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McCain Ad Lies About Immigration

Add one more misleading advertisement to the McCain campaign's lengthy list of lies and distortions. The McCain team is wasting its resources attacking Obama on immigration with a Spanish language ad on television stations in Colorado, Nevada and New Mexico.

A male announcer says: “Obama and his allies in Congress say they are on the side of immigrants, but they’re not. Reports in the press say that their efforts were like ‘poison pills’ that caused immigration reform to fail. The results: ‘No’ to the guest workers program; ‘no’ to a path to citizenship, ‘no’ to secure borders. The reform didn’t pass. Is that being on our side? Obama and his Congressional allies — ready to block immigration reform, but not ready to govern.”

This comes after McCain, during the primaries, disavowed the reform bill he once championed, saying he would now postpone policy reform until American borders are "secure". Does the McCain team think that targeting obvious lies to people who care about immigration reform will help him win this election? [more...]

[I]n May 2006, Mr. McCain complimented Mr. Obama for his “commitment to this issue,” and for “working to ensure this bill moved successfully intact through the legislative process.” Mr. McCain, however, said during a Republican primary debate in late January that if the legislation came back for a vote he would not support it because, “We know what the situation is today — people want the borders secured first.”

Obama and many other Democrats offered amendments to the bill. So did Republicans. Amendments didn't doom the bill. The right wing did.

Do you recall which party was adamantly opposed to compromise? Which party insisted on building a foolish fence before moving forward with any attempt at policy reform? Which party screamed "amnesty" in response to any proposal for a reasonable "path to citizenship"?

Do McCain and his deception advisers really believe a Spanish speaking audience will forget which party, despite having a supportive president, failed to enact immigration reform?

Immigration was one of the few issues John McCain could cite as evidence that he would work with Democrats to move the country forward if he's elected. Instead, he squandered his little remaining credibility on the issue by blaming Obama for a Republican failure.

Funny how the ad doesn't tell us McCain's current position on comprehensive immigration reform. He was for it before he was against it. If he's for it now, his base will howl in protest. If he's against it, he's undercutting his own advertising. What will McCain say when he's asked about immigration in the debates?

< Media Focuses on Lies and Distortions in McCain Ads | Ad: McCain 'Doesn't Get' Fair Pay >
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  • Display: Sort:
    Shameless (none / 0) (#1)
    by andgarden on Mon Sep 15, 2008 at 11:59:46 PM EST


    full-time job (none / 0) (#2)
    by DefenderOfPants on Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 01:58:16 AM EST
    keeping track of all of the lies coming from McCain/Palin is becoming quite daunting.

    Even George Bush Didn't Lie In Spanish (none / 0) (#3)
    by john horse on Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 06:02:08 AM EST
    McCain says one thing in English to his conservative base.  He says another thing in Spanish to Hispanics.  I agree with andgarden, he is "shameless".

    I think this tests BTD's thesis that Obama is the (none / 0) (#4)
    by Joelarama on Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 07:28:57 AM EST
    better candidate for the general election, because the press would treat Obama better than Hillary when matched against media fave McCain.

    McCain's strategy of dissembling is so blatant that some elements in the media have called him on it, and with more willingness, I am sure, than would have been the case with Hillary as the nominee.

    But will more journalists debunk and point out this lies, and will those who are doing it now persist?

    I don't have faith that they will -- the media's default analysis reflects a desire to report "balance," rather than to seek the "truth."  

    McCain will get away with this in the long run, unless Obama learns to fight like a Clinton.  I hope he does.    

    comprehensive cross the aisle (none / 0) (#5)
    by insanelysane on Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 11:14:46 AM EST

    Sen. Mac was bloodied by his own party for his brave and compassionate stand on Comprehensive. Immigration Reform. I admire him greatly.
     IT was very similar to Hillary's stand on UHC in 1992...the gop (and many in her own party too) attacked her and she shelved the plan. ( To our great loss)
     We all now realize she was demonized for her desire for real change. Hill came back with a serious push for UHC again and now, it will be the beginning point in health care reform.
     Mac's stand on Immigration with Sen Kennedy hopefully will become the norm when beginning the debate again on immigration.
      McCain is capable of real reform with a solid Dem majority in Congress. He will cross the aisle.

    REAL Comprehensive Immigration Reform (none / 0) (#6)
    by JDalton on Tue Sep 16, 2008 at 03:15:30 PM EST
    "Sen. Mac was bloodied by his own party for his brave and compassionate stand on Comprehensive. Immigration Reform. I admire him greatly."

    Maybe so.  But to use the age-old question, What has he done for me lately?

    Not much.  Big Mac has bowed to anti-immigration hardliners and vigilantes.  

    If you are serious comprehensive reform, I'm working with a group called America's Voice that is really organized and is working really hard to get meaningful legislation passed.

    As far as I'm concerned, it's great policy and great politics for progressives.  I urge all of you to check it out.