Immigration ''Hard-Liner'' Steve King on McCain: ''He's On Board''

According to news reports, immigration "hard-liner U.S. Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, says GOP presidential candidate John McCain -- who had been at odds with King and many others in his party over the issue -- is now on board." King added that McCain has "gotten it," and that he believes McCain when he says he "'heard the American people'" and understands "'the message.'" The Republican congressman added that he has had "those conversation behind closed doors with" McCain and expects that he will "follow through on the word that he's given." [Iowa Independent, 9/8/08]

Perhaps Congressman King should watch Univision. During an interview aired this past Sunday, McCain suggested he disagreed with his Party's platform on immigration and legalization of undocumented immigrants, and even suggested he opposed the Republican platform's call to make English the official language and end bilingual education. As the New York Times' editorial board noted, the Republican platform adopted just last week treats "undocumented immigrants as, more or less, criminals." [New York Times, 9/3/08]

"Clearly someone isn't telling the truth, and John McCain owes the voters an explanation," said Democratic National Commitee spokesman Luis Miranda. "Are voters supposed to believe Steve King and the Republican Party platform or should they believe John McCain? This is one more example that John McCain doesn't offer change, he promises more of the same misleading politics of the last eight years."

Below are excerpts of McCain's interview that aired on Univision on Sunday September 7, 2008:

Univision: Senator, the platform of your party says, and I am quoting, "We support the adoption of English as the official language of the United States, and we demand the abolition of bilingual education." Do you agree with this?

John McCain: No, look it's fine with me if English is the official language, because it is our official language, it is. Anyone that comes to this country that wants to move up the economic ladder, we all know has to learn English, is a requirement for citizenship, so we all know that, but the point is...If you want to call it official, it already is official, official or unofficial it is our language, but I come from a state where Spanish was spoken before English, o.k.? So, I cherish Spanish language, our heritage, our culture, our food, everything about our Hispanic culture and that is what I want our party and Americans to do...

Univision: Senator, the last time we talked, you told us that it would take a year or two to secure the border, and then you said we can address the other part of it. Would that include massive legalization of millions of undocumented immigrants in this country?

John McCain: I think it means that we go through a step by step process of allowing people to apply and achieve citizenship in this country, of course. But, I want to point out again; it's a little more complicated.

Univision: It goes against the platform of your party, by the way, because they are against the legalization of millions of undocumented immigrants.

John McCain: My position is very clear, and that was part of our proposal, that I took up twice…So, what we need to do is take the two million according to Chertoff, that have broken laws in our country, and deport or imprison them, they are law breakers. Other people who have come here and have been here for a period of time and are law abiding citizens and are willing to go through a certain process, of course, there is not a twelve million pairs of handcuffs in America. So, we can together republican and democrat work out this issue, provide a path to citizenship, on the principle that they do not take any priority over anyone who came to this country legally, or waited legally...

Univision: Senator Barack Obama told us in an interview that he would present a comprehensive immigration reform to congress during the first year could you match that?

John McCain: Sure, I would do it in the first day, but I was the one who led, I was the one who led with Senator Kennedy, a great political risk to my self.