AP said McCain "suffered because of his stance" on immigration, but did not report that he abandoned it
SUMMARY: The Associated Press reported that Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign "suffered because of his stance" on comprehensive immigration reform, without noting that McCain subsequently reversed himself on the issue. McCain now says he no longer supports the immigration bill he co-sponsored.
In a June 19 Associated Press article, writer Michael Tarm repeated a common theme that Sen. John McCain bucked his party at his political expense, reporting that McCain's presidential campaign "suffered" because he supported comprehensive immigration reform. But Tarm did not note that McCain subsequently reversed himself on the issue and now says he would not vote for the immigration reform legislation he co-sponsored.
In reference to McCain's June 19 meeting with "more than 150 Chicago-area Hispanic leaders," Tarm asserted that McCain "assured Hispanic leaders he would push through Congress legislation to overhaul federal immigration laws if elected." Tarm later added: "Both McCain and Democratic presidential candidate [Sen.] Barack Obama support giving legal status to millions of illegal immigrants, but neither has made the issue a centerpiece of the campaign. At one time, McCain's campaign suffered because of his stance on the issue."
While asserting that McCain "suffered because of his stance on the issue," Tarm did not note that McCain's current position -- that "we've got to secure the borders first" -- represents a reversal; McCain previously argued that border security could not be disaggregated from other aspects of comprehensive immigration reform without being rendered ineffective. Further, Tarm did not note that McCain has also reversed his position on the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act, which would have allowed "illegal immigrants under age 30 to remain in the United States and gain legal status if they attend college or join the military."
The AP itself reported in a November 5, 2007, article that McCain "got a wake-up call in June when Congress again rejected a broad immigration proposal that he championed. Earlier this year, the Arizona senator saw his poll numbers slip in some states and his fund-raising wane," 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."
From the AP's June 19 article:
Republican presidential John McCain assured Hispanic leaders he would push through Congress legislation to overhaul federal immigration laws if elected, several people who attended a private meeting with the candidate said Thursday.
Democrats questioned why the Arizona senator held the meeting late Wednesday night in Chicago. But supporters who were in the room denied that McCain held the closed-door session out of fear of offending conservatives, many of whom want him to take a harder line on immigration.
Both McCain and Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama support giving legal status to millions of illegal immigrants, but neither has made the issue a centerpiece of the campaign. At one time, McCain's campaign suffered because of his stance on the issue.
And perhaps he would suffer even more if the press actually started to report on all of his flip-flops.
Oh wait, where's tommy to inform us all thet this means nothing and/or is word parsing by MMFA?
-- he would not vote for the immigration reform legislation he co-sponsored. -- mmfa
mmfa keeps running out this bogus line and are just the kind of media outlet that Boehlert so eloquently scolded a couple of days ago. McCain gave a political double talk answer to the question of supporting the bill that he and Kennedy proposed...knowing full well that particular bill would not come up again...McCain knows it and so does mmfa.
mmfa can call McCain a flip flopper all they want...makes no difference to me...but anyone who has followed McCain knows he has not abandoned his stance on immigration reform and amnesty. mmfa is putting politics ahead of honesty.
The following from a recent ALIPAC meeting:
-- After adjusting his immigration stance when his comprehensive immigration bill died last summer, John McCain, now with the Republican nomination in hand, has once again ruffled conservative feathers on the immigration issue by returning to the position that almost stopped his campaign dead in its tracks...
McCain joined California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger last week in supporting a "comprehensive" immigration plan that would address the problem "in a humane and compassionate fashion.
Sen. [Edward] Kennedy and I tried very hard to get immigration reform, a comprehensive plan, through the Congress of the United States," Mr. McCain stated. "We must make it a top agenda item. --
Make no mistake about it...McCain supports comprehensive immigration reform and amnesty.
McCain's campaign suffered because of his stance on the issue.
Which begs the questions - is that a "wide" stance, Grampy?
-- Republican presidential John McCain assured Hispanic leaders he would push through Congress legislation to overhaul federal immigration laws if elected, several people who attended a private meeting with the candidate said Thursday...
"He's one John McCain in front of white Republicans. And he's a different John McCain in front of Hispanics," complained Rosanna Pulido, a Hispanic and conservative Republican who attended the meeting. -- AP 6-19-08
McCain has not "abandoned" or "reversed" his stance on immigration as mmfa incorrectly asserts. What he has abandoned is any straight talk concerning immigration.
McCain and mmfa are partners in this dishonest effort. McCain trying to pander for votes and mmfa playing the sound bite game for political gain. Neither are worthy efforts for the American voter.
I believe that pretzel logic curves in at least four dimensions Wesley.
I suppose you could write in "Ming The Merciless" this november.