Swing State Project

« AK-Gov: Knowles Is In! | Main | KY-Gov/Lt. Gov: Pence Abandons Fletcher, Won't Run In 2007 »

Tuesday, May 30, 2006

CA-50: "Maverick" John McCain Cancels Bilbray Fundraiser

Posted by James L.

From the Associated Press, comes word of "maverick" Sen. John McCain sticking fast to his ideals and not being pushed around by his extremist peers in the Republican Party:

Arizona Sen. John McCain on Tuesday canceled an appearance for a Republican congressional candidate who has attacked his opponent for supporting McCain's immigration bill.

McCain, R-Ariz., was scheduled to speak Wednesday at a breakfast fundraiser for Brian Bilbray, who is locked in a close runoff race with Democrat Francine Busby for the San Diego-area seat left vacant by disgraced former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham. The event was expected to raise at least $65,000.

So Bilbray smacks Busby for supporting one of McCain's policies. That's surely enough for our favorite straight-talking "maverick" to stay true to his principles and rescind his endorsement of Bilbray, right? Right? Erm, maybe not:

In an e-mail sent to the Bilbray campaign, McCain spokesman Craig Goldman acknowledged that McCain and Bilbray "disagree on some of the issues related to immigration reform." He said McCain did not want his appearance to distract from Bilbray's campaign.

The e-mail reiterated McCain's endorsement of Bilbray, and said the senator's Straight Talk America political action committee would make the maximum allowable contribution of $5,000 to Bilbray's campaign. Goldman did not return phone and e-mail messages left seeking comment.

Pathetic. But oh well; at least it's one more momentum-sapping headline for Brian Bilbray.

Posted at 09:49 PM in 2006 Elections - House, California | Technorati

Trackback Pings

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.swingstateproject.com/mt/mt-track-ssp.cgi/2377

Listed below are links to weblogs that reference CA-50: "Maverick" John McCain Cancels Bilbray Fundraiser:

» Will Their Finally Be A Breach? from Ohio 2nd Blog
It didn’t happen in OH-02, but round two CA-50 has become a hot zone going into next Tuesday’s special. The NRCC is hemorrhaging significantly more cash to hold the line, demonstrating its fragility. Busby’s campaign is making some ex... [Read More]

Tracked on June 1, 2006 03:25 PM

Comments

I think if the Republicans succeed in making this election about immigration issues we could be very dissapointed come November. Unfortunately, this issue is starting to resonate with people all over the United States even though they live thousands of miles from the border. The GOP has so far been successful in distracting them from the larger issues such as the Iraq War, global warming, and soaring gas prices.

Posted by: SamKessler at May 31, 2006 05:47 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

*humming to self*

"He's a rebel, he's a saint, he's salt of the earth, And he's dangerous"

John McCain is such a maverick that he once wore two socks which didn't match, and that clearly shows that he's a straight talker who doesn't accept the status quo. ;)

Posted by: RBH at May 31, 2006 11:27 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Oh yes, nice to seethe Gop tearing itself apart over this issue. All these years they have spent courting the Hispanic vote, that plan has gone down the tube.

Posted by: Predictor at May 31, 2006 12:44 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

I agree with Sam. If the Democrats continue to boisterously promote immigration reform that's light on border security and heavy on cheap labor pipelines, it'll makes the wedge issues of 2002 (homeland security) and 2004 (gay marriage) seem tame by comparison. Every liberal I know personally and even a solid percentage of Daily Kos lefties believe the Democrats are on the wrong side of this issue. The only thing saving us is that GOP party leaders Bush and McCain have the same position as Ted Kennedy. Long-term though, the Democrats will get the blame for an immigration reform bill that I guarantee to be wildly unpopular if it passes.

If I was Denny Hastert, I would campaign on the theme that the only thing stopping McCain-Feingold from being law is the House remaining in conservative hands....and if Democrats take over the House in November, you'll have 115,000 disenfranchised guest workers per month piped into your communities. Particularly in the South and Midwest, that could swing battleground races towards the GOP.

Posted by: Mark at May 31, 2006 01:10 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Immigration: The Democrats need to focus the issue on who is hiring the illegal immigrants: Republicans and their $$$ Argic-Corporations.
The Gop has been courting the hispanic vote for decades as they realized that it is he fastest growing demographic group.
If the Dems follow the course of being anti-gay marriage, you risk seeing the Dems lose this group to third parties who may be more supportive.
Allying with prejudice against hispanics/gays to win elections, is not a choice, its a unprincipled capitulation.

Posted by: Predictor at May 31, 2006 02:38 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Unfortunately I think Sam and Mark are right. I was slow to recognize this as the potent issue that it is. It could be something that ends up costing us dearly in the fall. I think there is a way to address this issue without A) Being prejudiced and a demogogue ala Tom Tancredo, B) Saying "anyone who wants to can come whenever" (a stupid political position that I don't even support) or C) Ignoring the whole thing and hoping it will go away. What is that way? I'm not sure -- but I think the Senate-passed bill isn't bad, and (gasp -- don't ban me from the site for saying this!), I don't think the President's approach is all that bad either (it's far from the most extreme position even within the House or Senate).

Posted by: IndianaProgressive at May 31, 2006 03:10 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

The issues presented above are as "potent" as abortion rights and civil rights were in the 60's. Why do we have to move to the right on these social issues? Put the focus on the deficit (fiscal policies), the war (our foreign policy) and the environment. The Republican party has successfully ignored the Global Warming issue for decades and has controlled the focus of social agenda issues through a campaign of fear and loathing.
I agree that they will use these divisive issues against us and I am equally concerned with the impact. We need to control the focus, as we were able to do 4 decades ago.
Damned I miss the 60's..LOL.

Posted by: Predictor at June 1, 2006 12:18 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment