The Straight Talk Pander

When John McCain spoke before the Irish-American presidential forum in Scranton, Pa. on September 22, 2008, he assured the audience

So -- so we came up with a comprehensive plan, and we worked, and we worked, and we brought it to the floor of the Senate twice. And we came very close. And it didn't make me the most popular member of my own party. And it almost cost me the nomination of my party. But I believe we have to have a commitment because it's a national security issue as well as economic issue as well as a humanitarian issue that we enact comprehensive immigration reform.

And this exchange took place during an interview conducted by Jorge Ramos of Univision on September 15, 2008:

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?

Sure, I would do it in the first day.

And from the same interview, on sealing the border:

Ramos.....How exactly are you planning to secure that border? Every single minute there is an immigrant coming into the United States illegally.

McCain: I didn’t vote for, I am not sure what you are talking about, but we can secure…

Ramos: …about 700 miles.

McCain: I say we can secure our borders with walls and/or fences in urban areas, and then virtual fences, vehicle barriers

Ramos: But, you did vote for the wall.

McCain: I didn’t vote for an…, I don’t know what you are exactly, what you are referring to.

Similarly, the campaign of the Repub presidential nominee is running a commercial in Spanish in Colorado, Nevada, and New Mexico blaming Barack Obama and congressional Democrats for the defeat of comprehensive immigration reform.

This contrasts with the January, 2008 Republican presidential debate at the Reagan Library, in which McCain was asked if he would vote for his original "comprehensive immigration reform" bill and stated

No, I would not, because I know what the situation is like today.

This was consistent with his remarks before the Conservative Political Action Committee on February 7, 2008:

I accept that, and have pledged that it would be among my highest priorities to secure our borders first, and only after we achieved widespread consensus that our borders are secure, would we address other aspects of the problem in a wa y that defends the rule of law and does not encourage another wave of illegal immigration.

John McCain was for "comprehensive immigration reform" before he was against it before he was for it. He is, predictable, though: it all depends on whom he's speaking to at the moment.