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Now, scrambling back, McCain says, "There are about 2 million people here illegally who have committed crimes; those people should be deported immediately. We can't round up the other 10 million people and deport them all at once, so you are going to have to go step by step.”

For starters your McCain quote is from before the CPAC speech and it doesn't state a pro amnesty position by McCain

I am trying to figure out what your point is. Are you saying that McCain has changed his position on amnesty? If so, you couldn't be more mistaken.

My point is that since CPAC, McCain's stated position is not amnesty (whether one believes him or not).

Again;

Feb. 2008 | CPAC | McCain:

Feb. 2008 | CPAC | McCain: I...have pledged that it would be among my highest priorities to secure our borders first, and only after we achieved widespread consensus that our borders are secure

I will translate for you. McCain has said that he will now secure the border first using a commission of border state governors to verify it. This includes Arnold, Napolitano, and Perry. No mention is made of implementing fully the 1996 USVISIT program to track and deport visa overstays, which contribute to 35 to 40% of all illegal aliens in the US, i.e., they don't come across our southern border.

would we address other aspects of the problem in a way that defends the rule of law and does not encourage another wave of illegal immigration.

McCain has said repeatedly that you can't deport 12 to 20 million people. He wants to legalize their status using such euphemisms like getting to the back of the line and paying fines. That is what he means by defending the rule of law, not deportation. The 1986 amnesty was supposed to be a one-time event. Ironically, McCain voted against it when he was in the House.

Poll: Voters Unaware of Candidates’ Immigration Positions; McCain Supporters Farthest Off the Mark