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.
You think that kind of brutish behavior is justified in our political culture? The Dems certainly show no civility; I'm saddened to see people on the right sink to their level.
Thanks. You certainly hit the nail right on the head.
Dane is such a PITA that I don't even bother to read his replies. - waste of time.
I just post to get others involved in the thread.
Huh where did mccain throw that figure out and #1 I am not busting on our brave soldiers defending this country, as you seem that I am implying.
I'm just pointing out that some garndstanding politicians will use the military to make cheap political points, and anyway why don't the congresscritters(such as tancredo) reduce their pay of $180,000 a year.
Oh I forgot, that would mean tancredo couldn't refinish his basement to make a home movie theater using impure, un-American labor.
Yeah, Yeah I know he didn't hire the illegals, he hired the construction company, but if tom tancredo were to be consistent with his rhetoric he would invite the TV cameras he loves so much to his basement and with a sledgehammer destroy the work done by that impure, un-American labor.
I doubt he will do that.
The construction workers I know are nonunion. As I've told you before, my husband is a nonunion crane operator. You got a problem with American nonunion construction workers, too? I assure you, the nonunion guys I know will be just as insulted by McCaniac's slur against American workers as their union counterparts were.
I've spotted a solid 15 FROBLs since I've started posting.
Some are pretty well disguised, some are blatantly stupid and all are traitors.
But at one time(a year ago) there were many threads a day about the great immigration savior hillary on FR.
JMO, my tagline shows that some on FR make PT Barnum's quote very true, "there is a sucker born every minute".
I wonder if those union activists know where their union dues are going...?
"That teed me off too, however, I've become used to the limousine Liberals in the GOP."
At this point, the GOP can kiss my votes goodbye. Until 2004, I'd voted a straight Republican ticket in every election since Bush I ran for office and won - from school board to national elections. No more. I voted 3rd party in 2004 and I'll keep doing so from now on. I'm not voting for people who want to lower my wages down to 3rd world level.
Some are pretty well disguised, some are blatantly stupid and all are traitors
Whatever, DUmmie troll, that has been here since 3-3-06.
The true nail was the hiring of foreign levies into the legions, and the subsequent disenfranchisement of the population. How did Julius Caesar take power?
This jab is so old and tired that it has become a joke. You're becoming a mockery of yourself parroting this thing over and over and over again.
"Don't you just want to shout that in his face? F'in elitist bastard."
Any more, I just say "Screw You" to all politicians. I despise the whole sorry lot of them. I imagine, if we knew the truth, all of them think the same way McCainiac does - Democrat and Republican alike. We're only useful to vote their a**es into office - after that we're supposed to STFU and not make any demands on them. I'm going into the the voting booth this fall and vote against every incumbent on the ballot. I believe we should let a new batch of criminals have a chance to loot the country. This bunch has had their turn.
Booing is now brutish?
Whatever spiffy, the point still remains the same, tancredo used(according to his rhetoric) impure, Un-American labor to make a home theater in his basement.
I resent that statement. Not all union people are democrats and I'm sick of people assuming they are. The damned unions assume the same thing.
"act of signing up changes that status"
Fast tracked to citizenship and deservedly so.
I agree!
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