I was in the Senate for the packed Republican-Democrat-Kadima presser on the “framework” for immigration reform. It marked the return of a John McCain we’d all forgotten about, a statesman who stands side by side with Chuck Schumer and favors something that would be “good for the president.” But I tried to imagine how Republicans were hearing McCain’s comments.
1) “If we do succeed, it will be a testament to Ted Kennedy’s effort some years ago.”
Conservatives put the “blame” for immigration levels on the 1965 immigration bill backed by Kennedy. Also, he was Ted Kennedy.
2) “The Republican Party is losing the support of our Hispanic citizens. And we realize this is an issue in which we are agreement with our Hispanic citizens.”
A big theme from recent come-to-Jesus meetings, like the RNC’s meeting in Charlotte and the NRI meeting, was that the party needed better messaging on immigration but not necessarily a bill.
3) “I am confident that the majority in both Houses — led by the president of the United States — will succeed.”
I thought Republicans were against that! But the hits kept coming as McCain left the room, and Bloomberg’s Kate Hunter asked whether support from the president would alienate Republicans.
4) “No, he’s the president of the United States … it helped when George W. Bush strongly supported it. It certainly helped with Republicans.”
It helped because Bush was Republican? Here, Republicans have to hope that Marco Rubio gains from a deal. But the incentives for aiding Barack Obama are completely different than the incentives for helping Bush. That’s why the cliche is “only Nixon can go to China,” not “only a Communist can go to China.”
