An Immigration Compromise
March 8th, 2008 at 12:31am Geoff
Among the paramount sources of consternation between conservatives and Sen. McCain has been his positions on immigration reform. Whether it is the case or not, a significant segment of the Right have regarded these as amnesty, and no one will be able to convince them otherwise.
Instead, the senator should offer a compromise, one which recognizes and respects the disagreements and disparate points of emphasis between conservatives and himself. Specifically, I would advise Sen. McCain to adopt a tripartite approach to immigration reform that he would implement as President.
First and foremost, he ought to commit to enforcing immigration law as it currently exists in the United States Code. Too much of that law has gone unenforced for years and a simple rectification of that dereliction would go a significant distance in diminishing the problem that our open southern border presents.
Second, devise and implement other useful policies that would further enhance the administration’s effort to provide border security.
Third and finally, commit to considering and devising humane and benevolent policies to address the millions of undocumented immigrants already in the country only after—with emphasis on only after—the border has been secured and the flow of illegal immigration has stopped.
Writing in opposition to the comprehensive immigration reform Sen. McCain cosponsored with Sen. Kennedy last Spring, the editors of National Review asserted that until “we see [border] enforcement taking place—and see the government standing up to the interests that will squeal when it does—we should not contemplate providing an amnesty.” This is the basis for compromise. If Sen. McCain adopts an approach similar to the one I propose here, he will commit to securing the border as President before acting on any other approach, with conservative’s end of the bargain being that they will cooperate in good faith with him if and when this is achieved and it comes time to address the undocumented immigrants currently within the country but outside of our laws.
Sen. McCain has already signaled he is open to this, declaring on the stump that he has received the message from the voters that the border must be secured as a precondition to anything else. I hope conservatives will be willing to meet him halfway.
Entry Filed under: Campaign Issues, John McCain
2 Comments
1. Matt DiBari (Mattpat11) | March 8th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
McCain-Kennedy was one of the very few (and frankly, I can’t think of any other off the top of my head, so it might be the only one) major issues where I differed from Senator McCain.
But for a number of reasons, it doesn’t effect my support for him at all. I think he, unlike many politicians, has listened to the people and understands their problems with the original plan and will work to find a solid middle ground. I also don’t think its totally practical to round up and deport 12 million people.
But even if you want to consider John McCain’s immigration platform a negative (which I no longer do) his positives far outweigh them. On the issue that I think is the most important facing the country right now, the battle against radical Islamic extremism, I can’t think of a better choice in the country than John McCain.
At the end of the day, all of the other issues are comparatively minor to me, even the vast majority in which I agree with the Senator. I want this country safe, and John McCain is head and shoulders better than any one else for that job.
2. Sarah | March 9th, 2008 at 4:09 am
My hope is that John McCain will continue to remind Republicans that WE are the proud party of Abraham Lincoln, Ronald Reagan, and Theodore Roosevelt and our country will resolve our differences on this and many other issues in a legal and humane way.