Trouble in amnesty paradise?
John McCain, who appears to be the GOP's presumptive presidential nominee, was resoundingly booed before and after addressing the Conservative Political Action Convention this afternoon, despite his plea to the Republican right that they have more in common than not.
McCain was introduced first, though erroneously, by former VA guv George Allen. Allen, who endorsed McCain today after having supported Fred Thompson's bid, was supposed to introduce Sen. Tom Colburn who had the official honor of presenting McCain. So, with the double introduction, McCain was booed not once, but twice.
McCain made a humble plea for the support of the far right contingent of his party, saying that though they have disagreed at turns and though he has made "mistakes" (more booing), "you will still allow that in many ways important to all of us (I have) maintained the record of a conservative."
That explains why you're so popular with Democrats and the MSN, but not with conservatives, eh John?
(...)"I have made mistakes, you can attest to that," he joked, before promising to "secure our borders first."
Here's what McCain said just nine months ago about those who dared to disagree with him on illegal immigration.
"[Expletive] you! I know more about this than anyone else in the room," shouted McCain at Cornyn. McCain helped craft a bill in 2006 that passed the Senate but couldn't be compromised with a House bill that was much tougher on illegal immigrants.
McCain's temper is legendary and never seems to be directed at Democrats.
"No, I'm calling you a f*cking jerk." -to fellow GOP Senator Chuck Grassley, when Grassley asked "Are you calling me stupid?" 2/21/00
"By the way, I think the fence is least effective. But I’ll build the goddamned fence if they want it." -2/07
"Only an a**hole would put together a budget like this... I wouldn't call you an a**hole unless you really were an a**hole." -to Budget Committee Chairman and fellow GOP Senator Pete Domenici in a Senate budget hearing
McCain was also asked if as president he would be comfortable with Tancredo heading the immigration service. McCain smiled and said, "In a word, no." Source.
Cornyn, Grassley, Tancredo, and Domenici are all Republicans.
Here's what McCain says to Democrats.
"I am sure that Senator Clinton would make a good President. I have no doubt that Senator Clinton would make a good President." -2/20/05
"John Kerry is a very close friend of mine. We've been friends for years. Obviously, I would entertain it." -When asked if he would entertain being Kerry's VP if asked, 3/10/04
"The first thing that I would do is call in John Kerry, Bob Kerrey, Joe Biden, Zbigniew Brzezinski, Henry Kissinger, Dick Lugar, Chuck Hagel, and several others and say, ‘We’ve got to get foreign policy, national security issues back on track.'" -When asked the first thing he would do if elected President, 3/00
So if you think McCain is going to undergo some kind of conservative transformation once he gets your vote, remember his past.
