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After hiatus, McCain vows immigration plan again

Posted by Foon Rhee, deputy national political editor September 22, 2008 11:05 AM

jsm0922.jpg
(AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Speaking to an Irish-American audience this morning, John McCain used his strongest language of the general election campaign to grab again the mantle of comprehensive immigration reform.

In Scranton, Pa., he vowed to push through a plan that offers a path to citizenship to illegal immigrants who pay fines and fulfill other requirements. "This nation is stronger for the infusion of fresh blood and vitality," McCain said.

McCain soft-pedaled that backing for comprehensive immigration reform during the Republican primaries, when he was savaged for coddling illegal immigrants. He said that voters would not support such a plan until the borders were made secure.

The plan he championed, and that also had President Bush's support, failed to get through Congress last year. McCain highlighted his cooperation with Senator Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts and other Democrats on the issue.

While he reached across the aisle and bucked elements of his own party, McCain said, "Senator Obama took a hike" and has never stood up to his own party leaders.

6 comments so far...
  1. As much as I wish to pretend McCAMNESTY is not the head of a ticket it is NOT true, better off placing our support behind the Senators and Congressmen who will support United States Citizens against the invasion. Either presidential candidate from the two “major” parties will be a disaster for the United States, we will lose our Nation with both, just a matter of the HOW! I am tired of being "poked" with McCAMNESTY's AMNESTY stick!

    Posted by Ray September 22, 08 02:02 PM
  1. First, it was not an "Irish-American" audience, don't know where that came from. It was a general audience at the cultural center here. Maybe the buffoon mccain thought he would throw the comment about 50,000 illegal Irish in because he thought that we all just arrived here from the potato famine. This guy would have to go back to school to be a moron.
    I have heard enough from him concerning "comprehensive immigration reform". I will vote 3rd party, Chuck Baldwin, and be very happy with it. he deserves to lose.
    I'm convinced alzheimers has overtaken this guy.

    Posted by Tom J. September 22, 08 08:37 PM
  1. I'm not voting for either McCamnesty or Obamnesty. I don't want any kind of amnesty because it will sure to be written in a way that there will be enough loopholes it won't do what it says it will do.

    If the politicians could be honest, maybe those who've been here along time that can be proved not to be lawbreakers and are totally self supportive could be given a break. But that's not the way things are. We can't trust most of them at all, not only on the illegal immigration issue but just about every issue and they don't listen. How are we supposed to have redress for our grievances, stop paying taxes?

    Posted by IndyLu September 22, 08 09:33 PM
  1. My god, I had euphoria that McCain had finally come back to becoming a republican and embraced an immigration program that was consistent with our protest last May, 2007; apparently it wasn't.

    Was on Ann Coulter's get Drunk and vote 4 McCain website and found the reference to this article. What a disappointment this was; This is unfortunately a reason to come back to reality; can't vote for Obama.

    Posted by whitneymuse September 22, 08 11:53 PM
  1. There is a full capitulation to Mexico by the US officials and the sooner Americans realize it the better. The 30+ million illegals that are it this country have no alliance to this country and they will tell you as much as long as they are not asking you for a job when they will then cry how they love this country and only want a better life. They have the best of all worlds because they get all the US protections and need not follow any of the rules. They need not pay taxes or have valid driving licenses. They have no need for medical, labor or vehicle insurances. They can come here and just go into business cutting the prices leaving citizens to compete at lower prices. They need not ascribe to a standard of living and break various health, housing and zoning laws. They get free education and have free babies. They fill our food pantries and partition for more entitlements. They fill our schools and bring down the educational standard and cost more to educate. They send an untold amount of money out of our communities and the country, tax free. These people and those that exploit them are enemies of the state and they should be dealt with accordingly but our government remains silent. Our government is much like the frog in the pond where the pond temperature keeps rising slowly to the point where it eventually cooks the frog. Have no doubt this, is an invasion by South America with the intent of destroying this nation. It is win, win for them and they know it. It is time for Americans to fight back if they want to save this nation. If the real facts were known this problem would be cleared up in a few weeks. Wake up America South Americans are not capable of running a country but are capable of ruining one.

    Posted by AmericanPieHole September 23, 08 08:05 AM
  1. McCain is a disgrace!!! He hadn't learned anything from the failed McCain/Kennedy bill!!!

    Posted by Milt Smith September 23, 08 08:40 AM
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About political intelligence Field reports from Boston Globe reporters and editors covering the 2008 presidential campaign and the national maneuvering of Bay State politicians.

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