PHOENIX (CNN) – John McCain told the National Council of La Raza on Monday that he is and always has been committed to comprehensive immigration reform.
McCain is defending his record amidst criticism from Barack Obama, who has asserted in recent speeches to Hispanic groups that the presumptive Republican nominee backed away from his support for immigration reform when it became a political liability in the Republican primaries.
Election Center: Where the candidates stand on immigration
Obama told the NCLR on Sunday that McCain “abandoned his courageous stance” on immigration during his presidential run, a charge McCain plans to push back against today in San Diego.
“I feel I must, as they say, correct the record,” said McCain. “At a moment of great difficulty in my campaign, when my critics said it would be political suicide for me to do so, I helped author with Senator Kennedy comprehensive immigration reform, and fought for its passage.
“I took my lumps for it without complaint. My campaign was written off as a lost cause. I did so not just because I believed it was the right thing to do for Hispanic Americans. It was the right thing to do for all Americans.”
Conservatives blasted the McCain-Kennedy bill. McCain later decided he would not support the legislation, which failed to become law, until the country's southern border is secured.
McCain argued that Obama, in fact, helped defeat the McCain-Kennedy immigration by voting for “amendments that were intended to kill the legislation.”
“I remain committed to fair, practical and comprehensive immigration reform, I mean it,” he said. “I think I have earned that trust.”
From CNN Politics
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stop pandering mcbush.
After voting against a piece of legislation he worked on himself he lost all credibility on this subject.
McCain is just not to be trusted. He just wants to be president before he retires or dies of old age andwill say anything to achieve that goal.
I seriously doubt the legal immigrants will trust him to be on their side and the illegal immigrants are not voters. The whole debate should be about punishing the businesses that hire illegals and keep legal immigrants out of a job, thus condemning them to fulfill the image that is falsely being created about them: people that don't want to work.
The ones that are benefitting from illegal labour are more likely to vote republican then democrat. Wo is McCain trying to fool here?
If you want to know if you can trust this man, on immigration or anything else for that matter, just go back and look at his involvement on the Keating 5 deal. This is a dishonest, unethical man who spins his hair trigger temper as "straight talking". I feel sorry for this country if we have 4 more years of the last 8 which has put the US in most vulnerable position.
Wow, all the libs think McCain voted against his own Bill, Hmmmmm. Funny no one has voted on the Bill because it has never made it to the floor. McCain even say's in the interview "it won't be voted upon" because like everything else the Democratic congress is more interested in steroids in baseball and fixing their 9% (that's right 9%) approval rating. And you Libs though GW's 29% was bad.
WORSE than a flip flopper: saying one thing to one set (I'm all for immigration reform!), and another thing to the other set (no reform until we secure our borders!). Please. This is easier to see than a pig in a poke.
McCain used to be self made independent – now he’s just a another puppet in the hands of neo-cons. Same as Bush he will do whatever it takes to please his bosses – even vote against his own bill…even take our country into new wars and bring just to the bankruptcy just to continue neo-cons hold on our nation by wars, hate and fear…
I am for Obama. Older hispanics I think are rooting for Mcbush because they worship white british People!
The Republicans don't want John McCain and neither does
the rest of America! Continue to smear Barack and see
where it gets you. Not this time Karl!
I am educated Latino to Know the difference between Mccain and Obama.
Obama all the way!
08,12,16..................!
Not this time. Not this year. This time we want to talk about our schools, your troops and our world peace.
Anybody who smells war and fear can not have my vote!
Hispanics for McCain,
What Latinos?I look to the left, and I look to the right, I look all around and see only Latinos for Obama.
McSame what about that viagra question??????
Latinos for Obama!
Vote democrat or you die!
The media is hiding the world Republican becuase they know they have no place.
CNN, it is Democrats Vs. Republicans! Stop being in Republicans pocket by hiding the party name which is damaged and can not even be eaten by dogs even if it is their food!
Go Dems!
If you talk of war should be 3500ft from me!
If you talk of Hope and my aspirations you definately have my vote!
Instead of pandering to Illegals by both candidate, I would like both say–ENFORCE THE LAWS THAT ARE ON OUR BOOKS NOW. Such a simple solutuion.
All americans know what you are about McSame. You will not get my vote.
Obama '08
In Obama's under 200 day spend in Washington, what has he tried to do for Latinos???
NOTHING! That is what.
Obama is all talk and no substance.
I am donating to Obama. He will bring my brother home from Iraq!
Oreo – question mark on your forehead – whatever you want to call it, people are comfortable when they can place you in a box or label you so that they "understand” or in most cases place certain prejudices on your behavior, positions, actions etc. or even give themselves permission to act or behave in a certain way. We as a public just haven't evolved to getting outside of boxes – apparently we are like cats and children, we find them more exciting then the gift – or in this case the person.
Regarding the last article regarding the use of the word oreo to describe Obama. Unfortunately there will always be some people, both black and white who choose to use words they know will illicit a negative response. The mistake would be react to those coimments other than to condemn them and those that use them. Considering the back lash this person is likely to receive- from both blacks and whites-I wouldn't want to be him.
HILLARY CLINTON IS THE DECIDING FACTOR.
IT WOULD BE WELL FOR BILL CLINTON TO EITHER STAY HOME OR GO TO EUROPE FROM NOW TILL THE NEXT PRESIDENT IS ELECTED.. BILL CLINTON CAN BE A FUND RAISER BUT HIS EGO GETS IN THE WAY TOO MUCH.. HILLARY DID JUST FINE ON HER OWN AND WILL DO JUST FINE WITHOUT BILL CLINTON ON THE SCENE. HOWEVER, AFTER OBAMA MAKES HIS CHOIC FOR VP AND IT IS NOT HILLARY C;INTON ON OBAMA'S TICKET. THEN BILL CLINTON CAN GO ABOUT HIS BUSINESS RAISING FUNDS FOR HILLARY AND HIS LIBRARY. BECAUSE OBAMA WILL NOT GET ELECTED WITHOUT HILLARY'S 18 MILLION SUPPORTERS AND THEIR $$$$$$CONTRIBUTIONS.
bitter Hillary supporters I don't care who you votre for......just quit ruining others debates on here.......you guys have lost ....the subbject should be Obama or McCain not pantsuit or boy haircuts
More straight talk from "The Straight Talk Express"
To: Brandon Hillary PUMA for Mc Cain-Pa, Mike from Syracuse NY, and Marie in California,
If you love Hillary so much why don't you help retire her debt? No one is begging for your votes. Vote for McCain. As for the enlightened ones we are voting for Obama.