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Hill article failed to note that McCain "buckle[d] under pressure to abandon" his position on immigration

June 12, 2008 4:03 pm ET

SUMMARY: The Hill asserted that Sen. John McCain "did not buckle under pressure to abandon" his prior position on comprehensive immigration reform during the Republican presidential primary. But as The Hill itself previously reported, McCain "adopted a harder stance on the campaign trail as his primary opponents painted him as soft on" immigration. Indeed, McCain now says he no longer supports the immigration bill he co-sponsored.

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In a June 12 article in The Hill, reporter Jared Allen asserted that Sen. John McCain "co-sponsored with Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) the immigration bill that the CHC [Congressional Hispanic Caucus] is demanding, which would put the country's 12 million illegal immigrants on a path to citizenship. And he did not buckle under pressure to abandon that position during the GOP primary." But as The Hill itself previously reported, after McCain's support for the bill he co-sponsored with Kennedy "damaged his credibility with conservatives," McCain "adopted a harder stance on the campaign trail as his primary opponents painted him as soft on" immigration. Indeed, McCain did "abandon" his support for the immigration bill he co-sponsored with Kennedy, saying that he would no longer vote for it if it came up in the Senate and reversing his position on a key aspect of immigration reform, more closely conforming to the views of the GOP base. McCain now says that "we've got to secure the borders first" -- a position at odds with his prior assertion that border security could not be disaggregated from other aspects of comprehensive immigration reform without being rendered ineffective.

A November 4, 2007, Associated Press article about McCain's change in position noted that his prior support for comprehensive immigration reform "hurt him politically," and quoted McCain stating: "I understand why you would call it a, quote, shift. ... I say it is a lesson learned about what the American people's priorities are. And their priority is to secure the borders."

Moreover, while Allen's article -- headlined "Hispanic Dems warn Obama he risks losing Latino voters" -- purported to describe McCain's and Sen. Barack Obama's appeal to Hispanic voters, Allen did not report that an NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll conducted June 6-9 and released June 11 showed Obama leading McCain 62 percent to 28 percent among Hispanic voters.

From the June 12 Hill article:

[Sen. Barack] Obama's National Latino Vote Director, Cuauhtemoc "Temo" Figueroa, will have his first meeting in Washington Thursday with members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC).

They carefully avoided calling explicitly for [Sen. Hillary] Clinton's selection as the party's vice presidential nominee, but some indicated that her bond with Latino voters will get them to the polls in November, just as it drew them into the primaries.

"Hillary holds the entire Latino community in the palm of her hand," said. Rep. José Serrano (D-N.Y.), whose district went heavily for Clinton.

But Sen. John McCain (Ariz.), Obama's Republican opponent, is also liked by Latinos. He co-sponsored with Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) the immigration bill that the CHC is demanding, which would put the country's 12 million illegal immigrants on a path to citizenship. And he did not buckle under pressure to abandon that position during the GOP primary.

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    • Author by Don Hussein Fabuloso (June 12, 2008 4:11 pm ET)
         
      Aw, give Grampy a break. He buckled eventually.He's tired.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by RABBITLUVR (June 12, 2008 4:55 pm ET)
           
        I really cannot wait for the debates... I can almost taste the anticipation.
        Report Abuse
        • Author by JLyons (June 12, 2008 5:21 pm ET)
             
          Do you really think McBush will have debates?
          Report Abuse
          • Author by Don Hussein Fabuloso (June 12, 2008 5:27 pm ET)
               
            Grampy may have a secret plan for the debates.I'm imagining  any confusing question can be answered with "I don't know. I was tied up at the time!" (cheers, little flags waving)
            Report Abuse
            • Author by juliajayne (June 12, 2008 5:41 pm ET)
                 
              Yes, an oldy but goody. At least for the non thinking types.
              Report Abuse
        • Author by steeve (June 12, 2008 6:01 pm ET)
             
          I long to see a single presidential debate that is not controlled by a big media stooge.  It will never happen.  It cannot possibly happen.
          Report Abuse
          • Author by darkmass (June 12, 2008 8:02 pm ET)
               

            I have a fond (but probably vain) hope that Bill Moyers would host a debate.

            Though I'd bet he would take that on if asked.  He's no stranger to politics, and he gets the point of true journalism.

            Report Abuse
    • Author by christopher howard (June 12, 2008 4:16 pm ET)
         

      Slightly off-topic, but I'd like to take this opportunity to wish all MMFA posters a happy Loving Day (especially Finarfin).

       http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loving_Day

      Report Abuse
      • Author by Don Hussein Fabuloso (June 12, 2008 4:22 pm ET)
           

        Thanks, CH, I didn't even plan anything. I did notice that Mrs. Loving's maiden name was Jeter, though.

        Now what's taking us so long to skid down that slippery slope to bestiality? I want to make an honest duck out of my main squeeze.

        Report Abuse
    • Author by juliajayne (June 12, 2008 4:49 pm ET)
         

      I'ts almost unfathomable that sometime in my lifetime I couldn't have married my husband.

      Now, Col., I can't help but think that eventually there might be recognition of man and water fowl marriages. Or at least civil unions. At least you'd have medical insurance and wouldn't have to rely on some quack.

      Report Abuse
    • Author by eweston8542983 (June 12, 2008 7:33 pm ET)
         

      Sure doc, but viaduct?

      McBog's flip flop has been studiouly ignored by many media folks.

      Report Abuse
    • Author by brandykar6823 (June 13, 2008 11:59 am ET)
         

      In my opinion, "Talk about flipfloping."

      Also,in my opinion, I thought "change" meant what is left in our pockets after all taxes, especially here in Chicago.

      Report Abuse

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