John McCain: Prisoner of Conscience
posted in Candidates, Immigration, Issues, John McCain (R) |Original source: http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2007/02/mccain200702
McCain had been asked how debate over the immigration bill was playing politically. “In the short term, it probably galvanizes our base,” he said. “In the long term, if you alienate the Hispanics, you’ll pay a heavy price.” Then he added, unable to help himself, “By the way, I think the fence is least effective. But I’ll build the goddamned fence if they want it.”
“I’m willing to negotiate anything,” McCain tells the breakfast crowd in Sioux City, explaining that there is no way the millions of illegal aliens now here can be sent back to their countries of origin. But he acknowledges that anything seen as amnesty for illegals is “totally unacceptable, particularly to our Republican base.” Later, McCain tells me that Congressman King “really knows this issue,” but he sounds as if he is trying to persuade himself as much as me.
