(CNN) – John McCain is airing a new ad - in which he calls Hispanic Americans “God’s Children” - in his latest bid to win over that key voting bloc.
The spot comes amid a major push on that front by the presumptive Republican nominee, including private meetings with community leaders, Spanish-language radio ads, the launch of regular campaign conference calls with Hispanic pastors, and speeches at high-profile gatherings like this week’s address at the League of Latin American Citizens and next Monday’s speech at National Council La Raza - two of the trifecta of major Latino conferences McCain will make an appearance at this cycle.
The new ad – which will air in Nevada, Colorado and New Mexico, all neighbors of McCain’s home state of Arizona which are all heavily-contested states this cycle – features comments from a summer 2007 debate in which the senator praises the service of Hispanic veterans.
“My friends, I want you the next time you're down in Washington, D.C., to go to the Vietnam War Memorial and look at the names engraved in black granite. You'll find a whole lot of Hispanic names,” McCain said in remarks included in the 30-second spot.
He praised the service of members of the military serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, including “some of the few thousand that are still green card holders who are not even citizens of this country, who love this country so much that they're willing to risk their lives in its service in order to accelerate their path to citizenship and enjoy the bountiful, blessed nation.”
“So let's from time to time remember that these are God's children. They must come to our country legally, but they have enriched our culture and our nation as every generation of immigrants before them,” he concluded.
McCain faced tough criticism from many conservatives early in the campaign for his support of comprehensive immigration legislation, and had shifted on the trail to an enforcement-first message that resonated with GOP primary voters, who listed immigration as among their top concerns.
The campaign has released both English and Spanish-language versions of the ad.
From CNN Politics
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Was McCain's first wife one of "god's children" who quite possibly deserved a little better from him? He couldn't deliver to her under the bond of a vow spoken in his own words. Courting Hispanic voters with this level of farcical tripe is shabby and patronizing politics at its worse.
Next he'll be saying that "some of [his] best friends" are Hispanic Americans, or Hispanic immigrants.
Did he have these newfound sentiments BEFORE he was for a border fence, or after? He changes positions (or can't remember) so often that I get confused from speech to speech.
Don't humor or patronize "La Raza," Mr. Senator. You can give your door-to-door salespitch all you want, but it won't work.
Apparently folks here don't live next to large hispanic communities, otherwise they would know...MOST HISPANICS VOTE CONSERVATIVE!!! They have very conservative values about families and country, Obama is the furthest thing away from them!
And to insinuate that McCain was saying that only hispanics are God's children, well now you all are just looking for something to criticize.
I JUST WANT TO THROW UP BUSH IS ON T.TV. LYING ABOUT OIL PRICES OH MY GOD, WE ARE ALL YOUR CHILDREN , PLEASE HELP US , SAVE US FROM THE DEMONS G.BUSH J.McCAIN AND LEAST AND ALSO LAST DICKEY C.
We are ALL God's children! We are not ALL American citizens. If a Hispanic or Latino who is a citizen of another country serves honorably in our military, he/she should be given the fast track to citizenship. However, since McCain helped author the last try at "amnesty" for all ILLEGALS, it will be interesting to see if he gets a large part of the Hispanic (citizen) vote. If so and he wins the election, it will be even more necessary for those of us who opposed that bill to band together once again to let Washington know who they represent. If Obama wins, the result will be exactly the same. So, where's our choice??
I, like many immigrants (legal or otherwise) are God's children who served honorable in the U.S military with pride. However, Senator McCain and many Americans like Lou Dobbs and many in the Republican party conveniently forget this fact.
WHen you talk about illegal immigrants I think everyone needs to remember this is not only a Hispanic problem but a Russian, European, Asian, etc....
Juan McAmensty is a disgrace to America and the GOP.
His "hispanding" is pathetic and that is one reason he's going to lose the election.
McSane votes against all womans issues , votes against veterans,
abused his ill wife while out cheating with Cindy then marrys Cindy a month after divorsed his wife,then he calls Hispanic Immigrants Gods children" by McSame who do the rest of the children belong to ?
He acccused Obama of not being there for a vote but McSane soon learned he himself wasn't there to vote either .
McSame has 2 elbow men to remind him of his misspeaking .
Talk about Senile = Nearing the end of an erosion cycle .
Sorry McBush, you and Obama pushed an immigration legislation that you now are against. You don't care about Latino American, or any poor Americans at that.
I guess the Latino problems in America are also psychological.
Proud to be an American Whinner.
Any fool knows that McBush is just saying that to get the votes of the Hispanics!!! Duh!
Senator, are you trying to get on my good side? Huh?? I see what you're doing Senator, I see what you're doing, LOL!!
"It seems the only Hispanics that John McCain likes are dead ones listed on granite walls."
...Or the ones landscaping his yard, cooking his food, and cleaning his pool.
Lord this man has hit the WALL again. The last I read, I think we all fit this category.
i feel there are fake republicans and fake hispanics here , no doubt communist behind the scenes.
Unlike OBAMA, McCain has got it right. Latinos are GOD'S CHILDREN the same as the rest of us and probably more so than some of the others. The rapists, liquor store robbers, burglary specialist, and rioters, sitting on the porch waiting for welfare checks, and generally bashing the only President and his lady that ever did anything great for them. I am so tired of all the HILLARY bashers. I can not for the life of me see why she would even consider helping him gain the White House. IF THE DNC IS PUTTING PRESSURE ON YOU TO DO THIS THEN DROP THEM. Move to the Republican or Independent Party where you can be appreciated Hillary. The DNC has gone to the hyenas, I KNOW YOU DON'T WANT TO BE OBAMA'S VP NO MORE THAN WE YOUR SUPPORTERS WANT YOU TO BE. Take your voters and you support away NOW. Let the man sink in what he thinks has brought him this far. AND THAT IS CRAP. If it's far enough to gain the Oval Office so be it. PEOPLE WILL REAP WHAT THEY SEW.
This will not work McSame. We are ALL God's children. Geez...
Obama '08
Very touching ... like his song "Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Iran". Who is this guy? Someone show him the way home.
McCain needs to take his Viagra and retire somewhere.
Don't mean to be so blunt but it is time for illegal immigration to be dealt with sharply and swiftly. Rules are rules and when they are broken you should be punished for that. If I go out and rob a bank tomorrow and dont' hurt anyone in the process does that make it okay for me to rob again???????
I think our country has gotton it wrong for sometime now by not standing firm on our values, principles, and religion. If you want to be here in America, then follow the laws and rules. Stop hollering rights violation. If you don't like the way we do things, then the door is always open for you to exit.
hahaha
este viejo no le interesa ayudar a los latinos, los republicanos son los k quieren k los imigrantes desaparescan,ellos han firmado todas las leyes contra los immigrantes
este VIEJO , no tiene idea de lo que es ser immigrante, o Moreno, Negro, Mulato, mexclado, indigena,
mujer o MINORIA
NO MAS MCBUSHES
All Obama need do is select BIll Richardson as his runnning mate and he'll help sew up the hispanic vote.
McSame cares very little for Hispanics. Pandering is what comes to mind. ALL American men and women are God's children. This Latino will NOT vote for a hypocrite!
Obama 2008!
Somebody needs to tell McCain that when he courts the Hispanic vote, he needs to tell that BOTH Obama and Hillary voted for the wall.
Yes, the wall on our border.
Obama would not know an Hispanic if he were in Los Angeles. He's clueless about our problems in the southwest.
Please spread the word that OBAMA VOTED FOR THE WALL.
Flip Flop McSame!
I don't think that sentor Gramm was that far off after reading liberal rantings over the last year. I think there are alot of whinners. Vote libertarian only party with true american inrerest in mind.