Flip-Flop-Flip! Another month has brought us another position on illegal immigration from Democrat Gubernatorial Candidate Mike McWherter. He has changed his talking points on immigration reform yet again, returning to his original position saying immigration reform is a federal issue and that states shouldn’t be involved. His latest flip came while speaking to a local chapter of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). Each month, Mike McWherter seems to change his talking points on how states should (or should not) approach the issue of illegal immigration. Following shows the flip-flop-flip trip McWherter has been on over the last few months:

Again, which is it Mike? Do you believe that the issue of immigration reform “is a federal issue” and must “be solved on a federal level”? Or do you believe that states should be able to try and “get a handle on the immigration policy because of Washington’s total failure to deal with the real problem”? Or is it a situation in which “We can’t have a patchwork of different laws in different states” and “Washington has to secure the border and get serious about comprehensive reform?”

Unfortunately, it seems that Mike McWherter believes the federal government – despite its failures to combat illegal immigration thus far – can be trusted to address this issue without state involvement. McWherter is demonstrating that as governor, he’ll be leaning on the liberal leadership of President Barack Obama, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Majority Leader Harry Reid to decide what’s best for Tennessee. That’s not the leadership Tennesseans are looking for.

Tennesseans want an effective leader who will stand up to Washington’s liberal leaders, not rely on their failed policies. Mike McWherter continues to prove he’s not that leader.

The release of a new poll shows that the majority of Tennesseans are opposed to Washington Democrats’ government takeover of health care rammed through Congress by President Barack Obama and Speaker Nancy Pelosi. According to the Knoxville News Sentinel:

It’s clear that people across Tennessee are concerned about the effects of this new law and are looking to state leaders to stand up to Washington Democrats on their behalf. However, Democrat gubernatorial candidate Mike McWherter has made it clear that if elected governor, he has no plans to give Tennesseans a voice in opposition to Obamacare. Following is a sampling of what Mike McWherter has had to say about Democrats’ so-called health “reform”:

• “McWherter called the health care overhaul signed by Democratic President Barack Obama last week ‘the law of the land,’ and criticized Republicans for urging the state to join a lawsuit seeking to block the law.” (”Democrat Mike McWherter gives $1M to his Tennessee gubernatorial bid,” Associated Press, 05/30/10)

• “‘I’m going to work with our congressional delegation to make sure we improve this legislation and make it something that will help … and not burden our Tennessee taxpayers.’ McWherter’s response was greeted with boos and calls to “repeal it…” (”Gubernatorial Candidates Discuss Health Care at Northeast State Forum,” Kingsport Times News, 06/14/10)

• “‘But the bottom line is that law has passed now. So, what we need is a governor with the business skills to make sure that we know how to implement what does come out of Washington,’ he said. “The reality of it is, it does not fully implement for four years. I’ll be running for re-election possibly by the time this really becomes an issue.’” (”McWherter Steps up Governor’s Race Efforts,” Memphis Daily News, 05/07/10)

• “McWherter said several attorneys general from other states will probably follow through on a threat to take the federal government to court. But he termed the legal action ‘grandstanding.’ ‘I don’t encourage us getting involved in the middle of that.’” (”McWherter Steps up Governor’s Race Efforts,” Memphis Daily News, 05/07/10)

By refusing to stand up on Tennesseans’ behalf on the issue of health care, Mike McWherter is putting the agenda of President Obama and Speaker Pelosi before the needs of this state. That’s certainly not what Tennessee voters want and exactly why the chances of Mike McWherter becoming the Volunteer State’s next governor are growing slimmer by the day.