Tucson, Arizona Thursday, 29 May 2003
Renee Sauer / Staff Republican Sen. John McCain speaks to about 35 University of Arizona students in a class on "Vietnam and the Cold War." The class reading list includes McCain's book "Faith of My Fathers." |
By C.J. Karamargin
ARIZONA DAILY STAR
The United States should forge a new immigration accord with Mexico that includes an amnesty and guest worker program, Republican Sen. John McCain said during a visit to Tucson on Wednesday.
Despite the chill in relations that followed Mexican President Vicente Fox's refusal to support U.S. military action against Iraq, McCain said the time is right for a new agreement.
"The United States is the strongest nation in the world," Arizona's senior senator said at his Tucson office. "It is not appropriate for us to seek revenge against people who may have disagreed with us."
The lone exception, McCain said in a meeting with Southern Arizona reporters, was France.
"The French have declared that they are a counterweight to the United States," he said. "President Fox has declared that he is a friend of the United States."
Working with Republican Rep. Jim Kolbe and other members of the state's congressional delegation, McCain said he hopes legislation will soon be introduced that addresses immigration in a "comprehensive" way.
A secure border, he said, can coexist with a program allowing Mexican workers into the United States on a temporary basis to perform jobs that Americans refuse to do.
"We proved in the drug war that as long as there's a demand for drugs, drugs are going to come across" the border, McCain said. "As long as there's a demand for workers, workers are going to come across."
Granting amnesty to Mexican immigrants already working, paying taxes and raising children in the United States is key, McCain said. But it is also the "knottiest" aspect of a new immigration agreement.
McCain's daylong trip to Tucson also included an address to the Tucson Rotary Club, a meeting with University of Arizona President Peter Likins, and a discussion with a UA history class.
About 35 student enrolled in a class on "Vietnam and the Cold War" peppered McCain with questions about his experiences as a prisoner of war and as a lawmaker who sought to normalize relations with Vietnam.
The class reading list included McCain's book "Faith of My Fathers," which is now being turned into a screenplay by author Philip Caputo. Each student came to class with a dog-eared copy of the best-selling book and stood in line afterward for McCain's autograph.
"Outside of our Civil War, there has never been a more divisive conflict in our history," McCain told the class.
The "only thing" that remains a source of anger about Vietnam, McCain said, was that a disproportionate number of the soldiers who fought and died in Vietnam were Hispanic, black and poor whites. That was "an unpardonable sin," he said.
Hearing McCain in person impressed student Emily Herrell. The 20-year-old Tucsonan said the book was inspirational. "It's good to have such a strong leader from Arizona," she said. "I'm glad he came."
* Contact reporter C.J. Karamargin at 573-4243 or cjkarama@azstarnet.com.