Posted on 05/31/2006 12:02:56 PM PDT by kellynla
WASHINGTON — Sen. John McCain canceled a fundraiser for Republican Brian Bilbray in California's special election after the candidate publicly criticized the Senate immigration bill.
McCain, R-Ariz., the top proponent of comprehensive immigration reform, didn't appear at the Wednesday breakfast fundraiser.
Bilbray is in a June 6 run-off election with Democrat Francine Busby to replace the vacant seat of embattled former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham, who was sentenced to eight years and four months in prison for accepting bribes.
Bilbray has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on TV commercials attacking Busby for her support of the immigration bill that McCain co-authored with Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Edward Kennedy.
"Perhaps Senator McCain canceled his appearance after learning that lobbyist Brian Bilbray has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars attacking the McCain immigration reform plan that Francine supports," said Brennan Bilberry, a spokesman for Busby.
Busby's campaign released an online commercial to promote her support of McCain's plan.
"I was looking forward to Senator McCain's visit to San Diego so he could explain his tough immigration reform plan to San Diegans," Busby said. "It is disappointing that Brian Bilbray does not want to have a serious conversation about Senator McCain's tough immigration reform that I support."
California Republican Rep. David Dreier was to replace McCain, FOX News has learned. Dreier's presence is aimed at identifying Bilbray with the congressman's efforts to lead House efforts on lobbying reform. A Bilbray campaign aide told FOX News that the Bilbray camp considered McCain's scheduled appearance potentially harmful.
Other Republicans have voiced opposition to the Senate immigration bill. Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, campaigned for Bilbray and criticized a previous version of the Senate bill.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
It appears that the RNC is firing peashooters while the 'Rats are bringing in the howitzers...And folks wonder why CA can't get more Republicans elected. Thank you, RNC...for nuthin'...
All those folks who seem to make a living here telling conservatives that they have to put party over principle now have a new mission. Let's see if McCain will put his "principles" aside and help a fellow GOPer win.
I will NEVER vote for Mcpain.....I will write my own name in before I EVER vote for that piece of human excrement....
So McCain is putting his personal picque above the Republican Party and the Nation. Why am I not surprised? And to think that I was actually supported his campaign in 2000. Must have been temporary insanity on my part...
AHA! The "hero" wears a yellow stripe after all!
No one inviting McCain would count me as impressed; rather. .. just the opposite.
Drier is no better than McCain in my opinion. Former Marine and Purple Heart winner Sonny Sardo is trying to replace him. I hope he makes it.
He's a very successful business owner and is rock solid on conservative issues.
I see McCain is being a vindictive A$$ again!
McCain is from the genus Keatingbus whoreibus.
McCaine is really upset that Bilbray stole his strawberries.
And evrybody thought when Kerry asked McCain to be his veep it was to get crossover votes. He just wanted another like-thinking rat.
It's always has to be about him 24/7.
I'm surprised he hasn't campaigned for the Democrat that supports his Amnesty for Votes bill.
This is exactly why I could never vote for McCain and why I Could vote for Rudy(If he won the nomination) since he has helped MANY other conservatives raise money and such.
HUMAN excrement? Hardly!
I'd like to hear him explain his 'tough' plan too - all I've seen is the 'candy-ass' one.
"..a vindictive ass again...NO! Still! and always.
vaudine
Here is the Big difference between McCain and Rudy. McCain is very vindictive, Rudy is not. Rudy help Ralph Reed raise money even though Ralph said he would never endorse Rudy for President and Rudy did not cancel his fund raiser he went there and endorsed Ralph Reed and was more than happy to be there. McCain is just plain mean and doesn't care about the Republican party only about himself!
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