Wash. Post editorial claimed McCain "insisted on his more humane approach" to immigration, but not that he no longer supports it
SUMMARY: The Washington Post asserted in an editorial, "As opponents reversed long-held positions to appeal in ugly ways to anti-immigrant sentiment, Mr. McCain insisted on his more humane approach." But the Post did not point out that McCain reversed himself on a key component of immigration reform, now saying that "we've got to secure the borders first," or that McCain said he would not support the immigration reform bill he co-sponsored if it came to a vote on the Senate floor.
In a September 1 editorial, The Washington Post asserted that Sen. John McCain "insisted on his more humane approach" to immigration, writing: "As opponents reversed long-held positions to appeal in ugly ways to anti-immigrant sentiment, Mr. McCain insisted on his more humane approach. And against considerable odds, he outlasted the field." But the Post did not point out, as Media Matters for America has repeatedly documented, that McCain reversed himself on a key component of immigration reform, now saying 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. Nor did the Post note that McCain stated during a January 30 Republican presidential primary debate that he would not support the immigration reform bill he co-sponsored with Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA) if it came to a vote on the Senate floor.
From the September 1 Washington Post editorial:
Mr. McCain's journey to this nomination in many ways encapsulated his legend as a fighter, maverick and man of principle. Last summer, with his campaign broke and his chances written down to zero by the experts, Mr. McCain threw away the standard playbook -- and much of his staff -- and appealed directly to the people of New Hampshire in a grass-roots, no-frills campaign. Though the war in Iraq was deeply unpopular, he refused to trim his conviction that America should stick with it. As opponents reversed long-held positions to appeal in ugly ways to anti-immigrant sentiment, Mr. McCain insisted on his more humane approach. And against considerable odds, he outlasted the field.
I'm so sick of this word: "Maverick".
I looked up the exact definition of it in Webster's:
"a lone dissenter, as an intellectual, an artist, or a politician, who takes an independent stand apart from his or her associates."
He's voted time and time again with President Bush and with other members of his party on key bills.
The vote that reminds me most of his "maverick" title is the 2007 bill that would have boosted funding for troops as they returned for war. The most important line, in my opinion, was a 13 month window in which returning soldiers would not have to pay back their student loans (they would pay again after the 13 months). Only 18 republicans voted against it and you can guess who one of the 18 was.
Also, can anyone not hear the word "Maverick" and think of Top Gun? I guess Palin should be nicknamed "Goose" and Obama would have to be the pesky "Ice" character who is always bullying around ole Mav.
I've never seen Top Gun, but may have to rent it before making an informed vote.
OT, but current;
To all of the liberal/lib leaning posters here- Happy Labor Day. I hope you're all enjoying a 3 day weekend in honor of your hard work.
To all of the Conservative posters-- A very solemn and painful Labor Day to you. Please accept my condolences for the injustices heaped upon your elite masters over the past few hundred years. The True Martyrs of labor rights, the corporate royalty, deserve our thoughts and prayers today. Keep it in your hearts and minds, that if we could just lighten their burden a bit, they'd pull you right up there with them.
Dean,
As far as "Top Gun" goes, I think the more apt analogy is that Obama and Biden are the Russian Migs. ;-)
He doesn't know, he just mistakenly thought it was funny.
I can't think of McCain and Maverick and Top Gun together, because McCain crashed too many planes, and was a "bottom gun" in his graduating class at the Naval Academy.
He doesn't know, he just mistakenly thought it was funny.
Actually, I have to admit I smiled at it a bit. But really because it parodies the ridiculous "Obama is a commie" mantra that AA and his RW buddies have been pushing. I'm sure that's not the joke he had in mind. :)
Are talking legal or illegal immigration? Because that article never does clarify what type of immigration John McCain supports or opposes.
And DeanOakwood - Palin's too skinny to be the Goose
-- he would not support the immigration reform bill he co-sponsored with Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA) if it came to a vote on the Senate floor. -- mmfa
This is an example of dishonest reporting at its finests. McCain stated he would not support the bill because it will not come up for a vote again...pure and simple. You know it and I know it...and mmfa knows it but chooses the path of dishonesty.
After McCain and Kennedy got their asses handed to them over immigration reform...McCain has tried to be clever about his position. But you can be damn sure he has not changed his position on immigration reform...i.e. amnesty.
-- But we must enact comprehensive immigration reform. We must make it a top agenda item -- NYT may08
Speaking of his first 100 days in office:
-- Immigration reform will be my top priority because we have the obligation to address a federal issue from a federal standpoint. I will reach across the aisle again and work in a bipartisan fashion. We will resolve the immigration issue in America and we will secure our borders. -- FoxNews jun08
Then there's this:
-- I think it's time for a president who won't walk away from something as important as comprehensive reform -- CNN jul08
McCain spokesman Brian Rogers said it would be:
-- audacious for Obama to question McCain’s commitment to immigration reform -- LAT jul08
It doesn't matter to me if you don't like McCain or don't support his position but he has not changed his mind on immigration reform. Publicly he has tried to fool voters but he is dead solid on amnesty...under the name of immigration reform.
McCain's less than forthright campaign tactics and mmfa's dishonest reporting on this issue are two shining examples of what is wrong in today's politics and journalism.
It appears that Jamison Foser...who has written some great articles about honest and ethical journalism...is just a figurehead at David Brock's mmfa.
i think there is a point in saying that he did change his mind by saying he would not support that specific bill. now he is not saying exactly what he is supporting, other than it is "immigration reform" and it is probably some form of amnesty. that is something i have pointed out myself. this is not "reform", it's amnesty. the word reform is used to frame the debate into: how can any reasonable person be against reform? the real question is: what is being reformed? the answer is nothing. it's the same as the "reform" of 1986, which was supposed to be a "one time" amnesty.
if we insist on this shell game approach, we are going to be facing the same exact thing a few years down the road. the amnesty gets passed, and then the same groups that supported the amnesty continue to fight against any effort to enforce immigration law. just like a congressman recently comparing i.n.s. agents to "gestapo" because of workplace enforcement raids.
mefirst,
Nicely done...I agree.
Many are keen today to assign meanings to certain words...referred to as "code" for some hidden meaning.
You hit it right on the head...reform is just a code word for amnesty.
-- we need to start being honest here -- mefirst
Once again I agree.
And I think a good place to start is here...with mmfa...even if you don't want to...that's fine with me.
it has nothing to do with not wanting to. i don't think it's unfair to point out that mccain did change his mind, because he did. and now it's hard to figure out exactly what he's in favor of, other than some nebulous and unspecific claim of "reform". what are the exact terms of that, he hasn't spelled out. given his past, it probably involves amnesty.
10-4 good buddy...thrice I have agreed.
No matter what else McCain will add to his immigration "reform" legislation...it damn well will include amesty.
Wesley, Foser didn't write this. You've made a number of assumptions and do not provide any support. Some quotes from a man who will say most anything to become the Prez.
If you consider MMfa any part of the media problem, you've lost me. What's your solution to the media problem then?
Of course he didn't write it. The reference was to some of his well written articles on journalism...that mmfa ignores...like this one.
Sharp as a marble...LOL.
Sharp as a marble
That's a good first step. You should keep using that as your signature from now on.
Thank you for the gratuitis insult. I think thats about all I can make head or tail out of your(?) response.
Please don't clarify. It would just disilusion me.
McCain is taking positions that are politically expedient. He's a master of deception.
Here are my thoughts on the words "anti-immigrant sentiments" and "more humane approach" as discussed above. There is no question that the psycho's on the extreme "right" are racists who don't mind if Canadians come accross the northern border but at the same time don't want Mexicans to cross the southern border. I am not convinced that any border can be secured. I stand corrected... East Germany is an example. But even that border was crossed on rare occations. Back to my point. I don't think there is always a dark, evil, or sinister (or basically racist) intent attached to the view of prioritizing border security. I can understand both sides (no pun intended) of the argument. Personally, I say open the borders. I'll bet all the problems associated with illegal immigration will cease to exist.