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McCain asks for trust from Hispanics

By Stephen Dinan (Contact) | Tuesday, July 15, 2008

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Republican presidential candidate John McCain on Monday denounced those in his party he said have injected "insults" into the immigration debate but refused to back away from his new enforcement-first approach to the issue, telling Hispanic leaders that they must trust he will eventually legalize illegal immigrants.

Mr. McCain told the National Council of La Raza's annual convention that Hispanics should instead be wary of his Democratic rival, Sen. Barack Obama, whom he accused of pandering to labor unions and supporting amendments that changed last year's immigration compromise and helped scuttle the bill.

"I cast a lot of hard votes, as did the other Republicans and Democrats who joined our bipartisan effort," Mr. McCain said. "Senator Obama declined to cast some of those tough votes. He voted for and even sponsored amendments that were intended to kill the legislation."

Mr. McCain is trying to drive a wedge between Mr. Obama and Hispanic voters, who are poised to play a huge role in November's election.

The Republican said he is willing to fight for their support, but told them they will have to trust him on immigration. He has changed his stance on the issue and now calls for enforcement of existing laws before he pushes for the rest of the key provisions, like a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants.

"When I say I remain committed to fair, practical and comprehensive immigration reform, I mean it," he said. "And with all due modesty, I think I have earned that trust."

Democrats said he doesn't deserve the benefit of the doubt anymore.

"He can't change the fact that he walked away from his own comprehensive reform bill to appease the right wing of his party," said Rep. Xavier Becerra, California Democrat, who also disputed Mr. McCain's attack on Mr. Obama, pointing out that Republicans praised Mr. Obama for helping last year.

Immigration rights advocates rejected the charge that Mr. Obama's amendments hurt the bill, saying some of those votes were designed to improve it.

Mr. McCain is no stranger to NCLR, having spoken to its national convention repeatedly and having twice won NCLR's Capital Award.