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More Grief for McCain on Secret Meeting with Hispanics
June 24, 2008 12:04 PM
ABC News' Z. Byron Wolf Reports from Capitol Hill: Sen. John McCain took some grief from the Left for keeping a tight handle on who he invited to his secret meeting with Hispanics in Chicago last week. And he took some grief from the Right for apparently promising at that meeting to pursue a pathway to citizenship for some illegal immigrants.
The grief from the Right continued today. Anti-amnesty crusader Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., wrote McCain a letter calling him out on the meeting, questioning McCain's commitment to pledges made earlier in the campaign, and snarkily invoking McCain's "Straight Talk" mantra.
Tancredo asks if promises made by McCain earlier in the presidential campaign to hold off on giving longtime illegal immigrants a "pathway to citizenship" until after the borders were secured were any more than lip service, and wonders whether the presumptive Republican nominee's candidacy is a Trojan horse for amnesty.
"Senator, given your past sponsorship of amnesty legislation, such statements raise troubling questions. Are you planning to break a promise you made in February to postpone all other immigration reform legislation until we have first secured our borders?" writes Tancredo, who goes on to ask McCain to use an upcoming speech to the pro-pathway to citizenship National Council of La Raza in San Diego to embrace a "security first" immigration approach.
"I challenge you to deliver a message to that assembly which does not pander to their amnesty agenda. You should speak to the La Raza convention and to all Hispanic audiences about America's need for secure borders as a priority above all other immigration reforms," Tancredo said.
McCain was a vocal proponent of the failed Senate attempt to pass comprehensive immigration reform when Republicans controlled the body in 2006. He was a less visible proponent in 2007, when Democrats were in charge, though he voted again for a bipartisan, comprehensive approach to immigration in both years.
The second attempt at immigration reform failed as his presidential campaign was ramping up. McCain explained to Republican voters in debates that he had gotten "the message" and would work to secure American borders before pursuing a pathway to citizenship.
"Giving Americans "Straight Talk" –- telling them what they need to hear instead of what they want to hear – demonstrates leadership, and as you have correctly pointed out many times in the past, that is what America needs now more than ever," he said.
June 24, 2008 in Hunter, Duncan, Thompson, Fred | Permalink | User Comments (31)
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McCain has flipped on sooooooo many issues. I don't even know where he stands any more.
Posted by: doubletalkexpress | Jun 24, 2008 12:26:48 PM
McCain is so confused he needs "OnStar" to tell him what to say. Please...get real here. Is anyone REALLY going to vote for him...?
Posted by: truthtell | Jun 24, 2008 12:29:14 PM
Does McCain constantly Flip Flop or does he simply forget what he has said the day before?
Posted by: Jim | Jun 24, 2008 12:32:18 PM
. . . .and in closing, let me remind all of you . . .that I have more experience in flip-flopping, than my opponent!
Posted by: DAVID NH | Jun 24, 2008 1:06:47 PM
Rove killed McCain in 2000 with the black baby rumor. All that's left is a zombie who adopts whatever positions he feels he needs adopt to shore up his base and pick off some independents (e.g. new position supporting Bush tax cuts to super rich despite deficits).
Those who intend to vote for McCain should do so only after admitting to themselves that he is not the straight talking maverick he used to be. That way, they will not be surprised in the event McCain becomes President and governs as McBush rather than magically jettisoning all of his newly adopted right wing neocon positions and run the country like the McCain of 2000 would have done had henot been Roved in SC and forced out of the race.
Posted by: ToastOnDayOne | Jun 24, 2008 1:19:13 PM
Well according to the straight talker "there will be other wars". All the best. Mr Black was not pulled up for what he said, it was because he said it.
Posted by: hmmmm | Jun 24, 2008 1:39:14 PM
Both Candidates are egregiously out of step with America's Citizens on addressing illegal immigration. Overwhelmingly, American's support securing our borders and enforcing our immigration laws. With both parties pandering wildly for the pro-illegal and cheap labor votes, and given Congress abysmal approval ratings, voters can work to marginalize the threat both candidates pose by identifying and voting for pro-enforcement House and Senate Candidates. If there are no pro-enforcement candidates in your district, then work to unseat the incumbent, regardless of which party they belong to. Any shift in power will put both the White House and Congress on notice that America's Citizens are taking the issue of illegal immigration seriously.
Posted by: Ed Weirdness | Jun 24, 2008 2:03:41 PM
That's not change we can believe in!!!!
Posted by: GTFOOH | Jun 24, 2008 2:09:58 PM
Secret meeting with hispanics? What a bunch of CNN crap. Hispanic voting blocks don't need to hide from anybody. We are an organize force and for the first time in history we will decide the presidential elections. All candidates need to listen to our agenda, no longer will we put up with CNN lies. You can't accept this fact. The hell with you.
Posted by: Jose Missenelli | Jun 24, 2008 2:13:57 PM
C'mon let's all get out the vote for Juan McCain! Anybody going to Mexico and can habla espanol? Stuff them in the car and bring them and their familes back for big Juan. He's gonna need all the help he can get!
Posted by: pity | Jun 24, 2008 2:14:12 PM
To ABCNEWS staff:
The meeting wasn't secret.
It was reported in the chicago papers for days before the meeting took place.
Why do you left wing media types have to lie all the time.
Obama meets behind closed doors with african american leaders and you don't report that.
The person who is so angry about this is someone looking for publicity. This lady has made horrible anti catholic remarks.
Posted by: David | Jun 24, 2008 2:21:32 PM
Both parties and candidates needs to stand up and say "STOP ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM ENTERING OUR COUNTRY AND SEND ILLEGAL IMMIAGRANTS BACK HOME."
The laws are aleeady on the books. Just enforce them.
Posted by: Mary | Jun 24, 2008 2:23:23 PM
PLease don't call him a flip flopper, it's unfair to fish left out of water...His name is:
Juan McShamnesty and he's a pander-bear. Juan McShamnesty long ago sold his soul to his masters in Mexico City and needs to please his masters by keeping the drugs flowing from Mexican cartels to the children in the US.
Due to global warming caused by all the hot air the disgorged daily the pander bears are now seeing their environment destryoed by over population from drunkards and rapists Mexico and high taxes from their many other betrayals.
Posted by: SPQR_US | Jun 24, 2008 2:26:32 PM
Both candidates know that without new immigration this country cannot survive and no matter what anybody thinks amnesty will be granted to all these outstanding citizens to be. There are too many lazy Americans that don't want to work.
Posted by: jose missenelli | Jun 24, 2008 3:49:04 PM
Both presumptive Senator Obama, McCain and then House Speaker Pelosi have a lot to answer for, regarding to illegal immigration.. Their idea of Comprehensive Amnesty last March would have helped to bankrupt the country. Because what illegal aliens cannot get in benefits now, such as free health care, education and a host of benefits from both federal and state programs, they would have inherited after getting legal status. Tom Tancredo, Duncan Hunter are not like the political party members above, as they want the borders fence built according to the original plan and certainly no path to instant citizenship. Tancredo would eradicate the misinterpreted birthright law and stop all free welfare benefits to illegal foreign nationals.
Even as I speak the House Appropriations Committee today (today) will be deciding how the federal government enforces immigration laws. 202-224-3121 We must demand the border fence constructed according to Duncan Hunters 'Secure border fence act (2008), reluctant Democrats must endorse the Federal SAVE ACT (4088) We must insist on full funding for (ICE) and no gutting of any programs. NUMBERS.
Posted by: Brittanicus | Jun 24, 2008 3:58:53 PM
The establishment media created the phony image of McCain as a "straight talking maverick".
Now that McCain is no longer a useful dupe for the media's agenda, the media is throwing him overboard.
Well, that's the first thing they've done regarding McCain that I can be enthusiastic about.
The Republican Party could have nominated a candidate for President who would restore its adherence to its principles that have been torn all to shreds by Bush and now by McBush.
No matter who wins in November, the Republicans have lost by default.
In fact, the best thing for Republicans is for Obama to win.
Who knows, Obama may even do some good things, because I don't think his brain is so fossilized like McCain's.
Our country could completely collapse, and McCain will stick to his destructive agenda, because he is incapable of adapting to the real world, except when it comes to making a few phony promises, not ones to reneg on if and when he gets elected, but to reneg on a few days later on the campaign trail.
Democrats and Republicans agree: McCain needs to lose in November.
Posted by: lance sjogren | Jun 24, 2008 4:00:33 PM
Interesting that the Left is complaining about McCain keeping tight control over who attended the Hispanic meeting.
I guess maybe he wouldn't invite the aztlan.net folks, the ones who openly call for genocide in America?
But his control obviously wasn't too good, because he inadvertently let Rosana Pulido in, the articulate Latino Minuteman activist.
McCain clearly fell short in making sure that only Leftists got invited.
Posted by: lance sjogren | Jun 24, 2008 4:04:39 PM
I for one will never vote for Amnesty! We did that before, we should never do amnesty again, I don't care what the situtation, this is why our Government does not take the American citizens seriously. Well I think they had better know, we will continue to say not to amnesty! We have already spoken twice and said out and out noooooooo amnesty! GOD BLESS AMERICA!
Posted by: Nezzie | Jun 24, 2008 4:08:06 PM
By the way: Great word there "snarkily".
No doubt many people feel Tom Tancredo is a "snarky" guy.
As far as I'm concerned, when a politician sets himself up as some sort of paragon of morality, he had better be able to live up to that standard.
"Straight talking" McCain certainly has not.
Politicians always get these sanctimonious slogans thrown back in their faces.
Remember "family values", wasn't it Dan Quayle who talked about those? Then the Democrats, appropriately, presented their expansion of social programs as the advancement of "family values".
Politicians never learn, especially the sanctimonious ones.
Posted by: lance sjogren | Jun 24, 2008 4:08:20 PM
Nezzie:
Since you will never vote for amnesty, I assume that means you will not vote for Juan Amnesty McCain?
Posted by: lance sjogren | Jun 24, 2008 4:09:42 PM
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