Posted on 09/15/2008 12:56:29 PM PDT by BGHater
Immigration reform was once Sen. John McCain's signature issue – and a key ingredient in his maverick image. Democrats have largely avoided the subject, but there are signs they'll be using the issue this fall to challenge the Republican presidential nominee's maverick claim.
"Everybody's so scared to touch the subject, because in certain areas it's detrimental to somebody's political future," said Rep. Charlie Gonzalez, D-San Antonio. "It's an issue that legitimately should be addressed."
Hispanics are the fastest-growing segment of the electorate, and analysts predict turnout as high as 9 million, up from the 2004 record of 7.6 million. Their clout will be most felt in battlegrounds like Nevada, New Mexico, Colorado and Florida.
Last week, Democratic pollster Sergio Bendixen released data showing that in all those states but Florida, Sen. Barack Obama holds a strong lead among Hispanic voters, and immigration is a key reason.
Mr. Bendixen predicted that "when the debates start, there will be a lot of discussion." The first debate is less than two weeks away, on Sept. 26 at the University of Mississippi.
Much of the public supports comprehensive reform – beefed-up border security, combined with a new guest worker program and some form of legal status for most of the 12 million illegal immigrants already in this country. But opponents feel very strongly, and Mr. Obama would prefer not to stir them up.
Mr. McCain was once the Senate's top champion of comprehensive reform, despite fierce resistance within his own party. But the push for a deal fell apart last year, and to survive the GOP primaries, he adopted the hard-liners' view that border security and enforcement must come first. He even declared that he would now vote against his own bill.
(Excerpt) Read more at dallasnews.com ...
Neither candidate cares at all about protecting our borders and securing our nation. Both are pro-amnesty. Thats a big part of the reason that I could never warm up to McCain.
If McCain passes an amnesty, no one will sleep soundly. The country is finished.
They came too damn close last summer.
My fear is that a newly minted President McCain will have his way with the Reps in Congress and that the thin line that stood between us and amnesty last time won’t be there.
“I am going to vote for McCain because I shudder to think of Obama ...”
No need to be afraid Prole.
The conservatives’ default candidate will either eventually choose to join the side of Americans who consider the USA to be nation of laws or he will continue to try and `out-dhimmie the dhimmis’, since he appears to share with them apparent belief that we have devolved into something less than we once were.
As British subjects accept muslim law as concurrent with their own, I propose consideration of the same questions put to us in 1776 and 1941:
Would you choose safety over freedom?
Would you accept tyranny for security?
Would you want the surety of an oligarchy, over the hazards of a Republic?
There’s nothing to fear if you ask yourself: what would free men and women do?
IMHO, the GOP will unite and act Conservative with Obama as President and prevent Amnesty by adding Blue dogs. And create a 94’ redux in 2010.
However, with Pres. McCain, amnesty would pass because RINOS would cross the line.
“He will cut spending and taxes”
How’s he going to do that when we “import” half of another country and then start providing social services for them?
Remember, the biggest portion of our Federal deficit comes from unfunded entitlements. The people that are here illegally are not going to be paying much if any in the way of taxes even if they suddenly become citizens, simply because they don’t make that much.
I view this kind of like asking myself if I can afford to adopt another kid.
I’m not really as concerned about the social aspects as I am about the financial ones when it comes to amnesty.
No im not voting for Obama and will most likely vote for McCain in hopes of defeating Obama. Obama’s extreme marxism could cause a world wide depression.
20+ million new, poor, uneducated, non-english speaking, government dependent, socialist indoctrinated, Democrat voters will do unspeakable damage to our Country. That's McCain's plan. Deal with it.
Contrary to popular belief, it has absolutely nothing to do with not liking "brown skinned people".
What a f'ng dilemma!
“20+ million new, poor, uneducated, non-english speaking, government dependent, socialist indoctrinated, Democrat voters will do unspeakable damage to our Country. That’s McCain’s plan. Deal with it.”
I don’t like McCain’s immigration plan. But still, he is WAY better than the Obamanation. McCain is promoting requiring the illegal immigrants to learn English before they can become citizens. That is a good first step.
As others have said, if you don’t vote for McCain, you are pretty much casting your vote for Obama.
guest worker means GUEST worker.
NO PATH TO CITIZENSHIP
NO SERIAL FAMILY IMMIGRATION
NO DERIVATIVE CITIZENSHIP
GUEST MEANS GUEST AND GO HOME.
McCain mentioned by reference amnesty during his acceptance speech when he talking about “migrant workers” see illegals with children in school. This is DREAM ACT AMNESTY that turbin durbin was trying to pass.
McCain needs to get a grip in the way the conservatives have united around palin.
Fence means fence
NO amnesty means NO AMNESTY.
Where’s the fence?
You forget recent history....."WE" stopped it the last time "THEY" tried it....WE WILL DO IT AGAIN..!!
I don't give up that easily.......maybe others do.
I am going to hold my nose and vote for McCain.I don't know why people say they will vote for McCain this early in the process. Let him sweat a little bit. We will be battling with him for at least the next four years. We need to to make him work for our vote. Of course we'll vote for him in the end.
Face it, this is a marriage of convenience with McCain. It's best we get the prenups signed before consummating it.
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