Posted on 04/25/2006 5:25:37 AM PDT by yoe
Americans need to have a national discussion about immigration issues, but first they have to refine their vocabulary on the topic, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said Thursday in Scottsdale. “I’ve seen kind of an ugly side to this debate,” he told about 300 people at the Mayor and City Council Breakfast meeting.
In particular, McCain is troubled by the use of the terms “illegal alien” and “amnesty.”
“Illegal alien” suggests that the 11 million to 12 million border crossers in the United States came from another planet, he said. He prefers the term “illegal immigrant.”
“These are human beings, who came here for the same reason our forefathers came here,” McCain said. Workers from Mexico and elsewhere are drawn by economic opportunity.
“Amnesty” suggests a policy under which offenders are forgiven and exempt from punishment. That mischaracterizes any of the immigration proposals being considered in Congress, McCain said.
He prefers the term “earned citizenship” to describe provisions in the bill he co-sponsored with Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass.
The bill would require illegal immigrants already living in the United States to pay a $2,000 fine, pay back taxes, learn English and work six years before being granted legal residency status. At that point, they would have to apply for citizenship, which would take several more years.
“That’s not amnesty. Amnesty is forgiveness. This is earned citizenship,” McCain said.
The bill stalled in the Senate before Congress took a two-week break for Easter and Passover.
In other matters:
• Iraq must be made strong before the United States removes its troops, McCain said. “It’s not when we come home, it’s how we come home,” he said.
Iraq’s oil industry must be restored to ensure economic progress and the county’s newly approved government must be put into place.
• Gasoline prices will continue to climb until the United States becomes less dependent on foreign oil.
Contact Paul Giblin by email, or phone (480) 970-2331
mccain is the one living on another planet
Personally, I would prefer the term "Former Arizona Senator John McCain."
John McCain needs to stop talking to Americans like we're misbehaving children.
Oh PLEASE!!!
Awww. McCain doesn't like the term, "illegal aliens."
McCain can kiss my ass, they're illegal aliens.
"He prefers the term "illegal immigrant.'"
I prefer the term: "McCain is a Lunatic."
LOL! Agreed!
Can Americans vote in Mexico? If Mexicans are given legal status and allowed to vote in the USA, are they allowed to vote in Mexico?
Just asking, does anyone know for sure?
IMHO, someone should "tone down" McCain.........just because you are a member of the US Senate doesn't mean you can't tell the truth!
Too damn bad this clown doesn't have the same high regard for American Citizens as he does for ILLEGAL ALIENS. I don't believe that the average citizen having broken our laws for 10 years, not paying any taxes for 10 years and not even going to the trouble to learn our language while demanding free benefits, would be rewarded with such a gift as citizenship to the greatest nation in the world......more likely they would be thrown in jail.
Perhaps our senators should all apply for Mexican citizenship, since they seem a hell of a lot more in-tuned to the needs of the Mexican population than that of America.
McCain is not a RINO but he is an extreme left wing liberal who is trying to deceive the conservatives into voting for him in the primaries!
McCain wants amnesty for illegal felons!
He should STFU and get a clue.
Oh but he's our only hope!!!!
What was it Jim Robinson called McCain a while back? A treasonous bas****, I think.
That's what he fears. he is afraid of us all turning on him if he wins the GOP nod.
Shut up McCain
John McCain is upset.
McCain is troubled by the use of the terms "illegal alien" and "amnesty."
My, my, McCain is just so superior to we ordinary citizens, on such a higher plain in his humanity and his understanding of complex issues. We should all just do what he says. Feh!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.