Posted on 02/27/2008 12:37:03 PM PST by calcowgirl
WASHINGTON (AP) — John McCain faces a dilemma on immigration as he works to persuade conservatives he's tough enough on the issue without erasing his historic appeal to Hispanic voters.
Once a crusader for offering the nation's roughly 12 million undocumented immigrants a way to get legal status, McCain now says his first priority is fortifying U.S. borders.
The metamorphosis reflects McCain's intensifying effort to consolidate his support among conservatives, who deride the Arizona senator's past proposals on immigration as offering amnesty to lawbreakers, and bitterly resent his work with Democrats, including Sen. Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts, on the issue.
(snip)
Listen to McCain's speeches or look on his campaign web site now, and there's little mention of the fight to give illegal immigrants a way to stay in the U.S. lawfully. He instead emphasizes border security — the catch phrase of conservatives who scorned his earlier proposals.
It's a difference of emphasis, not a change in stance, Republican strategists say.
"He's in an excellent place with conservatives who are concerned about immigration, because his position — that he'll secure the border first and have that security certified by the border-state governors, and then we'll go back and deal with the 12 million — seems to have satisfied most people," said Charlie Black, a McCain adviser.
"He says, 'Look, we got the message — the American people do not trust us when we say we'll secure the border,'" Black added.
(Excerpt) Read more at ap.google.com ...
that he'll secure the border first and have that security certified by the border-state governors, and then we'll go back and deal with the 12 million — seems to have satisfied most people," said Charlie Black, a McCain adviser.
Just who are these border state governors and what is their position on the border fence? Napolitano doesn't want it, Schwarzennegger already has it, I think, even if he didn't want it. Texas, I don't know what the position is there. Is there maybe an election this year that would influence the border fence? New Mexico? Do you really think that Richardson is going to approve any real border fence?
No Sale, John!
(raising hand), ooh, ooh...me. I say yes. Not only because he states incorrect statistics, but because he is a racist.
Whorealdo is a racist who changed his name from Jerry Rivers to Jeraldo Rivera. ALL things Hispanic is his position on immigration now. Anyone who won't discern between legal and illegal immigration, and whines about legal entry of the Irish, Italian, and others through US history, but is okay with illegal Mexican immigration is a racist. End story.
Dear McCain you socialist liberal twit !
Illegals don’t vote but immigrants following the long drawn out due process to become a legal US citizen will file suit if ya make em stand in line for years at great cost while ya reward those criminal invaders who didn’t follow the laws , rules, etc with free citizenship overnight.
I am not sure but believe I read about some lawsuit in that past week where just such is in process ?
I am pro immigration and anti-illegal ! Mccain IMO just lost any fence sitting conservatives he could have ever hoped for . He is giving this election too the Rat’s and REPUBLICANS in name only buy doing such !
In todays San Diego Union Tribune.
The main border crossing here into Tijuana which is 21 lanes and all backed up everyday for a usual 90 min. wait.
(Going to expand to over 30 lanes of traffic)
(Build the damn Fence already)
Big expansion ahead at border entry
Plans aim to ease wait and increase security
By Janine Zúñiga
SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
February 27, 2008
Federal officials are planning a major expansion of the San Ysidro (SAN DIEGO) port of entry to accommodate the growing number of travelers – more than 50,000 vehicles and 25,000 pedestrians daily – heading into the United States.
Construction may begin this summer on the $577 million project that will increase the number of lanes in each direction and realign southbound lanes. The project will include larger, more sophisticated administration buildings, as well as primary and secondary inspection areas.
The General Services Administration, which manages federal government real estate, is working on architectural and engineering designs, and on an environmental review. The expansion plan is the GSA’s largest border-crossing project.
“It’s going to be an incredible landmark,” said GSA Administrator Lurita Doan. “Given how many people come through the port of entry, it will be a chance for us to show them something really amazing.”
Doan saidthefunding is on track. Congress has approved $231 million since 2004, including $197 million in the 2008 budget. An additional $59 million is proposed for next year.
“Quite simply, we need a border wait time of 15 to 30 minutes, and the technology to keep us well within that range,” said Jason Wells, executive director of the San Ysidro Chamber of Commerce.
Due to prior expansions and renovations at the 32-year-old border crossing, inspection areas and offices are next to a busy pedestrian bridge. Holding cells and areas for confiscated drugs are next to rooms for travelers awaiting documents.
Plans call for the expanded port to cover 225,000 square feet of federal land, and several privately owned parking lots and a duty-free store. The government may take the land, but Riesgo said GSA officials are talking with the land owners. The duty-free store may be relocated to nearby property.
An expanded southbound I-5 will veer west just before the border then south to an area at the border used in the past for commercial inspections.
Sanders said yesterday that Mexican officials are working with U.S. counterparts to accommodate the new crossing.
The project’s first phase includes acquiring property and construction of northbound lanes. A second phase includes northbound inspection buildings
Once the design and environmental review are completed, GSA will seek development proposals. The port will remain open during construction.
He’s all yours, Bro!
Not me.
L
"Not me."
Not me either. However, if Mac actually did that, then we could fight against future Congressional "shamesty" as we did before. Of course, the whole premise is built on the Executive Branch enforcing the Legislative Branch where Pelosi recently gutted the "fence bill". It's all talk.
Neither “Hispanic” or “Mexican” are racial terms.
I for one am insulted by this taking for granted that the electorate can be snowed with words. I want a no amnesty pledge signed by McCain, and it might help if he signs it with his own blood before I will believe him.
I agree! IF we don't stand up against these traitors NOW, it's going to be too darned late. They think they can push us around because we are conservatives and don't normally take to the streets like liberals do, and until we prove to them they are wrong, it's going to be business as usual as they continue to destroy our Constitution! The thought of McCain being our President makes me sick to my stomach, but the thought of Hillary or Obama in there makes me want to puke!
Im tired of being lied to by political hacks like Juan Pablo McCain. What he did yesterday was just another example of how he will use conservatives to gain his own ends then toss us under the bus.
He absolutely does think we are that stupid. What, you think he respects what you may think?
McQueeg has never met a principle he couldn’t rise above...
McCain is just espousing another fraud
That he is tough on Natl Secuirty....total BS. National Security begins at the border.
McCain’s anti-American bigotry on the illegals issue is destructive to this country
The first sentence is very accurate. McCain isn't concerned with doing the right thing for his country he's worried about how to do the expedient thing for himself.
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