Posted on 04/04/2006 1:13:02 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Sen. John McCain threatened on Tuesday to cut short a speech to union leaders who booed his immigration views and later challenged his statements on organized labor and the Iraq war.
"If you like, I will leave," McCain told the AFL-CIO's Building and Construction Trades Department, pivoting briefly from the lectern. He returned to the microphone after the crowd quieted.
"OK, then please give me the courtesy I would give you."
It was a contentious session that tested McCain's commitment to the straight-talking image he honed during his failed 2000 presidential bid. An underdog six years ago, the Arizona Republican is expected to seek the 2008 GOP nomination as a front-runner.
"I loved it. I love mixing it up like that," McCain said after the speech to a Democratic-leaning crowd of several hundred.
He did seem to enjoy the back and forth that began minutes into his address, when he mentioned campaigning on behalf of California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, a fellow Republican. The crowd booed the reference to Schwarzenegger but laughed at McCain's self-effacing joke that followed.
He said somebody came up to him at the Schwarzenegger event and said, "Do people tell you look like John McCain?"
"Yes, they do."
"Doesn't that make you madder than hell?"
Later, the senator outlined his position on the Senate immigration debate, saying tougher border enforcement must be accompanied by guest-worker provisions that give illegal immigrants a legal path toward citizenship.
Murmurs from the crowd turned to booing. "Pay a decent wage!" one audience member shouted.
"I've heard that statement before," McCain said before threatening to leave.
Afterward, the senator said he offered to cut his speech short "because I wanted to be heard."
In the speech, McCain also argued that withdrawing U.S. troops prematurely from Iraq would turn terrorists loose on the United States.
This time, there was no booing - though one audience member cursed from the back of the crowd.
McCain got another laugh when he finished the speech and asked whether anybody had "questions, comments or insults."
The first questioner seemed to challenge his commitment to organized labor. When McCain started to praise a particular labor group in Arizona, the crowd booed again.
"Stop!" he said with a smile, drawing laughter from the crowd. "I surrender."
But he took more questions, including a pointed one on his immigration plan.
McCain responded by saying immigrants were taking jobs nobody else wanted. He offered anybody in the crowd $50 an hour to pick lettuce in Arizona.
Shouts of protest rose from the crowd, with some accepting McCain's job offer.
"I'll take it!" one man shouted.
McCain insisted none of them would do such menial labor for a complete season. "You can't do it, my friends."
Some in the crowd said they didn't appreciate McCain questioning their work ethic.
"I was impressed with his comedy routine and ability to tap dance without music. But I was impressed with nothing else about him," said John Wasniewski of Milwaukee. "He's supposed to be Mr. Straight Talk?"
Others said McCain showed some moxie, if not the best political judgment.
"Most of us don't agree with him on immigration, but I give him credit for trying," said Chris D. Schoenbeck of Milwaukee.
With his profile rising, a growing number of Democrats are accusing McCain of flip-flopping on issues to court conservative GOP primary voters.
McCain denied that charge later Tuesday - after addressing the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, a GOP-leaning group that backs his immigration views. There were no boos. Just laughter, and at the end of his remarks, a standing ovation from the Hispanic leaders.
Yet McCain's mind was still on the labor activists and their prickly reception.
"I can't tell you how much fun that was," he said.
Maybe McCain was thinking of some of the other leafy plants that they're tending to down south ($50/hour).
And the GOP is helping to do it.
We just got a survey/fundraising letter from McCain. Sent by the RNC.
The RNC's isn't getting a dime of our money any time soon.
What will he do as the media drops the "maverick" label and treats him like the rest of the pubbies?
Great analogy. I always thought of them as Frick and Frack, never sure which was which always.
I can't remember the last time I agree with organized labor on anything.
More importantly, why don't they have any eggs or fruit?
I know Marines doing THE dirtiest work of all, and they don't get $10/hour.
They also do get three square meals a day, free medical care, free housing, and a good pension plan, that is not included in your above wage rate.
I ain't busting on the brave people who make the scarifice and serve our country, who I am busting on are the grandstanding politicians and their lackeys who try to hide behind them for cheap political points.
BTW, you do know that there are 17,000 undocumented(illegal) aliens serving in our Armed Forces.
The "Hispanic Chamber of Commerce", (google it, there are many) don't appear to be GOP leaning to me. LOL!
Vote for John Smith: "If You Like, He'll Leave"
I'd vote for him.
Problem is, once they're elected you can't blast `em out.
Looks like the UAW has worked its way into the Arizona lettuce pickers.
Also sam, I ain't no mccain fan. He whored himself to the MSM and is now finding out what the MSM does to their lady of the night in the morning.
Hell, it would just be great if McCain would actually speak to actual real life Republicans. It seems like he just tours groups that don't vote for us anyways. He gets his rocks off being the 'anti-Republican' and just dirtying the water for the party. I'd like him to resign his seat in the Senate to run for the nomination and when he loses it we not only spare the country of his 'straight talk' but we would also gain a real GOPer in that second AZ US Senate seat. I don't know, maybe J.D. Hayworth??
This is why the MSM loves him. He would destroy the Republican party.
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Well he is already doing a good job of that, but the Repubs are SELF-destructing anyway, with Bush carrying the Mexican flag in the lead...McCain will destroy anyone or anything to be President...just like the Marxist Witch. Birds of a feather.
That's $50/hr tax free. Who would turn that down?
"This is why the MSM loves him. He would destroy the Republican party."
72% of the public opposes the Republican Party's immigration party. They're not budging.
Most of America opposes the Supreme Court's Kelo decision on taking private land. The Republicans didn't propose any legislation to reverse it.
Bush and the Republican Party are hemorraging red ink out of every orifice in budget after budget.
And it's MCCAIN who's going to destroy the Republican Party?
is he running as a republican or a democrat?
"They also do get.....free medical care...."
How many illegals are on medicaid?
"OK, then please give me the courtesy I would give you."
Prime Exhibit A in why this loon will never be elected President.
That said, they should have told him to leave!
Ping.
The United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners walked away from the AFL-CIO years back, what are they building and constructing in this department without us carpenters...?
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