Harry Mitchell defends McCain as "a modern-day American hero"

From a Mitchell press release today:

A group that U.S. Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R-Ariz.) described as "extraordinary Americans" has launched a national negative ad campaign accusing U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) of leading an effort to "sell out our country." [Source: The Arizona Republic, June 19, 2006; Minuteman Project Web site]

Minuteman Project founder Jim Gilchrist announced a campaign to post negative billboard ads across the country targeting McCain. Gilchrist said the ads will target Arizona's senior senator because McCain is "by far the most vocal and rude elected official voting and sponsoring legislation to give up America's sovereignty." [Source: Minuteman Project Web site]

"Senator McCain is a modern-day American hero, and he deserves better than this," said U.S. Congressional candidate Harry Mitchell. "I hope Congressman Hayworth will denounce these comments and negative ad campaign and call on the Minutemen to apologize to Senator McCain. Last year Hayworth called for the President to apologize to the Minutemen. If the Congressman believes the Minutemen deserve an apology from the President, I hope he'd agree that Senator McCain deserves an apology from the Minutemen."

One more example of how Harry Mitchell is a mature representative of mainstream Arizonans and also a class act.

The McCain-Kennedy Immigration Bill was not perfect legislation, but it would have gone a long way toward improving the situation. It would have been positive progress. And it was an excellent sign of bipartisan problem-solving, with Republicans Bush, Rep Flake (AZ-21), and McCain in general agreement with Democrats Napolitano, Kennedy, Senatorial candidate Pederson and Congressional candidate Mitchell. But many extremist Republicans like Rep. JD Hayworth and Senator Kyl have done their best to kill it.

And it appears that these obstructionists have won, because the House bill has been postponed, probably for good. There will be no immigration bill this year. No solution, not even an "imperfect" one, to the real problems we're facing. Once more, the most radical Republicans like JD Hayworth have obstructed progress for our country and we will all pay the price.