McCain still has immigration on his future agenda

Yuma Sun ^ | 5/5/08 | Editorial board

[pissant]

Arizona Sen. John McCain has not given up on the idea of comprehensive immigration reform, despite criticism he received for trying to help push forward President Bush's plan to deal with our nation's immigration problems.

In fact, the GOP's presumed presidential candidate said Monday that as president he would again take up the effort in Washington with the goal of combining border security with programs for temporary foreign workers and establishing tamper proof identification so employees would know workers were legal.

It is a little surprising that McCain is willing to step back into the buzz saw of the immigration debate, especially since his more moderate position on the issue in the past has been very unpopular with members of his own party.

His Monday foray into the border battle was nevertheless welcome. It is an issue that needs to be debated by the presidential candidates in the upcoming election. It is an issue that is as important to the nation as the war in the Middle East, gas prices, civil liberties, health care and the economy.

In fact, immigration is a key part of any discussion on the economy because foreign workers, both legal and illegal, are a key component of the country's economic climate. The need for workers from outside the nation is likely to increase as the "bubble" of the baby boom generation passes into retirement and there are fewer available American workers to replace them.

We were pleased to see that McCain continues to believe, as we do, that immigration and border security are federal issues and not state issues. He said it was the federal government's failure to properly deal with comprehensive immigration reform that has encouraged some states - especially Arizona - to intrude into this federal sphere.

"It saddens me to see these conflicting approaches toward the issue of illegal immigration because we would not have this problem if the federal government had carried out its responsibilities," he said.

What he did not say was that there are some who really do not want comprehensive immigration reform and broader legal opportunities for foreign workers. The will do what they can to defeat federal efforts which they feel will "water down" actions against illegal immigration.

That is the hurdle that will have to be jumped if the next president, whoever it may be, wants the federal government to again assume its immigration responsibilities, as it should.

[libbylu]

Another reason i will NOT vote for him.
The dems are running an ad where mccain really really looks retarded, seriously, and no offense meant to any challenged people meant.

Maybe the country needs another kick in the butt like they got with Carter, it might as well be from one who is registered as a democrat.

[Mariner]

"If McCain would keep his mouth shut he would win this thing in a landslide".

First Obama, and now even McCain makes Hillary look like the right candidate in the fall.

[CharlesWayneCT]

Unemployment is at 5%. There are an estimated 8 million or so people out of work who want to work.

There are an estimated 12 million+ illegals living and working here now.

If all 12 million were thrown out, that would be 4 million more jobs open than there are people looking for work.

And most of those 12 million jobs are jobs that the 8 million unemployed are not interested in doing, at least not for what they currently pay.

Certainly, with higher wages offered, we could get a significant number of people to move into these jobs.

But not all 12 million.

As part of getting rid of illegals, we need to increase our ability to bring in controlled, TEMPORARY immigrant workers.

BTW, in our county (Prince William, Va) we have a crackdown on illegals, run by an executive who is seen as evil by the pro-illegal-immigrant lobby.

But last month, when asked what comes next, he said several times that it was important to increase avenues for LEGAL immigration, including guest worker programs.

That is where the average american will be found. We have them on our side for getting rid of illegals, but they aren’t for shutting down immigration, or for leaving these jobs unfilled.

[CharlesWayneCT]

We were all chasing for the perfect candidate. Well, some of us latched onto the closest thing we could find that was already running, while others worked to drag other people reluctantly into the fight.

Some of us did all three things.

But in the end, we ended up with John McCain — and some of those who hate the result were cheering for McCain to win New Hampshire and South Carolina.

[Antonio C]

No, it can’t. John McCain is the Republican nominee. Deal with it.

[Grunthor]

“No, it can’t. John McCain is the Republican nominee. Deal with it.”

Planning to. www.constitutionparty.com You can vote for conservatives and unlike voting for Juan, you don’t get that yucky “sold my soul” feeling afterward.

[Antonio C]

BTW, you sound like a Ron Paul cultist with talk of highjacking the convention.

[Antonio C]

Hunter was too extreme on immigration and too protectionist on trade.

[Antonio C]

Comprehensive immigration reform = secure the borders and then offer a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants currently residing in the U.S.

It's the only sensible thing to do.

[Antonio C]

If you can vote for the anti-American Chuck Baldwin without feeling “yucky”, then you really have no place in the Republican Party.

[SoConPubbie]

Comprehensive immigration reform = secure the borders and then offer a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants currently residing in the U.S.

It's the only sensible thing to do.

Wrong!

The only sensible, righteous, moral, ethical, and correct approach is Workplace enforcement of SSN and all government benefits require SSN check as well. Also, finish the fence across the whole southern border so that this problem does not happen again.

Remove the incentive to be here illegally, and they will self-deport.

Then, and only then rework the Temporary Immigration system.

Comprehensive Immigration reform is just code-words for Amnesty.

[DoughtyOne]

Listen up Republicans.  The Republican National Committee and Senator John McCain are looking for folks who are willing to let bygons be bygons.

Over the last twenty years, Senator McCain has taken on a lot of baggage.  Today he needs many of you to help him carry it.

If you're willing to help John carry some of the same baggage that Senator Ted Kennedy, Barack Obama, and Hillary Clinton have accumlated, please contact the McCain campaign and or the RNC at once.  It's going to take a lot of folks to carry this around between now and Tuesday November 4th.

If you're a Democrat in good standing and find some of this baggage to be appealing, you may find yourself compelled to help out, and we would welcome you.  We're asking anyone who doesn't mind carrying this baggage to contact us right away.

We have found a larger number of Conservatives unwilling to overlook what this baggage represents, than we thought we would, so we're reaching out to anyone that is willing to help out.

Please use the following numbers to offer help.  900-555-NUTS or 900-555-LFTY.

[roamer_1]

If McCain would keep his mouth shut he would win this thing in a landslide.

Not by a long shot on a good day.

[calcowgirl]

WHACKeroo!!!

[Penny]

SENOR, you are apparently not aware that a path to citizenship already exists. It's called "FILLING OUT THE FORMS & STANDING IN LINE." The euphemistic "comprehensive reform" is such a joke that even some libs are avoiding the term.

So McCain wants to have the world's billions come to America to enjoy the benefits and freedoms my forefathers died for???

1986 proved we cannot be 'compassionate' (aka granting illegal aliens amnesty). We have seen the results, and they portend additional disasters for this great country. I, for one, have learned intolerance the hard way by being pushed out of my home by illegal aliens. You can look at my posts of three or so years ago to learn the whole story.

Penny

[A CA Guy]

I think the reason the President is getting the 750 miles of border fence done is so the next President can claim the border is more secure and then they can retry the illegals amnesty again.

[packrat35]

This is why I quit the Republican party and will not vote in this election.

[packrat35]

No, forever baring illegals from citizenship is more sensible after deporting them ALL. Make their life a living hell and force them to leave on their own or be deported.

[Rastus]

McCain still has immigration on his future agenda

A good enough reason to deny him a political future.

[freedomfiter2]

Thanks. That should help make things more clear.