McCain Discusses Immigration With Hispanic Leaders

CHICAGO — Republican presidential John McCain assured Hispanic leaders he would push through Congress legislation to overhaul federal immigration laws if elected, several people who attended a private meeting with the candidate said Thursday.

Democrats questioned why the Arizona senator held the meeting late Wednesday night in Chicago. But supporters who were in the room denied that McCain held the closed-door session out of fear of offending conservatives, many of whom want him to take a harder line on immigration.

Both McCain and Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama support giving legal status to millions of illegal immigrants, but neither has made the issue a centerpiece of the campaign. At one time, McCain's campaign suffered because of his stance on the issue.

"This was not a secret meeting," said Rafael Rivadeneira, a vice chairman of the Republican National Hispanic Assembly of Illinois, who was among more than 150 Chicago-area Hispanic leaders who attended. "There was nothing he said that they wouldn't want people to hear."

Other attendees said they were not so sure.

"He's one John McCain in front of white Republicans. And he's a different John McCain in front of Hispanics," complained Rosanna Pulido, a Hispanic and conservative Republican who attended the meeting.

Pulido, who heads the Illinois Minuteman Project, which advocates for restrictive immigration laws, said she thought McCain was "pandering to the crowd" by emphasizing immigration reform in his 15-minute speech.

"He's having his private meetings to rally Hispanics and to tell them what they want to hear," she said. "I'm outraged that he would reach out to me as a Hispanic but not as a conservative."

After the event, McCain met privately with Martin Sandoval, an Illinois state senator and Democratic convention delegate for former candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton. Sandoval said he left open the possibility of backing McCain, citing his immigration stance and pledge to keep business taxes low.

Comments

[Brittanicus]

The president to be McCain or Obama are going to swamp America, with another AMNESTY proposal. That will legalize millions that taxpayers will be forced to support. Then millions more from third world countries will hop the border, looking for free handouts and nothing on earth will stop the rush.

Backroom discussions continue on whether to de-fund effective efforts that deter illegal immigration

U.S. House leaders continue to gauge whether next Tuesday (June 24) they can escape public wrath if they take funding away from a couple of the most effective enforcement procedures resulting in illegal aliens leaving the country.
No. 1: 287(g) program allowing and equipping local agencies to arrest and detain illegal aliens of all kinds.
No. 2: Arrests of any illegal alien encountered while looking for criminal alien fugitives.

You can continue to phone committee members at 202-224-3121, asking for expanded funding for the 287(g) program for local immigration enforcement.
Anti-Enforcement Ideas Circulating

[lotuslike]

Hmmmm....I wonder if the corporate news media chiefs wrote letters to mccain to protest this sooo unfair shut-out. I won't wait for that one.

And Martin Sandoval...the secret is out. Better start looking for another gig!

[chitown8]

To continue. I called his office today. See info below:

District Office:
4843 West Cermak Road
Cicero, IL 60804
[phone]
[phone] FAX


I spoke to him directly and he stated that he was misquoted and he just attended a meeting with Mccain. He also said that the Obama campaign has not returned his phone calls regarding outreach to the Latino community. I had to remind him that everyone in Cicero is Latino and if he supports Mccain he will not be supporting his community. Cicero is really suffering with higher taxes, modest schools, not bad real estate market, and horrible town executive staff. I asked him why does he just call Obama camp. He went on say "Obama knows me, we work together in the state senate and he knows I would enjoy working for him." Yet he hasn't said what he would do for my district."

This is what the real deal is he wants something for Cicero. I can't blame him yet he is Delegate representing me at the convention. He also went saying that he bleeds blue and will not defy his party in Nov. Yet I don't trust him. I am wondering should I pressure him to endorse or email the DNC, IL DP and O regarding this issue.

[chitown8]

I am really taking this seriously. First Martin is my state senator. I currently reside in Cicero, IL. This is one of Cook County most segregated towns. Brief history back in the 60's and 70's Cicero was mainly white Irish, Italian and Polish. A serious Union and blue collar town. ( Which in Chicago is a difference they might not mean the same) Blacks were not allowed after sunset. Latino were not even thought of coming here. Then Late in the 70's early 80's the Latino Boom came and majority of the white moved out. Yet Cicero remained unwelcoming to blacks south of 22th (Cermak). Then Betty Loraine Maltese happened Google her. Now Cicero is only 1% black 70% Latino ( Mexican ~60%, Other Latino 10%) and 29% white. Yet the 29% pretty much control the power and government of this Town. Part One

[debi1208]

McBush is a liar. He panders to every situation depending on subject and audience.
I can't believe the American women of today will stand for his prejudice of women. Did you read the acticle about him calling his wife the "C" word.

[DoomtoNeoCons]

VIVA La FLIP FLOP!

[scorpioleidy]

What a truly sad old man ... yelling at clouds ...

[MemphisBuffalo]

McBush is a secret Mexican!

[cynicism101]

How's the fast food job working out for ya?

I find it so clever how you guys 'McPrepend' everything...

[DoomtoNeoCons]

Oh stop crying about the silly names people call McMonkey. He'll survive.

[nonofyabusiness]

Mc.C@ina is a Disaster...

[filo]

"He's one John McCain in front of white Republicans. And he's a different John McCain in front of Hispanics,"

He changes in front of EVERY group. He is a panderer, plain and simple. Gas Tax, immigration, torture, taxes, pick your issue and he has taken both sides at one time or another.

How can any one tell where he really stands?

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Mi amigos...

[SanityClaus]

At least one of the joint town-halls or debates needs to be held in a border town and focus on immigration and Latino voters' issues.

[Sctt859]

Obama never banned muslims fool.

[Chillinout]

Breaking story:

McCain: "My dear Hispanic friends, I promise to give you back Arizona, New Mexico half of Texas and Southern California if you elect me President."

[Grunty1]

Give them the B'ush family estate and let us keep California, and it would be a deal!

[wndrwrthg]

Give them everything south of the Rincon.

[fanchon1288]

The Bush family estate comes with their adopted son, where is he anyway? He campaigned for Bush maybe he'll help John. I hope not.

[cynicism101]

And?

Senator McCain holds a meeting where he invites the minorities and bans the press ... your response: Bad Senator.

Senator Obama holds a photo op in the state with the largest Muslim population in America - he invites the press and bans the Muslims ... Your response: That's Ok, we forgive you - You're the Obamasiah, you can do no wrong.

It seems inevitable. I fear I'm going to reach a point where scientology makes more sense than the liberal swooning over Senator Obama.

[Strywever]

Exactly what event did Obama "ban the Muslims" from? He didn't. Get your facts straight!

[cynicism101]

If he didn't, then why did he apologize for it?

[ghop]

You can blame our current CIC for the "liberal swooning" over Sen. Obama. At this point, I think we'd be willing to forgive him quite a bit to avoid another term of W style "leadership".

Yup, nothing like an EPIC FAIL Republican administration to motivate the Dem base.

*swoon*

[cynicism101]

Ok - now that it appears that even Senator Obama will support this FISA bill, I ask again: how did all that swooning work out for ya?

[cynicism101]

Sure, I can understand that. The Epic failure of the Carter administration earned us 12 years of Reagan legacy. The epic failure of the Clinton administration certainly helped motivate the Republican base - to a point that George W Bush was elected ... twice.

Still, just a word of caution. While you may not, I do still remember how much that Dem base was swooning over the results of the 2006 election. With the Iraq war funded for at least another year, with the FISA bill about to be passed, just as President Bush wanted ... Remind me now, how did all that swooning work out for ya?

[blueshield]

Before you go L Ron on us, a Dem volunteer asked a Muslim woman with a head scarf not to stand in a photo. Not exactly the same as barring the press from a meeting of 150 people for an hour. And even if it were, Sen O apologized, McDumpty stands by his decision.

[cynicism101]

Exactly my point - it's not the same. Senator McCain *included* a group of minorities. Senator Obama *excluded* a group of minorities. You're worried about protecting the press?

[Egalitare]

Sandoval will be getting 2 phone calls very soon.

The first from Solis Doyle which will be civil and polite. But Sandoval will "diss" her.

Then he'll be getting the second call from "Rahmbo." Yikes!!!

[Americanium]

Wrong. He'll be shown the door.

[levibatgirl]

Oh oh. O'loofah and insanity will soil themselves.