I agree with you that McCain’s support for amnesty is a DEALBREAKER issue for all the reasons consistently mentioned on FR (i.e. 20 million plus illegals plus 80 to 100 million more family members who will demographically DESTROY conservatism, the GOP, and the country as we know it)
What I find absolutely astounding, and is never addressed by McCain’s defenders, is why he STILL refuses to pledge not to sign any illegal alien amnesty bill (In fact, he still refuses to even acknowledge that his bill amounts to amnesty). His “Secure the borders first” and then not pass legislation addressing the 20 Million plus illegals here until there is a “widespread consensus that the borders are secure” position is WHOLLY INSUFFICIENT. Even the Democrats promise to “secure the borders”. It is empty rhetoric and rings hollow coming from someone with the pro-amnesty history of John McCain. There are no specific benchmarks for “consensus”, and having “Border Governors certify that the borders are secure” is completely disingenuous, given how beholden these Democratic Governors (Napolitano, Richardson, and RINO Perry) are to their large hispanic populations. He obviously thinks we are rubes.
I just find it hard to believe that McCain still doesn’t get it. Of all the issues that he has opposed conservatives on, and there are MANY, this is the one issue on which he could convince a substantial number of disaffected conservatives who are currently sitting on the fence to hold their nose and support him. A simple “I personally disagree with conservatives on the issue, however my side fought and lost the battle. As such, I will spend the next 4 years securing the border and promise I will not sign any legalization bill for illegals during my first term in office” would be minimally sufficient for many (but not all) conservatives.
What does it say to us conservatives when he won’t make that very mild concession (which has very little political downside for him)? Is he that beholden to the pro-amnesty Wall Street Journal cheap labor types and the “La Raza” grievance types? Or, as most of us suspect, does he STILL thinks he’s right in pushing amnesty and will do so as President DESPITE THE STRONG OPPOSITION FROM THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF REPUBLICAN (AND INDEPENDENT) VOTERS? Even if we ignored the litany of times he has metaphorically spit in conservatives’ faces, why in the world would should we support someone who is not be willing to make this very simple pledge on such a crucial issue???
It says to me that he’s contemptuous of those who opposed his amnesty bill and he’s lying through his teeth. Neither of which is anything new for McCain.