McCain seeks to reclaim immigration issue

Florida Sen. Mel Martinez this morning helped promote a new TV ad for John McCain, asserting in a call with reporters that the Arizona Republican has been a leader in immigration reform while Barack Obama has been "AWOL" on the issue.

The 1-minute ad, which is in English and running in Colorado, Nevada and New Mexico but not Florida, underscores the increasingly important Hispanic vote. It praises the military service of Hispanics rather than confront the touchy immigration debate.

The McCain campaign would not discuss why it is not running in Florida, but noted past TV ads here and said more are coming.

McCain was certainly a leader in the immigration debate, but as the primary fight intensified he began to emphasize border control over a guest worker program for the estimated 12-million illegal immigrants in the country.

Martinez denied that was a calculation to appease conservatives, arguing (as does McCain) that Americans clearly wanted border security first. "We all were insisting, including Sen. McCain, that we can do it all at once. The fact of the matter is we didn't do it all at once. We failed. ... Until this effort can be put together again, let's have good strong border security."

Shortly after the conference call ended came this attack by the America's Voice group: "For years, Senator McCain was a leader in the Senate on real policy solutions on immigration.  It is disappointing to see that leadership vanish during his campaign for the White House.  The new McCain ad features the disappointing McCain “campaign” plan for immigration: Rhetoric Only.

McCain rightly applauds the patriotism of America’s Latino community in his new ad and on the campaign trail.  But the Latino community and all Americans want more from a President – they want a real solution on immigration.

The McCain run for President has left many who care deeply about immigration solutions disappointed and wondering whether the days of McCain Straight Talk are gone for good.  We hope Senator McCain will use his upcoming appearance at the National Council of La Raza to clarify his immigration policy stance and to reaffirm that his commitment to Latinos extends from glossy rhetoric to policy realities.”

Comments

[Donald Lance]

Martinez voted for McCain-Kennedy Amnesty along with Bill Nelson. That's all you need to know about him.

This Latino Vet will not vote for John McCain or any republican for that matter anytime soon.. I love how Bush Vetoed the homeless shelter for Vets the other day and how BUSH AND McCain didnt support the new GI BILL.... Screw them! The republican party are single handedly responsible for 4 trillion dollars of debt of the past 8 years.... we need to take this country back!

[McAmnesty Loses]

McAmnesty is still McSame. There is no "reclaiming" the issue only remaining wrong, or flip-flopping.

Where does Barack HUSSEIN Obama stand on Immigration?

Why is this an issue? Both parties have allowed the economic environment to deteriorate so much that self-deportation is the new reality. Get over it.

Ever since those McCain Toads got past immigration, they've been hoggin' the boards and depositing their abundant fecal matter everywhere you look.

It may well be that many of our undocumented neighbors are self-deporting, but the issue has not gone away and the voters are still ENTITLED to know how Obama proposes to deal with the Immigration issue.

Why won't he tell?

Where does John SYDNEY McCain stand on the issue?

(wait 1 week and it will change)

Who cares how many hispanic names are on the veterans memorial what do legalized citizens who came to this country, assimiliated, and then served their country have to do with millions of illegal immigrants coming into the country willie nillie and sucking off the government???! If we didn't have all of this illegal immigration (read as legalized slavery for big business) we could probably afford universal health care or bail out social security. McAmnesty is a joke on this issue and Barack Obama he thinks we should teach our kids spanish. Beam me up Scotty there is no intelligent life left...

Another great ad by John McCain.

His new campaign advisor is on fire.

Obama is sliding fast in the polls. Newsweek poll just out.

Thanks for reminding me of McAmnesty's committment to becoming the first Hispanic President instead of President of the United States. We need an America First President not a President for one type of hypenated person or another.

Barack Obama is a racist.
Will he cause race riots between African Americans & Hispanics?

I am voting for War hero John McCain & sending Obama back to Rev Jeremiah Wright.