McCain Blames Some of Arizona’s Massive Wildfires on Illegal Aliens
- Posted on June 20, 2011 at 7:10am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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Arizona Sen. John McCain said this weekend that there is “substantial evidence” showing illegal aliens have caused some of the massive Arizona wildfires that have destroyed a combined 732,427 acres.
“We are concerned about, particularly, areas down on the border where there is substantial evidence that some of these fires have been caused by people who have crossed our border illegally,” McCain said at a Saturday press conference. “The answer to that part of the problem is to get a secure border.”
“They have set fires because they signal others, they have set fires to keep warm, and they have set fires in order to divert law enforcement agents and agencies from them,” he added:
McCain, however, did not cite specific evidence proving his claim, according to CNN. That has led to criticism from Latino groups.
“It’s easier to fan the flames of intolerance, especially in Arizona,” Randy Parraz, a civil rights advocate who ran against McCain in 2010, told CNN.
“The degree of irresponsible political pandering by Sen. McCain has no limits,” Angelo Falcon, the president of the National Institute for Latino Policy, added. “With the lack of evidence, he might as well also blame aliens from outer space for the fires.”
McCain’s claims are also being disputed by the U.S. Forest Service. A spokesman told ABC News on Sunday that the Wallow fire that McCain toured Saturday was, in fact, started by humans. But he said there is no evidence to suggest it was illegal aliens.
“Absolutely not, at this level,“ Tom Berglund said when asked if there was ”substantial evidence” as McCain said. “There‘s no evidence that I’m aware, no evidence that’s been public, indicating such a thing.”
(H/T: HuffPo)



















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Comments (141)
Rick300
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 8:29am**“It’s easier to fan the flames of intolerance, especially in Arizona,” Randy Parraz, a civil rights advocate who ran against McCain in 2010, told CNN.**
Yes, Mr. Parraz, I am intolerant of people breaking the law and coming into MY country illegally! There should be intolerance with people who don’t know the meaning of illegal! My ancestors did not sneak across the boarder like a thief in the night to steal a piece of the American Dream…they came to America and became naturalized citizens of the greatest country the world has ever seen.
Yes, Mr. Parraz, I will “fan the flames of intolerance” as long as people like yourself fuel the fire by your “intolerance” of the laws of these United States of America! “We the People” will not tolerate your misinterpretation of our lawful act of preserving our sovereignty!
Just in case you don’t know what sovereignty means, Mr. Parraz:
sov•er•eign•ty/ˈsäv(ə)rəntē/Noun
1. Supremacy of authority or rule as exercised by a sovereign or sovereign state.
2. Royal rank, authority, or power.
3. Complete independence and self-government.
4. A territory existing as an independent state.
And, if you have forgotten what illegal means…
il•le•gal/ih-lee-guh l/–adjective
Report Post »1. forbidden by law or statute.
2. contrary to or forbidden by official rules, regulations, etc
ares338
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 8:19amIllegals are setting the fires of discontent which can be far worse.
Report Post »AKMIIKEUS
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 9:23amYeah they moved on to AZ to start the fire after they got bored making tornadoes in the other states.
They also started the fires in TX, caused the tsunami in Japan and of course we can’t forget about all the Americans left helpless after the illegals started Hurricane Katrina
Report Post »greenherring
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 2:28pmDo you have proof of these acts akmiikeus?
Report Post »Yeah, I didn’t think so.
Racist
Progressive Wrecking Crew
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 8:17amI wrote on this very board they were responsible and also tweeted the same on my twitter at Chicagoray44 the days they happened and we all know they’re responsible. This Mexico is not our friend and we need to threaten them with military action, they‘re at war with us and I’m sick of our government kissing their azzes.
Deport every La Raza member for starters and go from there.
We don’t need their migrants anymore. teens are at 24-40 % unemployment and these are jobs even American adults will gladly do. I don’t care what anyone says, they’ve been using that excuse for 40 years now. Bomb their azzzes. I’m sick of em all.
Report Post »rayblue
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 8:14amYes, we should secure the borders. We should also discuss border security every morning over a cup of coffee and a donut. And wait till someone decides to talk about border security and have lunch.
Report Post »Then when suppertime comes, talk about border security over desert. And at night, dream about BORDER SECURITY.
I’m sick of hearing about “war hero”. I knew one too. At Iwo Jima. Everybody whose father fought in the big one has a hero who never made a living off the fact.
suzy000
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 8:13amThe same administration who refuses to secure our border thereby becoming a responsible party in these fires refuses to send Arizona aid to combat them. This is an atrocity and Arizonians as well as the rest of America should be highly upset over the federal government’s lack of help.
Report Post »lynnissmart
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 9:51amYou are right….this administration is not for the United States of America nor Arizona and Texas….This admiin. is a disgrace to all Americans…..suing Arizona….because Arizona doesn’t agree with King Tut!
Report Post »Darla_K
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 8:09amOne strong point I am looking for in a leader come 2012 is securing our border and someone who will start sending the illegals back to their home country. Let me say, that it will not be McCain. God help us.
Report Post »UlyssesP
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 8:39amHe is why I sat out 2008.
Report Post »RepubliCorp
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 8:47amThrow people in jail that hire or rent to illegals and they will buy their own ticket back
Report Post »End of story
Moment of Clarity
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 7:57ami guess we’ll have to secure the borders first to see …
Report Post »EP46
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 7:52amPerhaps McCain should be investigating to see if the fires were started by members of the terrorists group that are sitting in the White House. Are there more ways that this administration can PUNISH Arizona ? Is Eric Holder not doing enough to cause financial harm to the state with his law suits? Hey, why blame ‘illegals’ when we have plenty of ‘legals’ who could be just as guilty??
Report Post »dizzyinthedark
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 7:47amYea sure John keep talking so you look like you are doing something good for the people–right? Not.
You want to talk about something with substance, let’s have that conversation about your membership with the Coucil on Foreign Affairs and what you are doing about getting us out of the UN, Agenda 21, how about looking into ICLEI in your own district?
I bet those conversations would be better ones don’t you? Because the ones about illegals isn’t working anymore and you know that. Try something else if you want to keep your job.
Report Post »Amy
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 7:39amMcCain should have waited at least a few more days after his tour before making his claims. Now it appears that he got his info from the forest service. No wonder they’re being defensive. So where did his info come from?
Report Post »let us prey
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 7:38amGood for you Mcsham, now go get a boat and finish out your days fishing. Old broken man.
Report Post »AKMIIKEUS
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 9:33amJohn is mad again, I guess the Congressional cafeteria ran out of pudding.
Report Post »SICKANTIRED
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 7:34amThese People need Term Limits period !!!!
Report Post »RepubliCorp
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 8:40amyep 10 to 20 in sing-sing
Report Post »Tickdog
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 7:33amSnipers on the fence!
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 7:48am@TICKDOG ~~~ Yes, sir!!!
Report Post »Crazy Times
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 7:32am… McCain, once again, attempting to “be the voice of true republicans”, because he is a “true” leader who knows what “true” converatives think…
every time I hear McCain talk, I think “bull.FILL.IN.THE BLANK”
He really should step aside and let Allen West or Chris Christie be the real voice. They are the true conversatives.
Arizona.. Vote him out…
Report Post »Buck Bagaw
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 9:19amHey Crazy, Wake up and smell the traditional cafeinated breakfast drink regarding Chris Christie. Once you get past his “fiscal conservatism” he wears a XXXXL Rino suit. F/I check out his stance on gun control and the ever popular “climate change”. He may be the best thing to happen to the people’s Republic of New Jersey in quite a while, but I hope he stays where he is. Ann Coulter is wrong on this one!!
Report Post »AKMIIKEUS
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 9:31amWow — talk about scapegoating.
We have bad wildfires in Texas this year, and many of them are caused by human error. But we always take the trouble to identify the culprits and charge them before we make accusations.
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 7:30amNot only the Mexicans and other South American illegals, but more so the terrorists who cross our borders daily, by land, air and sea.
I believe than it is no longer people wanting to come here to live and to better themselves, but thousands of these illegals are being paid handsomely to flood our borders and our country and will be meeting up in prearranged places to continue such activity until there is a “battle cry” or signal to them when they rise up en masse to kill us all.
Close our borders NOW. Profile like h*** at the airports and shipping lanes.
dhs is trash and should be ignored by ALL AMERICANS. they, as you all already know, are a big part of the problem, not part of the solution for REAL AMERICANS.
On our knees, y’all. The noose is tightening. They just can’t see that it is tightening around their necks as well.
GOD WILL WIN THIS BATTLE!!!
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 7:40amWhy was the word “noose” which rhymes with moose and goose and loose replaced with asterisks in my post above? Is there something wrong with “noose”?
Cowboys and Indians? Part of our culture in history when we hung people for treason? Part of a sentencing carried out for nefarious deeds all around the world? What????? Are we pretending we didn’t hang people throughout history?????????????
FYI, “noose” was used on purpose and NOT in a racist tone at all, folks. I mean it to signify that once upon a time, people were hung until they died…. Also, I used it “figuratively”. Maybe I should have said something p.c. like, “The sweet little darlins are painting themselves into a corner”???
Hello, BLAZE?????? That wasn’t profane nor a provocative use of a word. Someone on your “team” needs a lesson in history, not in “assuming” implications. Gee whiz, if we can’t speak the truth, not in anger, just reciting facts, where are we going to post?
I’d like an explanation from THE BLAZE as to WHY you censored an absolutely innocent word: “noose” which rhymes with goose, loose, moose, etc. Not good, guys.
Report Post »kestrel27
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 7:30amTrue Mr. McCain, but you can’t say anything against those Oh so Precious illegal aliens. Why, don’t you know they are the backbone of the American economy? Just ask any sanctimonious Progressive. Same goes for blaming ******* for terrorist acts. It’s true that none have been caused by Christians or Jewish people, but by God, you can’t say so. Especially in the fantasy world the Puke Liberals live in.
Report Post »chazman
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 7:24amComon, John! What illegal aliens? What is that? And our border is not secure? Comon, man, yer gonna upset people with that kind of talk. Comon! Look, just go sit down and finish your Kool-Aid.
Report Post »tranymike
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 7:21amthey said last week it was started by a cars cat which is a epa mandate all cars have one but i guess ether way the left needs a a&& whopping from smokey the bear
Report Post »liberalsarealiens
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 7:21amNot so far fetched! I can get my arms around that senario! I am not a fan of Mcain’s ( other than his war record) but he may have a point here!
Report Post »RepubliCorp
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 8:38amRacist gringo….why are you so filled with hate?
Report Post »PS: get off our land!
HairOfTheDogSob
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 10:50amIf in fact 98% of brown skin voted obuma..can you see that 98% of brown skins are idiots and a definite hazard to the United States?…
Report Post »Crazy Times
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 7:20amNow, McCain PROMISED on protecting the border if he got re-elected to his senate seat.
So since he didn’t live up to his promise, doesn’t that mean that the wildfires are really his fault. ??
Arizona, please wake up and vote this guy out NEXT TIME AROUND.. if not for your sake, for the sake of the rest of us who have to hear his bla bla bla…….
Report Post »AKMIIKEUS
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 9:26amA GOP standard..….when in doubt blame it on people with brown skin
Report Post »IAMMADDOG
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 11:21amSays the smug jerk with a “brown skinned” man‘ X’ed out as his / her photo.
Report Post »Professional Infidel
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 7:20amwe owe them, why not punish us. ask any of them. go home putos.
Report Post »RepubliCorp
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 8:35amObama will be calling for a zippo ban……….
Report Post »wodiej
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 7:16amYa think??
Report Post »NickDeringer
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 7:15amWow. How did this get past the censors?
People crossing the border illegally, smuggling humans, smuggling drugs? How dare you insinuate they would start massive fires??
cough…cough…
Report Post »AKMIIKEUS
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 9:22amWell you didn’t think he was going to blame it on Jan Brewer for cuts in the forestry service????
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 7:14am.
Report Post »He is one sharp tack………
Professional Infidel
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 7:18amlearned a diff song scince 2008
Report Post »AKMIIKEUS
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 9:24amSo Pa!in moves to Arizona and a week later the state bursts into flames….
Report Post »101
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 9:13pmShe’s Hot!
Report Post »Bowmaster
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 7:14amCan these Latino mouthpieces prove that they were not set by illegals?
Report Post »I didn’t think so.
Professional Infidel
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 7:18amSinging a diff. tune from 2008, he’s right, but he’s also a phoney. McCain’s influnced by his daughter, the pole dancer.
Report Post »Aaron in Polk County
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 7:19amYou had your chance to secure the Arizona border for 20 YEARS! Senator McCain. You failed!
Report Post »You Fail the people of Arizona, You Failed your country! Your “Service”, Senator McCain, to this country ended in ball of fire of the skies of Vietnam.
Meyvn
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 7:37amThey probably have proof from air surveillance pictures and can’t admit it because it will pi$$ everyone off.
Report Post »MidWestMom
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 7:50amGee, ya think?
Report Post »Don’t worry though…DHS & border control will make sure they have plenty of marshmallows.
JayCee
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 7:51amWell DUH!!!!
Report Post »Aren’t you proud that you have been so weak on border security now Mr. McCain?
grandmaof5
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 8:14amPROFESSIONAL INFIDEL, like come on, Meghan is an art history major who, like graduated from Columbia. You know, she’s educated at a prominant progressive university and, like is so articulate in progressive ideas. McCain should have fought to get those borders secured a long time ago but he was too busy fighting for the rights of prisoners not to give up their info by force. He apparently would prefer that our soldiers are harmed second guessing.
Report Post »hauschild
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 8:17amThanks for the tip Johny come lately! Uh, maybe you could have begun doing something about YOUR problem, say, 20 years ago???
Report Post »Stuck_in_CA
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 8:27amWell… Juan McAmnesty got one right! Wonders never cease.
Report Post »Ronko
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 8:32amI think McCain has a few marbles shor in his head. I mean come on really, Illegal Aliens causing fires. Why would they want to cause fires that brings attention to them when they want to sneak to wherever they were suppose to go. Troll harder next time McCain.
Report Post »John 3:16
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 8:46amHow does this idiot Rino keep getting elected? This man needs to be aborted from the Senate soon. He is the reason Dumbo sits on his thrown in the white house. The republican party needs a major overhaul or needs to be replaced. TEA!
Report Post »fastfacts
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 9:08amThe last rumor I heard is that it was started by drug runners or a camp fire and that they already have the men in custody. Maybe they were illegal immigrants trafficking drugs and started the fire while camping???
Did you see that McCain and Lindsay Graham were both attacking the GOP candidates, mentioning Romney in particular, that wanted to get the troops out of Afghanistan. ( http://tiny.cc/ifezt ) Funny, most are saying this in addition to, we need to win the war first and that the Afghanistanis need to win this (with the US help).
Report Post »AKMIIKEUS
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 9:18amCan you Bowmaster?
Report Post »AKMIIKEUS
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 9:19amI didn’t think SO.
Report Post »AKMIIKEUS
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 9:19amWow, McCain does not like illegal immigrants and wants to score a few cheap political points so he says illegals caused the Arizona wildfires.
Report Post »His rhetoric is very dangerous. I mean, people could then blame illegals or anyone brown to retaliate against for damage caused by the fires.
They could do then Mexican-Americans serious harm as they are now the scapegoats. McCain, perhaps is reaching an age where he no longer recognizes the implications of his words.
Surely, it is very irresponsible to blame illegals especially after the U.S. Forest Service spokesman said they had nothing to do with the fires.
McCain is simply uses this devastating incident to fan the fans of intolerance.
Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 9:36amMaybe it will make it harder for illegals to hide, now.
Report Post »lovenfl3
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 9:36amWill this guy please just go away already. Johnny “the maverick” needs to just sit down and shut up at this point. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWDHs-GnHh8
Report Post »TomFerrari
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 9:38amNo $#!T Sherlock!
Where has mclame been on SEALING the borders?
He should have been LEADING THE CHARGE for years!
Instead, he is a RINO, measuring everything against polls and votes.
vote.
him.
out.
Report Post »Stuck_in_CA
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 9:55amIllegals are often the cause of wildfires. Happens here in CA, too. Often times they start them as a diversion. Sometimes its accidental. But it DOES happen. Here’s just one article:
http://www.willcoxrangenews.com/articles/2011/06/15/news/news02.txt
Report Post »FORLORNHOPE
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 10:15am“no evidence that’s been public”
no evidence that’s been public
no evidence that’s been public
There‘s no evidence that I’m aware, not to the best of my knowledge, I can not recall, because I am a bureaucrat told to lie.
Report Post »Thank you for understanding it’s for your own good. Tom Berglund
Really Tom who talks like that?
KICKILLEGALSOUT
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 10:16amThe time has come that the American people have to take things into their own hands. Most of our politicians and the crimmigration activist groups are in bed together. There are many hateful dangerous groups that are setting up for the long term to take over our communities and run us off our own land through intimidation and force. Are laws aren’t being enforced any more so we must take the first steps to drive out these foreigners. Make things uncomfortable to live in your neigborhood, sabotage their cars, throw eggs at their houses, throw eggs at them when they walk down the streets. We have to start creating and unwelcome environment so that they will get the message and leave. I know it sounds bad but our laws are not being enforced and they are causing immense economic and criminal damage to our communities. Do you want your children to be the next ones that get raped by an illegal? Do you want to keep having more money taken out of your paycheck to pay for them and their anchor babies? Do you want to be the next one killed in a drunk driving accident from an illegal? If you don’t want to do it teach your kids and then tell them to teach the neighborhood kids to do so for fun and let them know it is to be patriotic and help enforce our laws.
Report Post »101
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 10:21amMcCain all talk no action, just another day keeping the masses happy with lip service!
Report Post »Canada_Goose
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 10:31amRegardless of whether you believe Mr. McCain’s claim or not you can’t ever prove a negative premise. This goes against the fundamental rules of logic. .
Report Post »Sinista MACE
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 10:31amMcCain: Some of Arizona’s Massive Wildfires Caused by Illegal Aliens
Sinista: False flag terror attacks are caused by our own corrupt government.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 10:39amSo McAmnesty what have you been doing in Congress all these years?! Secure the ******* border already .. but NO AMNESTY!
TEA!
Report Post »HairOfTheDogSob
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 10:44amMcCain would give them amnesty ..go to h_ll McCain..you are the enemy!
Report Post »tersky
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 11:18am“There‘s no evidence that I’m aware, no evidence that’s been public, indicating such a thing.”
Duh! that’s quite an equivocation. Translation: ‘There is evidence, but it hasn’t been made public, so it doesn’t count.’
Report Post »banjarmon
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 11:24amMcCain = R I N O!!
Report Post »AKMIIKEUS
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 11:36amI think the fires were started by hunters in the area, so hunting should be banned in Arizona.
I have as much evidence to make this claim as Little Johnny does.
Report Post »I Always Say
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 11:47amMcCain said “some” fires are started by illegals. True enough. The USFS said there is no evidence that “this” fire was started by illegals. True enough. They’re both weasels.
I Always Say a politician and the USFS will say whatever serves their current purpose.
Regards from inside the black…
Report Post »iheartusa
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 11:48amGo to http://www.numbersusa.com and get involved in changing our immigration policies. Right now, the push is on to make E-Verify mandatory in all 50 states. The Legal Workforce Act. H.R.2164 was introduced on June 14th, 2011 by Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith of Texas. This is a VERY GOOD thing for our millions of unemployed American citizens who have had jobs stolen from them. E-verify is an effective employee screening system that has been in place since 1996, yet has only been voluntary. Please don’t fall for the ridiculous claim that the “illegals do the jobs Americans won’t do”! Only 4% of illegals work in the agriculture industry, the rest are stealing jobs from Americans in the construction, transportation and hospitality industries. This law would make E-Verify MANDATORY and PERMANENT in all 50 states! Get on board and contact your reps demanding that they support this bill! Ask them who they care more about, the unemployed American citizens, or the job stealing illegal aliens! Their answer will reveal alot!
Report Post »Rightsofman
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 2:21pmIf you‘ve seen the photos of the mountains of trash they leave in their treks through AZ you wouldn’t be surprised if a match gets tossed into some dry mesquite now and then. EPA should be out there for a massive cleanup if they are really concerned about the environment.
Report Post »The illegals that are caught should be given the job before they’re sent home.
silentwatcher
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 2:36pmhard to believe. I mean, they’re all innocent, trod on, law-abiding, patriotic, and targeted for racisism individuals. I think someone must be pulling someone else’s leg. hard to believe.
Report Post »101
Posted on June 20, 2011 at 3:51pmArizona is burning…what are you going to do McCain?…push blame, that’s nice. At the same border you have ignored over your past 50 years in office. Step down or step aside so somebody can lead!
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