Buchanan: Illegal immigration an outrage

Just 45 miles north of the Mexican border, a prominent conservative Republican told a local audience Saturday that “our country is outraged” over failed Washington efforts to shut down illegal immigration.

“Washington is aware, but that’s not good enough” Bay Buchanan told a Lincoln Day event Saturday.

She said the country isn’t securing the border, and questioned some of the proposals to give illegal immigrants a chance to achieve citizenship.

The apparent Republican presidential nominee, Sen. John McCain of Arizona, was a cosponsor of a proposed plan authored by Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., to grant legal status to some illegals now living here and providing them a path to citizenship.

Buchanan, one time treasurer of the United States, was campaign manager for brother Patrick Buchanan’s unsuccessful runs for the White House.

Recently, Bay Buchanan worked for the presidential campaign of immigration hard-liner U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., and then after he withdrew, she switched her support to former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

Romney just withdrew, leaving McCain as the apparent Republican nominee.

Some Republicans are critical of McCain for not being conservative enough.

Buchanan predicted some of that might go away after the rest of the ticket is selected.

“This ticket is far superior” to either of the two leading Democrats, Hillary Clinton and Barak Obama, she said.

Buchanan brought running togs on a westward swing, but Saturday’s rain washed them out in Arizona.

Still, she said, she did do some running at other stops.

State Senate President Tim Bee, now running for Congress, also spoke Saturday.

He said he talked about the strength of the Republican party in Southern Arizona and said he looked forward “to our upcoming success in the election.”

He said “This was one of the larger Lincoln Day events than I’ve seen in a long time.

“There was a lot of energy and excitement.”

State Republican Party Chairman Randy Pullen was among those present as well as a host of other GOP candidates, reported Randy Graf, a local party leader. There were about 200 people at the event.

Graf said the energy and excitement at Saturday’s luncheon was high.

His wife, Cathy Graf, is local chairman of the Republican Party.

jlamb@gvnews.com | 547-9749