McCain: Immigration reform failure would cost GOP
WASHINGTON (AP) - In a warning to fellow Republicans, Sen. John McCain said Wednesday that failure to pass comprehensive immigration legislation could mean continued election losses for the GOP and cause Republican-friendly states like Arizona to fall to the Democrats.
The Arizona Republican, his party's former presidential nominee and one of eight senators to sign onto a bipartisan immigration reform framework this week, said failure to act means the trend of Hispanic defections from the GOP would continue.
Latino voters supported President Barack Obama over Republican Mitt Romney 71 percent to 27 percent in November, helping to ensure Obama's victory.
McCain said that Republicans have failed to understand the importance of immigration to Hispanic voters and that's cost the party at the ballot box.
"If you have a large bloc of Americans who believe you're trying to keep their ... fellow Hispanics down and deprive them of an opportunity, obviously that's going to have an effect," McCain said.
The Senate framework would provide a path to citizenship for the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants already in the country, secure the border, attempt to simplify legal immigration, and add requirements for employers to prevent hiring of illegal immigrants.
If no bill passes, McCain said, the forecast for Republicans is that "the trend will continue of lack of support from Hispanic voters, and also as you look at the demographics of states like mine that means that we will go from Republican to Democrat over time."
McCain spoke alongside Democratic Sen. Charles Schumer of New York, his partner on the immigration proposals, at a breakfast hosted by Politico.
The Arizona Republican, his party's former presidential nominee and one of eight senators to sign onto a bipartisan immigration reform framework this week, said failure to act means the trend of Hispanic defections from the GOP would continue.
Latino voters supported President Barack Obama over Republican Mitt Romney 71 percent to 27 percent in November, helping to ensure Obama's victory.
McCain said that Republicans have failed to understand the importance of immigration to Hispanic voters and that's cost the party at the ballot box.
"If you have a large bloc of Americans who believe you're trying to keep their ... fellow Hispanics down and deprive them of an opportunity, obviously that's going to have an effect," McCain said.
The Senate framework would provide a path to citizenship for the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants already in the country, secure the border, attempt to simplify legal immigration, and add requirements for employers to prevent hiring of illegal immigrants.
If no bill passes, McCain said, the forecast for Republicans is that "the trend will continue of lack of support from Hispanic voters, and also as you look at the demographics of states like mine that means that we will go from Republican to Democrat over time."
McCain spoke alongside Democratic Sen. Charles Schumer of New York, his partner on the immigration proposals, at a breakfast hosted by Politico.
Now we know why McCain lost. No Cajones.
I wish a reporter would make him finish his question the other day when he said Latinos should vote Republican for variety of reasons. Give me one reason.
Maybe just for once it could be about something that needs to be addressed in this country and not about how it's going to affect their political careers/parties. This is getting OLD and I really wish they would address term limits. However I know they won't do that to themselves.
Why is McSame even called a repub? He resembles nothing of the (has been)Â conservative party.
 @Lord Farquad Actually, he resembles a conservative from the 1980s and 90s. Nowadays the "mainstream" conservative has moved so far to the right that McCain all of a sudden seems like a democrat.Â
Yes, John, DO tell how us Republicans can win elections.
According to DHS statistics we already LEGALLY allow more than ONE MILLION new immigrants into this country EVERY YEAR! Why streamline anything???? Isn't a million per year enough?Â
 @paperboy Obviously not, otherwise there wouldn't be jobs for those illegals.
 @nwbackpackerÂ
I'll pass that on to the crowd at Home Depot...
 @paperboy paperboy wrote: "Isn't a million per year enough?"
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Enough for what?
"Immigration reform failure would cost GOP"
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They say it like it is a bad thing. If the two go hand-in-hand, then I sincerely hope immigration reform fails spectacularly. ESPECIALLY the amnesty part of the plan.
The GOP needs to first purge its party of the RINO's and the progressives. Then get tough on illegals don't reward them for breaking the law. crack down on the laws that are in place. publish the Democrat platform were it says that the democrats will not support law enforcement on federal state or local levels in enforcing the Laws on emigration. If we just enforced the laws on the books the problem would take care of itself.
 @Exiled_Patriot Yes, please keep purging your party of anyone who's not a raving lunatic.
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Look, I want the Republican party to be a viable alternative to the Democrats. It's healthier that way. But for some reason they insist on being the party of an ever-dwindling population of bitter old Fox News-watching white men. It's not a winning strategy.
@Sutekh What is the diffrence between John McCain and Obama? two things 1 Obama one the election 2 the color of their skin. Both are Progressives in the term of Libreral progressive democrat Ideas. McCain is a RINO. The only reason he is not a Democrat is because Arizona is a Red state.
@nwbackpacker @Sutekh I was one that has screamed from the roof tops that Both Bush's were Rino's The only reason that Reagan did a amesty program was the democrats promissed to cut spending and taxes. did it happen NO! Also just because it is Bipartasin does not mean it is a good plan or law. I would rather have zero things passed and done then have one bad thing passed in the name of getting along.
 @Exiled_Patriot  @Sutekh Heaven forbid that a republican and a democrat might actually agree on one topic and come up with some bipartisan policies and get something DONE. Keep in mind that G W Bush proposed comprehensive immigration reform back before Obama was really in the picture. I suppose he's a RINO too? And Raegan? Total RINO!?
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The failure to act on anything has cost the GOP. They are not known as the Grand Obstructionist Party for nothing.
 @mstipton What? Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (with umpteen bills sitting on his desk passed by the House) is GOP now?
 @Getov Mylon  @mstipton To be fair, I think 35 of those are all about repealing Obamacare... :)
@lakeview @Getov Mylon @mstipton That would help with balancing the budget...Â
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 @Getov Mylon  @mstipton Democrats are the majority in the senate. The republican minority are the obstructionists because they are obstructing the will of the majority. The reverse would be true in the house if the rules of the house were different and the minority had any real power to obstruct.
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@nwbackpacker So the GOP is stopping the senate from passing a budget? in the senate? wow! And here I thought Harry Reid said we will not pass a budget period no matter what!
The GOP will only act if it gets them votes, not because they believe in their hearts it's the right thing to do. The GOP is running out of old white people to win elections with. 2badsosad
 @ballardanian Every politician is that way. To you honestly think the democrats care about you? They care as much as the republicans do.
"McCain: Immigration reform failure would cost GOP"
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It already has.