March 30, 2010 4:50 PM

John McCain: National Guard Should Seal the Border

By
Brian Montopoli
Topics
Republicans

Arizona Sen. John McCain sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano yesterday calling on Napolitano to send National Guard troops to the "southern border region" between the U.S. and Mexico.

McCain points to "the continued and apparently growing violence" along the border in his letter, which you can see here. He notes the death of an Arizona rancher who was shot to death on his property and writes that the federal government should act to "curb this violence and protect its citizens from criminals coming across the border from Mexico."

"The people of Arizona and the United States demand and deserve secure borders," the 2008 Republican presidential candidate writes. "I hope that you will take a personal interest in ensuring that Arizonans can feel safe and protected on their own property and not live in fear of the increasing violence along the border."

McCain is attempting to fight off a primary challenge from the right from former congressman and conservative talk-radio host JD Hayworth, who has attacked McCain for his position on climate change, campaign financing and, most aggressively, immigration.

Seemingly in response to the challenge, the 2008 Republican presidential nominee has seemed to move right on immigration and other issues. When President Bush was in office, McCain backed immigration reform that would provide a path to citizenship for the millions of illegal immigrants living in the United States -- a position he no longer appears to support.

On his campaign Web site, McCain says that his first priority when it comes to immigration is securing the nation's borders.

"John McCain does not support amnesty and believes that we should not reward lawbreakers," according to the site.

McCain wrote in his letter that he is merely reiterating his past calls for troops at the border. Last year the Obama administration declined a request from the Arizona governor, Jan Brewer, for National Guard troops to be deployed there.


Add a Comment See all 39 Comments
by thinking-hurts April 1, 2010 8:56 AM EDT
President Barack Obama, who promised transparency in government, who promised he would work for bipartisan in government, who promised it would not be the same old politics, who promised he would work for all people, Who did not have the time to come out and see what the thousands of Americans rallying with the tea party had to say, But he had time to do a video message (that had to be prepared in advance) to be presented on a giant screen at the National Mall to tell immigrants he will work on his promise to fix immigration law.
Now I ask all of you legal Americans, how do you like your President now?
Reply to this comment
by pasmalltown April 1, 2010 9:30 AM EDT
"The Cochise County Sheriff's Office says Krentz, a third-generation rancher, was killed Saturday while working on his ranch about 30 miles northeast of Douglas. Investigators tracked the footprints of a lone gunman 20 miles to the Mexican border, but authorities have no leads on a suspect."
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2010/04/01/20100401slain-arizona-rancher-mourned.html
----------------------------
The problem is you listen to what you what to hear. Above is an excerpt from azcentral.com dated 4-1-2010. Please note two things. "..authorities have no leads on a suspect." and "Investigators tracked the footprints of a lone gunman 20 miles to the Mexican border."
Legal or illegal, it doesn't make sense that this murderer was an "immigrant". Why go back to Mexico if the suspect was an immigrant, as you imply? And until authorities identify and catch the suspect, speculation about his/her motives is conjecture, not fact. How do you like that?
by thinking-hurts April 1, 2010 11:44 AM EDT
If you go to Cochise county Douglas in Arizona news .
Ladd a local rancher said the word of the death got around quickly in the tight-knit Cochise County ranching community, Ladd said it was some civilians who began tracking the suspected shooter and had him almost cornered before he fled back into Mexico.
by pasmalltown March 31, 2010 9:06 PM EDT
by DeloresSmith109 March 31, 2010 6:47 PM EDT
"Once a noble man...always a noble man. Very few could endure what Senator McCain experienced in the North Vietnam Prison."
__________________________________

Delores, I understand your feelings in all your posts and don't disagree with most of what you have to say, however I do not think politicians are always "noble". He may have "more integrity in his little finger than Hayworth has in his entire body.", but they are both politicians - if they are "always noble" they don't have a chance to win the place on a potty seat...........
Reply to this comment
by DeloresSmith109 March 31, 2010 6:42 PM EDT
TO: Everyone
I watch C-Span daily, and keep up with the votes of Senator John McCain. Senator McCain has more integrity in his little finger than Hayworth has in his entire body. No one is perfect, but Senator McCain is the man we need in Arizona.
Delores Smith109
Delores109@cox.net
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by chitown639 March 31, 2010 5:15 PM EDT
McCain is moving so far right, so fast, I'm afraid he may appear with a Confederate Flag tatooed to his forehead at his next speaking engagement......anything to get re-elected.....
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by Bill Ring March 31, 2010 1:17 PM EDT
McCain is reacting because he has spent years aiding and encouraging illegal aliens to sneak into our country to murder Americans. The former war hero should be placed in a cage and displayed on the Capital steps with a sign that reads: "I accepted bribes from special interest groups to sell out my country and allow innocent Americans to be murdered". McCain has blood on his hands.
Reply to this comment
by DeloresSmith109 March 31, 2010 6:53 PM EDT
Bill Ring,
Thank you for including...the former war hero...in your post. I have three members of my family buried at Arlington National Cemetery. They wouldn't respect you,as they do Senator McCain.
Delores Smith109
Delores109@cox.net
by DeloresSmith109 March 31, 2010 6:54 PM EDT
Bill Ring,
Thank you for including...the former war hero...in your post. I have three members of my family buried at Arlington National Cemetery. They wouldn't respect you,as they do Senator McCain.
Delores Smith109
Delores109@cox.net
by Roni65 March 31, 2010 1:12 PM EDT
I agree with Mr. McCain. Please seal the border so that Mexico does not receive any more American AK47s, grenades, assault rifles, ammo and guns of all calibers sold by proud rednecks in Arizona, Texas, California and New Mexico. Please seal the border so that the millions of dollars that come from the sale of cocaine, ecstasy and pot, in your American streets, stop financing drug lords in Mexico. Seal the border and deal with the largest drug abuse problem in the world that idiotizes your society at all levels. Please do that so no more innocent kids, women and civilians get killed. Finally, please accept also the fact that as long as your people is hungry for drugs, there will always be blood running, not only in Mexico but in any supplying country.
Reply to this comment
by DeloresSmith109 March 31, 2010 7:04 PM EDT
Ron,
After the border is sealed, what do you suggest? Are you in a drug-free state?
Delores Smith 109
Delores109@cox.net
by GeneGarman March 31, 2010 12:52 PM EDT
Leave the national guard on their jobs. We need ten times or more Americans in the National Border Patrol. Put Americans to work and solve two problems at the same time. Unfortunately, Secretary of Homeland Security, simply has not put manpower and dogs and guns and equipment on the border. How difficult is that to understand?
Reply to this comment
by DeloresSmith109 March 31, 2010 6:59 PM EDT
Gene,
Shouldn't your post be directed to President Obama?
Delores Smith109
Delores109@cox.net
by ajvw March 31, 2010 10:55 AM EDT
and they should be sent to the boarder with shoot to kill orders. they won't have to be there long that way.
Reply to this comment
by pasmalltown March 31, 2010 10:36 AM EDT
What's truely lacking here is the fact that the Robt Krentz incident has to date, not been resolved. There are footprints leading to the border, yet law enforcement have yet to identify who actually was involved in and the circumstances surrounding the Arizona rancher's death(his dog was also found dead). For McCain to use this unfortunate and tragic incident as a "call to arms" is a reckless attempt to garner political brownie points with AZ voters. There is little doubt that addressing the increasing problems of illegal traffic across the U.S./Mexican border needs to be addressed, however McCain's motives behind this letter to Napolitano citing the Robert Krentz case in the second sentence need to be examined in greater detail. Beating the drums is one thing, using unsubstantied fact is reckless............
Reply to this comment
by AOCGUY March 31, 2010 9:19 AM EDT
John, Napolitano can't send the guard anywhere and you should know that. Send your letter to Obama (he can nationalize the guard then send them to the border) or to the governors of the border states. Anything else and you are just bloviating.
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