John McCain often gets a pass from the media on his many policy reversals. One example occurred last year when he abandoned his support for comprehensive immigration reform and instead took a "border security first" stance -- going so far as to say he wouldn't vote for an immigration reform bill that he co-sponsored. For the purposes of maneuvering in a crowded GOP primary, the reversal made sense. So it's no surprise that now -- having locked down the GOP nomination -- the Arizona Republican is signaling to Latinos behind closed doors that he's not so hard-line after all.
Indeed, during a visit to Chicago last Wednesday, McCain toned down the border security rhetoric during a private meeting with a Hispanic Republicans from the area. Unfortunately for him, Illinois Minutemen leader Rosanna Pulido was present at the meeting and has been publicly expressing her "disgust" with McCain's private comments in the days since. (Speaking of disgust, some of you may remember Pulido's recent prediction on Chicago radio that assault rifles would be needed to control a recent protest by immigration rights activists. Of course, the demonstration was entirely peaceful.)
Following McCain's Chicago meeting, Pulido talked to the AP, then ABC News' Jake Tapper, before landing on Lou Dobb's CNN show Friday night -- home sweet home for any and all anti-immigrant activists. Watch her talk about McCain's comprehensive immigration reform "mantra" and how he is "kicking conservatives to the curb":
This is classic McCain -- straddle two positions while hoping that the moderates think you're moderate, the conservatives think you're conservative, and the media pays no attention. (Of course, McCain isn't the only Republican trying to have it both ways this election year. Check out "thoughtful, independent" Rep. Mark Kirk's remarks about the uninsured in America -- made during a private meeting of Wheeling Township Republicans last month.)
In related news, Rich Miller reports in his Southtown Star column today that State Sen. Martin Sandoval (D-Chicago) is flirting with the possibility of supporting McCain over Obama this November. Miller writes that the two met in Chicago last week and that McCain "promised to be an advocate for Latino issues."
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