Not Straight Talk on Illegal Immigration
John McCain was asked at the Repub presidential debate on January 30, 2008 whether he would vote for the bill he sponsored establishing a "pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants who were already here" if it returned to the Senate floor. This was, in brief, the exchange on the issue:
(Janet Hook of the Los Angeles Times): "What I'm wondering is -- and you seem to be downplaying that part. At this point, if your original proposal came to a vote on the Senate floor, would you vote for it?"
(McCain): "It won't. It won't. That's why we went through the debate."
HOOK: "But if it did?"
MCCAIN: "No, it would not, because we know what the situation is today."
(Anderson) COOPER: "So I just want to confirm that you would not vote for your bill as it originally was?"
MCCAIN: "My bill will not be voted on; it will not be voted on."
Three opportunities to answer the question. Three opportunities for a little "straight talk." Three times obviously avoiding answering a simple question.
And this from the guy most people actually believe would be the strongest Repub presidential candidate. Sad? Startling? Disturbing? Or perhaps all three?
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2 comments:
Interesting, but there is more to that conversation than you posted. McCain mentioned that congress and the public didn't accept the bill, thus showing that the people want security first. He then mentioned he would do just that.
In not answering directly, McCain was trying to avoid his political weak spot and also show his disdain for a question referring to an impossible situation. This is far from unique to him or the Republicans, since i recall the democrats doing much the same thing. I clearly remember Hillary saying she would not answer hypothetical questions related to war and other issues. If McCain's answer was sad, startling, and disturbing, surely that is too.
Yes, John McCain knows "the people want security first." Here is what he said at the debate:
MCCAIN: We will secure the borders first when I am president of the United States. I know how to do that. I come from a border state, where we know about building walls, and vehicle barriers, and sensors, and all of the things necessary.
Note what's missing: "I will build a fence" or "I will see that the fence authorized by Congress actually is built." And I suspect that anti-amnesty interests know the code- "sensors" (for which the technology, conveniently, is currently, incomplete)does not mean a hard fence, and really is meant as a substitute for securing the border.
You're right that Mrs. Clinton has eschewed answering "hypothetical" questions. So on this we agree, I think. Clinton is not always straightforward- and neither is the candidate of the "Straight Talk Express."
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