According to the McCain campaign, the whole brouhaha this morning over his immigration reform statements is just a big nothing. Jim Geraghty called the campaign and they assure him that the statements were “poorly worded”.
Pardon my language here, folks, but that’s bullshit. Let’s go back and review his quotes:
I believe we have to secure our borders, and I think most Americans agree with that, because it’s a matter of national security. But we must enact comprehensive immigration reform. We must make it a top agenda item if we don’t do it before, and we probably won’t, a little straight talk, as of January 2009.
There’s no way to read that as saying anything but what it plainly says. The “it” that he wants to push to the top of his agenda if it’s not done before he’s inaugurated is the subject of the sentence before it – comprehensive immigration reform. And not the dismissive “but” immediately after he talks about border security. Even kids in junior high school know what that “but” means. Let’s try it in a couple other contexts.
“I believe we have to get a new television. But we must fix the brakes on the car.”
“I believe we have to fix the gutters. But we must fix the furnace.”
“I believe we have to eat dessert. But we must finish our broccoli.”
See how that works, anonymous campaign mook? The thing we “have to” have is desirable and even important, but the “must” is neccesary or more important.
This last bit is a real laugher, too.
There’s been no discussion within the campaign of altering their stance on illegal immigration, and as far as everyone on the campaign is concerned, the policy is still, ’secure the border first.’
Hmm..I can either believe an anonymous campaign mook or I can believe the plain words of John McCain. Gosh, that’s a puzzler. Whatever shall I do?
Tags: Immigration, John McCain
“I believe we have to secure our borders, and I think most Americans agree with that, because it’s a matter of national security. But we must enact comprehensive immigration reform. We must make it a top agenda item if we don’t do it before, and we probably won’t, a little straight talk, as of January 2009.”
????
Secure the borders then grant amnesty to the criminals. That’s has been his platform. I knew that when I voted for him. What’s with the new outrage? Support the enforcement. Fight him tooth and nail on the amnesty.
Roy. Go back and read my post which explains why your interpretation of what he said isn’t actually what he said.