Posted on 03/06/2008 5:53:24 PM PST by BGHater
While John McCain was being coronated as the heir apparent at a highly publicized White House meeting with President Bush, his colleagues on Capitol Hill couldn't resist rolling out what could be described as a Lou Dobbs dream package of immigration bills.
It was one of those moments where one had to wonder if the right hand of the Republican Party was talking to the left, er, moderate hand.
Immigration is the preeminent issue that has divided McCain from his party, as he has supported an ill-fated comprehensive immigration overhaul, including a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants. Since that debacle, he has been chastened, saying he believes in border security first.
Yet while Bush was passing the torch to McCain as the party's standard bearer, a half dozen conservative GOP senators were unveiling proposals dealing with deportation, making English the official language, revoking funds for "sanctuary cities" and giving local police more immigration enforcement powers.
"This debate has not ended. It's not on hold," said Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) as he unveiled a series of Republican immigration proposals. "Something needs to be done this year."
Sessions said he had not consulted with the White House on the issue, nor had he talked directly with McCain. Sessions also hasn't asked the man who sets the Senate schedule, Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), to consider on the proposals.
Sessions and other opponents of comprehensive immigration reform believe McCain has learned his lesson.
"He has said he got the message and believes the way to go is border enforcement first," Sessions said. "I think he'll be supportive of much of it."
"There's nothing in here that represents an attempt to embarrass him," Sessions was quick to add. But these issues still might create trouble for McCain now that he's turned his attention to the general election. He still needs his reticent GOP base to turn out, yet he'll also need independent voters and a reasonable support level from Hispanics in Nevada, New Mexico and Arizona and other swing states.
The package of proposals unveiled by McCain's colleagues may only inflame the immigration debate. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.), for example, has proposed withholding federal law enforcement money for "sanctuary cities" that have lax immigration enforcement. Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) wants to dock states 10 percent of their highway funding if they give licenses to illegal immigrants. And Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) has a bill that would make English the "national language."
Sessions, who made a name for himself by spending hours at a time on the Senate floor last year, fighting the doomed immigration bill, has proposed mandatory minimum prison sentences for illegal immigrants.
None of these proposals is likely to see the light of day unless they appear as amendments to next week's budget resolution, which might force McCain to either flip flop on key immigration issues. or duck the vote altogether.
Democratic leaders aren't playing ball, either. "While Senator Reid continues to support legislation that is tough on people that break the law, fair to taxpayers and practical to implement, this falls far, far short of what is needed to deal with the issue of immigration reform," said Reid spokesman Jim Manley.
In the House, Republicans were making a more concerted effort to coordinate their immigration message with McCain.
Some House Republicans were moving ahead full-throttle to force a vote on an immigration enforcement measure offered by Democratic Rep. Heath Shuler of North Carolina. But leaders have temporarily applied the brakes to that effort until they have more time to coordinate with the McCain campaign.
Boehner has tapped four Republicans to coordinate on the immigration issue as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) works with her members to devise a compromise measure that would be acceptable to the competing interests within her own party. Those Republicans met Tuesday night and again Wednesday, but they won't make a decision until top leaders have had a chance to brief members of the McCain campaign team.
Meanwhile, a group of House Democrats met Wednesday to discuss more comprehensive legislation that would mend a persistent shortfall in temporary visas for seasonal workers and grants some protection to undocumented workers already in this country.
UPDATE: Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), one of only three Hispanic senators, has called on McCain to reject the GOP proposals, saying the package would only create a "wedge" issue come November.
“The Republican Party might think this is a wedge issue for November, but their strategy only dims their chances this year and for generations to come," Menendez said. "Latinos are not a group on the fringes of our society that can be manipulated to score political points. If this presidential primary season has shown us anything, it is that Latinos are no longer the sleeping giant in American politics – they are fully awake, active and making a difference. This is the type of cynical effort that serves to deepen the divisions in our nation that we should be working to bridge.”
Don’t worry guys, President Hillary Klinton would unite the party like no other! LOL!
McCain isn’t going to be the President so, why are we still talking about him?
This is why I’m not voting for McCain. His immigration stance is all smoke and mirrors.
Hangs like a guillotine blade.
How can McCain extend his "coattails" nationally down to House and Senate and state legislative races, all up and down the GOP, when he presides over such fundamental opposition to his basic thoughts on illegals and amnesty?. It is totally illogical.
The rank and file Republicans better run far away from nominee McShamnesty on this key issue and position, and insist he have his own independent campaign offices outside of local GOP ones. Talk about a major rift. I hope the good side wins. I sure hope McCain does not neutralize this issue from the top down, as spineless GOP types are known to cave. The Dems certainly wont pick up the slack and in fact will be worse.
In short, methinks we are screwed.
You have a very good point.
Immigration – He’s not just pro-open borders, he’s Senor Amnesty – co-sponsor of McCain-Kennedy, which would have legalized 15 million illegal aliens, allowed them to bring in tens of millions of their mooching relatives (including the elderly and infirm), given them credit for past Social Security contributions, etc. The Heritage Foundation’s Robert Rector said McCain-Kennedy would have constituted the largest expansion of the welfare state in U.S. history (at an estimated cost of $2.6 trillion). A Republican who served with McNasty in the Senate said he was forever haranguing his GOP colleagues about being perceived as “xenophobes” for not supporting amnesty. At CPAC, he told conservatives he’s heard us. He’ll secure the borders first, then push amnesty – which, of course, will negate anything he does at the border. Build it (a suicidal welfare state that embraces alien intruders), and a fence won’t keep them out.
Screw You McCain!
Here’s a chance you’ll never get again! Say “Thank You” to your good friend Harry Reid!
Hey, Menendez! Illegal immigrants come in all sizes, shapes and colors. Why are you making it only an hispanic issue? Oh, so you only think hispanic illegals deserve special consideration?
You’ve shown your true allegiance, Menendez, and your bigotry is readily apparent. In your eyes, it’s special consideration for hispanics, and screw everyone else.
Kiss my a$$, Menendez.
Kiss my a$$, Menendez.
If you saw him during the debates you would get really ticked off....
You bet your sweet a$$! It was bad enough he screwed with the First Amendment with his McCain/Feingold POS, but condoning illegal immigration makes him and anyone else holding public office, including the President, liable for treason in my book.
Dear Roberto:
Latinos - si,
Illegals - not on your leftist life!
Put in my words & at the proper level:
Dear John:
Step up to the microphone, with full press coverage, and state clearly that you reject your shamnesty scheme, that illegal immigration is a threat to the security of the USA, that you will oppose any 'reform' that does not first protect us from both new illegal immigration and the damages done by past illegal immigration - and I will happily vote for your sorry ass.
LOL!
I wouldn’t vote for that maggot under any circumstances!
BTTT
Agree. What if a candidate had the guts to show legal hispanic citizens that the illegals are only costing them THEIR jobs and only aiding only the coyotes who are charging to get them here? Wages “under the table” only hurt everyone who pays taxes and owns a home.
If we don’t stand up for what America is supposed to be, we might as well bend over...the sooner the better.
7 Gang Members Busted for Armed Robbery
March 6th, 2008 @ 10:00am
by KTAR Newsroom and KPHO.com
Seven Phoenix men accused of robbing "stash houses" where drugs are stored or illegal immigrants are temporarily housed have been arrested in Chandler.
Police said the seven, all alleged gang members, were being booked Thursday for investigation of armed robbery, burglary and resisting arrest. (snip)
I won't, because McQueeg cannot be trusted and such assurances would be worthless, sort of like "Read my lips...no more taxes".
No, he could never be trusted to do a damn thing.
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