Posted on 06/01/2006 6:30:53 AM PDT by Gothmog
SAN DIEGO ---- Republican 50th Congressional District candidate Brian Bilbray avoided what could have proven a thorny encounter Wednesday, after U.S. Sen. John McCain pulled out of a campaign fundraiser for Bilbray on the eve of the event.
Adding to the dicey nature of 11th hour cancellation, Bilbray adamantly opposes an immigration reform measure McCain helped craft ---- a bill that is supported by Francine Busby, Bilbray's Democratic opponent in the race to temporarily fill the seat formerly held by Randy "Duke" Cunningham.
McCain skipped the $250-a-plate breakfast at a San Diego hotel, because of "differences" over a solution to illegal immigration, Bilbray said Wednesday.
The focus of many of the comments made at Bilbray's fundraiser centered on the issue ---- one that has been the centerpiece of his campaign.
Meanwhile, Busby held a similar fundraising event later in the day, featuring House Minority leader Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, as guest speaker. But at Busby's event, ethics reform in Washington ---- the main plank in Busby's platform ----- topped the agenda.
Arizona senator and 2008 presidential hopeful McCain helped craft a version of a bill that was approved last week by the U.S. Senate. A provision in that bill would create a guest-worker program and allow millions of illegal immigrants a pathway to legalization.
Bilbray opposes the bill and wants to see a competing House bill become law ---- a bill that does not include a guest-worker program nor a mechanism for legalizing some of the estimated 11 million to 12 million illegal immigrants who are living in the United States.
He said he told McCain's staff that McCain is "dead wrong on the amnesty issue," and a number of the people who attended the Wednesday breakfast were prepared to tell the senator the same thing, Bilbray said.
Had McCain come, Bilbray said, it would have put him in the position of "maybe having to protect the senator from reaction here in San Diego."
Officials with the senator's office could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
Filling in for McCain at the event, which drew about 130 supporters, was U.S. Rep. David Dreier, R-San Dimas, who serves as chairman of the House Rules Committee. Also stumping for Bilbray was U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter, chairman of the powerful House Armed Services Committee.
Both members praised Bilbray as the man they hope to see at their side in the House after the election, to help them push forward stronger immigration reform legislation and increase the nation's security.
"The election of Brian Bilbray is very important for the state and the nation," Dreier said.
He said that with Bilbray's help, he hopes to see included in the House version of the immigration bill a provision for a high-tech Social Security card that anyone seeking a new job would have to present to a prospective employer.
Employers would have to check that card against a national database to make sure the card holder is in the country legally and employers who did not do so could face heavy fines and possible imprisonment, said Dreier who proposed the idea last year.
The House and Senate bills will now go before a conference committee composed of members from both chambers to try and work out a consensus version of the legislation.
Dreier also alluded to the high stakes of the June 6 runoff in which Bilbray and Busby are the front-runners. The race between the two is neck and neck, according to a recent automated poll of likely voters that showed 45 percent of respondents saying they would vote for Bilbray and 45 percent for Busby.
The closeness of the contest has come as a surprise to some, since the 50th District has 157,000 registered Republicans to 105,000 registered Democrats and the seat has long been considered a safe one for the GOP.
In a sign of the concerns of both parties over an election that many have called a bellwether for congressional elections across the nation this fall, the national arms of the Democratic and Republican parties have sunk a combined total of more than $2 million into campaign advertising on local TV stations since April 11.
"The eyes of the nation are on this race," Dreier said. "People are saying what happens next Tuesday will play a big role in what happens in November."
But Dreier and Hunter weren't the only Washington big guns to come to town Wednesday. House Minority Leader Pelosi also stumped for Busby at a Wednesday evening fundraiser held at a private home in La Jolla.
Pelosi told a group of about 150 supporters, who made donations to Busby's campaign of at least $100, that electing Busby is the first step toward Democrats regaining control of the House.
If that happens, she pledged that a Democratic House will initiate an era of "pay as you go" and will "stop heaping mountains of debt on our children." Echoing Busby's calls to clean up Washington, Pelosi said that Tuesday's election is about integrity.
"Her election will send a message to the American people to push aside the old ---- it's time for the new."
Unlike the Bilbray event, where the No. 1 topic was illegal immigration, barely a mention was made of the issue at the Busby event.
Commenting on conservative Republicans' intense focus on the issue, a Busby supporter said he believes that was a strategic decision on the part of the GOP. "The Republican Party has put it on the front page to distract from the war in Iraq," said San Diego resident John Evans, 52.
San Diego County Republican Party Finance Chairman Tony Krvaric was standing outside the Busby fundraiser just before it started.
Saying he came to scout out what the opposition was up to, Krvaric said North County voters' views are totally incompatible "with the San Francisco liberal policies of Nancy Pelosi ---- Busby is aligning herself with the most liberal faction of the Democratic left."
In regards to the "Baseball" analogy, I hear Drieir is a "catcher".
I have known David Dreier for over ten years and doubt that statement is true. He seems solid on amnesty but certainly could be more conservative.
Hopefully the people of Arizona will get rid of that man. McCain cannot stand for any debate that is why he only goes on one-way tv shows so no one can challange him and show how little he actually knows of the subjects he speaks.
If all the "party first" types expect conservatives to support republicans despite their stances on specific issues then yes, McCain should have supported a member of his party that is blistering his bill.
Personally, I will be using McCain's actions with respect to this situation to beat back the "party at all cost" chanters who question the my logic about wanting to see RINO's defeated in an effort to move the party back to the right.
McCain's actions indicate that I am playing by the same rules he is.
Sounds as though McCain is running for president of Mexico. That suits me.
Well, how is McCCain ever going to work with GOP senators who oppose his immigration bill? Not deal with them ever again? How is McCain going to address GOP primary voters in 2007-08 who have different priorities than his on immigration? Not show up?
McCain could have acted like a leader, taken the tough questions and addressed serious GOP concerns over immigration, but he chose not to.
The 5,000 lb elephant in the room that most McCain-hating FReepers want to ignore is that THE SENATE BILL IS WHAT THE PRESIDENT WANTS TO SIGN. He is the one who is really pushing the legislation, (rather than one of 100 lawmakers).
Actually, Bush sent Cheney to help Bilbray raise funds recently. Bilbray took the opportunity to buttonhole Cheney on immigration. Cheney told Bilbray he hoped that if Bilbray was elected he would serve on the immigration conference committee. Quite a difference from McCain's avoidance of Bilbray.
Do you see only what you want to see? This comment is absurd. Most Freepers have been blasting the President because we KNOW he agrees with it. Only the minority GOP apologists try to pretend the President gives a damn about border security.
He is the one who is really pushing the legislation, (rather than one of 100 lawmakers).
Wrong again.
McCain isn't out pandering on behalf of the President. He wants this as badly as the President. They are both guilty, as is the Senate minus Sessions and his compatriots.
Well, it sure seems that ALL the blame is being shoveled on the Senate and especially McCain--even when folks such as S.C. Sen. Graham specifically pointed out yesterday (on Hannity's radio show) that it is the president how is directing the GOP side in getting a compromise bill through the upper chamber! You still hear the same kind of gripes about McCain-Feingold's CFR legislation (incidentally, I'm a CFR proponent)...but if Bush signed it, why isn't he held accountable too?
Just for everybody's information - it was the BILBRAY campaign who told McCain "DON'T BOTHER". This is a quote from Mark Larson on KOGO radio - while he was talking to Major Garrett of FOX News.
According to Major Garrett, McCain just did a big favor for Bilbray by staying away because conservatives do not like the McCain bill and this will certainly help Bilbray's numbers. And .. it does make Bilbray more in tune with the district.
Plus, also according to Major Garrett - Busby stated to him that she supported both senate ideas of giving SS and income tax credit to ILLEGALS. Garrett said he ask her a direct question and got a direct answer from her. However, her ads have been playing for 2 weeks or more which says she does not support illegals.
So .. as usual .. the dems are trying to play both sides of the fence. The 50th district will not like her comments.
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