Romney pings Perry on immigration

posted at 8:23 pm on September 2, 2011 by Tina Korbe

At the Republican National Hispanic Assembly in Florida, a state in which Mitt Romney remains the frontrunner, the former Massachusetts governor talked tough on immigration and insinuated ever-so-politely that his rival, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, would do little more than President Barack Obama has done (that is, nothing) to address border security and immigration reform:

Addressing the Republican National Hispanic Assembly in Florida, Mr. Romney said the U.S. “must do a better job of securing its borders, and as president, I will.” Mr. Romney said that includes “completing construction of a high-tech fence.”

Mr. Romney didn’t mention Mr. Perry by name, but the Texas governor has dismissed the idea of a fence along the entire U.S.-Mexico border as “ridiculous,” but has said he supports a fence in some metropolitan areas. Mr. Romney also focused on in-state tuition for illegal immigrants.

“Finally, we must stop providing the incentives that promote illegal immigration.  As governor, I vetoed legislation that would have provided in-state tuition rates to illegal immigrants.” Under a bill Mr. Perry signed, Texas provides in-state tuition for illegal immigrants who meet certain criteria.

That Perry is more lax than Romney on border security is perplexing, considering the illegal immigrant population in Texas is ten times that of Massachusetts. In other words, Perry has seen the problem up close and personally — and presumably would want to address it head-on. But, then, his firsthand witness no doubt has informed his views of what solutions are realistic and achievable. Hence his assessment of a fence to secure the border — often dismissed as an impracticable solution – as “ridiculous”? But what of his support for the Texas version of DREAM and his hints at the advisability of binational health insurance?

Obviously, Perry will have to answer questions about his stances on immigration and any other issue on which Romney can zing him — because Romney won’t let up anytime soon. One poll shows Perry ahead of Romney even in Nevada — the one state that is supposed to be an absolute given for Romney.

Update (AP): Hmmmm.

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For the record Romney did 4 things:

1. Vetoed in-state tuition for illegals.
2. Implemented english immersion.
3. Empowered staties to enforce immigration laws.
4 Lobbied against a bill that gave drivers licenses to illegals.

… in deep, deep, deep Blue Massachusetts.

swamp_yankee on September 3, 2011 at 1:16 PM

For the record Romney did 4 things:

1. Vetoed in-state tuition for illegals.
2. Implemented english immersion.
3. Empowered staties to enforce immigration laws.
4 Lobbied against a bill that gave drivers licenses to illegals.

… in deep, deep, deep Blue Massachusetts.

swamp_yankee on September 3, 2011 at 1:16 PM

The only thing I’d quibble with is 3. He had no ability to do anything outside of Massachusetts and the claim is a bit vague.

whatcat on September 3, 2011 at 1:26 PM

Regarding 3,

In December 2006, Governor Romney Signed A Memorandum Of Agreement With The Federal Government To Allow State Troopers To Enforce Federal Immigration Laws. “Governor Mitt Romney and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Assistant Secretary Julie L. Myers today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and ICE, which will give specially trained Massachusetts State Troopers the authority to administer and enforce federal immigration laws in the Commonwealth.”

swamp_yankee on September 3, 2011 at 1:28 PM

Regarding 3,
swamp_yankee on September 3, 2011 at 1:28 PM

Thanks for filling me in!
Though it didn’t have much to do with other states. But you could say he set an example for other other governors to follow.

whatcat on September 3, 2011 at 1:37 PM

Funny to see how many Hot Air commentators suddenly become pro-illegal immigration just so they can not look silly supporting Perry.

scotash on September 3, 2011 at 11:51 AM

Exactly. Hot Air posters need some explainin’ to do. My sense is that it is all about feeling and rhetoric.

Perry flashes his religious right credentials, shoots a gun off, gets called an idiot by the MSM, and throws bombs at Obama, and abracadabra, all is forgiven.

If this site is really committed to being anti-illegal immigrant, anti-pathway, and anti-illegal welfare, then Bachmann should be your girl. More over, she’s actually the most conservative of the GOP candidates.

Don’t get me wrong, I am not endorsing Ms. Bachmann, but her ideology seems to fit the HotAir crowd the most.

Frank T.J Mackey on September 3, 2011 at 8:39 PM

Funny to see how many Hot Air commentators suddenly become pro-illegal immigration just so they can not look silly supporting Perry.

scotash on September 3, 2011 at 11:51 AM

Not true, not at all. I’ve been consistently outspoken against illegal immigration/illegal aliens/national security/borders issues for years now. For YEARS, and often ridiculed by others who claim to be “Conservative” including the McCain-Palin ticket.

Perry isn’t “pro-illegal-immigration”. I take issue with some of his decisions, but it won’t stop me from voting for him.

It almost did stop me from voting for McCain, however.

Lourdes on September 4, 2011 at 12:46 AM

Funny to see how many Hot Air commentators suddenly become pro-illegal immigration just so they can not look silly supporting Perry.

scotash on September 3, 2011 at 11:51 AM

I’m a Texan for Perry and yes he’s, sadly, not as aggressive on illegal immigration as I wish. I’ve actually asked him about it and he seems to think there is a “third way” to address the situation, but he doesn’t seem to have found it yet. I don’t think he will change much and those of us who like him will have to accept that he won’t ever be the immigration warrior most of us would wish him to be.

Will that be a deal killer for the millions of us who yearn for a primarily Conservative candidate?

Get real, who today can afford to be a one issue purist? Do you really think that his weakness on immigration reform will cause people to abandon him?

For Romney?!?

In Texas-speak Romney remains “all hat and no cattle”

E9RET on September 4, 2011 at 10:52 AM

Perry isn’t “pro-illegal-immigration”.
Lourdes on September 4, 2011 at 12:46 AM

Yes, he is

That Perry is more lax than Romney on border security is perplexing, considering the illegal immigrant population in Texas is ten times that of Massachusetts. In other words, Perry has seen the problem up close and personally — and presumably would want to address it head-on. But, then, his firsthand witness no doubt has informed his views of what solutions are realistic and achievable

From Perry’s carefully couched wikipedia bio

Perry has opposed the creation of the Mexico – United States barrier, which is meant to keep out illegal aliens. Instead of barricading the border completely with a fence, Perry believes that the federal government should fulfill its responsibility to its citizens by securing the borders with “boots on the ground” and technology to improve safety while not harming trade with the state’s biggest trading partner, Mexico

Explain how not being allowed to illegal run across the border through some rancher’s property to take jobs in a country with 9 percent unemployment is harming trade with Mexico

The Dream act:

In 2001, Perry expressed his pride in the enactment of the statute extending in-state tuition to children of undocumented workers. He said:

We must say to every Texas child learning in a Texas classroom, “we don’t care where you come from, but where you are going, and we are going to do everything we can to help you get there.” And that vision must include the children of undocumented workers. That’s why Texas took the national lead in allowing such deserving young minds to attend a Texas college at a resident rate

I care where someone comes from when they want to tap our entitlement programs or if they get stopped for a driving violation. In every case, the law of permission to be in the USA supercedes

In the official Perry for Prez site, under Issues, Under National Security, are three points: economy, exceptionalism, and borders:

Equally important, Rick Perry will finally force Washington to fulfill its constitutional duty to secure our international borders. As Governor, Perry has directed hundreds of millions of dollars, manpower and resources to drastically reduce criminal activity along the border because Washington has refused to act. As President, Perry will take decisive action to defend our sovereign border because there can be no homeland security without border security.

So Perry has used millions to reduce ‘criminal activity’ at the border. How can he deduce criminal activity without stopping everyone? This from the tough talking states rightist governor. How does he know which illegal threatens our national security? An undocumented worker is undocumented and therefore under the radar.

On this issue, Perry is a poser

Romney has done all the right things. It is almost as if Romney believes in the rule of law

What a bizarre position for a politician in this corrupt era

entagor on September 4, 2011 at 12:33 PM

Perry the squish on illegal aliens versus tough borders Romney.

Curioser and curioser.

So Rick says it’s okay to mess with Texas… if you’re an illegal.

profitsbeard on September 4, 2011 at 1:31 PM

P.S. Rick Perry may wast to talk to John Cleese of Monty Python fame about the joys of encouraging unrestrained multiculturalism.

London is no longer an English City.

profitsbeard on September 4, 2011 at 5:35 PM

I want to see someone build a border fence in the middle of Lake Amistad in Del Rio where the border runs through pretty much the center of the reservoir which is 217 feet deep or go up and over the mountains in Big Bend or through a second reservoir or following the Rio Grande as it snakes in and out of both countries sometimes not directly on the border.

What does Romney have to say about the Mormon Church’s bank founded by Brigham Young that got caught laundering $12.2B of drug money to Mexico and was supposed to be fined twice but the Feds gave Zion Bancorp only one fine of a little of $7M. Where was the press on that? Locally in Utah. Both Romney and Huntsman families have used Zions. Then we have Zions as one of the biggest lenders to illegals to buy homes. Mormon Church has been supporting illegals for a long time. Is Romney disavowing the Mormom Church on illegals?

The debate is vital to Utah’s Latino population, many of whom are LDS. Yapias and others estimate that 50 percent to 75 percent of members in Utah’s 100-plus Spanish-speaking congregations are undocumented. That includes many bishops, branch presidents, even stake presidents. The church sends missionaries among undocumented immigrants across the country, baptizing many of them without asking about their status. It also allows them to go to the church’s temples and on missions.

Sen. Ross Romero, D-Salt Lake City, didn’t support the immigration bills, arguing that immigration is a federal — not state — issue. But the first Latino minority leader in the Legislature said he was happy to see “a more compassionate” approach than the original enforcement-only efforts. He applauds his own religious leader, Utah Catholic Bishop John Wester, for his outspoken defense of undocumented immigrants.

He also welcomes the LDS Church’s support of the bills and hopes that support will be what people across the nation see, rather than the anti-illegal immigration statements by church members Russell Pearce, the Arizona Senate sponsor of that state’s harsh law, and conservative talk-show host Glenn Beck.

“The church would want to make clear that [Pearce and Beck] may be of the religion but don’t speak for the religion,” Romero said. “David Burton’s presence at the signing is a reflection that this is [the church’s] view and where they stand.”

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/home/51439173-76/bills-burton-church-immigration.html.csp?page=2

pstack@sltrib.com

How about Romney’s former company, Bain Capitol, and their buying up companies to lay people off when he was in charge or the fact they have been fined for shorting stock and buying it back recently. Bain Capitol has a lot to answer for and since Romney employs campaign people who were with Bain to Romney back to Bain and to Romney just how much of a blind trust is it?

Two can play this game!

PhiKapMom on September 4, 2011 at 7:21 PM

Bain is a great American company. People who attack ot attack the free market. Which leaves socialists liberals and retards. Conservatives attacking Bain are too stupid to undetstand the quip popmarket. They are retards in our midst.

swamp_yankee on September 4, 2011 at 11:14 PM

I want to see someone build a border fence in the middle of Lake Amistad in Del Rio where the border runs through pretty much the center of the reservoir which is 217 feet deep or go up and over the mountains in Big Bend or through a second reservoir or following the Rio Grande as it snakes in and out of both countries sometimes not directly on the border.

PhiKapMom on September 4, 2011 at 7:21 PM

You don’t have to. A fence elsewhere contstricts access and makes the border more manageable.

Why have a border checkpoints since checkpoints only cover a small part of the border.

What does Romney have to say about the Mormon Church’s bank founded by Brigham Young that got caught laundering $12.2B of drug money to Mexico and was supposed to be fined twice but the Feds gave Zion Bancorp only one fine of a little of $7M. Where was the press on that? Locally in Utah. Both Romney and Huntsman families have used Zions. Then we have Zions as one of the biggest lenders to illegals to buy homes. Mormon Church has been supporting illegals for a long time. Is Romney disavowing the Mormom Church on illegals?

The difference is a church is not a law making body of this nation. It is what a politician does with the laws of my nation that count in political elections. Despite Zion, Romney fulfilled the law when he was in a position to ignore or circumvent the law, like Perry

How can one trust any politician proven to have circumvented law?

If Perry had stolen a bus in New Orleans when the city failed to use the buses to rescue citizens, I would give him a pass

However, cirumvention of immigration and border law, when the public is unwilling to change the law, is an intentional betrayal of public will. Not a game. Not a one up. Simply, wrong

Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s and unto GOd that which is God’s

entagor on September 5, 2011 at 3:46 PM

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