June 4, 2007
Posted: 11:11 AM ET

McCain had some harsh words for his GOP presidential rivals Monday.

WASHINGTON (CNN) — Facing increasing unrest from many conservatives over his immigration stance, Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, made his case Monday for the Senate immigration bill he had a hand in drafting and directly criticized his GOP presidential opponents for offering no solutions of their own.

"The choice is between doing something, imperfect but effective and achievable, and doing nothing," McCain said in a speech in Florida. "I would hope that any candidate for president would not suggest doing nothing. And I would hope they wouldn't play politics for their own interests if the cost of their ambition was to make this problem even harder to solve."

Though not mentioning any of his rivals by name, McCain and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, in particular, have engaged in a war of words over the Senate immigration proposal. Romney has called the bill an amnesty plan, while McCain has suggested that Romney has shifted his position on immigration for political gain.

"To want the office so badly that you would intentionally make our country's problems worse might prove you can read a poll or take a cheap shot, but it hardly demonstrates presidential leadership," McCain said in his speech Monday.

"Pandering for votes on this issue, while offering no solution to the problem, amounts to doing nothing," he added. "And doing nothing is silent amnesty."

McCain's speech comes one day before 10 GOP presidential candidates square-off in New Hampshire at a debate sponsored by CNN, WMUR-TV, and the New Hampshire Union Leader. The debate will air on CNN at 7 p.m. ET. CNN Pipeline will also stream video of the debate free of charge that evening.

Responding to McCain's speech, Romney said in a statement, "the immigration approach proposed by Senators McCain and Kennedy falls short of a workable solution to an important problem."

"In reforming our immigration system, we must meet three priorities." he added. "First, we can and must secure our borders. Second, our country must have an enforceable employment verification system. Third, in reforming our immigration system, we must do so in a way that rewards immigrants who obey the laws and guards against providing special incentives for those who show no regard for them."

— CNN Ticker Producer Alexander Mooney

Filed under: John McCain • Mitt Romney


Nathen, Los Angeles California   June 10th, 2007 11:53 pm ET

I would never vote for anyone who planned to give illegal immigrants amnesty.

Mike Brooks, Eugene, Oregon   June 7th, 2007 6:15 pm ET

Pandering for votes? Excuse me Senator McCain, this is supposedly a DEMOCRACY and pander for votes amount to representing the will of those voters! I guess you just don't get it.

Danielle, Overland Park, KS   June 5th, 2007 11:40 pm ET

Daniel King has it right - we are all immigrants, and we all benefit from immigrants. Should they come legally? Yes. But, it's difficult when getting into our country legally is so very difficult. That is what needs to change, not the laws to keep them out.

It is not Mexicans who form the gangs and cause violence, it is neighborhoods. To generalize that a certain race is the cause of our problems is extremely closed minded. It is easy to sit in the US and blame others for our problems, but we weren't born here. Only the native Americans were not immigrants, but the rest of us are and we need to respect others who want to live in this country, too.

Patty, Los Angeles   June 4th, 2007 11:57 pm ET

To: "John Smith" of Virginia and "Daniel King" of Kansas

These two are probably the same person. The syntax is the same as well as the gross misspellings and flawed logic.

The vast majority of posters are fed up with ILLEGAL immigration. Not those who valued themselves enough to immigrate legally into this country.

We aren't talking about visiting another country or moving to another country LEGALLY. We are talking about those people who decided to sneak across our borders because they are too lazy to do anything about the horrible economic conditions in their own countries.

Illegals and their unlawful employers have decimated the wages for construction, the meat packing industry, produce production, and the hospitality industry, and that's only the short list.

And actually this IS our country. We DO own it. We should be able to say who comes into our country just like we can say who comes into our houses.

To say that illegals do everything for us is insulting. I have never used one and will never use one. THEY ARE ILLEGAL. What do you not understand about that?

Illegals are not taking higher paying jobs from Americans. They are depressing the pay for jobs that Americans used to do before employers found out they didn't have to pay Americans a decent wage. Employers also don't pay the taxes that legitimate employers pay so that they can have a better bottom line.

And I don't know about other posters, but I see no sign of a good economy. Gas prices are sky high, households are scraping by month to month with credit card living at an all time high.

I could go on and on about what is wrong with illegal immigration, but I won't. It makes me furious and sad to have to explain what illegal means.

We have to secure (read, close) our borders, fine and/or jail employers who disregard our laws and remove ALL illegal aliens fromm this country.

Enforce the current laws.

New York, NY   June 4th, 2007 7:52 pm ET

I am a Democrat. I am for putting up a concrete fence to keep the Illegle Aliens out of the US. At this point this is a national tragedy. 12 Milliion! What the heck!. Few of them speak english, and they are draining the already devistated health care system. Publice school resources are non existant. Mexican's coming into this country with all kinds of deseases. the United States needs to put a moratorum on illegal Aliens in this country.

Karen Anderson   June 4th, 2007 7:07 pm ET

Issues:
–employers and landlords should be fined and jailed for breaking the law encouraging illegal immigration.
–local,county and state laws are enforced, why is a federal law not being enforced
–employers and landlords are encouraging and harboring illegal aliens which some may have illness/diseases like the resistance TB disease that has hit the news
–fair wages based on supply and demand is lost with illegal immigration and Nafta, etc.
–illegal immigrants can demonstrate and protest w/o being arrested
–Americans who are legal.. will you demonstrate for restoring your rights and to help bring back a sanity to the immigration system? There are people who are following the law in their country to try and immigrate legally and this whole amensty sham is wrong and an injustice to those people who are trying to become citizens the right and fair way.. by following the law. Shame on Corporate America and the slum landlords across the USA and shame on illegal immigrants for falling to the ploys of Corporate America to take advantage of them and put them in an illegal status with this country.

Jeff Stone, Pheonix, Az   June 4th, 2007 6:30 pm ET

Do Americans obey the law 100%? No. Do ILLEGAL aliens obey the law 0%??? By coming into the country illegally they already broke the law. No one is questioning legal immigration. My grandparents came to this country legally, and they spoke English when they came. Even my wife immigrated to this country. There is no debate on legal immigration, the debate (which shouldn't even be debated) is ILLEGAL immigration.

Daniel King, Kansas   June 4th, 2007 5:23 pm ET

Enough you all racist American aliens!
* Do americans obey the laws 100%? NO!
* Do employers take advantage of undocument immigrants? YES! Were? Whole country!
* Do americans go on welfare, medicare as well? YES!
* Does this issue looks familiar like the African-American Civil era? YES!
* Are americans upset immigrants take higher well paying jobs because americans don't finish school? YES!
You know, i'm ashamed of all of you who don't know your backround. You come the Royal or rich family? It best that you know your backround first before you run your mouth. Each of us are imigrants. We did not pay to hace acces to live in this country. Yet many immigrants did. The economy is strong because of immigrants! Aplause for all imigrants! forgive my americans people.. who happen to live in ignorance.

Joe, Ashburn, VA   June 4th, 2007 5:03 pm ET

I'm terribly disappointed that John McCain had a hand in this immigration bill. It's a joke!! That's why congress wanted to pass it with such urgency so no one would read and understand what a joke it is.
The American public was dooped in the 80's with a joke immigration bill that promised to tighten border security and congress has the nerve to think they can fool us again. Shame on us if we allow this to happen again.
I've got an idea for congress…how about taking care of securing our boarders, as promised, before we entertain any other immigration ideas!! They might find the American public a lot more open minded on this issue once they've lived up to their 20+ year old promise.

Christa Reisinger   June 4th, 2007 4:38 pm ET

Romney would like to reward immigrants with special incentives if they do it legally? What kind of humbug is that?
Special incentives are "not going to jai" and "not being deported". End of story.

Lois, Lewisville, Texas   June 4th, 2007 4:14 pm ET

Illegals do not obey our laws. If so, they would be legal immigrants, not illegals!

George Bush says he wants an immigration bill that respects illegals. Respect! They don't respect us or our laws.

I do not understand how/why Bush wants illegals to "come out of the shadows." Illegals are in our schools and hospitals. Illegals have homes and jobs here. What shadows?

Secure our borders! No amnesty! Do not let illegals have access to our schools or health care. Punish employers who hire illegals. Take away the benefits and there would be no illegals.

Sarah, Kansas City, MO   June 4th, 2007 3:52 pm ET

To call the other candidates 'pandering' is like the pot calling the kettle black. McCain has been pandering to Christianists as well to the president. He is one the biggest political whores there is.

You can also ad most the republican line-up under the category of 'pandering'

I doubt little of substance will be discussed tonight. They will all try to out-wedge each other on the 3 issues that the republicans only discuss … abortion (yawn), religion, security. Oh yes, and maybe guns. The party of new ideas, I do not think so.

John Smith, Virginia   June 4th, 2007 3:08 pm ET

I suggest that every US american abroad, at another country should be deported back to the US and not hace permit to settled in that country. What do you think? If you all agree that illigal immigrants should be deported, then why should you travel or live outside the US? isn't ironic! Illigal immigrants do everything for us. Because of them, we benefit in many areas and aspects.
So..let me give you very important advices.
1.) Let's give McCain the vote
2.) STOP being selfish! this is not your country nor you own it
3.) Every child born in the US IS an US american, not matter where the parents come from. Or do you not remember were your ancestor come from? They were not born here… hello!

4.) This is the United States, home of the free, land of everyone.

G.I.Joe, Tacoma, WA   June 4th, 2007 1:08 pm ET

A war hero is not someone who spends 4 years in a hole made by Charlie. Served his country? Yes. Horrible to endure such a thing? Yes. Hero? No! If all of our soldiers were heros like this, we'd lose every war. Get real.

David Zaid, Washington DC   June 4th, 2007 12:57 pm ET

No candidate is correct. Everyone focuses on the Mexico/US borders. But they don't realize that a great percentage of illigal immigrants come from Canada and our east and west coasts borders. US totally lacks the knowledge of this. Every immigrant should be legalized! US should be thankful they have us here, were the one who served the McDonal's meal, cut the grass, work the farms, clean the offices, clean the streets and do the maitenance. The majority of US don't like to do this.

Jeremy, Denver, CO   June 4th, 2007 12:53 pm ET

I'm a registered Republican that no longer trusts the president. I don't see any candidates on my side who I believe (Fred Thompson has not entered the race yet), and the only one I see on the Dem's side that I would vote for is Joe Biden. I don't agree with all of his views, but he seems to tell the truth while the rest say whatever will get an emotional response from voters. McCain was supposed to be the "straight-talker," but he is floundering as badly as Obama and Hillary when it comes to actually standing up for the American people. I'm tired of politicians saying anything for a headline and not providing any real answers. Too bad we can't get Fred Thompson and Joe Biden on the same ticket.

Debbie Hinkle, Concord NC   June 4th, 2007 12:50 pm ET

I would like to suggest a simple no-brainer solution to a large part of the immigration problem. STOP all the freebies! If you cannot prove you are a legal citizen you do not get welfare, food stamps, afdc, child care, free medical, free dental. Also if you have children here and you are an illegal so should your child be. They are automatically american citizens entitled to every freebie out there. And you should be required to learn to communicate in english. Kids should not be put into my children's classroom that cant communicate. Shoot - if I knew a place where I could get all this free I'd consider moving there too. Really sick of seeing people paying for groceries with food stamps and dripping in gold and driving a better car than me. I work for a living!

Lynn O., Tucson, Arizona   June 4th, 2007 12:46 pm ET

Being that I live in Tucson, Arizona I can assure you that Mr. McCain's "solutions" are NO solution at all. We have literally been overrun with illegal aliens, gangs having shootouts on our highways in Arizona, kidnapings, rapes, drug runners etc. Our hospitals are closing trauma units and wait times in the emergency rooms are horrible due to the illegal aliens using them and then not paying anything. A high school kid trying to get a first time job can't find one. And he wants to throw open the borders and give amnesty to millions that will further degrade our state/nation.

McCain is a disgrace to this state, he'll NEVER get the vote, he has missed over 40 votes since his "run" for presidency. Mr. McCain was not put in his present office to neglect his home state and pander to the illegal aliens.

Being in this country illegally is a crime….why is he, and his ilk, pushing to reward that?? Try enforcing, with gusto, our current laws. What good is passing new ones when they don't enforce what is already there?

C. Nilsen St Petersburg, FL   June 4th, 2007 12:44 pm ET

Mr. McCain is the one who is using politics only to get the Hispanic vote!! Just shows how desperate he is; he is not after the vote of the legal American citizen because they do NOT APPROVE OF THIS FARCE OF A BILL. If passed, this is the bill that WILL MAKE THINGS WORSE, NOT BETTER!!
WAKE UP AMERICA!!! Don't give this person your vote!

Travis, Lehi, Utah   June 4th, 2007 12:39 pm ET

McCain, Washington didn't get it right in the 80's. Does anyone really believe this will work? And even if the bill was theoretically good, does anyone think that Washington would actually enforce it? There is only one solution, enforce the laws. And by the way, isn't that Bush's constitutional duty? More laws to not enforce…

Don Lester, Arizona City, Arizona   June 4th, 2007 12:38 pm ET

1. McCain and Kyl are nowhere near the neighborhood of illegal immigration control. I'm tired of these politicians starting their illegal immigration stance with the idea that mass deportations are not "realistic". Gotta love that can-do attitude.

2. We don't need any new laws, just enforce what we have. This is like gun control - 22,000 gun laws in this country and they are still making more. What's the point?

3. Comprehensive Immigration Policy = Build the fence, increase employer sanctions, mass round-ups and deportations, change the anchor baby laws, Change Border Patrol to BORDER ENFORCEMENT, and no amnesty under any name.

Brian, Quincy, MA   June 4th, 2007 12:37 pm ET

Neither party will touch immigration. Republicans have Corporate interests who benefit (Construction, Agriculture, Hospitality, Restaurants, you name it) and the Dems are afraid to alienate the legal non-white vote while skirting a fine line not to piss off the UNIONS who want them out because their standard of living is declining rapidly. To the poster who said AZ has suffered the most– they have benefitted the MOST from cheap labor. Corporations– agriculture and contruction industries from Texas to California and Florida have been exploiting this influx of cheap labor while states like PENNSYLVANIA, OHIO and MICHIGAN– the traditional manufacturing states– are truly bearing the brunt. Closely related is thoughtless door wide open free-trade polices that is also raping the Industrial Belt of it's jobs.

elva Wilmington DE   June 4th, 2007 12:36 pm ET

Edwards is ponpous but he was right about Clinton and Obama's votes. They waited until they were sure that the funding bill would pass and then cast their votes. It was not mentioned that Biden did ready the intellegence report prior to voting and he was the only one on stage that did. As usual most of the time was spent on the "top tier" and not enough time on the other candidates. Specifically Biden. He has a plan to federalize Iraq yet we don't hear about it. Enough complaining—–isn't it great looking at the stage and seeing–a woman–an African American and a Hispanic there. Good for America!!

Jon Rennord   June 4th, 2007 12:21 pm ET

John McCain is one of the most dishonest men in the country.

His bill is pure amnesty.

Hey McCain; How about just enforcing the laws we have you liar?

No need to deport anyone just arrest employers and all the illegals will simply go home. CNN will never post this though.

Rick McDaniel   June 4th, 2007 12:17 pm ET

There is going to be acceptable immigration policy to citizens, other than eviction of illegal immigrants.

Our Swiss cheese borders must be tightly closed.

John, Alpharetta, GA   June 4th, 2007 12:17 pm ET

I agree with Prez-Candidate from Atlanta. Instead of being more concerned on how much power a person has in the House or Senate, the laws that we currently have should be upheld instead of making new ones to please the voters of today. I didn't defend this country while I was in the US Army to have people break the laws to come here and live, take all the benefits they can get and not speak the language. Last I looked this was the United States of America, not Big Mexico.

Peter J. Behson, Whitehall, PA   June 4th, 2007 12:04 pm ET

McCain will never get my vote because of his stance on the immigration bill he and Kennedy are trying to force on the country. To give 12 million illegal immigrants amnisty borders on treason.

Danielle E.   June 4th, 2007 12:03 pm ET

I feel it is important to remember that we need Mexico as much as they need us. No matter what plan is followed we must make sure it includes a way for guest workers to enter our country easily so our labor force is increase, and they have the opportunity to find work and better their lives. Pandering on the issue and not getting anything done only keeps the issue hot for debate but does not improve any lives. Taking a stance and making positive changes for all lives at hand is more important than merely picking the right side to win the election.

Bill W, Coatesville PA   June 4th, 2007 12:02 pm ET

I wonder if anybody has asked John McCain how we're supposed to enforce his new policy when the border patrol is critically undermanned and the agents we do have are being put in jail every time one of them does their job.

oscar J. Okes   June 4th, 2007 11:54 am ET

I would much prefer to see our political representatives pandering to legal American citizens rather than McCain pandering to illegals!

Prez-Candidate, Atlanta, GA   June 4th, 2007 11:43 am ET

An easy solution is to follow the existing laws. New laws only mean more laws will not be enforced due to some PC issue. You really think we can trust these folks when they have done very little to secure our borders since 9/11?

David Pflugerville, TX   June 4th, 2007 11:39 am ET

Clinton baby is the clear winner !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bill W, Coatesville, PA   June 4th, 2007 11:28 am ET

John McCain should be ashamed of himself. He represents Arizona, one of the states that has suffered the absolute most from illegal immigration, and one of the states illegals travel throughthe most toget to toher states. There are parts of Arizona that are totally overrun and are as bad the wild west. He should be calling for an enforcement strategy. Maybe if were to actually spend some time talking to people in his state to get an understanding of the problem instead of gearing everything toward a run for president, he'd know what was going on. I find it apalling he is accusing others of pandering, when he is one of the worst panderers.

James Crawford, Grand Rapids, MI   June 4th, 2007 11:28 am ET

Regardless of which side of the aisle the politician resides on, I have little faith in a candidate that is only interested in appearing politically correct which is why I find it refreshing to hear Sen. McCain speak of "true" Presidential leadership. It has been a while since this country has had a real leader at the helm. I would certainly like to hear more comments that reflect the candidates personal feelings and convictions, preferably ones that improve life for everyone on the globe and not just for (the) US!

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