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A GOP House candidate running on an anti-illegal immigration platform scolded presumptive Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) for turning down an invitation to visit his city and discuss immigration. Hazleton, Pa., Mayor Lou Barletta, a Republican running for Rep. Paul Kanjorski’s (D-Pa.) seat, expressed deep disappointment with McCain’s decision to decline the request, which was also offered to Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Barack Obama (D-Ill.). “While I commend Sen. McCain for being the first to respond to my invitation, I am very troubled by his decision to decline my offer,” Barletta said in a statement.“The problems associated with illegal immigration confront every American every day, and the next president of the United States should understand the impact the issue has on Hazleton and similar cities, towns, boroughs and townships across the nation,” said Barletta, who has built a national profile for his work at cracking down on illegal immigration. McCain angered many conservatives and Republicans by authoring a comprehensive illegal immigration bill that included a path to citizenship. He has worked to shore up support by stating on the campaign trail that he would now pursue an enforcement-first approach. At the same time, McCain also has said uncompromising illegal immigration views might have contributed to losses by Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) in 2006 and, more recently, Illinois special election candidate Jim Oberweis (R). “The Republican candidate out there [in Illinois], I am told, had very strong anti-immigrant rhetoric also, so I would hope that many of our Republican candidates would understand the political practicalities of this issue,” McCain told National Public Radio. McCain, who raised money for Oberweis, urged candidates in the future to be more open in their thinking. Barletta’s comments could signal some GOP congressional candidates may run away from the presumptive GOP presidential nominee this fall. A letter from the McCain campaign, provided by Barletta’s campaign and dated Tuesday, states that it did not “foresee an opportunity to add this event to the calendar.” “I understand the senator is very busy, but I hope he will reconsider and make time to visit Hazleton before the election,” Barletta added. “My invitation to him – and to Sen. Obama and Sen. Clinton – will remain open, because illegal immigration is a problem that is not going away before Election Day, or anytime soon.” McCain’s campaign did not comment immediately. |
