Beware of the word “comprehensive” when it’s used with “immigration reform.” John McCain, who finds himself on the right side of many hot issues like drilling for oil and finishing our work in Iraq, could very well torpedo his own efforts to be president. Speaking to yet another Latino group, McCain said that comprehensive immigration reform is his “top priority, yesterday, today, and tomorrow.”
Comprehensive immigration reform is code for amnesty. McCain joined Ted Kennedy in trying to pass an amnesty bill in 2006. The issue nearly derailed his presidential aspirations. He still hasn’t learned his lesson.
McCain told the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials he believes Americans are skeptical of immigration reform plans because they do not believe we will secure the borders first. “We must prove to them that we can and will secure our borders first, while respecting the dignity and rights of citizens and legal residents of the United States,” McCain said.
The fact is our government has done a lousy job when it comes to securing the borders. Sure, there have been some isolated successes, but illegals still stream into this country by the millions. The border area has become a killing zone. American citizens are being kidnapped and murdered, and our government doesn’t seem to notice.
Barack Obama would be no better on this issue than McCain. In fact, he may be far worse. “It will be one of my priorities on my first day because this is an issue that we have demagogued,” said Obama. “There’s been a lot of politics around it, but we haven’t been serious about solving the problem.” Solving the problem, according to Obama, is granting amnesty to the 20 million illegal aliens who are already here. That’s not solving the problem. It only exacerbates the problem.
The problem is we allow illegals to pour across our borders as if it’s no big deal. When they’re apprehended, they’re merely detained for a few hours then released back into Mexico. This catch and release approach is what emboldens so many to keep trying. The vast majority of illegals being processed through our detention centers each day have tried to break into our country multiple times. They look at our border control as a joke, a game to be played until they win.
But, of course, most wouldn’t be coming were it not for willing employers waiting on the other side. These magnets are what’s drawing illegals by the millions. Neither Obama nor McCain want to address that side of the equation. Instead they pander to Latino groups with words like “compassion” and “humane” when the compassionate and humane solution is to keep these people from coming in the first place so they can change their own countries.
Corruption in Mexico is at the heart of the problem. The ruling elite prey upon the peasants and there’s little chance for social advancement. Abject poverty breeds desperation and desperate people want out. You can’t blame them for that. The problem is, we don’t have the resources to take care of the world’s disenfranchised. At some point these people have to do what we did 200-some years ago and start a revolution. We didn’t flee. We stayed and fought for what was right. Neither McCain nor Obama comprehend this and I fear that with either in office the problem is going to get decidedly worse.
Phil Valentine is an author and nationally syndicated radio talk show host with Westwood One. For more of his commentary and articles, visit philvalentine.com.
