The exact main difference is that McCain was simply tackling a reality and problem that needs to be resolved - 12million+ illegals who are already present in the Country.
Since no one really knows how to handle it and even “True Conservatives” are silent about what exact solution applies (rounding up 12 million is sort of a problem and bad imagery to say the least, not to mention the logistics and chaos created both in US, Mexico, and other Countries).
McCain’s mistake was as he acknowledged in his speech to CPAC that first we have to gain people’s confidence in securing the Border. He means it and he will. That’s why he put the other bill on back burner.
On the other hand, who ever managed to stay awake during the Obama-Hillary debate in Texas, would know that *whatever* is in LaRaza’s agenda, they both enthusiastically supported it, with thunderous applause to boot. From Virtual fence, to Driver Liscences and Credit Cards, to funding for Bi-Lingual Education, to refusing to acknowledge English as official Language, to College Education and Free Healtchare for Illegals and not only not doing anything about Sanctuary Cities, but giving them even more protection.
So yeah, McCain is not like some extreme Radio Talk show guys, who find it easy to scream and yell because they don’t have the actual burden of making things happen. So McCain doesn’t qualify as Conservative in those Verbahideen’s eyes because he doesn’t resort to xenophobic rhetoric, which he can’t afford politically anyway.
So essentially McCain has a Verbal Gun put to his head by extremist talk radio. They want to force him to say things they like to hear, knowing fully well that none of those ideas can actually pass in Congress or ever get implemented. They also know that if he does that he would be committing Political Suicide.
They don’t care. If Republicans get wiped out in Congress and McCain loses 66-35%, after parroting extremist rhetoric, the Verbahideen would proudly beat their chest and smile at their glorious achievement.
As has been explained to you umpteen times:
Build the fence.
Enforce the law.
Remove welfare, housing and other attractants.
Remove employment, sanction employers.
Without a reason to be here they will reduce themselves by voluntarily going home. Not only is this the primary solution proposed by Conservatives, IT IS PROVEN TO WORK WHERE APPLIED.
Pro-amnesty liberals on illegal immigration always reveal themselves in the end, when they run out of something else to say, by invariably hauling out this dishonest phoney-baloney straw man.
He doesn't mean it and he won't do it. Look at his long term record.