McCain vs. Obama on Immigration: Is There A Difference?

By: John Bentley
Topics: John McCain

(CBS)

From CBS News' John Bentley

(PHOENIX) – Immigration is a hot topic at the National Council of La Raza convention going on this week in San Diego. Both presidential candidates are speaking to the Hispanic advocacy group, and both are laying out their policy prescriptions on illegal immigration.

The trouble is, they are hard to tell apart. Both John McCain and Barack Obama support comprehensive immigration reform, closing the borders first, and a pathway to citizenship for the 12 million illegal immigrants already in the U.S.

The similarities, however, have not stopped the campaigns from attacking each other over the issue.

During his speech yesterday, Obama complimented McCain on his bipartisan work on immigration in the Senate last year. But he also accused him of abandoning immigration reform when he started running for president.

"I don't know about you, but I think it's time for a president who won't walk away from something as important as comprehensive reform just because becomes politically unpopular," Obama said. "And that's the commitment I'm making to you."

The McCain campaign, however, lays the blame for the failed immigration bill on Obama, who voted for amendments to the bill that they claim killed immigration reform.

"At great political peril, he took this issue and tried to bring together all sides to on comprehensive immigration reform," said Rosario Marin, a former U.S. Treasurer and McCain supporter. "It almost happened, but it didn't because of precisely people like Sen. Obama, casting votes that eventually unraveled the immigration package that he had so carefully put together."

McCain will address the National Council of La Raza this afternoon, and he will tell them that he has not turned his back on comprehensive immigration reform, according to excerpts released by the campaign. "When my critics said it would be political suicide for me to do so, I helped author with Sen. Kennedy comprehensive immigration reform, and fought for its passage," McCain will say.

With both candidates basically saying the same things about immigration, it's hard to see what all the fighting's about.

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by chuckamok July 15, 2008 2:22 AM EDT: The problem, OUR problem, is that, as Senators, neither candidate has listen to the people.

The people want the borders sealed off NOW.

Y''all got that ?? NOW, as in decades ago.

Obama and McCain prefer doing nothing about this issue, nothing to reflect the will of the people. Which is - close the borders NOW.

What part of that DON''T YOU GET ???; Reply to this comment


by wardoglrs July 14, 2008 10:17 PM EDT: obama voted for the FISA bill this is treason and he should be in prison or put to death..And McCain; Reply to this comment


by sgtrds10-4 July 14, 2008 8:21 PM EDT: There isn''t really much difference between the two of them on this issue. Both support a realistic path to citizenship for undocumented workers here in America and so do I. This one is a wash.; Reply to this comment


by mattcat25 July 14, 2008 5:21 PM EDT: Using the race card to justify unity and at the same time using the race card to justify discrimination: OBama is a fraud and an elitist. Of course, ''''Blacks'''' feel supportive of a "black candidate" if they didn''''t it wouldn''''t make sense. They don''''t see anything beyond the color and that is a fine example of how much they see reality. Kinda proves the point, they are ( reverse) racists, doesn''''t it?
Posted by Ariel133

It seems to me by your statements that that you ARIEL133 are the one not seeing anything past race, color, and prejudice.; Reply to this comment


by ariel133 July 14, 2008 3:33 PM EDT: Using the race card to justify unity and at the same time using the race card to justify discrimination: OBama is a fraud and an elitist. Of course, ''Blacks'' feel supportive of a "black candidate" if they didn''t it wouldn''t make sense. They don''t see anything beyond the color and that is a fine example of how much they see reality. Kinda proves the point, they are ( reverse) racists, doesn''t it?; Reply to this comment


by zeezilman July 14, 2008 2:38 PM EDT: Neither of these two anarchists are worth of bucket of spit. It''s sad to see how far our country has fallen with these two hispanderers running for President.; Reply to this comment


by ariel133 July 14, 2008 1:34 PM EDT: Obama is not qualified to Lead a country, he has had no business experiance, and makes claims based on little knowledge. He would be a disaster! That''s the differance.; Reply to this comment


by edweirdness July 14, 2008 1:33 PM EDT: There truly is no difference between the two candidates. They are both prepared to undermine the clearly stated will of America''s Citizens that our borders be secured and our immigration laws be enforced. Not surprising seeing as how the media and pundits have all misread American sentiment on illegal immigration.

America''s Citizens shouted down the egregious McCain/Kennedy Amnesty legislation, and Senator McCain said he got the message.

Apparently no one got the message.

Voters will have to concentrate on truning out pro-illegal incumbents in the House and Senate, and change the balance of power in Congress. With concerted effort, voters can marginalize the damage that either a McCain or Obama presidency will cause.; Reply to this comment