McCain rejects Obama attack on immigration
(Updates with speech delivered, question and answer period, changes dateline from PHOENIX)
By Steve Holland
SAN DIEGO, July 14 (Reuters) - Republican presidential hopeful John McCain defended himself on Monday against charges from Democrat Barack Obama that he adopted a more aggressive stance against illegal immigration for political purposes.
McCain's support among Hispanic Americans is lagging behind that of Obama, who has attracted many Hispanics who had supported Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton. Hispanics are a key constituency in the Nov. 4 election and could make a difference in several battleground states.
In a lively appearance before the National Council of La Raza, one of the most important advocacy groups in the United States for Hispanic Americans, McCain rejected the organizers' attempts to cut off audience questioning of him, at one point tossing his microphone to a man so he could pose his query.
McCain in 2007 led a drive with Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Edward Kennedy to try to persuade the U.S. Senate to approve a pathway to citizenship for millions of illegal immigrants working in the United States.
A rebellion from McCain's fellow Republicans killed the legislation and McCain's campaign almost died due to opposition from conservatives upset at his immigration stance.
McCain now argues for securing the U.S. border with Mexico first and then embarking on legislation to allow illegal immigrants to work legally in the United States.
Obama took aim at McCain when he addressed the same group in San Diego on Sunday, saying he had admired McCain for bucking his party and pushing for the legislation, but that eventually McCain "abandoned his courageous stance, and said that he wouldn't even support his own legislation if it came up for a vote."
McCain said he wanted to correct the record. He said he had supported the immigration legislation even though his critics said it would be "political suicide."
"I took my lumps for it without complaint. My campaign was written off as a lost cause. I did so not just because I believed it was the right thing to do for Hispanic Americans. It was the right thing to do for all Americans. Sen. Obama declined to cast some of those tough votes," McCain said.
McCain said Obama had voted for and even sponsored amendments that were intended to kill the legislation.
McCain, pressed on the issue by a member of the audience during a question-and-answer period, said a comprehensive immigration plan was still his top priority.
"But first, we've got to assure the American people that the borders are secure," he said.
A woman was applauded by the audience when she asked McCain whether he would put a stop to "inhumane" raids in which illegal immigrants have been arrested and sent home, sometimes separating them from their families.
McCain described the raids as a symptom of the problem. "Of course we don't want anything done that is inhumane," he said.
Early in his remarks, McCain's speech was interrupted by a woman who stood up in the back of the expansive hall to protest the Iraq war.
"Bring our sons home, end the war now," she said before security led her out.
McCain, who has criticized Obama for not having been to Iraq since 2006, said it was now time for Obama to also go to South America. McCain recently visited Colombia and Mexico.
"And while it is surely not my intention to become my opponent's scheduler, I hope Sen. Obama soon visits some of the other countries of the Americas for the first time," McCain said.
(Editing by David Wiessler)
(To read more about the U.S. political campaign, visit Reuters "Tales from the Trail: 2008" online at blogs.reuters.com/trail08/)
By Steve Holland
SAN DIEGO, July 14 (Reuters) - Republican presidential hopeful John McCain defended himself on Monday against charges from Democrat Barack Obama that he adopted a more aggressive stance against illegal immigration for political purposes.
McCain's support among Hispanic Americans is lagging behind that of Obama, who has attracted many Hispanics who had supported Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton. Hispanics are a key constituency in the Nov. 4 election and could make a difference in several battleground states.
In a lively appearance before the National Council of La Raza, one of the most important advocacy groups in the United States for Hispanic Americans, McCain rejected the organizers' attempts to cut off audience questioning of him, at one point tossing his microphone to a man so he could pose his query.
McCain in 2007 led a drive with Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Edward Kennedy to try to persuade the U.S. Senate to approve a pathway to citizenship for millions of illegal immigrants working in the United States.
A rebellion from McCain's fellow Republicans killed the legislation and McCain's campaign almost died due to opposition from conservatives upset at his immigration stance.
McCain now argues for securing the U.S. border with Mexico first and then embarking on legislation to allow illegal immigrants to work legally in the United States.
Obama took aim at McCain when he addressed the same group in San Diego on Sunday, saying he had admired McCain for bucking his party and pushing for the legislation, but that eventually McCain "abandoned his courageous stance, and said that he wouldn't even support his own legislation if it came up for a vote."
McCain said he wanted to correct the record. He said he had supported the immigration legislation even though his critics said it would be "political suicide."
"I took my lumps for it without complaint. My campaign was written off as a lost cause. I did so not just because I believed it was the right thing to do for Hispanic Americans. It was the right thing to do for all Americans. Sen. Obama declined to cast some of those tough votes," McCain said.
McCain said Obama had voted for and even sponsored amendments that were intended to kill the legislation.
McCain, pressed on the issue by a member of the audience during a question-and-answer period, said a comprehensive immigration plan was still his top priority.
"But first, we've got to assure the American people that the borders are secure," he said.
A woman was applauded by the audience when she asked McCain whether he would put a stop to "inhumane" raids in which illegal immigrants have been arrested and sent home, sometimes separating them from their families.
McCain described the raids as a symptom of the problem. "Of course we don't want anything done that is inhumane," he said.
Early in his remarks, McCain's speech was interrupted by a woman who stood up in the back of the expansive hall to protest the Iraq war.
"Bring our sons home, end the war now," she said before security led her out.
McCain, who has criticized Obama for not having been to Iraq since 2006, said it was now time for Obama to also go to South America. McCain recently visited Colombia and Mexico.
"And while it is surely not my intention to become my opponent's scheduler, I hope Sen. Obama soon visits some of the other countries of the Americas for the first time," McCain said.
(Editing by David Wiessler)
(To read more about the U.S. political campaign, visit Reuters "Tales from the Trail: 2008" online at blogs.reuters.com/trail08/)
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