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To: Trapped Behind Enemy Lines

Mitch:
Amnesty

2000:

Co-authored an amnesty bill with Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL).

2006:

May 2: McConnell said he could not support an amnesty system that “rewards those who have broken our laws.[1]”
May 25: McConnell voted for the comprehensive amnesty bill of 2006.[2]
June 25: After the 2006 amnesty bill failed in the Senate, McConnell didn’t give up hope amnesty could still be achieved. “Well, I hope it hasn’t killed immigration for this year. I do think we need a comprehensive bill. I wasn’t fond of a whole lot of the provisions in the Senate bill but I did vote for it to move the process along…But I’d prefer to have a comprehensive immigration bill on the President’s desk[3].”
July: McConnell voted against the border fence[4]
September: McConnell then flipped his vote and voted for the border fence after it became popular

2007:

May: McConnell voted to advance the 2007 amnesty bill[5]
July: Although he voted against the 2007 amnesty bill, according to Robert Novak, “Not only did the minority leader end up voting against an immigration bill that he said was better than the 2006 version he supported, he abandoned his post, staying off the floor during final stages of the debate.”[6]
McConnell was one of six senators who switched to a ‘no’ vote after the 40 votes needed to kill the bill were recorded.[7] McConnell clearly supported amnesty, but voted against it in the end and remained silent throughout the debate because of political considerations. (have tally card. Need to give it a hyperlink)
One senator said of McConnell during the 2007 amnesty debate, “If this were a war, Sen. McConnell should be relieved of command for dereliction of duty.”

2013:

During the 2013 amnesty fight, McConnell faced a similar predicament as in 2007. Facing a tough re-election both times, he chose to publically oppose it in the end, while doing nothing to speak out against it, and even encouraging and praising it quietly.[8]
McConnell tapped Sen. Rubio to join the Gang of 8 because, “Rubio’s participation ‘would be critical to winning conservative support.’”[9]
May: McConnell announced he would not block the Gang of 8 amnesty bill, despite the fact he had been encouraging it all along. He told reporters, “The Gang of Eight has made a substantial contribution to moving the issue forward…I’m hopeful we’ll be able to get a bill we can pass here in the Senate.”[10]
June: McConnell remained silent during the entire month-long debate, even as conservatives expressed dozens of concerns with the bill.[11]

“Mitch McConnell has often assumed the role as the key Republican in high-stakes negotiations with the White House. But not on immigration. The top Senate Republican has taken a low-profile during the most significant policy fight this year… And he’s made scant mention of the issue on the floor or in press conferences…

Week of June 17: When asked what his views on the Gang of 8 deal were, McConnell said, “I’m not going to do an immigration interview right now.[12]”
June 20: On the Thursday before the final vote, McConnell still told Sean Hannity,“I don’t know how I’m going to vote in the end.”[13]
June 27: Although McConnell ultimately voted against amnesty in 2013, and as party leader, never took a position on the bill or led opposition against it before the final day.
July: Even though he voted against the Gang of 8 bill in an effort to save his flailing political career, McConnell urged House Republicans to pass amnesty in hopes it could be melded with the Gang of 8 bill in conference. “I hope the House will be able to move forward on something and we can get this into conference and get an outcome that will be satisfactory for the American people[14].”


44 posted on 11/17/2014 11:58:27 AM PST by mirkwood
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To: mirkwood

Yes and RR signed the Simpson-Mazzoli bill which legalized and made citizens out of countless millions of illegal aliens.

I did not support Simpson-Mazzoli, but I never stopped supporting RR just because he signed one bill which I disagreed with.


52 posted on 11/17/2014 12:05:42 PM PST by Trapped Behind Enemy Lines
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