May 22, 2008

John McCain back to supporting "comprehensive immigration reform", "guest" workers, H-1B visas

Some people have tried to say that John McCain turned his back on "comprehensive immigration reform", i.e., a massive amnesty for illegal aliens. In a Silicon Valley speech today, McCain clarified the matter (link):

After several of the business leaders complained about the difficulty in obtaining temporary H1B visas for scientists and engineers, something the Senate immigration bill was supposed to address, Mr. McCain expressed regret the measure did not pass, calling it a personal "failure," as well as one by the federal government.

...Mr. McCain asked others on the panels for suggestions about how to “better mobilize American public opinion” behind the notion of comprehensive immigration reform.

It gets even worse, as - with Arnold Schwarzenegger by his side, cheering him on - McCain said:

"Senator Kennedy and I tried very hard to get immigration reform, a comprehensive plan, through the Congress of the United States... It is a federal responsibility and because of our failure as a federal obligation, we’re seeing all these various conflicts and problems throughout our nation as different towns, cities, counties, whatever they are, implement different policies and different programs which makes things even worse and even more confusing... ...I believe we have to secure our borders, and I think most Americans agree with that, because it’s a matter of national security. But we must enact comprehensive immigration reform. We must make it a top agenda item if we don’t do it before, and we probably won’t, a little straight talk, as of January 2009... ...[illegal aliens] are also God’s children, and we have to do it in a human and compassionate fashion...

The last is simply false compassion, and what McCain supports will lead to even more people wanting to come here and will give even more political power to corrupt business groups and far-left groups that currently oppose immigration enforcement.

IT WAS ALL JUST A DREAM UPDATE: From this:

Team McCain tells me the senator's comments were poorly worded. There's been no discussion within the campaign of altering their stance on illegal immigration, and as far as everyone on the campaign is concerned, the policy is still, 'secure the border first.'

I said, "so, this change away from border-security-first wouldn't happen, unless John McCain and his top advisers had gotten together, studied it in great detail, weighed all the advantages and disadvantages, and came to the carefully-considered conclusion that they're really not interested in winning the election?" The strategist laughed and agreed.

Posted to Immigration2008a at May 22, 2008 08:27 PM