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McCain: White House Win ‘Extremely Difficult’ Without Immigration Action
Roll Call's WGDB Blog ^ | November 5, 2015 | Matthew Fleming and Emma Dumain

Posted on 11/05/2015 6:17:23 AM PST by 2ndDivisionVet

With Speaker Paul D. Ryan’s comments about immigration Sunday, the top two Republicans in Congress have now declared dead the prospects of an overhaul before the 2016 elections.

In the aftermath of 2012, when Latinos made up 10 percent of the electorate and President Barack Obama was re-elected resoundingly, Republican lawmakers and strategists predicted the GOP’s White House ambitions were directly tied to the passage of comprehensive immigration legislation. Many of those voices haven’t changed their tune.

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., one of the four “gang of eight” Republicans who successfully navigated an immigration overhaul through the Senate in 2013, told CQ Roll Call it will be “extremely difficult” for a Republican to win the White House without action on immigration.

“I wouldn’t predict, but I think that when you have a majority of a Hispanic population right now identifying themselves as in favor of some kind of path to citizenship and it’s important to them, I think it makes it more difficult,” McCain said Tuesday.

That’s a softened take from June 2014, when he said it wouldn’t matter whom the party nominated for president if the GOP blocked immigration legislation. That came just a month after Chamber of Commerce President Thomas Donohue suggested Republicans shouldn’t even put up a candidate if they failed to pass an overhaul.

Two other Republicans from the gang of eight, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Marco Rubio of Florida, have discussed immigration policy on the presidential campaign trail. But Rubio backed off his advocacy for the 2013 bill after conservatives tagged a provision on granting a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants as “amnesty.”

The presidential race isn’t the only one where this issue could play a significant role. Republicans, who have a vulnerable majority going into next year, are defending Rubio’s open seat in Florida and their top two pick-up opportunities are in Nevada and Colorado — all states with sizable Hispanic populations.

Ryan’s immigration comments Sunday mirrored what Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said right before the August recess — both pinned their decision not to pursue comprehensive legislation on Obama’s executive actions, some of which are being challenged in court.

Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., the fourth Republican in the Senate gang of eight, agreed that the prospects of a wide-ranging bill are dead for now, though he noted “something on the margins” is possible. While Flake believes an immigration overhaul isn’t a prerequisite to getting a Republican in the White House, he said a successful GOP candidate will need a plan.

“I think that any Republican running for president has to have a realistic approach,” Flake told CQ Roll Call. “That’s not to say that immigration reform has to be accomplished in this Congress — I wish it would be, I’m still pushing for it. But whoever’s running for president as a Republican has to have a rational position.”

Of the GOP presidential candidates, Flake said business tycoon Donald Trump “does not” have a rational position, but those who do include former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Ohio Gov. John Kasich, Rubio and Graham.

On Sunday, Ryan said pieces such as border enforcement or interior security are possible this Congress, but comprehensive legislation won’t happen “with a president whose proven himself untrustworthy on this issue.” That position supports a pledge Ryan offered to House conservatives last month as he sought a consensus for his speaker bid.

Following his comments on national network TV, conservatives said they scored a major concession from the Wisconsin Republican, who has championed efforts to grant legal status to undocumented immigrants. Members of the House Freedom Caucus said they don’t think he would support that even as a stand-alone bill, separate from a comprehensive overhaul.

McCain agreed that Obama’s actions were “very, very damaging” to the process, especially since Obama didn’t make a strong push for an immigration overhaul when Democrats “had overwhelming majorities in 2009 and 2010.”

Senate Minority Whip Richard J. Durbin, a fellow gang of eight member, panned using Obama as a scapegoat, noting that the bipartisan Senate bill died in the Republican-controlled House prior to any executive action.

“For some people in politics, any excuse will do — this one is the least credible,” the Illinois Democrat said. “The president took the action he did because the House failed to act. And now, Speaker Ryan is using that as an excuse to continue to fail to act.”


TOPICS: Arizona; Florida; South Carolina; Texas; Issues; Parties; U.S. Senate
KEYWORDS: 2016election; aliens; amnesty; amnestypimp; arizona; election2016; elections; florida; gope; illegalimmigration; immigration; johnmccain; lindseygraham; loser; macthornberry; marcorubio; mccain; newyork; rino; senatorjohnmccain; senatormccain; southcarolina; syria; tedcruz; texas; trump; waronterror
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

The RINO death wish in person.


21 posted on 11/05/2015 6:34:07 AM PST by Flintlock (Our soapbox is gone, the ballot box stolen--we're left with the bullet box now.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Thus sayeth the guy who managed to win roughly the same share of the sacred “Hispanic” vote as Mitt Romney.


22 posted on 11/05/2015 6:36:27 AM PST by Vigilanteman (ObaMao: Fake America, Fake Messiah, Fake Black man. How many fakes can you fit into one Zer0?)
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To: Vaquero

One thing McCain does not need is The Old Sailors Home. Not only did he marry well, he has collected enough graft to keep him in depends the rest of his life. And his daughter’s. And his grand children’s.


23 posted on 11/05/2015 6:38:55 AM PST by Tupelo (Honest men go to Washington, but honest men do not stay in Washington.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

In summary McCain is correct.

His recommendations, however, are NOT “solutions”.

The “reform” needed is to CLOSE THE BORDERS and use e-verify for ALL employment.

Once the ILLEGAL VOTERS have self-deported, so will be the constituency he’s pandering to.

The LEGAL immigrants benefit from HIGHER WAGES once the competition is gone.

Screw the Chamber of Commerce.


24 posted on 11/05/2015 6:39:28 AM PST by G Larry (ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS impose SLAVE WAGES on LEGAL Immigrants.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

25 posted on 11/05/2015 6:40:01 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set...)
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To: odawg

Agree. The 2016 run, which he said wouldn’t happen when he ran in 2010. Yep, in 2010, McCain said it was his last run. Add McCain to the Hillary! wing of the Uniparty. Perhaps he needs an intervention from Liars Anonymous.


26 posted on 11/05/2015 6:41:09 AM PST by originalbuckeye ("In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." - George Orwell)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
McCain: Democrat White House Win ‘Extremely Difficult’ Without Immigration Action

Fixed it.

27 posted on 11/05/2015 7:06:39 AM PST by DannyTN
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

AZ please apologies to the rest of the USA and fire this idiot.


28 posted on 11/05/2015 7:16:59 AM PST by MNJohnnie ( Tyranny, like Hell, is not easily conquered)
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To: Darksheare

“Just think, this moron could have been president.
Same with Mitt.”

That’s scary. Like a fool I voted for Mitt simply because he was the lesser of two evils. Time has shown he’s more evil than I thought.

It’s why I changed my tagline. Never again will I vote for the lesser of two evils.

It’s either Trump or Cruz, or I will do my patriotic duty and stay home.


29 posted on 11/05/2015 7:21:57 AM PST by redfreedom (Voting for the lesser of two evils is still voting for evil.)
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To: Darksheare

Even with Romney and McCain’s warts, they are both better then Obama.


30 posted on 11/05/2015 7:25:52 AM PST by napscoordinator (Walker for President 2016. The only candidate with actual real RESULTS!!!!! The rest...talkers!)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
McCain: White House Win ‘Extremely Difficult’ Without Immigration Action

Who would consult that loooser McCain about winning?

31 posted on 11/05/2015 7:26:31 AM PST by McGruff (Trump-Cruz 2016. Make America Great Again.)
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To: napscoordinator

Republican majority in both house and senate, pathologically incapable of opposing Obama.
Gee, that works.
/ sarc.

They wouldn’t oppose Obama, they wouldn’t oppose libtard crap from either of these sodden fools either.


32 posted on 11/05/2015 7:31:39 AM PST by Darksheare (Those who support liberal "Republicans" summarily support every action by same.)
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To: redfreedom

There seems to be a new whispering campaign by the RINO-First crowd.
They live under the fantasy that life under McCain or Romney would have been OH so much better, that the republican party would have held their feet to the fire and tempered the libtard behavior.

Just like they are currently doing with Obama.
*cough*


33 posted on 11/05/2015 7:33:28 AM PST by Darksheare (Those who support liberal "Republicans" summarily support every action by same.)
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To: Darksheare

Ted has been opposing Obama since day one. Problem is he is not inspiring to his fellow Senators. If he was, holy cow we’d be in great shape. I still don’t think it is too late for Cruz. One thing is read “How to make friends and influence people”. If he would somehow change his method, he could get a bunch of them behind him. He sounds too authoritarian. He could be a coach style and really succeed.


34 posted on 11/05/2015 7:34:29 AM PST by napscoordinator (Walker for President 2016. The only candidate with actual real RESULTS!!!!! The rest...talkers!)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Shut up you old two faced asshole. Go away you phony.


35 posted on 11/05/2015 7:35:11 AM PST by angcat
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

“he said a successful GOP candidate will need a plan. “

Trump has a plan. Kick them all out. :-)


36 posted on 11/05/2015 7:36:52 AM PST by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped)
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To: napscoordinator

And he’s pretty much it.
Meanwhile, the House “Historically” caved and funded Obama and his brain farts to the end of his term.


37 posted on 11/05/2015 8:08:45 AM PST by Darksheare (Those who support liberal "Republicans" summarily support every action by same.)
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To: napscoordinator

And let’s not forget the Senate voting to take 150 billion from Social Security for something else.

That number, 150 billion, squares up nicely with the amount Kerry and Obama are giving to Iran.


38 posted on 11/05/2015 8:09:35 AM PST by Darksheare (Those who support liberal "Republicans" summarily support every action by same.)
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To: Ancesthntr

The way McQueeg and the ‘Pubbie elite look at it, each ‘Hispanic’ vote is worth two votes - one the ‘Pubbies get, and one the Democrats DON’T get. So, if they lose one grass roots vote for each Hipandering vote the get, they are even.

Problem is, most Hispanics who can legally vote probably don’t care about Amnesty and divide along urban / rural ‘Free Stuff’ vs. ‘Leave me alone’ political line.

And Hispanics who do care about Amnesty, as well as the illegal aliens who do vote illegally, will vote Democrat no matter what. After all, they promise the same Amnesty AND they give ‘Free Stuff,’ too.


39 posted on 11/05/2015 8:17:40 AM PST by Little Ray (How did I end up in this hand basket, and why is it getting so hot?)
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To: Darksheare

Oh don’t worry. They still have to do the appropriations bills. They will screw the Vets and Seniors while protecting Planned Parenthood and the IRS while also hug the welfare recipients.


40 posted on 11/05/2015 8:53:28 AM PST by napscoordinator (Walker for President 2016. The only candidate with actual real RESULTS!!!!! The rest...talkers!)
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