"Well it won't work. Romeny is determined to run and this is such a dumb issue - they are going to have to find something more credible than that if they want to derail him. I don't think they will."
Consider him 'derailed'. Just another OBLer playing the game of 'amnesty is not a 'path towards citizenship' and deportation exaggerating. Though the whole 'guns to their heads' thing is a first for me, we're not buying.
The Lowell Sun
WASHINGTON -- Gov. Mitt Romney expressed support yesterday for an immigration program that places large numbers of illegal residents on the path toward citizenship, but criticized any form of "amnesty."
Speaking to reporters after a speech on education reform, Romney also invited outgoing White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card, a Holbrook native, to challenge Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., in midterm elections this fall.
Romney's comments came as the Senate began heated debate on immigration reform. On Monday, the Judiciary Committee approved a controversial bill sponsored by Kennedy and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., that would make 11 million illegal immigrants eligible for citizenship.
"I don't believe in amnesty," Romney said, using a word voiced by Republicans to describe widespread forgiveness of illegal residency in the United States.
But at the same time, Romney said illegal immigrants should have a chance to obtain citizenship.
"I don't believe in rounding up 11 million people and forcing them at gunpoint from our country," Romney said. "With these 11 million people, let's have them registered, know who they are. Those who've been arrested or convicted of crimes shouldn't be here; those that are here paying taxes and not taking government benefits should begin a process towards application for citizenship, as they would from their home country."
The McCain-Kennedy bill would legalize the 11 million immigrants if they demonstrate they've paid taxes, can speak English, pass a civics test, pay $2,000 in fees and aren't criminals.
Massachusetts saw its illegal immigrant population increase from an estimated 55,000 people in 1990 to 200,000 people in 2004, according to a recent report by the Pew Hispanic Center
-- EVAN LEHMANN.
Clearly more evidence that Romney is the Stealth RINO.
We all know how Rudy and McCain feel about amnesty. Romney is the one who is trying to fool us. And so far he is doing a pretty good job of it.
Conservative? I beg to differ.