Posted on 10/01/2011 12:59:02 PM PDT by delacoert
One of the vast improvements of Mitt Romney’s current presidential campaign over his previous one has been its relative freedom from obvious, cringe-inducing pandering. Until now.
This new campaign video attacking Rick Perry on education benefits for undocumented immigrants represents the return of the bad old Romney.
No one imagines Romney to be an authentic, Tom Tancredo-like, anti-immigration politician.
But Romney has consistently used immigration as a wedge issue in Republican primaries. In August 2007, he went after Rudy Giuliani in a New Hampshire radio ad for tolerating “sanctuary policies.” In December 2007 he attacked Mike Huckabee in Iowa for supporting “taxpayer-funded college scholarships for illegal aliens.” After first calling John McCain’s immigration reforms “reasonable,” he attacked them as “amnesty.”
Clearly, Romney strategists saw an opportunity in Rick Perry’s statement that Republicans were being heartless on education benefits. But exploiting this political opening has significant costs. Four years ago, immigration was exhibit one in the case for Romney’s political inauthenticity. Now his campaign has revived those memories. The specific argument that Romney presses is weak. Of all the measures against illegal immigration that might be contemplated, the punishment of children who have committed no crime can’t be high on the list.
But perhaps most disturbing is the tone of the Romney ad itself. It is not simply an issue-oriented contrast. It uses a statement praising Perry by former Mexican President Vincente Fox as though it were an endorsement by Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The last time I checked, Mexico was an important ally – a country that Romney, if elected president, would need to deal with daily. Fox’s words in the commercial are innocuous – simply thanking Texas and Perry for the education measure they had passed. So why
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
I hate Myth, but I don’t see how the anti Perry ad is out of bounds. It just goes after Perry’s record. Isn’t this standard operating procedure for a Primary election?
There is not one damn thing wrong with attacking a man that wants to spend your tax dollars supporting illegals. Dang, who do you think pays for all those little illegal babies. The sorry slobs have no concept of paying a frigging hospital bill.
You both suck!
The point isn't that attacking Perry is out of bounds. It's not even about attacking Perry. The article is about Romney shooting himself in the foot [not that that's a bad thing]. Romney is a laughing stock on immigration (as with almost any issue).
Pick your vacuum cleaner accessory....
Gerson was one of the leading Bushies who tried to ram through amnesty with Ted Kennedy back in 05-06.
There were specific things said in the article that resonated:
No one imagines Romney to be ... authentic [again, Romney to a tee]
Romney has consistently used immigration as a wedge issue in Republican primaries
immigration ... exhibit one in the case for Romney’s political inauthenticity. Now his campaign has revived those memories. [Touche. The typically tone-deaf Romney campaign at it's best.]
The specific argument that Romney presses is weak
Willard is a demagogueBetter.on the immigration issue.
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