What Mitt Romney has said about an immigration reform plan, once pushed by rival John McCain and backed by President Bush, that would have given many illegal immigrants in the United States a possible path to citizenship if they paid a fine and back taxes and met other requirements.
Nov. 2005 Globe interview
"That's very different than amnesty, where you literally say, 'OK, everybody here gets to stay.' It's saying you could work your way into becoming a legal resident of the country by working here without taking benefits and then applying and then paying a fine."
Romney did not specifically endorse McCain's bill, saying he had not yet formulated a full position on immigration, but called the efforts by McCain and Bush "reasonable proposals."
TV ads, Dec. 28 and Jan. 3
Voter and Romney supporter Collett Hill says about McCain: "He wrote the amnesty bill that America rejected."
Announcer says: "John McCain, an honorable man. But is he the right Republican for the future? McCain pushed to let every illegal immigrant stay here permanently. . . . And Mitt Romney? He opposes amnesty for illegals. Mitt Romney. John McCain. There is a difference."
Saturday night debate, addressing McCain
"Are they sent home? Are they sent home? It is a form of amnesty. That's your plan, and that plan is not appropriate. . . . They should not be given a special right to stay here."
McCain's response at debate
"I've never supported amnesty. It's not amnesty, and for you to describe it as you do in the attack ads . . . you can spend your whole fortune on these attack ads, but it won't be true."
