Republican presidential hopeful John McCain speaks with local reporters outside a technology conference held at the Four Seasons Resort Aviara in Carlsbad on Tuesday.Posted on 05/30/2007 5:38:15 AM PDT by radar101
Republican presidential hopeful John McCain speaks with local reporters outside a technology conference held at the Four Seasons Resort Aviara in Carlsbad on Tuesday.
CARLSBAD CA -- In a brief visit to North County on Tuesday, Republican presidential candidate John McCain defended the Senate's immigration reform bill against critics, including some local lawmakers.
McCain, R-Ariz., is among a bipartisan group of about a dozen senators who negotiated the controversial immigration bill that would give an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants a chance to legalize their status. He is also one of about 10 candidates seeking the GOP nomination for president.
McCain was in Carlsbad to speak at The Wall Street Journal's All Things Digital D5 Conference at the Four Seasons Resort. He gave a brief interview to a group of local reporters prior to his talk.
During the conference, McCain answered questions from Wall Street Journal reporters on the country's technological competitiveness and government regulation of the Internet. The crowd was made up predominantly of technology industry executives.
In his remarks before the conference, McCain said the immigration bill takes a comprehensive approach that includes stronger enforcement at the border and bringing illegal immigrants out of the shadows to improve the nation's security.
"We cannot have 12 million people in America where we don't know where they are and what they're doing," McCain said. "Since 9/11, this has become a national security issue."
The Senate immigration bill would make some of the most substantive changes to the nation's immigration system in 20 years. Among other things, it would create a guest worker program and adopt new criteria for future legal immigration. But the proposal has been criticized by both liberals and conservatives.
Some Democrats have called the bill too harsh on immigrant families, while some Republicans have called it amnesty for people who broke the law by coming into the country illegally.
In his comments to reporters Tuesday, McCain took on some of those in his party who call the bill amnesty.
"Anything short of rounding up 12 million people and deporting them is called amnesty by the opponents of this legislation," he said. "I'll point out that (illegal immigrants) will have to pay back taxes, they'll have to pay a fine, they'll have to go back to their country of origin, and it's at least 15 years before they are in anyway eligible for citizenship."
McCain's comments came shortly after President Bush also defended the bill during a speech in Georgia. Bush said opponents "determined to find fault with this bill will always be able to look at a narrow slice of it and find something they don't like."
One of the staunchest opponents of the bill's legalization provision is Rep. Brian Bilbray, R-Solana Beach, whose district includes Carlsbad. Responding to the president's speech, Bilbray said in a statement Tuesday that the public wants stronger border enforcement, not amnesty.
"Amnesty for 12-20 million illegal immigrants isn't a 'narrow slice' (of the bill), it's the whole darn pie," Bilbray said. "The American people want us to secure the border and crack down on the number one incentive for illegal immigration, which is illegal employment. They don't want another amnesty."
On other matters, McCain said Tuesday that people should give the president's new strategy for Iraq a chance to work. Bush's plan, outlined in a speech in January, would raise U.S. troop levels in Iraq by 21,500 -- from 132,000 to 153,500. It also calls for the Iraqi government to increase its own forces and to do more to quell sectarian violence.
"I don't know how long it's going to be necessary," to keep the military presence in Iraq, McCain said. "I know it's going to be very tough because we mismanaged the war for a long period of time. I think we are showing some successes ... but I also understand that there are some difficult challenges."
McCain also told reporters that California and other states' decisions to move their presidential primaries earlier in the year to gain political influence is "not good for America." He said there is not enough time for voters to get to know the candidates.
"It's just been collapsed way too early," McCain said. "Now it's all too quick. It's not healthy for the process, but I don't have anything to do with it, I have to play by the rules as they are."
-- Contact staff writer Edward Sifuentes at (760) 740-3511 or esifuentes@nctimes.com.
“McCain, R-Ariz., is among a bipartisan group of about a dozen senators who negotiated the controversial immigration bill...”
One of McCain’s many faults is that he’s too bipartisan. Same with Bush.
McCain will tank precipitously from here on out. Promoting illegal immigration, electorally speaking, is a dog that won’t hunt.
"We cannot have 12 million people in America where we don't know where they are and what they're doing," McCain said. "Since 9/11, this has become a national security issue."
IT NEVER BOTHERED YOU BEFORE NOW!
Go to the website:
http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/05/30/news/top_stories/1_01_505_29_07.txt
The comments at the bottom are interesting!
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 Paleologus
The citizens are being screwed big-time on this!
McCain, Bush and the GOP are committing suicide.
I am most surprised about KYL!!!! The others are RINOs but Kyl is the real deal!! WHY is he pushing such a bad thing? Does he think it’s going to be so much worse if we do nothing or do something else? What am I missing....I trust KYL totally.....up until now.
McCain is part of the pro-criminal axis pushing the amnesty.
McCain voted for the 1986 Amnesty.
Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. There is only one serious question remaining in this debate: Are McCain and the other supporters insane enough to actual beleive the the results of the same action as 1986 will be different this time OR are they just banking on the American public being insane enough to beleive it?
McCain and Carter. Living proof that the Naval Academy can and does make mistakes.
In the last 24 months we have passed laws for more ICE and BP staff and then failed to fund them and hire them. The legislation was a sham reform. We have additionally passed laws for border improvements which has also been unfunded and unexecuted. That is a sham reform.
Why do we want to have these professional politicians of both parties pretend they are accomplishing something when they are doing nothing but passing the problem along to later generations with these various sham reforms?
I don't want the NEW law until you go back and begin the enforcement of the prior law with vigor, George, John, Lindsey and all the rest of you free loaders.
Do your damn job -- and this isn't it!
Huh? It wasn't a national seurity issue BEFORE 9/11? If it had been, maybe, just maybe, there would not have BEEN a 9/11 attack!
Sell-out.
Try this link for one likely answer. It's a long read, but worth it.
Immigration and Usurpation - Real reason why your Senator wants this immigration amnesty bill
I hate to be cynical, but this is what our government has become. I'm sure it's a pretty similar story with other RINO's who are supporting this "reform" - though Kyl is a suprise because I always thought he was a pretty solid conservative. With the democrats, it is easy to figure out their motive. They want more constituents to become dependents slopping at the public trough - who will vote to keep them in office. With the RINO's it is all about power-grabbing sellouts and payback. Find out who has put alot of money into Kyl's campaign and PAC, if he has one, and look at their position on this "reform". I believe you will likely find your answer there.
McCain said of opponents of the immigration reform bill, “@#$%^&*()!*(”.
I will enjoy it so much when McVain gets thrashed in the primaries. How any true Republican could support him is bizarre.
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