McCain a Little ACORN

This was discovered on Facebook from Michelle Malkin's Blog, it shows how changable Sen. John McCain can be.


Sigh: McCain and his friends at…ACORN
By Michelle Malkin • October 13, 2008 01:14 PM
If you want to know why see-sawing John McCain has had to be goaded, prodded, begged, and dragged into spotlighting Barack Obama’s radical ACORN roots, here’s your answer:

Turns out John McCain had no problem calling ACORN members his friends during his ill-fated illegal alien shamnesty crusade.

Ugh.

Here’s a February 2006 press release trumpeting McCain’s appearance at a pro-shamnesty rally organized by a coalition led by ACORN. As the release notes, he made a second appearance for the group in NYC. Read it and gag:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Major Rally in Miami to Support Comprehensive Immigration Reform

Senator John McCain and many others to speak at the rally at Miami Dade College Wolfson Campus

Miami, Florida – February 20, 2006 ― Leaders from a diverse array of sectors will hold a rally in Miami on Thursday, February 23, 2006, in support of comprehensive immigration reform in an effort to keep immigration reform at the forefront of the public debate. Leaders from both political parties, immigrant communities, labor, business, and religious organizations will gather to call on Washington to enact workable reform.

The rally will feature Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) as the headline speaker along with elected officials, immigrants and key local and national leaders. Sen. McCain is one of the chief sponsors of the Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act; bipartisan, comprehensive immigration reform legislation introduced last Congress and scheduled for consideration by the Senate in the coming weeks. A similar rally with Sen. McCain is planned for New York City on February 27.

WHO: Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), Rep. Kendrick Meek (D-FL), Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-FL.), and immigrant, religious, community, business and labor leaders.

WHAT: Comprehensive Immigration Reform Rally

WHEN: Thursday, February 23, at 6:00 p.m.

WHERE: Miami Dade College – Wolfson Campus

Chapman Conference Center
Bldg 3000
300 NE 2nd Avenue

EDITOR’S NOTE: Miami Press Availability: Sen. McCain will be available for interviews starting at 4:15 p.m. on location, Feb. 23.

The Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act was introduced in the Senate by Senators Edward Kennedy (D-MA) and John McCain (R-AZ) and in the House by Representatives Jim Kolbe (R-AZ), Jeff Flake (R-AZ) and Luis Gutierrez (D-IL). It addresses border security and illegal immigration while bringing the 11 million undocumented immigrants out from the shadows and onto a path to legal permanent status; setting up legal channels and realistic caps for workers and family members to enter in the future; providing for tough enforcement; and enabling more immigrants to learn English and prepare for citizenship.

The rally in Miami is being sponsored by the New American Opportunity campaign (NAOC) in partnership with ACORN, Catholic Legal Services – Archdiocese of Miami, Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center, Florida Immigrant Coalition, Miami Dade College, People for the American Way/Mi Familia Vota en Acción, Service Employees International Union, and UNITE HERE.

ACORN is now gleefully reminding McCain of his common cause with the group to paint itself as bipartisan — while at the same time issuing the usual strident, anti-conservative statements that ought to be immediate grounds for revoking its non-profit tax status.

“I’ll rely on people to judge me by the company that I keep,” McCain said in February.

That’s not working out so well now, is it?

McCAIN, Let Mexican Trucks Roll on U.S. Roads

On Friday we reported that Congressman Jeff Flake of Arizona's Sixth Congressional District introduced legislation to fund the U.S./ Mexico Border Land Transportation Program that allows Mexican trucks in the U.S., "JEFF FLAKE WANTS MEXICAN TRUCKS IN U.S.," in order to bring the U.S. into compliance with the North American Free Trade Agreement, (NAFTA).

Flake's bill, H.R. 1611, would repeal language included in the FY 09 omnibus spending bill that prohibits funding for the program to allow Mexican trucks to travel throughout the United States.

Under NAFTA, trucks from Canada, Mexico and the United States were to have free access throughout the three nations by 1999, the U.S. however, restricted Mexican trucks to a 20-mile commercial zone at the border. In 2001, a NAFTA arbitration panel ruled that the U.S. was in violation of NAFTA.

U.S. Senator John McCain, in response to Mexico's reaction to raise tariffs on American imports because of the U.S. restrictions on unsafe Mexican truckers on U.S. highways issued the following statement from his Washington office.

MEXICAN GOVERNMENT TO RAISE TARIFFS ON AMERICAN PRODUCTS

March 16, 2009

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) today released the following statement in response to the announcement made by the Mexican government to raise tariffs on American products:

"I deeply regret the action taken by the Mexican government and the harm it may cause to American businesses," said Senator John McCain. "Unfortunately, this is a predictable reaction by the Mexican government to a policy that now puts the United States in clear violation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and was inappropriately inserted into the Omnibus appropriations bill. We must take steps to prevent escalation of further protectionist measures – actions that only serve to harm American business during these tough economic times when these businesses need a worldwide marketplace to prosper. This is another reason why the President should have vetoed the Omnibus spending bill."


The American Conservative Republican asks that if you see Mexican trucks on our highways, you should thank Congressman Jeff Flake and Senator John McCain for taking those jobs away from American truckers and making our highways more dangerous to travel on.

BOB HARAN,
American Conservative Republican

JEFF FLAKE WANTS MEXICAN TRUCKS IN U.S.

Congressman Jeff Flake yesterday introduced legislation, H. R. 1611, to fund the U.S./Mexico Cross-Border Land Transportation Program, to allow Mexican trucks in the U.S.

Flake, who represents Arizona's Sixth Congressional District, issued a press release yesterday claiming that the legislation was introduced to bring the U.S. into compliance with the North American Free Trade Agreement, (NAFTA).

The legislation introduced by the, NAFTA supporting Jeff Flake, would repeal language included in the FY 09 omnibus spending bill that prohibits funding for the program that allows Mexican trucks to travel throughout the United States.

In addition to his legislation, Flake sent a letter to President Obama "to express my support for the continuation of the U.S./Mexico cross-border trucking program."

American truckers, besides expressing concerns about their job security and pollution from Mexican truck emissions, have complained about the safety of Mexican trucks and drivers, some of the drivers from Mexico can't read highway signs in English.

In his letter to the president, Flake said, "the safety argument is simply a red herring used by opponents of the program to cater to special interests and advance a protectionist agenda."

Maybe flake didn't get the word, the United States, the country he is supposed to represent, is suffering a recession with the loss of thousands of American jobs. Those special interests he refereed to in his letter to the president are American highway users with their families in the car, who don't want to share the road with unsafe Mexican truckers.

NAFTA is a free trade agreement between the U.S., Canada and, Mexico which took effect on January 1, 1994.

One of the provisions of the NAFTA agreement concerned trucking. Trucks were to have "free" access throughout the 3 countries by 1999, but the U.S. restricted Mexican trucks to a 20-mile commercial zone at the border. In 2001, a NAFTA arbitration panel "ruled" that the U.S. restrictions were in violation of NAFTA. In 2008, the U.S. House terminated the pilot program which granted limited access to Mexican trucks on U.S. highways.

Before NAFTA, the United States had a small trade deficit with Canada and Mexico, after NAFTA took effect, the U.S. developed a large and rapidly growing trade deficit with those countries.

Americans were sold NAFTA with the promise that U.S. exports to Mexico would grow faster then imports, which would create thousands of American jobs with higher wages. Instead of creating more American jobs however, over a million manufacturing jobs were lost and wages were pressured downward for a large number of Americans without a college education.

Exports to Mexico and Canada did increase after NAFTA, however, imports from both countries to the U.S. increased faster. In 1996 the trade deficit with Canada was $21.682 billion, by 2007 it increased to $68.169 billion. The trade deficit with Mexico increased even faster, from a $17.506 billion deficit in 1996 to a $74.622 deficit by 2007, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Dept. of Commerce.

NAFTA is truly a riches to rags deal for the United States.

Trade deficits transfer American wealth out of the U.S. economy and into another countries economy, in exchange, we get products that will eventually become worn-out and garbage.

The American Conservative Republican prays that the Republicans in the Sixth Congressional District of Arizona do find someone to replace the, NAFTA friendly, free trade and, open border advocating, Flake by the 2010 primary.

Bob Haran,
American Conservative Republican

Numbers USA Report Card

Numbers USA is an immigration reduction organization that issues report cards on all members of congress based on their career votes to reduce legal and illegal immigration into the United States. They are a non-profit, non-partisan, public policy organization opposed to the use of federal immigration policy to force mass U.S. population growth which would depress the wages of vulnerable American workers.

NumbersUSA report card for Arizona Congressional Delegation. Updated Feb 2, 2009


Top of the Delegation

Trent Franks, CD 2 - Grade A-
John Shadegg, CD 3 - Grade A-

Needs Improvement

Jon Kyl, Senator - Grade B

Poor

Harry Mitchell, CD 5 - Grade C+
Jeff Flake, CD 6 - Grade C

Failing to Represent the People of Arizona

Gabrielle Giffords, CD 8 - Grade D+
John McCain, Senator - Grade D

The Bottom of the Barrel

Raul Grijalva, CD 7 - Grade F-
Ed Pastor, CD 4 - Grade F-


* Newly elected Ann Kirkpatrick, CD 1, has not yet received any grade.

The entire Arizona Delegation had a C average.

Grading federal officials and posting those grades, is an essential tool to help American Conservative Republicans get the representation they demand.

Gee, I Wish I Wrote This.

Sometimes we come across a post in another blog that is so good we say, "gee, I wish I wrote that" The ACR felt that the following post was so good that we asked permission of Sonoran Alliance http://sonoranalliance.com/ to reproduce it on American Conservative Republican, which SA kindly did.

By the Sonoran Alliance

Winners and LosersPosted by AZ Insider under Campaigns & Elections , Political Parties[22] Comments


With the GOP Convention finally behind us, its time to take a look at the day’s winners and losers. Before the comments sections asks why Lisa James isn’t listed on either list, we would suggest that it is far too early to judge that. Like almost every campaign, things got a bit rough and Pullen fans might rate her poorly for that. Then again, she handled the outcome with class and James fans (as well as nice Pullen fans) would rate her highly for that. Put those two diverse groups together and you really haven’t settled anything. We suggest that it is the next 12 months that will determine how she is to be rated. If she disappears from the Arizona Republican Party in general, she would be doing poorly. If she followed up on her campaign pledges to get involved, raise money and help the Party win in 2010, she would be doing very well. She didn’t have to win her race to keep most of her promises, and we’re hoping that she does just that. Now, on to the fun stuff.


LOSERS:

Kyl, Shadegg, Flake - If showing up is half the battle, then it was over before it began. On top of that, their candidate lost and staff members for one Congressman in particular were very active in the divisive nature of the race and the attacks on Pullen. How they imagine that will benefit their boss if and when he decides to run for higher office is a mystery. This is two conventions in a row that they have all ended up as a minority in their own party. When do you think the message will sink in?

Dean Martin - In some dramatic plays, the hero of the play is engaged in a fight with an enemy when the cowardly villain sneaks up behind him and stabs him with a long knife. Of course, the hero dies a lot in dramatic plays, so maybe that’s why Dean Martin thought it would work in real life. His speech shocked numerous conservatives who used to think well of him. We say used to, because this bridge was burned down by Martin’s flame-throwing attacks on Pullen. For whatever reason or reward, Martin agreed to take on the roll of attack dog, but came across as childish and petty. In terms Dean should understand, his investment was high-risk, low yield, and has cost him a very pretty penny.

Wake Up! Arizona - Okay, in fairness, it wasn’t just this weekend. These guys have blown millions and gotten their collective butts kicked since last year. The lobbyists, headliners, blogs, cheerleaders, and consultants associated with this effort find themselves wearing a Scarlet Letter within the Republican Party that may not go away for a long time, if ever.

Barry Goldwater Jr. - Want to hurt your reputation and damage your credibility? Spend a couple of days calling the Ron Paul State Committeemen to urge them to vote for Rudy Giuliani’s State Chairman. Sure, we’re quite sure they’ll fall for that, right Barry? From what the RPers were saying, it didn’t get James any votes, but it cost Goldwater more than a few.

Arizona Democrat Party - Janet’s gone, their state party is in disarray, and they’ve just elected a Pima County liberal whose first proclamation is that our taxes are too low.

Kevin DeMenna - The lobbyist bet big, at least with his mouth, against Pullen. After explaining the GOP wins in 2008 as a “blind squirrel tripping over an acorn now and again”, he has to deal with a Party Chairman who appears to be stocking up on acorns. Bad news Kevin, the squirrel can see, he’s hungry, and he’s looking for nuts. Got any?


WINNERS:

Randy Pullen - Okay, that was an easy one. He won his race, and with a U.S. Senate seat and a Governor’s race in 2010, the Congressional delegation cannot afford to pout or withhold support from the State Party anymore. Pullen’s margin was larger than many expected, and he already has the support of most of the County and LD leaders, as well as members of the Legislature. He is in a much stronger position than he was in 2008. And rumor has it that he is the front-runner for the post of RNC Treasurer, which will be a real boon to the Arizona GOP as well.

Trent Franks - He did not take sides in the contest, making him the only House member in the delegation to properly gauge the pulse of the conservative grassroots of the party. His speech was also given very high marks by those in attendance. Plus, these meetings are rare and feature State Committeemen from all over Arizona, and Trent was the only member of the entire delegation who cared enough to show up.

Jan Brewer - Great speech, and she is finally holding Napolitano responsible for the mess that was made over the last six years. The people of Arizona deserve the truth about that and the Arizona GOP will be stronger when people learn that it was our members who were fighting against Janet’s insane budgets.

Brett Mecum - He’s only thirty years old and he’s already the Executive Director of a red-state Republican Party. No, its not the first time its ever happened, but folks in both the Pullen and James camp seemed to have good things to say about this guy and if you can manage to pull that off, during a heated campaign? Well then, you must have some pretty good political skills.

Rob Haney - Up from the ashes, he lost in LD11 only to win higher office as County Chairman of the fourth largest county in the country. Then, his backed candidate won re-election as State Chairman. And the amnesty folks thought Haney was a problem to them before?

Rural GOP Counties - Pullen swept a number of rural counties, from Mohave in the North to Pinal and Cochise in the South. It is likely a result of their seeing Pullen quite a bit more over the last two years than their own Congressional delegation, so its fair to say that Pullen earned it. Still, they were the margin of victory for Pullen and he would be well served to remember that.

J.D. Hayworth - The worse Jeff Flake and his staff did, the better it was for whoever ends up in the primary for Arizona’s next U.S. Senate seat. We’re sure Flake & Company had their reasons for antagonizing the party’s conservative base, but we can’t figure out what it is. The end result is the same though. A louder call for a reliable, conservative alternative, who will listen to the Party. You hear us J.D.? We know you do.

The Arizona Republican Party - Of course, we couldn’t finish without stating the obvious. The theme over the weekend was “unity”, even if not all of the various players were acting that way. Still, the sense among the Committeemen was that unity would prevail when the contest was over and, judging from the numbers of people wearing James stickers that stayed around to wish Randy well, their sense might just be right. Add to that a new Republican governor and an Arizona Democrat Party in disarray, and things are very good indeed for the AZGOP.