Latino leaders hear Senate Democrat blast John McCain on immigration

The Senate Democratic leader, Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada, blasted President Bush and presumptive Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) on Thursday for failing to get immigration reform through Congress in 2007. Reid was speaking at the annual conference of the National Assn. of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials.

The 6,000-member organization is holding its four-day conference in Washington, D.C., and has drawn major political speakers, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco), McCain, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) and the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.).

The Latino community's political and policy leaders are discussing issues such as education, the growing economic crisis and the emerging clout of Latino voters in U.S. politics — one reason, no doubt, why so many political heavy hitters came to pay their respects.

Reid used his address to target McCain on immigration. "Unfortunately, despite President Bush and Sen. McCain’s proclamations of support, neither one showed the leadership or expended the political capital necessary to actually get [2007 immigration reform] done," Reid said. "Sen. McCain has gone so far as to announce in the Republican debates that he would vote against his own bill. His new position on immigration is so divisive and wrongheaded that it has won him the endorsement of Tom Tancredo."

— Nicole Gaouette in Washington

Comments

[Jenda]

The best recomendation for an immigrant who wants to assimilate is to almost reflexively oppose the recomendations of "one's leaders" who have an interest in serving only as mediating elites between general society and oneself. Unlike the countries we came from, America is not a particularly racist society and reqrds asismilation, acknowedging it as the ultimate compliment.

[Unlimited]

Dear SPQR_US: I do not believe you are married to someone of "color" otherwise you would not be referring to your loved one in those terms, and by the way you generalize immigrants as criminals and rapists, that shows your lack of understanding and balance in your arguments.

The Hispanic community sees the racist hate-mongering of the Republicans, who are stirring up public sentiment against immigrants.There are also a lot of Hispanic kids in the military. The families of these kids are seeing how they are being treated like cannon fodder, and seeing the broken promises of the government in regard to health care, veterans' services, and the pitiful excuse for a GI Bill that many of these kids signed up for so they could go to college at the end of their enlistments.They see legal Hispanics, many second, third, even fourth generation citizens, harassed because of their skin color and locked up, accused of being illegal immigrants. They see families being torn apart by La Migra. Why would Hispanics vote Republican, especially after seeing McCain's voting record and listening to him change his promises every time he addresses a different audience?
They have learned that "Compassionate Conservative" is a LIE.

[Erik Kengaard]

When has Harry Reid ever truly served the public interest? He, Pelosi, Feinstein et al dream of a patron client state.

[Jenn]

McCain is a throw back..I'm still wondering why he is our nominee? How did that happen when his policies are the status quo' that has an unfavorable poll like 78% of the American population?

He is very good at telling people his truths that their jobs are not coming back and that there will be more wars..But what solutions does he have..he is NO problem solver..He is not presidential material.

I'm not convinced that Obama is either.. as he just voted in favor of the unwarranted wire tapping bill allowing immunity for Bush and telecom for this unconstitutional bill. Obama is no different on Illegal immigration tho' he says he'll consider renegotiating NAFTA..a root problem of the illegal immigration situation..so he is ONE up on McCain at least.

I do like that Obama is willing to use Diplomacy v pre-emptive war..that is two up on McCain.

[SPQR_US]

Dear Marcus El Malo,

Calling people like me who support the rule of law and expect a scure border won't work anymore. The madder you make people like me the more draconian will be the current crackdown on illegal alien criminals welfare moochers and illegal alien drunk drivers and rapists.

I am married to a legal immigrant of color so I am not in any way a racist. My wife and I followed the law and were punished and charged massive fees at every turn. Why cannot anyone else follow the law as we are required to do? Why should Mexicans or anyone else for that matter expect special treatment in fact Mexican illegals now have far more rights inthe US than Americans do.

What is racist is people of hispanic heritage expecting special treatment and rights based upon their race or that they come from Mexico or latin America, that is as racist as the KKK or Hitler. La Raza (menas the Race) is no different than the KKK or the Nazi party. Juan McShamnesty better come around and remember to enforce the law much much more. Osama Bin Obama has no chance of winning and illegal immigration will be a central issue. The middle part of the country is not happy with his racist activity and commentary either. People who think race should give you special provialge are on the looney tune fringe and are abotu to go the way of the Dodo Bird.

[Marcos El Malo]

I don't know who John McCain is anymore. I supported him in 2000, but I now have doubts about who he was back then. His current position is still understandable in terms of pure politics. Despite being the presumptive nominee, he hasn't secured the base. So now he is pandering to a noisy racist subgroup of that base while simultaneously trying to move towards the center. Because he lacks convictions, he's damned either way.

Securing the border is an obvious precondition to any immigration reform. But enough progress has been made on securing the border that now is the time to talk about bringing the millions of illegal immigrants into compliance without tearing apart families or sapping law enforcement (who should remain dedicated to going after real criminals).

[GloriaSM]

Unfortunately, it is true. Mr. McCain seems to have lost the ways of the straight talk express and now has a position on immigration that few understand. I wish he would clarify either way, in support or against comprehensive immigration reform. Those who say they know what he really thinks are full of it! Hispanics are tired of being targeted by the Republican party as the scapegoat of the moment, it is time for change! GO OBAMA!

[Brittanicus]

If it's something to do with enforcing our immigration laws, the Latino special interest lobby will crawl out of its hole to stop its enactment. Just like the SAVE ACT (H.R.4088) a Federal bill, the laggard Democrats don't want voted into law. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has used intimidation to stop her thrall from endorsing this legislation. Obama already promised he would give the millions of illegal alien lawbreakers, squatting in this nation AMNESTY? McCain will do likewise to get the vote in November.

Afterwards will be too late for overburdened taxpayers, who will have to support them. Plus the millions more who will think it's 'open day' from the third world countries. Demand the SAVE ACT! (2022243121 ) Unsuppressed details at NUMBERSUSA.

Ice has a free Tipline: 1-866-DHS-2ICE for intelligence to locate illegal aliens, or predatory businesses that employ them.

[Susan R]

Illegal immigration is criminal. Why both sides are not explaining that to Latino voters is beyond me.
We cannot continue to let all of Mexico sneak in and give them free health care, education and benefits.

[Raul1959]

Hispanics must vote for all Democrat representatives for the US Congress and for John McCain as president. McCain will be a lame-duck president with no veto power that will have to compromise with a Democratic Congress, but his stance on immigration will par with that of a Democrat congress hence benefiting the Latino community in all.

Pass among Hispanics-Latinos & immigrants this option.

[Anon]

Hmmm.......wasn't it Senator Reid that killed immigration reform in 2007 when he improperly allowed the deal breaking amendment to go for a vote, not once, not twice, but THREE seperate times until it passed?