See below. Problems: why put so much onus on the governors when it comes to deciding what is a "secure" border? What if governors drag their feet on the issue? Will he step up enforcement against the millions of illegal immigrants currently in this country? I agree with cracking down on businesses who hire illegals--but then what? And what exactly does it mean, we must then address this in a "humane and compassionate" way? Does that mean we'll head eventually towards amnesty? I'm not all that encouraged by this. I doubt too many conservatives would be. See what you think.
From a recent interview on "Hannity and Colmes":
But immigration--
MCCAIN: Yes?
HANNITY: -- after McCain/Kennedy was defeated, you said, I hear you. I understand. People don't trust us, and they want the borders secured first.
MCCAIN: That's exactly right.
HANNITY: What does that mean in terms of practicality?
MCCAIN: It means that I, as president, I would have the border state governors certify that their borders are secure. Americans will trust the border state governors. They won't trust us in Washington. That's the message -- they want it secure.
And I'm sorry for a long answer, but in '86, as you may recall--
HANNITY: President Reagan.
MCCAIN: Yes. We said we'd give amnesty and secure the borders. We didn't secure the borders. We ended up with 12 million or more people here illegally. So there's no trust there.
So you've got to prove to the American people that your borders are secure. Then you move to temper-proof biometric documents for temporary workers.
HANNITY: Right.
MCCAIN: And any employer who hires someone without that, and an employer electronic verification system, then is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. I mean, and then we address the issue in a humane and compassionate fashion. They are God's children, and we can be humane and compassionate about this.
HANNITY: Yes. For conservatives, I would argue that the issue is law-breaking, respecting our sovereignty, the laws of the United States --
MCCAIN: Yes.
HANNITY: And if you didn't, that there is a penalty to pay. Let me ask you --
MCCAIN: Yes. There should be. There should be.
HANNITY: -- you had said that--
MCCAIN: And no one will take priority -- if someone who either came here legally or waited to come here legally--
HANNITY: All right, we've got less than a minute. Would you sign McCain-Kennedy today or --
MCCAIN: It's not going to be there. The lesson is, they want the border secured first.
HANNITY: And that's -- that's your mission now. You are focused on securing the borders?
MCCAIN: Yes, sir.
HANNITY: Not -- you look at McCain-Kennedy, the country doesn't want it?
MCCAIN: We failed. My friend, we failed. I think you noticed, because you were one of the reasons.
