McCain to Latino Group: Secure The Borders First

By: John Bentley
Topics: John McCain

(CBS)

From CBS News' John Bentley:

(WASHINGTON) Despite having failed to achieve immigration reform in the Senate, John McCain told the nation's largest Hispanic advocacy group he would "fix our broken borders."

"Many Americans, with good cause, did not believe us when we said we would secure our borders, and so we failed in our efforts," McCain said at the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) annual convention today.

"We must prove to them 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 said it was important to "recognize the important economic necessity of immigrant laborers," but not to excuse those who came to the U.S. illegally or give them rights ahead of those who emigrated legally.

In a wide-ranging speech touching on the economy, energy security, and education, McCain lamented that nearly half of Hispanics who enter high school do not graduate with their class.

"In many schools, particularly where people are struggling the hardest, the situation is dire," he said. "I believe sincerely it is the civil rights challenge of our time."

McCain proposed increased school choice, holding teachers responsible for results, and rewarding superior teachers as the antidote to failing schools.

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by louthesz9 July 10, 2008 7:29 AM EDT: %u201CBarack Obama was in friendly territory today in front of a crowd of Latino activists and he told them what they wanted to hear - that he would fight for COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM and promised to get it done in his first term in office.

John McCain had a few hours earlier - that this election is about %u201Call the people who are paying a price because of our broken immigration system; all the communities that are taking immigration enforcement into their own hands; and all the neighborhoods that are seeing rising tensions as citizens are pit against new immigrants. They need us to put an end to the petty partisanship that passes for politics in Washington and enact COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM once and for all.%u201D

Well, there you go. Thanks to you, White Christian voters (who represent the largest voting bloc). We have two candidates trying to out-amnestize each other, trying to compete with each other about who%u2019s gonna give more benefits, more freebies to the illegal aliens without enforcement first. At least, Obama has been truthful and honest from day one. McCain has been flip-flopping on the immigration issue from day one.; Reply to this comment


by jjorcutt July 9, 2008 7:18 PM EDT: McCain has flip-flopped on this issue. I agree we need to secure our borders. In the past McCain has pushed an immigration policy that more closely resmbles the Democrat platform now that he wants the presidency he will say whatever he needs to to get his base out to the polls. Typical!; Reply to this comment


by walrus306 July 9, 2008 5:57 PM EDT: I think McCain will gain votes on this issue.

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Posted by patriot12436 at 12:57 AM : Jul 09, 2008

From who? Republicans that are hispanic-phobic? He already had those in his pocket before he announced he was running. Hispanics that want a closed border? That Hispanic was already a Republican and living in Vermont. African-Americans that care more about their sons being sent to Iraq than they care about borders? So where, if from anywhere,would McCain be gaining NEW, repeat, NEW votes with a "Close The Borders" speech? He is just getting a reassuring nod from votes he already had. Zero Gain.; Reply to this comment


by patriot12436 July 9, 2008 3:57 AM EDT: I think McCain will gain votes on this issue.; Reply to this comment


by kansas1946 July 8, 2008 10:41 PM EDT: %u201CMany Americans, with good cause, did not believe us when we said we would secure our borders, and so we failed in our efforts,%u201D McCain said at the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) annual convention today.

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Exactly. Secure the danged borders. That should be a first priority, THEN worry about the mess we have over here.; Reply to this comment


by phillysage July 8, 2008 10:16 PM EDT: I do not trust someone ( Obama, specifically) who has not served his country proudly,in some form or another,. . .
Posted by Ariel133

Obviously, a Republican''s idea of serving country is tearing up somebody else''s country in the name of freedom and democracy, even when the USA gets nothing out of such a war except increased enmity from abroad, an ever-worsening economy at home and steady deterioration of our social fabric. Why isn''t the work Obama has done uplifting hurting communities at home considered patriotic by the phony "patriots" on the right?; Reply to this comment


by dnsallday July 8, 2008 7:26 PM EDT: McCain figures Spanish speaking people won''t be able to figure out that he is lying to them.

Errors en Espaqol
July 8, 2008
A Spanish-language McCain radio ad gets nearly all its facts wrong.
Summary
McCain''s new radio ad, in Spanish, aims to show Florida would benefit from the Colombia Free Trade Agreement, which he supports. But every number in the ad is wrong, except one, a prediction of job gains taken from a group favoring the trade deal. And even that number is rounded upward so generously as to flunk third-grade arithmetic.
FACTCHECK.ORG; Reply to this comment


by ariel133 July 8, 2008 7:11 PM EDT: I do not trust someone ( Obama, specifically) who has not served his country proudly,in some form or another, or who feels ''obligated'' to wear a USA pin ( as opposed to having it on only in question) or to be at a Church that hates Americans for over 20 years. Period.; Reply to this comment


by walrus306 July 8, 2008 6:19 PM EDT: If it comes down to the Hispanic vote, McCain has already lost the election and doesn''t even know it. "CLOSE THE BORDERS!" and this is the speech for LULAC???? Why not a "STOP IRISH IMMIGRATION" speech at the next Irish Pride Parade? It would make as much sense. LULAC is mostly Hispanic Business owners. Who do you think wants a "loose" border more than a Hispanic Business Owner. A closed border will put many of them out of business. Do you think that a landscaper can afford to pay $12 an hour and still stay in business? Pay a construction worker $20 an hour and still sell you an affordable house?
How many LULAC members still have family that hopes to come here some day soon? (answer: at least half of the LULAC members.)
McCain, keep making that "Close The Border" speech at hispanic venues. America needs a Democrat anyway to clean up this gas crisis. (created during an oilman''s presidency...no, nothing suspicious there at all...not at all...no, really, not suspicious at all...it''s just a coincidence that Oil Companies made record number profits during an Oilman''s presidency...yup...uh-huh....ok....); Reply to this comment


by joan1v July 8, 2008 6:01 PM EDT: Mad as hell, just heard Julia Preston from the New York times telling the same story about illegal aliens, She said they are only taking jobs americans don''t want. They are not involved in crime in the united states only petty crimes. They are really pushing illegal aliens. What part of illegal do they NOT UNDERSTAND ILLEGAL IS A CRIME. SEND THEM HOME, CONTINE WITH E VERIFY WITH EMPOLOYERS LETS SEE WHO IS IN OUR COUNTRY AND WHO HAS STOLEN OUR IDENTIES.; Reply to this comment