McCain On Arizona Law He Calls ‘A Good Tool’: I Don’t Know ‘Whether All Of It Is Legal Or Not’

By Matt Corley

On Friday, Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer (R) signed a draconian immigration bill into law, which gives local police officers the power to detain anyone suspected of being in the U.S. illegally. The law has raised serious concerns about racial profiling and potential violations of Americans’ civil rights.

Before the bill was signed, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) hailed it as “a very important step forward.” His spokeswoman, however, clarified to reporters that McCain’s comments “did not represent an endorsement” of the bill. At town hall meetings in Arizona this weekend, McCain continued to straddle the issue, calling it a “good tool” for law enforcement, but also saying that he didn’t know “whether all of it is legal or not“:

Across town, about 80 people came to a McCain town hall where immigration also dominated the discussion.

Although McCain had sounded a note of support for the bill, calling it a “good tool” for law enforcement, he stopped short of fully endorsing the measure. “I haven’t had a chance to look at all the aspects, but I do understand why the Legislature would act,” he said. Even though it wasn’t clear to him “whether all of it is legal or not,” he said state lawmakers “acted out of frustration because the federal government didn’t do its job.”

McCain kept up the confusion over his position in interviews with local Arizona reporters. When KHUN’s Linda Garrett spoke with McCain, he wouldn’t answer “directly” when asked if he “personally” supported the legislation, calling it “a state decision.” “I’m sure there’s some controversial parts,” acknowledged McCain. But when he spoke with a gaggle of reporters at another town hall, McCain said he agrees “with the thrust of the bill.” Watch it:

Flanked by police officers at a town hall, McCain rejected fears that the bill will lead to racial profiling. “Passions are inflamed on both sides of this, as you know,” said McCain. “I do think that these honest, good, decent, hard-working public servants are not going to do anything to abuse someone’s rights.” (HT: Ben Smith)

Update Unlike her father, McCain's daughter, Meghan, has a clear position on the law. In her Daily Beast column, the younger McCain writes, "I do not support the bill that was signed by Governor Jan Brewer. I believe it gives the state police a license to discriminate, and also, in many ways, violates the civil rights of Arizona residents. Simply put, I think it is a bad law that is missing the bigger picture of what is really going on with illegal immigration." M.C.L Comment: Man selling your soul to the right wing makes a person go crazy.

Only One Republican Federal Lawmaker Has Spoken Out Against Arizona’s Draconian Immigration Law

By Amanda Terkel Both progressives and conservatives have sharply criticized Arizona’s new strict immigration law that requires local police to attempt to determine the immigration status of anyone they encounter as part of a “lawful contact” and allows them to arrest undocumented immigrants. The ACLU warns that the law will “exacerbate racial profiling,” and former Republican Arkansas governor has similarly said that “Hispanic Americans have the right to be unhappy about the fact that they might be pulled over.” Even far-right former Colorado Republican congressman Tom Tancredo, who said he supports the Arizona law, has stated, “I do not want people here, there in Arizona, pulled over because you look like [you] should be pulled over.” In the U.S. House and Senate, however, Republicans have been far quieter. ThinkProgress rounded up at least five Republicans who have spoken out in favor of the law and three who have been non-committal. The only Republican to condemn it so far is Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart, a Hispanic lawmaker from Florida who is retiring: FOR THE LAW NON-COMMITTAL AGAINST THE LAW Rep. Brian Bilbray (R-CA): “They will look at the kind of dress you wear. There’s different type of attire. … There’s behavior things that professionals are trained in across the board. And this group shouldn’t be exempt from those observations as much as anybody else.” Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ): “And my own view is until the federal government does our part back here by providing the resources that are necessary, and that could include, by the way, the financial resources to support National Guard troops on the border, then you are going to see more of this. It won’t just be the state of Arizona that passes laws like this.” Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-FL): “I strongly disagree with the Arizona immigration law.” Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA): “[I]f that’s what the people of Arizona want to do, then certainly they have that right.” Sen. John McCain (R-AZ): “I haven’t had a chance to look at all the aspects, but I do understand why the Legislature would act.” Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK): “I don’t see anything wrong with that [the Arizona law].” Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY): “I haven’t studied it.” Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA): “I think that Arizona has a point, which is the federal government has not done a good enough job. … And if it’s a message to the administration they need to do a better job, then a state has to right to send that message.” Rep. Steve King (R-IA): “I commend Arizona for standing up for the Rule of Law and protecting American workers.” Republicans may be unwilling to alienate their far-right allies who support this legislation, but they simultaneously risk driving away Latinos. Over the weekend, thousands of people showed up at the Arizona state capitol to protest the new law, and the Arizona Hispanic Republicans said they will not be supporting Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer’s (R) re-election bid because she signed the discriminatory measure.