America has always been a nation of immigrants. Over the years, millions of people have come here in the hope that in America, you can make it if you try. Each successive wave of immigrants has contributed to our country's rich culture, economy and spirit. Like the immigrants that came before them, today's immigrants will shape their own destinies and enrich our country.

Nonetheless, our current immigration system has been broken for far too long. We need comprehensive immigration reform, not just piecemeal efforts. We cannot continue to allow people to enter the United States undetected, undocumented, and unchecked.

The American people are a welcoming and generous people, but those who enter our country's borders illegally, and those who employ them, disrespect the rule of the law. We need to secure our borders, and support additional personnel, infrastructure, and technology on the border and at our ports of entry. We need additional Customs and Border Protection agents equipped with better technology and real-time intelligence. We need to dismantle human smuggling organizations, combating the crime associated with this trade. We also need to do more to promote economic development in migrant-sending nations, to reduce incentives to come to the United States illegally. And we need to crack down on employers who hire undocumented immigrants. It's a problem when we only enforce our laws against the immigrants themselves, with raids that are ineffective, tear apart families, and leave people detained without adequate access to counsel. We realize that employers need a method to verify whether their employees are legally eligible to work in the United States, and we will ensure that our system is accurate, fair to legal workers, safeguards people's privacy, and cannot be used to discriminate against workers.

For the millions living here illegally but otherwise playing by the rules, we must require them to come out of the shadows and get right with the law. We support a system that requires undocumented immigrants who are in good standing to pay a fine, pay taxes, learn English, and go to the back of the line for the opportunity to become citizens. They are our neighbors, and we can help them become full tax-paying, law-abiding, productive members of society.

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McCain Claims He Hasn't Flipped on Anything from 2000

October 23, 2008

John McCain told the local CBS affiliate in Washington, D.C. that "I'm the same guy" from 2000, claiming that he hasn't flipped on any issue since his last run for the presidency.

MCCAIN: You’ll have to tell me what’s changed. I love it when they say, “Oh McCain has changed.” And I say, “What have I changed on?” They can’t name a single issue or they’ll name an issue and its false. I’m the same guy. I’m proud of our campaign.

It is not exactly a winning message but the interview presented itself with a rather easy challenge: name McCain's flip-flops.

Immigration ''Hard-Liner'' Steve King on McCain: ''He's On Board''

September 9, 2008

According to news reports, immigration "hard-liner U.S. Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, says GOP presidential candidate John McCain -- who had been at odds with King and many others in his party over the issue -- is now on board." King added that McCain has "gotten it," and that he believes McCain when he says he "'heard the American people'" and understands "'the message.'" The Republican congressman added that he has had "those conversation behind closed doors with" McCain and expects that he will "follow through on the word that he's given." [Iowa Independent, 9/8/08]

Perhaps Congressman King should watch Univision. During an interview aired this past Sunday, McCain suggested he disagreed with his Party's platform on immigration and legalization of undocumented immigrants, and even suggested he opposed the Republican platform's call to make English the official language and end bilingual education. As the New York Times' editorial board noted, the Republican platform adopted just last week treats "undocumented immigrants as, more or less, criminals." [New York Times, 9/3/08]

"Clearly someone isn't telling the truth, and John McCain owes the voters an explanation," said Democratic National Commitee spokesman Luis Miranda. "Are voters supposed to believe Steve King and the Republican Party platform or should they believe John McCain? This is one more example that John McCain doesn't offer change, he promises more of the same misleading politics of the last eight years."

Below are excerpts of McCain's interview that aired on Univision on Sunday September 7, 2008:

Univision: Senator, the platform of your party says, and I am quoting, "We support the adoption of English as the official language of the United States, and we demand the abolition of bilingual education." Do you agree with this?

John McCain: No, look it's fine with me if English is the official language, because it is our official language, it is. Anyone that comes to this country that wants to move up the economic ladder, we all know has to learn English, is a requirement for citizenship, so we all know that, but the point is...If you want to call it official, it already is official, official or unofficial it is our language, but I come from a state where Spanish was spoken before English, o.k.? So, I cherish Spanish language, our heritage, our culture, our food, everything about our Hispanic culture and that is what I want our party and Americans to do...

Univision: Senator, the last time we talked, you told us that it would take a year or two to secure the border, and then you said we can address the other part of it. Would that include massive legalization of millions of undocumented immigrants in this country?

John McCain: I think it means that we go through a step by step process of allowing people to apply and achieve citizenship in this country, of course. But, I want to point out again; it's a little more complicated.

Univision: It goes against the platform of your party, by the way, because they are against the legalization of millions of undocumented immigrants.

John McCain: My position is very clear, and that was part of our proposal, that I took up twice…So, what we need to do is take the two million according to Chertoff, that have broken laws in our country, and deport or imprison them, they are law breakers. Other people who have come here and have been here for a period of time and are law abiding citizens and are willing to go through a certain process, of course, there is not a twelve million pairs of handcuffs in America. So, we can together republican and democrat work out this issue, provide a path to citizenship, on the principle that they do not take any priority over anyone who came to this country legally, or waited legally...

Univision: Senator Barack Obama told us in an interview that he would present a comprehensive immigration reform to congress during the first year could you match that?

John McCain: Sure, I would do it in the first day, but I was the one who led, I was the one who led with Senator Kennedy, a great political risk to my self.

Clinton Nomination Speech: Dolores Huerta

August 27, 2008

Fellow Democrats, delegates and friends, buenos días. I am Dolores Huerta from the great state of California, the food basket of the United States, the San Joaquin valley, the city of Bakersfield. I am a proud mother of 11, a grandmother of 14, and a great-grandmother of five; an advocate of working families and immigrants; and a passionate supporter of Hillary Clinton.

I am so honored to be here today, representing the diversity of our Democratic Party and the coalition of 18 million people of all backgrounds and all walks of life that stood with Hillary and never gave up. This primary season, the Hispanic community participated in historic numbers. Hispanics will be a pivotal voice and vote in electing the next president. Together, we have made history this year—and it is only the beginning.

Now, I want to say a few words in Spanish: en esta primaria electoral nuestre communidad participomos con numerous historicos. Nosotros vamos a ser la voz decica en elegir el próximo presidente de los estados unidos, y estamos muy orgullosos que hicimos historia. Y apenas estamos empezando! Sí se pudo!

I am a fourth-generation American from New Mexico. My father, Juan Fernandez, was a miner, field worker, and union activist and state assemblyman. My mother, Alicia Chavez, was a feminist and small business owner. My parents instilled in me the importance of hard work, determination and putting one’s neighbor before oneself. Hillary’s values are the values of my family and of our community.

When César Chávez and I first organized farm workers and immigrants over 40 years ago, it was not easy. But we persevered, and we made progress. We believed that those who do backbreaking work for low wages, often in a dangerous workplace, deserve a champion, someone who will fight for them.

That is why I love and respect Hillary. She has stood with hardworking people and knows how important it is to keep fighting—and keep going. For many in America, working people are invisible. For Hillary Clinton, no American is invisible.

I stand with Hillary as she stands with Barack to take our country back. But now, Mrs. Chairman, on behalf of all woman and working families, I have the great honor to nominate Hillary Rodham Clinton, my friend, our champion, for President of these United States of America.

John Chiang

August 26, 2008

Four years ago, the son of a Kenyan father and Kansan mother stood before you and delivered an address that lifted our nation’s hearts and hopes by reminding us that together we can achieve greatness. As I watched him speak, I couldn’t help but think that unlikely as his story may be, it is my story too. It is our story. It is the American story.

On the surface, it could be viewed that Barack Obama’s parents had little in common with my parents. His father came from Africa; my parents came from Asia. They spoke different languages. Their paths surely never crossed. Yet our parents had much in common because they were united by the values they taught their sons: that in America, it doesn’t matter where you came from, but where you are going. It doesn’t matter what your name is, but whether you are willing to work hard to make a name for yourself.

Barack Obama’s life reaffirms the American dream, a dream living in the hearts and lives of countless American families from the eastern shores, to the farmlands, to the Rocky Mountains, to my beloved California, and beyond. This is our nation’s great promise. But the promise feels harder to reach.

As the Controller of the State of California, my job is to build a brighter fiscal future for my state and her 38 million residents. Like every state, California is struggling with foreclosures, record gas prices and rising unemployment. We are working harder than ever, but still many of us are falling further and further behind.

But we know our future is still golden. We know of a path to the promised land and Barack Obama will lead us there. He understands, as John F. Kennedy said, that “a rising tide lifts all boats.” Together we will rise, or together we will fall.

Here in Denver, and all across our country, we choose to rise. Together, we will rise and reject another four years of the same policies that brought us from a decade of economic prosperity to a decade of economic despair. Together, we will rise and overcome the challenges of poverty, access to health care, and energy independence.

Barack Obama will give us the change we need, so that the values of hard work and opportunity that our parents taught us will ring just as loud, clear and true for our children as they did for us. Let those values be our calling. And once again build a country that embraces the great promise of her people.

Thank you and God bless you all.

McCain versus McCain on the DREAM Act

July 14, 2008

John McCain spoke at the National Council of La Raza (NCLR) Annual Conference this afternoon in San Diego. In the Q&A session following his prepared remarks, a young woman from the group One Dream 2009, asked John McCain, if he were president, to support the DREAM Act next year. McCain answered he would.

But that is not what John McCain told right-wing bloggers on an October 25, 2007 conference call. McCain emphasized that he has "said it a thousand times" that he "got the message" on immigration. However, don't take my word for it, ask conservative blogger Paul Mirengoff:

As for the Dream Act, McCain told us that he would have voted against cloture (i.e., in favor of preventing a vote) because he "got the message" this summer that Americans want the border secured before we "go on to the rest." McCain would deem parts of the border secure when the governor of the relevant state so certifies.

Since McCain is clearly on record as to how he would have voted on the Dream Act cloutre motion, and since his vote was not needed to prevent cloture, there seems to be no basis for criticizing his departure for Iowa prior to the vote.

How about the National Review's Jim Geraghty?

On the vote on the DREAM Act yesterday: I would have voted against it I have said a thousand times, I have heard the message from the American people. They want the border secured first and then they want – well, at least I want to go on to comprehensive reform.

We released this video showing the two sides of John McCain on the DREAM Act. More proof that John McCain's willingness to pander knows no bounds. He will say anything to anyone to get their support.

AUDIO OF CONFERENCE CALL REMARKS: BECERRA (D-CA) AND MEDINA RESPOND MCCAIN'S SPEECH AT NCLR

July 14, 2008

Congressman Xavier Becerra (D-CA) and Eliseo Medina held a conference call today to respond to John McCain's speech at NCLR, and call for straight talk from the GOP candidate on his promise of a third Bush term and contradictions on immigration reform.

The following are excerpts from the call:

Congressman Xavier Becerra (D-CA) (0:37)

"In terms of Senator McCain's remarks to the National Council of La Raza, we were hoping to find out which face of John McCain we'd see today, and we learned that we saw both faces. This is an individual politician who has become very good at sending different signals, depending on which audience he's addressing. At the National Council of La Raza I think he left probably more ambivalent feelings than anything else. It sounded like he might be in support of the Dream Act, but we've heard him say he hasn't been for the Dream Act; to try to help young Latino and other immigrant students make it into college.

"We find that he continues to be out of touch on issues relating to the economy, and certainly with regard to Iraq. We know that on immigration he has flip-flopped too many times to count, and at the end of the day this, to me, boils down to an issue of trust. For Latino voters, the issue of who will become the person who can deliver after eight years of seeing the serenades of President Bush and the Republicans, Latinos are very anxious to see someone who will deliver on the commitments to improve their economy, their job prospects, opportunities for good schools for their kids, healthcare, and certainly opportunities to become vibrant Americans, who are former immigrants. And so what we learned today, from John McCain in his presentation to the National Council of La Raza is that we didn't learn anything. We continue to see the two faces of John McCain, and we're trying to figure out which one we can trust, it's hard when you have someone who's flip-flopping on the issues."

Eliseo Medina, SEIU Executive Vice President (2:37)

"It seems to me that Senator McCain has had three opportunities, first with NALEO, second with LULAC, and third with NCLR to make his case of why the Latino community ought to support him for President of the United States. And I think that the Latino community more than anything else was hoping for some straight talk from the Senator, but I actually think after listening to him three times that we got the exact opposite. And it seems to me that the Senator is trying to have it both ways. First he says to our community that he appreciates our contributions to this society and that we are God's children, but at the same time, when it comes down to actually taking action to... match his words with acts, he fails. He walked away from McCain-Kennedy, the bill he helped to introduce, and carried his name. He walked away from the DREAM Act as the Congressman said. And at the same time, while doing all of these things, he wants us to believe that he's on our side and I think he's having a really hard time making it clear which side he's on."

MCCAIN WATCH: IMMIGRATION: JOHN MCCAIN WILL SAY ANYTHING TO WIN

July 14, 2008

John McCain may be trying to turn the page on the disastrous week he just had, but this week is shaping up to be no better. Today, Senator McCain will walk a tightrope at the National Council of La Raza's annual conference in San Diego. McCain's recent double talk on immigration is proof he will say anything to get elected. That dissonance was on display yesterday on a campaign conference call where one of McCain's advisors touted border security measures in a bill McCain is co-sponsoring with Senator Lindsey Graham. According to the AP, that bill also includes making undocumented status a criminal misdemeanor, something very different from the comprehensive approach the candidate is likely to emphasize at La Raza today. [McCain campaign conference call, 7/13/08; Associated Press, 8/3/07]

MCCAIN'S DOUBLETALK ON IMMIGRATION

2005: McCain Introduced Comprehensive Immigration Reform Legislation With Senator Kennedy. "Millions of undocumented workers in the United States could come out of the shadows by registering with the government and paying fines or fees of at least $2,000 to begin earning permanent residency under the most sweeping immigration-reform bill in two decades. The bill introduced Thursday was dubbed the 'Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act' by its bipartisan group of sponsors, led by Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Edward Kennedy, D-Mass. It would create a temporary-work visa program for foreigners to fill jobs requiring few or no skills, for up to six years. The legislation was touted as ensuring tougher enforcement of laws at the border and in the workplace while speeding the process of reuniting immigrant families. In addition, Mexico and other countries would be encouraged to enter into agreements to play a more active role in helping prevent illegal immigration into the United States, including promoting more economic opportunity back home. House sponsors Jim Kolbe and Jeff Flake, both Arizona Republicans, and Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., joined McCain and Kennedy on Thursday in casting the legislation as a comprehensive approach to immigration reform and national security." [The Arizona Republic, 5/13/05]

2008: McCain Said He Would Oppose the Legislation He Authored With Kennedy. Asked whether he would vote for the immigration legislation he previously sponsored, McCain eventually replied, "No, I would not." [CNN GOP Presidential Debate, 1/30/08]

2006: McCain Said an "Enforcement First" Strategy Focusing Only on Border Security is an "Ineffective And Ill-Advised Approach." "In April [2006], the Senate overwhelmingly passed, in a bipartisan fashion, a comprehensive immigration reform package designed to secure our borders as well as address the economic need for workers in our Nation. In passing this legislation, the Senate rejected the argument for an 'enforcement first' strategy that focuses on border security only, an ineffective and ill-advised approach. Congress cannot take a piecemeal approach to a national security crisis. I believe the only way to truly secure our border and protect our Nation is through the enactment of comprehensive immigration reform. As long as there is a need for workers in the United States and people are willing to cross the desert to make a better life for their families, our border will never be secure." [McCain, Congressional Record, 9/29/06]

2007: Presidential Candidate McCain Touts Securing The Border First. In 2008, McCain said, "And our proposal has got to be securing the borders first. The American people have no trust or confidence in us that we would secure the borders." In November 2007, McCain argued, "I want to assure you that I'll enforce the borders first." [CNN Larry King Live, 2/14/08; CNN/YouTube GOP Presidential Debate, 11/28/07]

2007: McCain Acknowledged His Shift on Immigration Reform During the Republican Primary Campaign. "John McCain spent months earlier this year arguing that the United States must combine border security efforts with a temporary worker program and an eventual path to citizenship for many illegal immigrants. Now, the Republican presidential candidate emphasizes securing the borders first. The rest, he says, is still needed but will have to come later. 'I understand why you would call it a, quote, shift,' McCain told reporters Saturday after voters questioned him on his position during back-to-back appearances in this early voting state. 'I say it is a lesson learned about what the American people's priorities are. And their priority is to secure the borders.' The shift in approach is likely to draw criticism from McCain's GOP opponents. Immigration has been a flash point in the race, with rivals Mitt Romney, Rudy Giuliani and Fred Thompson all seizing on it." [Associated Press, 11/3/07]

MCCAIN WATCH: ON THE ECONOMY OR IMMIGRATION, YOU JUST CAN'T TRUST JOHN MCCAIN

July 8, 2008

It's only Tuesday, but already the week isn't going so well for John McCain. Yesterday, Senator McCain rolled out his "Bush on Steroids" economic plan which the Wall Street Journal called a "repackage proposals he has already outlined." But rather than strengthen the economy and provide tax relief for hard-working families, Senator McCain's plan is more of the same tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy that will take our country further into debt and not do anything to help the Middle Class. And McCain's claim that he can balance the budget by 2013 is just plain wrong--as one reporter wrote, it's "unclear how Mr. McCain plans" to do so. [Wall Street Journal, 7/5/08, New York Times' The Caucus Blog, 7/7/08] With senior economic advisor Carly Fiorina's fuzzy math, no wonder McCain's math doesn't add up, something the DNC illustrates on its new website "McCain Math:"

Now on Day 2 of his failed economic policies tour, McCain is already off-message. As he prepares to speak at the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) Annual Convention, voters are wondering which McCain will show up: the McCain who tells conservative Republican voters he wants to secure the border first, or the McCain who talks about comprehensive immigration reform in front of Hispanic audiences and cosponsored an immigration bill he now says he would no longer vote for. One thing is for sure: McCain's record on immigration reform has been anything but consistent during the course of his campaign as he has tried to pander to anyone who is listening at the time.

Whether it's his economic tour that promotes more of the same failed Bush policies of the past eight years, or his speech at LULAC, this week John McCain's challenge is convincing voters they can trust him to present plans on the economy and immigration that will bring change to America. So far, he's failed to meet that challenge.

MCCAIN'S ECONOMIC PLAN DOESN'T ADD UP

McCain is Now Pledging to Balance the Budget in Four Years. According to his new "Jobs for America" economic plan, "John McCain will balance the budget by the end of his first term." ["Jobs for America; The McCain Economic Plan,"

FLASHBACK: In April, McCain Cited "Economic Conditions" for His Reversal on Balancing the Budget in Four Years; Said He Would Balance the Budget in Eight Years. "Senator John McCain offered the broadest look yet at his economic policies in a speech on Tuesday in Pittsburgh, outlining a series of tax reductions and backing away from his pledge to balance the budget by the end of his first term. … Mr. McCain -- who said in February in Wisconsin that he would balance the budget by the end of his first term as president -- seemed to reconsider that on Tuesday, saying at a news conference later in Villanova that 'economic conditions are reversed' and that he would have a balanced budget within eight years. His economic aides said they could pay for all the tax cuts with spending cuts." [New York Times, 4/16/08]

REALITY CHECK:

Skepticism on McCain Plan to Balance Budget by 2013. "The package of spending and tax cuts proposed by Senator John McCain is unlikely to achieve his goal of balancing the federal budget by 2013, economists and fiscal experts said Monday. 'It would be very difficult to achieve in the best of circumstances, and even more difficult under the policies that Senator McCain has proposed,' said Robert L. Bixby, executive director of the Concord Coalition, a nonpartisan budget watchdog group." [New York Times, 7/8/08

McCain: No Plan to Keep Balanced Budget Pledge. "Mr. McCain has promised once again to balance the budget by the end of his first term in 2013, his advisers said Monday. They were reverting to an earlier pledge that Mr. McCain abandoned in April, when he proposed a series of costly tax cuts and, citing the ailing economy, said that it might take two terms to balance the budget… But it is unclear how Mr. McCain intends to balance the budget. Fiscal analysts who have examined Mr. McCain's plans say his calls to extend President Bush's tax cuts and cut corporate and other taxes without calling for comparable spending cuts could increase the federal budget deficit significantly." [New York Times

FactCheck.org: McCain's Spending Plans Don't Add Up. According to the non-partisan FactCheck.org, "McCain's big promise is that he can balance the budget while extending Bush's tax cuts and adding a few of his own. He likes to leave the impression that this can be done painlessly, for example, by eliminating 'wasteful' spending in the form of 'earmarks' that lawmakers like to tuck into spending bills to finance home-state projects. We found that not only is this theory full of holes, it's not even McCain's actual plan."

Washington Post Fact Checker: 4 Pinocchios for McCain's "Fantasy" Plan to Balance Budgets by Cutting Earmarks. "McCain's talk about eliminating $100 billion a year in earmarks is largely fantasy. His advisers are now promoting a more realistic plan of eliminating $100 billion in overall spending. But it is difficult to take even that promise very seriously given the fact that the senator refuses to identify exactly which projects he will be cut. To use a phrase coined by George H.W. Bush, this is 'voodoo economics,' based more on wishful thinking than on hard data or carefully considered policy proposals."

Cost of "Four More Years" Placed At $6.3 TRILLION. The CBO "January Budget and Economic Outlook" showed continued deterioration in the budget outlook with the projected 2008 deficit growing to $219 billion. But as bad as the budget situation has become under the current Republican Administration, continuation of the Republican policies by any of the Republicans on stage tonight will only make things worse. The majority staff of the Senate Budget Committee estimates that funding Republican priorities like making the Bush tax cuts permanent and funding ongoing - and perhaps permanent - operations in Iraq will add $6.3 trillion to the CBO's already dismal ten-year predictions.

McCain only middle-class tax cut proposal completely leaves out 101 million households - including those working and middle-class Americans hardest hit by this downturn. In contrast, Senator Obama's plan benefits 95 percent of workers and their families. The principal middle class tax cut proposed by John McCain is an increase in the dependent exemption that will not be fully in effect until 2016. Most households without children would see nothing under the plan - a total of 101 million households, including 67 million households currently paying income taxes but who would not benefit because they have no dependents, and 34 million low-income households with no income tax liability but generally paying payroll taxes. Nearly all seniors (37 million out of 38 million) would be left out. Even for families with children, the increase in the dependent exemption provides only a modest tax cut. In the first year of the plan, it would be worth about $125 to a middle-class family with two children. That same family would eventually see their taxes increase under the McCain plan, because his health care plan would raise taxes on middle-class families over time. This is completely inadequate, and will not help the very people whose reduced spending is contributing to our slowing economy. The Obama plan offers more generous tax relief for middle class families, including a "Making Work Pay Credit" that would benefit 95 percent of workers and their families, providing $1,000 for a typical working family. Obama's plan would also expand tax credits to help families save, send a child to college, pay for childcare, and afford their mortgage, while eliminating income taxes for all seniors making less than $50,000. [Obama for America memo, The McCain Economic Plan: Four More Years?, 7/7/08]

IMMIGRATION REFORM: WHERE DOES MCCAIN REALLY STAND?

2005: McCain Introduced Comprehensive Immigration Reform Legislation With Senator Kennedy. "Millions of undocumented workers in the United States could come out of the shadows by registering with the government and paying fines or fees of at least $2,000 to begin earning permanent residency under the most sweeping immigration-reform bill in two decades. The bill introduced Thursday was dubbed the 'Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act' by its bipartisan group of sponsors, led by Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Edward Kennedy, D-Mass. It would create a temporary-work visa program for foreigners to fill jobs requiring few or no skills, for up to six years. The legislation was touted as ensuring tougher enforcement of laws at the border and in the workplace while speeding the process of reuniting immigrant families. In addition, Mexico and other countries would be encouraged to enter into agreements to play a more active role in helping prevent illegal immigration into the United States, including promoting more economic opportunity back home. House sponsors Jim Kolbe and Jeff Flake, both Arizona Republicans, and Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., joined McCain and Kennedy on Thursday in casting the legislation as a comprehensive approach to immigration reform and national security." [The Arizona Republic, 5/13/05]

2008: McCain Said He Would Oppose the Legislation He Authored With Kennedy. Asked whether he would vote for the immigration legislation he previously sponsored, McCain eventually replied, "No, I would not." [CNN GOP Presidential Debate, 1/30/08]

2006: McCain Said an "Enforcement First" Strategy Focusing Only on Border Security is an "Ineffective And Ill-Advised Approach." "In April [2006], the Senate overwhelmingly passed, in a bipartisan fashion, a comprehensive immigration reform package designed to secure our borders as well as address the economic need for workers in our Nation. In passing this legislation, the Senate rejected the argument for an 'enforcement first' strategy that focuses on border security only, an ineffective and ill-advised approach. Congress cannot take a piecemeal approach to a national security crisis. I believe the only way to truly secure our border and protect our Nation is through the enactment of comprehensive immigration reform. As long as there is a need for workers in the United States and people are willing to cross the desert to make a better life for their families, our border will never be secure." [McCain, Congressional Record, 9/29/06]

2007: Presidential Candidate McCain Touts Securing The Border First. In 2008, McCain said, "And our proposal has got to be securing the borders first. The American people have no trust or confidence in us that we would secure the borders." In November 2007, McCain argued, "I want to assure you that I'll enforce the borders first." [CNN Larry King Live, 2/14/08; CNN/YouTube GOP Presidential Debate, 11/28/07]

2007: McCain Acknowledged His Shift on Immigration Reform During the Republican Primary Campaign. "John McCain spent months earlier this year arguing that the United States must combine border security efforts with a temporary worker program and an eventual path to citizenship for many illegal immigrants. Now, the Republican presidential candidate emphasizes securing the borders first. The rest, he says, is still needed but will have to come later. 'I understand why you would call it a, quote, shift,' McCain told reporters Saturday after voters questioned him on his position during back-to-back appearances in this early voting state. 'I say it is a lesson learned about what the American people's priorities are. And their priority is to secure the borders.' The shift in approach is likely to draw criticism from McCain's GOP opponents. Immigration has been a flash point in the race, with rivals Mitt Romney, Rudy Giuliani and Fred Thompson all seizing on it." [Associated Press, 11/3/07]

McCain vs. McCain

June 30, 2008

I suppose the upside to McCain's non-stop flip-flopping on immigration is that it makes for good web videos. He almost makes it too easy:

DNC Releases New Web Video: McCain vs. McCain on Immigration Reform

June 28, 2008

Following the debate on immigration reform that John McCain had with himself at today's meeting of the National Association of Latino Elected Officials, the Democratic National Committee released a new web video called "McCain vs. McCain: Immigration Reform." During this campaign, McCain has abandoned his support for comprehensive immigration reform to pander to the right wing of his Party. After adopting an enforcement-first approach that he previously said wouldn't work, McCain even promised to vote against the bipartisan bill that bears his name if came up for a vote.

McCain's conversion was on full display at NALEO. During his prepared remarks, Senator McCain said we must prove "that we can and will secure our borders first." But McCain flipped minutes later during the question and answer session, saying comprehensive immigration reform would be "my top priority yesterday, today, and tomorrow." Finally, McCain concluded by reversing himself yet again, saying we need to "move forward with our border security and then address this issue in a humane and compassionate fashion."

"After watching him debate himself on immigration reform at NALEO today, it's easy to see why John McCain wanted to make last week's meeting with Hispanic leaders in Chicago a closed-door event," said DNC Communications Director Karen Finney. "Apparently, Senator McCain's idea of 'straight talk' means giving two different answers to a straightforward question about whether he supports comprehensive immigration reform or an enforcement-first approach to the issue. McCain's promise to vote against his own comprehensive immigration reform bill is yet another example of his election year conversions on the critical issues facing our country."

Chryon: McCain vs. McCain: Comprehensive Immigration Reform or Enforcement First?

Chryon: Round 1 - "Secure the Border First" - 11:13 AM

MCCAIN: "That we can and will secure our borders first while respecting the dignity and rights of citizens and legal residents of the United States." [McCain Remarks Before NALEO, 6/28/08]

Chyron: Round 2 - Comprehensive Immigration Reform, Not Enforcement First - 11:25 AM

QUESTION: "As the next President of the United States of America, will comprehensive immigration reform and not just enforcement be one of your top policy priorities in your first 100 days in office?"

MCCAIN: "It'll be my top priority yesterday, today, and tomorrow." [McCain Remarks Before NALEO, 6/28/08]

Chryon: Round 3 - Border Security First - 11:44 AM

MCCAIN: "That is a compelling reason for us to move forward with our border security, and then address this issue in a humane and compassionate fashion." [McCain Remarks Before NALEO, 6/28/08]

Chryon: January 2008: Would Vote Against His Own Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill

QUESTION: "If your original proposal came to a vote in the Senate floor, would you vote for it?"

MCCAIN: "It won't. It won't. That's why we went through the debate."

QUESTION: "But what if it did?"

MCCAIN: "No, I would not." [CNN Debate, 1/30/08]