McCain "puzzled" by controversy over wildfire comments

 

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said Tuesday he was "puzzled" by recent criticism over comments he made suggesting illegal immigrants may have been responsible for some wildfires in Arizona, noting that he was merely conveying information from a forest service official who had briefed him prior to the press conference.

After a spokesman for the U.S. Forest Service told ABC News on Sunday that there "absolutely" no evidence to support McCain's claims with regards to the Wallow Fire, McCain, during an appearance on NBC's "Today," emphasized that he had not been referencing that particular fire in his comments.

"I was not referring to the Wallow fire," he said. "The fact is, I just had been briefed on this situation by a forest service official."

"And we all know that people who come across our border illegally - according to the fire service, according to the border patrol, according to the local sheriffs and law enforcement agents - that these fires are sometimes, some of them have been caused by [illegal immigrants]," McCain continued.

"So again, I'm puzzled over that there should be any controversy since the fire service is on record as saying exactly what I just repeated, because I had been briefed on that just an hour or so before the press conference that we held," he continued.

Civil rights organizations attacked McCain for his comments, arguing that he was using the immigration issue to gain political traction.

A spokesman for McCain said on Monday, however, that the senator's comments referenced fires near the Arizona border.

According to McCain communications director Brooke Buchanan, McCain, along with Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., and John Barrasso, R-Wyo., has requested a report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) regarding the possible connection between wildfires and illegal immigrants and drug smugglers. The report has not yet been released.

Buchanan, however, pointed to several reports over the past several years indicating that undocumented immigrants may have been involved in some wildfires in the past, although most of the reports also include "ricocheting bullets, campfires, welding equipment" and other factors as among many possible causes.

During the "Today" interview, McCain also dismissed any notion of the idea that he might run for president in the next election cycle.

"There's a long history of masochism in my family, but not so severe" as to inspire a 2012 presidential bid, he said.

[hsinco-2009]

In his feeble mind he thinks the Forest Service said that however the Forest Service denies it said that.

That being said, Obama has stopped more illegals than Bu$h did.

Look it up, dipsh*t!

[knewsreply]

Is this the 1st comment that caused him to be surprised by the public's response?

[NotPartyControlled]

Every politician or news media source wants to refer to na "unnamed official" or the anonymous AP to strengthen their statements. That usually means " I have to make a statement" or "I have a deadline" and nobody can dispute the unnamed official.

[Reality-Checker]

So the County Sheriff will lie and the US Senator will swear by it.

Ethnic intolerance is sickening no matter where it happens.

[mikeonthebay]

Liberals are just idiots.....

http://townhall.com/tipsheet/katiepavlich/2011/01/07/illegal_immigrants_trashing_the_environment_along_southern_border

http://www.hikingforums.net/hiking-with-kids/53

http://www.rense.com/general52/obliv.htm

http://tucsoncitizen.com/living-on-the-border/2011/01/07/arizona-address-border-trash-as-a-serious-issue/

[mikeonthebay]

I would take bush over the marxist, race baiting thug we have in there now.

[hsinco-2009]

What an effing dipsh*t!

[joeyjr]

Senator John McCain uses command sense regarding the illegals, which Angelo Falcon has none!

[pdchapin]

Does anybody know the original question that drew McCain's comments? If there are a list of possible causes and you only mention one, why would you be surprised that it drew a reaction? However, if the question was load, as in "Do you think illegal aliens have any impact on the number of fires?" then his answer is both correct and reasonable.

BTW, the Ryan budget that the Republican's are pushing contains major cuts in the border security force. They need to determine their priorities.

[daffy64]

I think it was immigrants who started the fires too.

Canadians! Eskimos are flooding to southern states and they're having fires!

Coincidence? I. Think. Not.

Oh and the Jews were responsible for both world wars, too.

[bj70117]

Nevermind what he says, his face really scares me. Just look at those eyes. The Devil in disguise.

[documemts]

It has been a well established fact that most Arizonans know of that snowbirds from out of state summer here in AZ. Many of them live in small campers and trailers outside of smaller towns and communities in the National Forests. The "McCon" is that he is using this national story of the fires in AZ to bring the spotlight to shine back on him. Just shameless self-aggrandizement by the McConster.

[nottblu]

What's your take on Arizona's ILLEGAL ALIEN problem? We no you hate McCain and anything conservative how do you feel about a group that breakes the law and uses the welfare system despite the fact they arenot legally entitled.