Senator John Kerry, and asks the White House to refute them
2005/00/00 McCain resigns from the Reform Institute he founded with George Soros
2005/01/28 McCain declares, "I want us in the ICC (International Criminal Court)", but I would like to see more safeguards first
2005/05/12 McCain joins Ted Kennedy to introduce McCain/Kennedy immigration legislation that would wind up making illegal immigrants citizens
2006/04/28 McCain states, "I would rather have a clean government than one where quote First Amendment rights are being respected that has become corrupt."
2006/09/06 McCain joins Dole to write op-ed for the Washington Post, states in part, "We should publicly remind Khartoum that the International Criminal Court has jurisdiction to prosecute war crimes..."
2007/02/17 McCain states he will close Guantanamo Bay terrorist detainment center on his first day in office  Video  (same as date link on the left)
2007/03/22 McCain gets the pledged support of Chuck and Sue Cobb, Jeb Bush's Florida Director of the Free Trade of the Americas Agreement effort
2007/06/00 McCain joins Baldwin, Shays and Meehan to file an amicus brief against the Wisconsin Right to Life organization  brief  The wrong side of a pro-life issue, helping pro-abort Feingold
2007/06/18 McCains Gitmo problem, close the base, grant Geneva Convention status, stop water boarding...
2007/10/25 McCain still wants us to sign the L.O.S.T. treaty in time, but does have concerns over sovereignty issues.
2008/03/00 McCain makes his first attempt to tell a state (North Carolina) Republican Party what to do.  The RNC joins him.
2008/03/24 McCain hires Meg Whiteman to cochair his Presidential campaign.  Whiteman is another wishy washy at best Independent, who has donated to leftist candidates and still doesn't have a clue what side to come down on with regard to illegal immigration.  She is leaning toward running for Governor in California and being courted by it's Republican leadership.  Links to CalCowGirl's comments regardint Whiteman's donations.  Article above.
2008/03/26 McCains speech to the World Affairs Council, Europe may get veto power over some of our foreign policy...
2008/04/08 McCain casts last Senate vote during his Presidential Campaign.  By the EOBD 06/24/08, he has missed 367 votes or 61.4% of the Senate votes in the 110th Congress.  His last vote before the one he cast on April 8 was cast on 03/14/08.  LINK
2008/05/09 McCains interview with O'Reilly... I won't drill in ANWR... it's pretty... I'm an environmentalist.  (note: there's a good chance he may have an environMental disorder)
2008/05/12 McCain Joins the Goreball Worming Cult, sounding more like Al Gore every day...  McCain's Oregon add Video
2008/05/13 McCain takes an Environmental walk, with the leader of the Cascade Land Conservancy... (another series of fruit loop moments)
2008/05/15 McCain states he will appoint Democrats to his administration, during a Republican teleconference and during a Columbus stump speech
2008/05/27 McCain announces support for severe cutbacks on our nuclear weapons, withdrawing battlefield nukes from Europe and giving our nuclear waste to an international body
2008/06/04 McCain states, "I disagreed strongly with the Bush administration's mismanagement of the war in Iraq."
2008/06/14 McCain tells Clinton supporters they should back him because he voted for Ginsberg and Breyer  Said this to Conservatives on 2008/05/07
2008/06/21 It is announced McCain and Obama will address open borders group in Los Angeles on July 18th, 2008, Communists and worst of U.S. Illeagal Alien appologist groups...
2008/06/21 McCain and team realize he has so little credibility on judicial appointments, that they announce he will let Fred Thompson vet his judges.  That's 06/21/08's version of truth...
2008/06/28 McCain declares, "I will make comprehensive immigration reform my “top priority,” during my first 100 days in office.  He assures Latino leaders that they will have an ally in the White House.

[CaspersGh0sts]

“I guess he didn’t “get it” after all. What a turd.”

Voters in Florida and South Carolina ate that line up. They loved McCain before all others. Well, here we go.

I guess it’s up to the voters to shut down the phone lines on Capital Hill again...as if that should be at all necessary.

The Republicans had their chance. They either hated a Mormon or hated a guy who talked a little too slow.

Well, suck up that burrito and enjoy, SoCons!

[Almondjoy]

Well then maybe it’s time the “conservatives” pick up camp and leave. I’m sick of the crybabies that claim to be “conservative” and say they won’t vote for McCain.

Look, McCain isn’t perfect.. far from it.

But you “conservatives” are acting no better than the Code Pink radicals.

It’s time you face that the GOP is a coalition of right wingers.. it’s not the party for just Conservatives.

Elections are always about choices.. you vote the best available. You want to create a revolution? Always vote ot an R that isn’t as right as you want.. you have that chance in house and senate primaries. Heck we had that chance in the Presidental Primary too... guess what.. most GOP’ers voted for McCain.

Now that your candidate has lost it’s time you wipe your tears away and realize that you should vote for the person that is most to the right.

If you think the party with fracture and the GOP will be out of power for decades then it sounds like to me that the “conservatives” want to become the green party of the right.

Your vote.. your fault.

[jch10]

As will I. I will stand strong against illegal immigration until my last breath.

BHO wants amnesty too, just for different reasons.

[thelastvirgil]

The man is a fool. He is officially running for Bob Dole’s second term...oh, wait...nevermind.

[TomGuy]

Your vote.. your fault.

By the 2012 election cycle, there will be enough finger pointing and regrets to go around, regardless of whether McCain or Obama wins in 08.

[Rottweilerson]

“Where is it written that you have to agree with some one 100% of the time?”

When our Sovereignty is on the line. I agree with 95% of what he pitches. However he seems intent on selling out our country to Mexico.

[ellery]

How is a vote for Obama better?

Congressional republicans will fight more vigorously against a (d) trying to implement leftist policies. They won't fight an (r) trying to implement slightly less leftist policies. So, from that perspective McCain could conceivably implement more leftist policy than Obama could.

I would never advocate voting Obama, but that is one argument for voting third party.

[msnpatriot]

It’s not, but Obama would unite covservatives like Bill Clinton did.

McCain would keep conservatives fragmented.

***How is a vote for Obama better?***

[Man50D]

Excellent post(#26)! I strongly suggest you post it as a thread.

[Almondjoy]

There already is plenty of finger pointing going around, but anyone who says there isn’t a difference between the two has a few screws loose.

[horse_doc]

I got to enjoy all of 5 hours, feeling good that Phil Gramm would hold John's hand, on the economy.

I treasured that time, because I knew, just KNEW, that McCain would pee all over me, soon.

I just didn't think that it would be on the same day.

[SoConPubbie]

How is a vote for Obama better?

He will do the same thing that McCain will do and much more.

The only benefit, is that it won't be a Republican granting Amnesty, implementing the Carbon Cap-and-Trade system, and the whole host of other Big-Government solutions that are on John McCain's mind.

In other word's, the Democrat's get the blame, not the GOP.

That is the only advantage.

[SoConPubbie]

Beautiful post DoughtyOne.

I see you have done your homework.

[Rastus]

Obama’s pandering on this issue today, too. I think by the time these clowns have ginned each other up, they’ll be promising the illegals that we’ll give them a border they can Absolut-ly live with.

[SoConPubbie]

Now that your candidate has lost it’s time you wipe your tears away and realize that you should vote for the person that is most to the right.

I am going to go real slow and use small words so I don't lose you in this discussion.

Problem is, that John McCain, will destroy the GOP by one simple action on his part, AMNESTY!

25-40 million+ HISPANIC Illegal Aliens will be ushered into the American Electorate by that action.

This is a voting block that has reliably voted 70%, and greater, for the Democrats, even after a Republican President gave them their one and only Amnesty. Remember 1986 and Ronald Reagan?

Do you think it will be any different this time?

Especially with the GOP, and rightfully so, clamoring for closing the border and removing all the free gifts that are continually given to these criminals using the Taxpayer coffers?

Remember the last four major elections cycles?

2000, 2002, 2004, and 2006?

Remember those razor-thin majorities that the GOP used to win whereever they won?

Now, dump say 40 million voters into the electorate, where probably 30 million of them will vote Democrat reliably.

Where are your majorities now?

Factor in where the GOP is right now in terms of losing both the House and Senate and how the 2008 election is shaping up with them losing even more seats and you are looking at a very bleak future my friend!

John McCain will make it look much, MUCH, MORE bleaker with his Amnesty.

Now toss in his Global Warming Scam plan to implement the Carbon Cap and Trade system and you have a recipe for total and complete failure and destruction of the GOP.

Any small 'l' libertarians left in the GOP are now gone.

All small government Republicans are gone.

He doesn't appeal at all to the Christian Conservatives and with his support of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, he has forced these reliable Republicans out of the party as well.

John McCain is the Democrat's best friend.

If he becomes President, he will single-handedly destroy the GOP.

BTW, I sincerely doubt your approach to those of us who cannot, because of our principles and conscience, vote for McCain is ever going to convince anyone to change their mind.

You might want to take another tack, this one ain't working.

[SoConPubbie]

BTW, the reasons I cannot and will not vote for this turd of a candidate McCain are not just the Amnesty issue.

There are a whole host of issues and I post them below.

You might also want to look at DoughtyOne's post at #26 as he also provides a littany of the many failures of John McCain and why he is such a terrible candidate.

Here is the research I have compiled:

1. Gang of Fourteen (Kept some of President Bush’s best judges from being presented for a vote) See here and here
2. McCain-Fiengold (Assault on Free Speech and Pro-Life
3. McCain-Kennedy (Amnesty for criminal Illegal Aliens)
4. McCain-Lieberman (50 cents a gallon tax)
5. Total support for global warming scam, including the Carbon Cap-and-Trade system. See Here
6. Support for embryonic stem cell research (Murder of unborn babies).
7. Wants to moderate or soften the Pro-Life plank of the GOP Platform. See Here and Here and Here.
8. Has flip-flopped on overturning Roe vs. Wade.
9. Wants to close Gitmo and give Terrorists access to our legal system.
10. F grade from Gun-Owners of America.
11. C grade from NRA.
12. 65% score from American Conservative Union in 2006
13. Wants to bail out sub-prime losers (many of which are either illegal aliens or lied on thier applications) with US tax money.
14. Voted against President Bush’s tax cuts (called them tax-cuts for the rich)
15. Flirted with the idea of crossing over to the Dems in 2004.
16. Wants to implement a socialist Health Care proposal that includes providing tax-coffer monies (your tax dollars) to the states to provide Health Care Insurance for those who either refuse to pay for it, or are unable to afford it (mostly illegal aliens).
17. Divorced his wife after he got back from Vietnam. The same woman who remained true to him and raised his kids while he was imprisoned.
18. Refuses to drill in ANWR. See here and here
19. Agrees with Democrats that our Foreign Policy has been arrogant and we need to be more humble.
20. Thinks and states that Pharmaceutical companies are evil
21. Has accepted funding from Soros and Teresa Heinz-Kerry for his institute
22. John McCain's Top 10 Class-Warfare Arguments Against Tax Cuts
23. "I think the Democrat Party is a fine and I have no problems with it, in their views and philosophy"
24. Strongly against Same Sex Marriage Ban Constitutional Amendment
25. Voted for Pro-Abortion Bill and Here.
26. Voted against bill that would impose sanctions against foreign governments and companies that invest more than $20 million in Iran's energy sector until the president certified to Congress that Iran had dismantled its weapons of mass destruction Here and Here
27. Voted against repealing the death tax.
28. McCain-Edwards-Kennedy    (Many Democrat inspired bad rules included in this monstrosity)
29. Wants to close Guantanamo and give Terrorists modified military trials with some of the same rights as our civil court system.
30. Socialist Approach to Business I.: Supports Windfall Profit Tax
31. Socialist Approach to Business II.: Will Regulate CEO Pay
32. Missed 60.8 % of all votes. Most of any Senate Member
33. The list of shame: John McCain's votes against the GOP and conservatism in general. Read them and weep Freepers!

[CaspersGh0sts]

“The man is a fool. He is officially running for Bob Dole’s second term...oh, wait...nevermind.”

I preferred Dole, frankly. Though your point about Bob Dole’s “first term” is duely noted.

[CaspersGh0sts]

Well, there’s the other issue that whoever ends up on McCain’s ticket as the VP selection is going to be permanently yolked to that role. It becomes a very precarious position for any conservative to have to avoid disagreements with McCain yet hold true to principles. Should that person run again, McCain’s principles will be used against him (or her).

I’m afraid McCain may well kill one of our rising stars with his VP pick—assuming, that is, that he chooses a half-way decent conservative.

[Gaffer]

Reading your post's rationalizations of why a vote for McCain is essential reminds me of the battered women out there continually making excuses for staying with abusive spouses.

You can tell us to leave it you want to; McCain has already beat you to it in my book. Funny thing, though....just how in the hell is standing up for principles that have heretofore been a Republican Party staple considered in your eyes as equivalent to Code Pink radicals?

You, my friend (to borrow your candidate's favorite phrase), are going to find out come November how many of us are out there.

[Nickname]

“But you “conservatives” are acting no better than the Code Pink radicals.”

Really? Care to elaborate?

[MaggieCarta]

Well then maybe it’s time the “conservatives” pick up camp and leave.

Already loaded up the truck for the move. To paraphrase Ronaldus Maximus, I haven't left the GOP, it has left me.

Every time I have myself talked into pulling the lever for McQueeg, something like this comes along. Whilst the SCOTUS argument is indeed compelling, I simply don't see McGangOf14 nominating solid conservative picks. Even if he did do that, I don't see such rare legal lights finding their way past the Senate.

How many good people nominated by President Bush are still waiting? I gave up following the problem with the 6th Circuit.

Conservatives are screwed, no matter what happens.

[MaggieCarta]

Now that your candidate has lost it’s time you wipe your tears away and realize that you should vote for the person that is most to the right.

Bob Barr? Duncan Hunter?

[MaggieCarta]

Despite all those things you list SoCon, what really irked me was when McAmensty said out loud, "I really don't understand economics." Or, was it, "I really don't understand the economy."

Whatever. He was, in effect, stating, "I don't understand capitalism." What Republican doesn't understand capitalism? This man is no Republican. I'm utterly amazed that the GOP/RNC leadership allows this charade to go on.

Look, GOP/RNC, the game has changed---Hillary isn't the Dem candidate guaranteed to take the White House. Ergo, the GOP/RNC should no longer waste their time and treasure on this boob! At least, you will not waste anymore of my dollars! Not another dime, to you, GOP/RNC!

/rant off close checkbook

[kabar]

McCain also lied. He voted AGAINST the 1986 amnesty.