New Romney ad stokes immigration battle with Giuliani. 11:33 AM ET
Posted on 08/21/2007 10:33:35 AM PDT by Plutarch
Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney today continued his assault on his chief rival's immigration credentials, launching a new radio ad that criticizes the leaders of cities which become sanctuaries for immigrants from federal laws.
The new spot, titled "Exceptional," does not name former New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani. But it's clear that Giuliani is his target. (You can listen to it here on Channel '08.)
"Immigration laws don't work if they're ignored," an announcer says. "That's the problem with cities like Newark, San Francisco and New York City that adopt sanctuary policies. Sanctuary cities become magnets that encourage illegal immigration and undermine secure borders."
Romney campaign advisers believe they have an effective message for Republican voters, for whom immigration is a critical issue. By highlighting Giuliani's welcoming policies regarding immigrants in the 1990s, they hope to undermine his support among conservatives and raise doubts about his law-and-order bonafides...
In the new ad, though, the announcer promises that "as President, Mitt Romney will cut back federal funds to cities that provide sanctuary to illegal immigrants."
The issue shows no signs of going away.
(Excerpt) Read more at blog.washingtonpost.com ...
New Romney ad stokes immigration battle with Giuliani. 11:33 AM ET
Why should the border patrol do their job if no one will do their job once these people have reached “our” cities? They are “our” cities, aren’t they? Keep it up, Mitt!
Governor Romney opposed a bill that would have allowed illegal aliens to get driver’s licenses. "Those who are here illegally should not receive tacit support from our government that gives an indication of legitimacy," the governor said, echoing arguments that opponents have voiced in the Commonwealth and in other states considering similar license measures. "If they are here illegally, they should not get driver's licenses," he said.
(Scott S. Greenberger, "Romney Stand Dims Chances Of License For Undocumented," The Boston Globe, 10/28/03)
Romney vetoed a bill in 2004 that would have permitted illegal aliens to pay the same in-state tuition rate paid by citizens at public colleges and universities in Massachusetts.
(Office Of The Governor, "Romney Signs $22.402B Fiscal Year 2005 'No New Tax' Budget," Press Release, 6/25/04)
Romney arranged a federal and state agreement enabling Massachusetts State Troopers to investigate immigration status and arrest illegal aliens they encounter during the normal course of their duties.
(Troopers would arrest immigrants, Boston Globe, June 21, 2006) (Governor Romney, ICE Sign Immigration Enforcement Pact, Dec. 13, 2006) (Video: Maricopa County Sheriff Arpaio debates LULAC spokesman about MA pact with ICE)
Governor Romney fought efforts to weaken Massachusetts' English Immersion Law. "But yesterday, Romney press secretary Shawn Feddeman said the governor will fight all attempts to slow the implementation of English immersion, known on the ballot as Question 2. ...He will veto anything that weakens or delays English immersion, Feddeman said."
(Anand Vaishnav, "Romney Firm On English Timetable," The Boston Globe, 1/24/03)
Romney arranged a federal and state agreement enabling Massachusetts State Troopers to investigate immigration status and arrest illegal aliens they encounter during the normal course of their duties.
(Troopers would arrest immigrants, Boston Globe, June 21, 2006) (Governor Romney, ICE Sign Immigration Enforcement Pact, Dec. 13, 2006) (Video:
Yep, that was what I was talking about!
“Finger in the wind like most New England politicians?”
Why did you feel the need to modify politician with “New England”. I believe most politicians have their fingers permanently in the air.
They don't call it M'chusetts for nothing (M'chusetts 'cause all their "asses" run for office)
If the use of the illegal immigration issue were limited to candidates who have been longtime anti-illegal immigration stalwarts, then we'd be limited to Tancredo and Hunter, wouldn't we? Is that what you would have? Can Thompson use the issue, but not Romney? I don't recall Thompson deporting any illegals on Law and Order, nor way back when he was a Senator did Thompson do much.
Romney as Governor didn’t do a thing or even speak out about santuary cities under his watch!!If i’m wrong please correct me.
I bet he was harsh with them and cut state aid and did all he could to make them stop being sanctuaries for illegals!
Exactly. I’m sure Boston was a sanctuary city in fact, if not in claim. He didn’t do much about it while Govenor. He’s got religion now though—that’s better than nothing.
http://www.city-journal.org/html/14_1_the_illegal_alien.html
“Former mayor Rudolph Giuliani sued all the way up to the Supreme Court to defend the city’s sanctuary policy against a 1996 federal law decreeing that cities could not prohibit their employees from cooperating with the INS. Oh yeah? said Giuliani; just watch me. The INS, he claimed, with what turned out to be grotesque irony, only aims to “terrorize people.” Though he lost in court, he remained defiant to the end. On September 5, 2001, his handpicked charter-revision committee ruled that New York could still require that its employees keep immigration information confidential to preserve trust between immigrants and government. Six days later, several visa-overstayers participated in the most devastating attack on the city and the country in history.”
The message is welcome, regardless of who delivers it.
Huh? How is lambasting Romney and Giuliani giving them cover?
Sen. Mel Martinez, the chairman of the Republican National Committee, has just lambasted his party's two top presidential candidates over immigration positions ... He later mentioned Messrs. Romney and Giuliani by name as two who had mischaracterized the failed immigration plan.
My point exactly. We are on the same page.
There is no way Romney will get to the right of Giuliani on this, given Giuliani constently sent criminally charged and guilty illegal alien data to the Feds to deport the felons...and the Feds did nothing the majority of the time.
No, you’re not wrong. He has a mixed record.
bump
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