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.