Posted on 04/24/2010 6:07:52 PM PDT by mdittmar
Arizona Sen. John McCain's town hall in Tucson Saturday was all about immigration.
McCain had sounded a note of support for Arizona's tough new immigration, calling it a “good tool” for law enforcement. But he stopped short of fully endorsing the measure.
“I haven’t had a chance to look at all the aspects, but I do understand why the Legislature would act,” he said. Even though it wasn’t clear to him “whether all of it is legal or not,” he said state lawmakers “acted out of frustration because the federal government didn’t do its job.”
He spoke of his 10-point plan to do that, including boosting border troops, paying them more, finishing the fence, improving communications equipment and giving more resources to local law enforcement.
Several in the crowd said they support the new law and expressed frustration about the lack of enforcement.
Bob Foy, a 68-year-old retired lieutenant in the Los Angeles sheriff’s department, said holes in border enforcement are allowing the free flow of narcotics and weapons into the country. “We’re in such imminent danger that we don’t have another 100 years to get this straight,” he said. The new law, while “not the perfect answer, is an answer,” he said.
One woman said she lives near the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge, which is being “trashed” by border crossers. Another said her daughter’s boyfriend is an illegal immigrant who has been in prison three times and keeps coming back.
One man chimed in that he was concerned about the mood, saying he was getting a vibe of animosity toward Mexican people in general.
McCain responded, “I am worried about anti-Hispanic feeling in this country and I am concerned about condemning good, honest citizens of Hispanic origin because of this (immigration) problem.” He noted Tucson was a Spanish-speaking city before it was English and he cherished the Latino heritage.
But pointing to the murder of rancher Robert Krentz, he said border problems need to be addressed not only for citizens here but for immigrants, who aren’t protected under American laws and are preyed upon by criminal elements.
Pressed by one woman to call Grijalva’s boycott irresponsible, McCain said he strongly disagrees with it, especially since the economy is hurting so badly.
McCain, who has previously backed efforts to strengthen border security while creating a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants, has been speaking almost exclusively about border security this election season. The primary race pits him against former U.S. Congressman J.D. Hayworth, who is painting himself as the more conservative option.
McCain’s border stance sits just fine with 60-year-old Patricia Patterson, a concierge. “I was on the fence about a few things, and then I saw him shift away from amnesty and that brought me back to his side,” she said.
Meanwhile, 29-year-old film student Omar Martinez said he’s leaning toward McCain also. “I was crushed by the new law,” he said. While he’s fearful that people of Mexican descent like himself will be made scapegoats, particularly given deep economic frustrations, he said he was pleased with McCain’s comments respecting his culture.
I have him, on tape say, NO AMNESTY. NO AMNESTY. I’m working hard for JD.
I want you to know that we are working very, very hard for JD here. I live in Mohave County, which is EXTREMELY conservative. I have not met ONE McCain supporter, except for those active in the party..and they all have their various personal reasons.
I’m working really hard to get people registered. This county could put JD in the Senate.
Too bad Johnnie Come Lately McCain took so long to realize the damage that is being done by illegals. Not just to the country, to the countryside, and to the people, but to LEGAL immigrants and to Americans of latino origins.
Bless you Hildy! Good luck...many prayers are with you.
>> Got a sec to worry about anti white feeling in this country?
“Nativists” like you should “just shut up”....
**“Nativists” like you should “just shut up”...**
AMERICA FIRST AND ALWAYS
Nativist ...YOU”RE DAMNED RIGHT!!!
And EFFING PROUD OF IT.
shut up?? I THINK NOT!!!
I'm concerned about the anti-American citizen feeling in this country, especially from politicians.
McCain is a sack of crap. Did anyone ask him about those $50 an hour jobs to pick lettuce?
Shut up McCain.
Just shut up.
Palin repaid your single right move in full. Now go away.
>> “Nativists” like you should “just shut up”...
A McCain/Graham montage.
No one who is against illegal immigration in AZ should vote for McCain if he can’t say that he fully supports the bill. What annoys me about McCain is his claim now and during the 2008 election primary that he never supported amnesty, and that he viewed illegal immigration as only a national security issue. He said things like, anything less than deporting them is considered amnesty, and no one could think that we could round up 12+ million people and deport them. He did support amnesty, because Jeff Sessions had an amendment that asked for those who had been flagged for deportation by judges to be deported, and McCain along with the rest of them voted against this. McCain used the same tactics with the immigration bill that Obama used with health care. He shut out the opposition from the discussions, and I think they negotiated with La Raza. McCain wanted to ram this through just like Obama did with health care. With health care Obama said that it’s either this or the status quo, and McCain said the same with the immigration bill. McCain criticized Obama for not listening to the American people with health care, yet during the immigration debate, McCain said that he wasn’t going to take a position based on a majority opposing him. He never cared about border security after 9/11, and is only doing this now, because he’s facing JD Hayworth. After the amnesty bill failed, he didn’t do anything to get the fence built, even though he pretended during the immigration debate of 2007 that he was disappointed that only a few miles had been built. With the 2007 immigration bill, McCain kept saying that the illegals would be required to go back to their country of origin in order to get to the back of the line. How could they get the illegals to go back to Mexico for citizenship, but not deport be able to them? None of his strict proposals would have been enforced. It would have been amnesty. Tom Tancredo would not have been disliked by McCain if McCain was the way he is campaigning now.
It’s not YOUR decision Jaun...
You were elected to represent the voters of your state, not what you think should be done!
Well, why is that, Senator? The Fourteenth Amendment requires that all PERSONS within the jurisdiction of the States be protected equally by the laws. Not citizens, but persons.
But, as usual, John McCain pretends that the Fourteenth Amendment doesn't exist. If he acknowledged it, he'd have to admit that the same protection applies to all the little persons in the womb as well.
While that's certainly true, he's first and foremost elected to defend and uphold the Constitution of the United States.
McShamnesty is for border enforcement.....right up until his reelection.
This horse’s ass, doesn’t have any idea what’s in the bill?
What topic does he think is of more importance these days? Why wouldn’t he know what is in it, unless he couldn’t give a damn about getting immigration under control?
One more reason why this hind end needs to be turned out of office. What a jerk.
Man, you're really ringin' my bell.
I agree with you that all a person needs to do to get elected today, is to correctly gauge the mood of the people, then build their campaign along the lines of what the people really need and want.
There's no doubt whatsoever that the people want the southern border closed, and for the illegals to go home. In fact, I'd say that if you polled the American people on it, they'd be in favor of a 10 year moratorium on all immigration - legal and otherwise.
We need to assimilate the legal immigrants we have here now, and that takes time. To continue to allow a foreign culture to come in at the rate they're doing, is to commit national and cultural suicide.
You disagree with the bill?
No. I disagree with John McCain’s false assertion.
The people who are against the bill are using that as the reason.
Section. 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.