Tuesday's blog post was about Sen. John McCain's (R-Ariz.) factual errors at a forum on immigration reform. McCain made incorrect assertions about requirements in the Senate immigration reform bill regarding payment of taxes and participation in an English language course. The senator probably keeps repeating the mistakes because news accounts have repeatedly reported the inaccurate assertions and failed to correct the record.
Here is a partial list of the errors, as reported in the press. It is important to point out that McCain is hardly the only office holder who has presented this inaccurate information while urging public support for the Senate bill. President Obama has also joined the list.
June 28: The Houston Chronicle reported: "Those eligible for citizenship would be immigrants here without papers who pay fines and back taxes, learn English and clear criminal background checks."
June 30: Appearing on Fox News Sunday shortly after passage of the Senate bill, McCain said: "When you ask the American people if they support this, if these people are here illegally paid back taxes, learn English, get in line behind everybody else. Plus, a tough border security provision, plus, an E-Verify ... then I think you've got a winning combination here."
July 7: An editorial in the Virginian-Pilot, ironically appearing under the headline "Immigration reform in the real world", claimed: "The pathway included in the measure is cumbersome, and reasonably so, given that substantial hurdles must be in place to demonstrate respect for the current law. Those hurdles include undergoing a criminal background check, paying about $2,000 in fines and any back taxes, learning English...."
August 13: The Associated Press reported: "We all respond to our constituents", McCain said. "Over 70 percent of the people in Arizona support a path to citizenship if they pay back taxes, learn English, get in line behind everybody who has waited legally, and so we hope to convince them without being disrespectful to my House colleagues."
August 14: National Journal Daily reported: "Rep. Joe Heck (R-Nev.) described the 13-year pathway to citizenship in the Senate bill as 'reasonable' because it requires background checks, fines, back taxes, employment, and proficiency in English."
August 22: U.S. News and World Report reported: "Rep. Aaron Schock, R-Ill., told constituents at a town hall meeting that after a 'probationary period' and paid back taxes, immigrants could be put on a path to citizenship."
