Fox News' Cameron claimed McCain "undaunted" on immigration issue, but he's flip-flopped and now opposes own bill
SUMMARY: On Special Report, Carl Cameron reported that on the issue of immigration, Sen. John McCain "announced that if elected, in January he'll begin finalizing border security, then immediately launch the guest worker program and path to citizenship that many in his party oppose." But Cameron did not note that McCain's current position that border security must be addressed first is at odds with his prior assertion that border security could not be disaggregated from other aspects of comprehensive immigration reform without being rendered ineffective.
On the May 5 edition of Fox News' Special Report, discussing Sen. John McCain's news conference that day, chief political correspondent Carl Cameron reported: "As the primary Republican sponsor of comprehensive immigration reform in recent years, he complained that the GOP's reputation among Latinos plummeted because conservatives cried amnesty and defeated McCain's proposed guest worker and path to citizenship plans for illegal aliens." Cameron added: "Undaunted, McCain announced that if elected, in January he'll begin finalizing border security, then immediately launch the guest worker program and path to citizenship that many in his party oppose." Cameron then aired this assertion by McCain: "We must secure the borders, and the border-state governors will then certify that the borders are secured. Then we have a temporary worker program with tamper-proof biometric documents, and we address the issue of the people who have come here illegally." But Cameron did not note that McCain has actually reversed himself on the issue of border security, which he said he did because voters demanded it. His current position that border security must be addressed first is at odds with his prior assertion that border security could not be disaggregated from other aspects of comprehensive immigration reform without being rendered ineffective. Further, contrary to Cameron's characterization of McCain as "[u]ndaunted" on the issue of immigration, McCain said on January 30 that he would no longer vote for his own comprehensive immigration bill if it came to a vote on the Senate floor.
From the May 5 edition of Fox News' Special Report with Brit Hume:
CAMERON: At a news conference in his hometown of Phoenix, Arizona, Republican presidential candidate John McCain marked the popular Mexican holiday Cinco de Mayo with a direct plea to Latino voters, saying when it comes to the nation's largest and fastest-growing minority and its potential to be the swing vote in November, he connects.
McCAIN: I know the respect for the family, the advocacy for pro-life. I know the small-business aspect of our Hispanic voters. Everything about our Hispanic voters is tailor-made to the Republican message.
CAMERON: McCain unveiled a Spanish language campaign site on the Web, then took a shot at his own party. As the primary Republican sponsor of comprehensive immigration reform in recent years, he complained that the GOP's reputation among Latinos plummeted because conservatives cried amnesty and defeated McCain's proposed guest worker and path to citizenship plans for illegal aliens.
McCAIN: I think the tenor of the debate has harmed our image amongst Hispanics.
CAMERON: Undaunted, McCain announced that if elected, in January he'll begin finalizing border security, then immediately launch the guest worker program and path to citizenship that many in his party oppose.
McCAIN: We must secure the borders, and the border-state governors will then certify that the borders are secured. Then we have a temporary worker program with tamper-proof biometric documents, and we address the issue of the people who have come here illegally.
CAMERON: Most Democrats, including [Sen. Barack] Obama and [Sen. Hillary] Clinton, voted for McCain's immigration reforms, which were co-sponsored by liberal Massachusetts Democratic Senator Ted Kennedy [MA].
With a decades-old reputation for irking his own party and being, quote, the Democrats' favorite Republican, McCain scoffed at Clinton and Obama's recent campaign trail emphasis on their bipartisan outreach.
McCAIN: I will match my record for reaching across the aisle and working with the other party with them any day of the week. It's far more extensive and far more substantive.
[end video clip]
CAMERON: After he clinched his party's nomination, many said job one for McCain would be unifying a fractured GOP uneasy with his collaboration with Democrats. But now he wears that cooperation on his sleeve and promises to tackle issues like immigration and global warming with approaches that are clearly intended to attract independents more than conservatives.
Wes,
I am opposed to this guest worker program. It just creates a permanent underclass of citizens, indentured servants so to speak.
Borders need to be controlled and secured first and foremost before any talk of this "comprehensive" baloney.
tommy,
I support a guest worker program for any labor shortage that can be substantiated. I don't support guest workers just coming over and trolling for any low paying jobs.
If the fruit pickers in California can prove that they can't hire enough help locally then I don't have a problem with guest workers. These workers must register...report regularly...and go home when the work is over. It could have a positive affect on wages if employers can't hire illegals at poverty wages.
But in any case...I agree with securing the border first of all.
Wes,
I just have a problem with a second class of citizens only here based on our need for their labor, and then expecting them to leave when that demand is diminished. It won't happen.
Revamp and streamline our antiquated and rigorous immigration policies once our borders are secure.
Our immigration policies sure as hell need fixed.
Who knows? If we had an immigration policy that worked...maybe some of those that come here legally as citizens...even if their only skill was picking fruit...might one day realize the American dream and own their own fruit farm.
Ain't life grand when the government gets the hell out of the way and actually works for the public good.
"I just have a problem with a second class of citizens only here based on our need for their labor"
Your problem completely ignores the other side of the equation.
They are not here based upon just that. They are here because nearly half of Mexico's citizens live in varying levels of poverty. They are coming here because Mexico's government won't invest in its people and infrastructure.
That's why dumping ****loads of money into border security is futile.
It doesn't matter what we do on the border, if economic hopelessness persists in Mexico for so many, the war on illegal immigration is already lost because they'll continue risking their lives to get here.
So it's our responsibility to fix the Mexican economy? Since you apparently think border enforcement is futile, why not just open the borders and import Mexico's poverty, great idea.......how will that sit with the poorest among us who will battle them for jobs? Not too well, I would imagine.
And I thought Democrats were concerned for the little guy, guess not.
"cater to businesses and employers who hire illegals and look the other way regarding the lawful punishment they deserve"
YES! Good! Eliminate the demand, and maybe the Mexican government will get the message that they better do something about the supply.
The trouble is we're only spending a tiny fraction on workplace enforcement compared to the border.
That leaves a lot of questions.
The presence of illegals is so appalling to you that you're willing to slaughter them?
Would you like that done in America's name, or yours?Are you going to volunteer?
Do you have enough ice in your veins to gun down unarmed women and children? Is your heart black enough?
Given that illegals are already so desperate they're willing to risk their lives to get here, how many exterminations do you think will be sufficient to send your message?
Wes,
If the fruit growers cannot get enough workers, they simply need to increase the wages they'll pay. Simple supply and demand economics will fix the problem. Foreign workers who will work for less than market wages artificially deflating the price of the product. Having them come here legally does not remedy the fact that their low pay is subsidizing our low prices at the grocery store.
If the fruit growers cannot get enough workers, they simply need to increase the wages they'll pay.
Are you gonna be willing to pay five bucks for a head of lettuce, or ten bucks for a watermelon? If the growers have to pay more in wages, they'll just pass it on to us consumers.
While I doubt that prices for melon would rise that high, it might. If that is the cost of production, why wouldn't I pay it if I wanted the produce? If I didn't like the price, maybe I'd grow my own, try to find someone to harvest it at a reasonable wage and sell it for $9 a melon. Perhaps I'd substitute something less expensive.
Meanwhile, people who are unable to find lower-priced alternatives for your "free-market" crops will starve. No wonder we seldom hear anyone taking about "compassionate conservatism" and more....
In a free market, the price would find it's proper value.
You mean like five-buck-a-gallon gas?
WZ,
People who cannot afford caviar don't starve, that is a ridiculous leap to make, on a melon. If that melon grower or producer is finding very few takers at that price, he may either lower that price to attract more consumers, cut his expenses, etc - in other words, he needs to be a smart business person who will be successful if he markets and sells his product effectively.
WZ,
People who cannot afford caviar don't starve, that is a ridiculous leap to make, on a melon. If that melon grower or producer is finding very few takers at that price, he may either lower that price to attract more consumers, cut his expenses, etc - in other words, he needs to be a smart business person who will be successful if he markets and sells his product effectively.
Bull. The rich will be able to afford the stuff whatever it costs, those on food stamps will be able to get by, and once again us folks in the middle class will bear the brunt of this so-called "improvement" in immigration policy.
While I doubt that prices for melon would rise that high, it might.
Just this past weekend, I bought a seedless watermelon at out locak Super 1 Foods. It was imported from Mexico, and was seven bucks. A ten buck watermelon does not seem that far-fetched to me.
As I wrote on another thread about this exact same topic:
This was a wise flip-flop by McCain. And one I'm quite pleased with.
The media should mention McCain changed his position. It shows the guy realized the original bill fell far short of tackling this illegal immigration issue. And that he heard the majority of Americans who were against the bill.
And that he heard the majority of Americans who were against the bill.
Many of those who opposed that bill are your garden-variety racists and white supremicists - people who want the US of A to be for White Christians Only....
And many more are legal US citizens who would prefer our country tackle the very serious issue of illegal immigration & the existing myriad of problems we are experiencing because of so many illegal aliens that are already here.
But it's ok Wiz, I know how some of you Libs can't post without slipping in something about racists.
But it's ok Wiz, I know how some of you Libs can't post without slipping in something about racists.
That's right, Jeter - seeing as there are so many of them on your side of the political fence.
wz,
What do you call all those Democrats that won't vote for Obama?
What do you call all those Democrats that won't vote for Obama?
Hillary supporters.
What do YOU call those fine Republicans who dragged James Byrd's headless body behind that truck? Or all the Republicans who make up the bulk of the KKK's current membership?
Not true at all. Majority of the people are sick of hearing about the lower class getting free handouts while citing they cant get a job. Get rid of the illegals, stop them from coming in, and all the sudden you have a high demand for low skilled labor that can easily be filled by the welfare recipients.
Teach to fish son, not give a fish.
1. Border Security... check, I'm with you John.
2. Guest Worker Program... check again, I like your thinking John (despite what others say).
3. Path to Citizenship... of course that's a BIG CHECK! Where would any us be, without Citizenship and a Path to it?
There's truly nothing malicious or even controversial, about John McCain being for those 3 things (if he is for those 3 things... who can tell, the guy's National Policy opinions are all over the place, every which way, like the stamped metal rooster atop the barn, in a wind storm).
So John says he'll attend to those things, in January, as President of the United States? All the while setting to pour more and more American lives on the fire, in Iraq? All the while ramping up the U.S. casualties there, in a surge and surge and surge some more, for a 100 years?
Guess what John? You can talk all warm and comapassionate and glowing, about Citizenship, out of one side of your mouth... but as long as the other side, and the middle and the top and the bottom of your mouth, are hell-bent on getting more and more U.S. Troops killed in Iraq...
Then guess what John? You're not going to president in January, that's what.
You'll have to do the Citizenship thing from the Senate, as a U.S. Senator...
Because the American People aren't so priority stupid, that they'll exchange the lives of their Sons and Daughters in Iraq, for Citizenship.
The question I have is are they not able to get that job because businesses prefer paying substandard wages to immigrants, or because consumers will cry like babies when they have to pay $4 a pound for grapefruit? Maybe both...
I'd bet we'd see a decline in migrant workers from Mexico if we just clamped down on businesses that hire illegals, but that requires oversight, something that this administration at least seems to shy from like a vampire runs from sunlight.
Let them have jobs....I am very happy with the current setup....we set in front of our computers in our lofts or media rooms and at this very moment in time the "second class" is picking our fruits and veggies. Wouldn't change a thing. AND I am not worried as nothing is or will be done by any of the candidates OR Nancy OR Harry.
John maynot be afflicked with fear of the brown people. He maybe playing to a racist base. He did open up a Spainsh speaking website recently. Will such compasion that he has be allowed to affect anything? Frankly I don't think his handlers will allow him to do so. If their smooth about it, he may just glide along on their advice. Which under what ever name, will be more of the same. Outright opposition could lead to his temper coming into play, and some progress on the problem. He could bring the GOP hissing and snarling into a more humane outlook. Inspite of themselves. I think the first option is more likely.
I won't vote for him, but thats for other reasons.
My take-home pay was eaten up with taxes, thanks to our beloved Ronald Reagan.
Wow, I would love to see what your take home would have been under a liberal administration. But now youre for raising taxes.
Speaking for maybe 10% of the population again are yah.
And conning 80 to 90% of that population, for the hopfully greatful, 1% of the population.
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