Economics Magazine

Town Hall Shows Just How Out of Touch John McCain Is With His Constituents On Immigration

Posted on the 21 February 2013 by Susanduclos @SusanDuclos

By Susan Duclos
Arizona Senator John McCain learned nothing in 2007 and is still disconnected and out of touch with his constituents as well as the Republican base of supporters, when it comes to the topic of illegal immigration and amnesty for illegal immigrants.
Any "pathway to citizenship" for those here illegally, who broke the laws of the nation by coming into, or staying in the US illegally, is amnesty. McCain, Obama and liberals use the term "pathway to citizenship"  in an attempt to downplay what they are trying to jam through Congress.
A recent town hall that McCain attended became rowdy when the citizens participated called McCain out on his push for amnesty for illegal aliens.
Via MediaIte:

About border security, McCain highlighted the need to utilize better technology, according to an Associated Press report. Furthermore, he said a pathway to citizenship should require learning English, as well as paying back taxes and fines for breaking immigration laws.
Some of the reaction, however, was negative:
Some audience members shouted out their disapproval.
One man yelled that only guns would discourage illegal immigration. Another man complained that illegal immigrants should never be able to become citizens or vote. A third man said illegal immigrants were illiterate invaders who wanted free government benefits.
McCain urged compassion. “We are a Judeo-Christian nation,” he said.
One particular heated exchange with Keith Smith, a resident who suggested, “Cut off their welfare and all their stuff, and they’ll go back.”
“You said, ‘Build the dang fence,’” he added. “Where’s the fence?”

A couple of points here.
First, Mr. Smith's comment is about welfare is valid.
Back in April 2011, The Center for Immigration Studies released an in-depth report on the use of welfare programs provided by the U.S. to immigrants living in the country. As I explained in a previous piece, "I searched the report directly for the welfare use by those in the country illegally and the report indicates that 71 percent of illegal immigrants are receiving welfare benefits."

Town Hall  Shows Just How Out of Touch John McCain Is With His Constituents On Immigration

Click image to enlarge


 The second point is the language McCain and other amnesty supporters use in an attempt to influence Americans into supporting amnesty for illegal aliens.
"Pathway to citizenship" replacing amnesty is just one example.
Another is referring to illegal aliens as "undocumented immigrants", which even some in the mainstream media has taken to doing, evidenced by a Washington Post headline found with a simple search  "Undocumented immigrants would have 13-year wait for citizenship under Obama plan."
The reason for these word games are very simple as a Reuters piece from today shows in their headline "Majority of U.S. citizens say illegal immigrants should be deported."

Thirty percent of those polled think that most illegal immigrants, with some exceptions, should be deported, while 23 percent believe all illegal immigrants should be deported.
Only 5 percent believe all illegal immigrants should be allowed to stay in the United States legally, and 31 percent want most illegal immigrants to stay.

Amnesty supporters attempt to change the language to make it more palatable to the public. Words have meaning, and an "undocumented immigrant" is one who is not here in the US legally, hence they are illegal aliens, illegal immigrants.
Rewarding those here illegally is a slap in the face to taxpayers who are providing those welfare benefits to 71 percent of illegal immigrants and a punch in the gut to immigrants who applied for citizenship legally, have been waiting to become a US citizen and are now seeing politicians like John McCain, Barack Obama and liberals trying to give amnesty to those who broke the laws of our nation.


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