Change of Heart or Kidnapped by Aliens? Sen. Graham Was Against SB1070, Now Supports Arizona’s Illegal Immigration Law, Even Criticizes Obama for Lawsuit Against AZ
Posted By Vicki McClure Davidson on July 8, 2010
I’m thinking the real Sen. Lindsey “Grahamnesty” Graham may have been kidnapped by aliens.
Aliens from outer space, not from across the Mexican border.
I like this new version of Sen. Graham. Tell the aliens they can keep the old one.
From The Hill, Graham criticizes Obama suit against Ariz. immigration law:
Republican Sens. Lindsey Graham (S.C.) and John Cornyn (Texas) have sided with the state of Arizona in its battle with the Department of Justice over a controversial state immigration law.
Graham’s declaration of opposition to the Justice Department law suit comes as a surprise because Graham called the Arizona law unconstitutional in April.
Graham and Cornyn represented the administration’s best hopes for finding Republican allies in the Senate on immigration reform.
Graham was the lead GOP negotiator in an effort led by Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) to craft a bipartisan overhaul of the nation’s immigration laws. After Graham pulled out of the talks, pro-immigrant advocacy groups turned to Cornyn in hope that he could fill the role.
Graham said he suspected Democrats were advancing the issue to stir up Hispanic voters to support Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-Nev.) reelection effort, not as a good-faith effort to change federal immigration law.
Both lawmakers have criticized the administration for challenging the Arizona law, putting distance between themselves and groups pushing for comprehensive reform.
“I believe the DOJ lawsuit will be counter-productive when it comes to finding a solution to our immigration problems,” said Graham in a statement Wednesday. “It is clear the people of Arizona believe the federal government has let them down when it comes to securing our border.”
While prospects of Congress tackling immigration reform this year were already slim, the stand by Graham and Cornyn serves as another blow to efforts to pass legislation.
Attorney General Eric Holder filed a suit this week to block an Arizona statute that would give police authority to demand proof of residency of suspected illegal immigrants during routine law enforcement encounters.
Advocates who favor comprehensive immigration reform were shocked by Graham’s comments because he criticized the state law during a public hearing in the spring.
“What happened in Arizona is that good people are so afraid of an out-of-control border that they had to resort to a law that I think is unconstitutional,” he said during an April hearing with Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, who formerly served as governor of Arizona. His comments were reported at the time by several media outlets.
On Wednesday, Graham said border security must be addressed before comprehensive immigration reform that would put an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants on a path to citizenship.
“The resources being dedicated to this lawsuit should be directed to border security,” Graham said, using an argument other Republicans have deployed to oppose comprehensive reform. “Once progress is made securing our border, our nation can look to comprehensive reform.”
Links to BUYcott Arizona websites… visit BUYcott Arizona, Buy Arizona Now!, and AZ-Buycott.com for Arizona vendors and companies — please support Arizona to help offset the city government boycotts of Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Austin, and others.
I just found this terrific website, AZFightsBack.com, which lists those cities that are boycotting Arizona — information for supporters of Arizona to “reverse-boycott” (like my boycott of Starbucks). San Diego was recently removed from their reverse-boycott list, since, since fearing reverse-boycott of Arizonans retaliating and boycotting them just before their summer vacation/AZ tourist period, they reconsidered boycotting Arizona.
Yeah, money talks, patriots.
From AZFightsBack.com:
We do our best to be accurate. Sometimes we make mistakes. Sometimes people come to their senses. This area covers all of that.
We do not want to have anybody on the boycott list. But, if you declare economic warfare on Arizona, we will return the favour.
Related reading:
Big Government, Feds Sue Arizona…But, What About Rhode Island?
Legal Insurrection: Hey, Rhode Island Already Checks Immigration Status At Traffic Stops and Rhode Island Illegal Immigration Control Order of 2008
Boston Globe, R.I. troopers embrace firm immigration role – In contrast to Mass., they report all who are present illegally
Doug Ross @ Journal: Perfect — Eric Holder’s DOJ crony leading SB1070 challenge is member of the “Gitmo 9″, who represented terrorists in court
Frugal Café Blog Zone: Thank You, America! Donations Pouring in to Help Gov. Brewer & AZ in Team Obama’s Bullying Lawsuit over Illegal Immigration Law and Still No National Guard, but Obama Breaks Away from Golfing to Slap a Lawsuit on Arizona over Its Illegal Alien Law (video) and Bloodshed Near the Arizona Border: Gun Battle Waged in Mexico Leaves At Least 21 Dead Near AZ Border… Still No National Guard (video) and Snarky Stark: Democrat Rep. Pete Stark Mocks Minuteman, Border Security Claim Covered by Mainstream Media (video) and Does THIS Look Safe to You? Gov. Brewer to Obama: Warning Signs Are Not Enough to Stop Illegal Alien Crimes, Feds Instead Decide to Boycott AZ (video) and Mexico’s Drug Gangs: Now Have Permanent Lookout Bases in the Hills of Arizona… Where’s the National Guard, Mr. President? (video) and Oh, My… Pres. Obama Slashes Federal Budget for Nation’s Understaffed Border Security & the 1,200 Promised National Guard Troops Still Not Sent to AZ and Two Weeks Are Up, POTUS Promise Broken: Obama’s “Illegal Alien Officials” to AZ Never Showed, Clinton Tells Ecuadorean Media Obama WILL Sue AZ over Immigration Law (video) and ROAD TRIP! Los Angeles Teachers Bus High School Students to Protest in AZ Against Illegal Alien Law and Legal Immigrant Verbally Abused by Illegal Immigrants at Burbank, CA Protest (video) and Man Behind Arizona’s Immigration Law, Law Prof. Kris Kobach, Hits Backs at California Dem. Rep. Linda Sanchez’s Racist Remarks on AZ SB 1070 (video) and Legal Immigrant Verbally Abused by Illegal Immigrants at Burbank, CA Protest (video)
Sister Toldjah: How many more states will Obama admin sue over “tough” immigration laws?
Gateway Pundit: CBS Shock Poll: Excluding Obama & Media – 74% of Americans Either Support Arizona Immigration Law or Say It Doesn’t Go Far Enough and Figures. Stimulus Money Being Used to Subsidize & Bus Mexican Students Across Border for Free Education and Obama Administration Sues Arizona and WAR ZONE – Drug Cartel Shoots at Blackhawk Helicopter; El Paso Court House Hits (Photos) and 21 Dead In Massive Shootout Near Arizona Border and Governor Jan Brewer Says Obama’s Immigration Speech Was “Helpless” and Here It Comes… Obama to Push His Radical Amnesty Plan Today and Mexican Teen Shot By Border Agents Had Several Arrests For Smuggling Immigrants and Obama Enlists Radical Groups, SEIU, Labor Unions to Push for Amnesty and Federal Government Punishes Arizona – Cancels Conventions in State and Republican Jon Kyl Didn’t Lie About Amnesty… Obama Did (Video) and Obama’s Radical Labor Chief Says Illegals Have Right to Fair Wages and It Begins… Obama Gives Major Swath of Arizona Back to Mexico (Video) and Governor Jan Brewer Fires Back at Hillary and Obama
Doug Powers, Michelle Malkin: Justice Dept. Confirms Lawsuit Against Arizona, Ecuador Just Nods and Says ‘We Know’
Nice Deb: In 2007, Obama Said, “We Do Have To Have Genuine Border Security” then A Pathway To Citizenship and White House Denies John Kyl’s Immigration Claim
Diary of a Mad Conservative: USA against the State of Arizona: some things to think about and And I sent a letter to this sack of dog — crap, too
Media Research Center: Is Illegal Immigration Raising Arizona’s Crime Rate? NYT Says No, But Relevant Figures Say Yes
Michelle Malkin: Club Fed for Illegal Aliens and Another deportation abyss horror story, more ICE non-enforcement and Stand with Arizona
Big Hollywood: Academy Award-Winner Jon Voight to President Obama: You Have Betrayed Israel and Arizona
Outside the Beltway: Milwaukee Politician Forgets That Arizona Borders Mexico
About the author
Makes sense to me, Vicki.
Only thing is, they seem to keep switching conservative Lindsey and lefty Lindsey.
The same type of flip-flop took place earlier over cap and trade.
Thanks for a day of great posts!
“…they seem to keep switching conservative Lindsey and lefty Lindsey.”
ROFL!