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Romney talks tough on immigration

Posted by Foon Rhee, deputy national political editor November 26, 2007 02:17 PM


Mitt Romney pledges to take charge to stem illegal immigration in a new TV ad that will air in Iowa and New Hampshire.

"We need smart, tough solutions, not just talk," the announcer says before pointing out that Romney, while governor of Massachusetts, opposed driver's licenses and in-state tuition for illegal immigrants and pushed for English in the classroom.

As Romney is pictured rolling up his sleeves, the ad then says that he is the only candidate with a proven record of fixing major problems and will bring a no-nonsense, corporate-style approach to a problem that has vexed politicians of both parties: "Take charge. Demand results. No excuses."

Romney and other Republican presidential hopefuls are generally trying to out-tough each other on the issue, and criticizing each other for not being tough enough. The Democratic candidates are pushing a welcoming approach, though they acknowledge that immigration is a hot-button issue.

15 comments so far...
  1. Our Nations woes are not form these Migrants, it is from the TRILLIONS IN DEBT, read this before you decide to waste your energy on follies that deflect the limelight on these migrants, Here is the link.

    http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/News/FedsBudgetTricksHideTrillionsInDebt.aspx

    Posted by Funny Truth November 26, 07 03:48 PM
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  1. Anyone interested in a very different story (and analysis) on illegal immigration should try:
    http://goupstate.us/index.php/lanefiller/2007/11/14/the_illegal_immigrant_next_door


    Posted by lane filler November 26, 07 04:33 PM
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  1. Mitt Romney is out of step with reality on the immigration issue. His opposition to in-state tuition to immigrant students was shameful. These kids were brought here by their parents. It is their fault they are here illegally. Just recently I met a 10yo who was brought here as a baby. The kid speaks English without a trace of an accent and one can not tell her apart from the other kids. If it was up to Mr. Romney, this kit would never be allowed to attend to college. Making innocent kids who grew up pledging allegiance to the US flag and speak English pay for the sins of their parents is cruel and un-American.

    Posted by Cruel_Romney November 26, 07 10:43 PM
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  1. It is not migrants we are concerned about but rather ILLEGAL ALIENS. Some people seem incapable of making the distinction. The massive influx of the Third World into the US is destroying our quality of life, our language and our culture. No, I don't need to apologize to anyone for wanting to feel comfortable in my own country. Deport the aliens, along with their anchor babies. They are lawless people who are steeling form American familes and our children's future. Hard to believe that most of them think they are Christians. Guess they don't know that is is sinful to steal, cheat and lie. Get a grip, we all want a better life. Go back and change your own country instead of destroying mine. If Romney is tough on immigration, he's got my vote. This is the most importatnt issue facing our country.

    Posted by Marge Wood November 26, 07 11:14 PM
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  1. Mitt did take action long before the rest of us were rudely awakened out of our stupor by the illegals marching in our streets, demanding driver's licenses, living off of our social services, educating their kids in our schools and using our ER's as their personal physicians. We love legal immigrants and those who come here the old fashioned way -- by earning it. But illegal immigration harms our country, our schools, our hospitals and enslaves a whole group of people as permanent under-classes. It is modern day slavery to look the other way at illegal immigration.


    Mitt is right. Secure the border. Enforce the laws we have. Fine employers who hire illegals and make the country abide by the laws of the land and make American citizenship something worthy and special again. It's nothing something that can be stolen by law breakers. It should be earned.

    Posted by AnnaMated November 27, 07 02:16 AM
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  1. Criminals did NOT build America; Citizens and LEGAL immigrants built it. Illegal Aliens and Immigration is NOT the same thing. 80% of the American people want an end to anarchy! This is NOT a Democrat, Republican, Independent issue. It's an American Issue.

    Illegal aliens are criminals, those who hire them are criminals and those who aid-and-abet them are criminals.

    Illegal aliens in America have NO rights. We are required by law to arrest and prosecute, deport them. (Title 8 U.S. Code) To report illegal aliens call the DHS National Hotline 1 866 DHS 2ICE. (1-866-347-2523)

    No, matter your political party affiliation, and setting aside your thoughts on issues. We all need to remember what it is to be an American Citizen. We need to make sure our elected representatives obey their Oath of Office and keep their Oath of Allegiance. See http://tinyurl.com/2znnvl Know whom you are voting for.

    Posted by Dr Coles November 27, 07 10:00 AM
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  1. Wake up America! God has just given us a gift and it's Mitt Romney. Romney is the man for our times. He's a smart, effective, value-driven leader who has proven himself. He is gifted in coming up with right solutions for tough problems. I travel often throughout the country and engage in conversation with a lot of people in airports and on planes. Overwhelmingly, people express their desire to have Romney as our next president. One traveler said, "He's the only hope for America." Another, who said she was a devout Lutheran, said, "We have to do everything we can to get him elected." I agree.

    Posted by Joy Lundberg November 27, 07 12:00 PM
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  1. immigrant concerns in our state(N.C.) have recently focused on the growing population of poor hispanic people, who do low level factory production work, farm labor for long hours, and domestic work. They struggle to learn english and give their children the opportunities many of our ancestors made for us.One local leader has moved to try and deny health department basic health and nutrition services,vaccines and disease control to illegals,most of whom are pregmant women, babies and young children.What about all that king Benjamin stuff we teach? ethnic cleansing anywhere begins with one group thinking they need to band together to eliminate a percieved threat from another without regard of the concepts of zion.

    Posted by nancy thigpen November 27, 07 03:55 PM
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  1. STOP ILLegal Immigration

    You bleeding heart idiots can go back to Mexico with those Millions here illegally!! We don't want to pay for them or have them destroy our country!

    Posted by mary November 27, 07 06:26 PM
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  1. Mitt and Ron seems the only choice for America. Report and deport. No more illegals, NO more anchor babies skirting the 14th amendment. No more welfare and free education to ANY kid here illegal. Deport the kids with the parents they're not citizens anyway.

    Posted by Mark November 27, 07 06:59 PM
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  1. Mitt is correct on every point. The way he has tirelessly run his campaign with hard work and a great team behind him, is the way he'll run this great country as President. Mitt 2008!

    Posted by Yunginspirit November 27, 07 09:24 PM
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  1. once upon a time....the stinky, ugly, preversive and criminal mexicans, gave shelter into their territory to a group of polygamous mormons...among them, was Romney family , his father was borned in mexico in the mormon colonies of Chihuahua, he still have relatives there, well ,all of them gave up their mexican nationality and became american citizens when the waters where calm for mormons. Mr. Romney should be at least most respecful with mexicans citizens legal or ilegal, but he looks to me as a big hipocrit, going to church on sunday to lisen sermons about charity, the teachings of jesus and all that stuff..and from monday to saturday he worships the same God that all of us worship MONEY! because all is about money, how much, how many... the dignity of a human being does not count..only money. He is just among the group of religious hypocrits like the ones in the past that justify slavely with some teachings of the Bible...but, they go to church to sing ...love one another, treat others like you want to be treated..whatever..I prefer a cinical democrat, but at least are not preaching love in one hand and giving murder with the other.

    Posted by toni matoni November 27, 07 10:30 PM
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  1. Type your comment here... The children of illegal aliens can go to college--they just can't get in-state tuition. This is the same as some legal citizen's child wanting to attend an out of state college. They have to pay out of state tuition. Please refrain from passing along misinformation. It makes you look uninformed! Many Mexican women attempt to enter the country illegally precisely because their babies will then be citizens and will hopefully lead them to be able to stay if they are found to be here illegally themselves. They work for low, low wages, get FREE medical care from emergency rooms and other services paid for by the legal citizens of this country. When does breaking the law bring benefits to any legal citizen? It doesn't. Only those who enter illegally get such benefits.

    Posted by Mary Jane Stewart November 28, 07 12:49 AM
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  1. In response to Mary Jane Stewart…

    Undocumented kids can not attend public colleges in Massachusetts. Case in point, I personally know someone who was brought here as a toddler by her parents. She obviously had absolutely no choice in the matter. Over the years, she blossomed into a smart and attractive female, learned to speak fluent English and grew up pledging allegiance to the flag. After finishing High School, she attempted to apply for a local State College but was rejected due to lack of a Social Security Number. She can not apply for a driver’s license or a decent job, either. Sadly, Romney’s cruel policies denied a very smart girl the ability of achieving her full potential. One has to wonder why we can grant legal status to foreigners from communist and other hostile countries, that can hardly speak English or ever will, but deny kids that are *fully* integrated into American society access to College.

    The classical case of an anchor baby is when the mother comes to the US for the *sole* purpose of granting citizenship to the new born. But such cases are so few, it is hardly an issue. How many pregnant women are crossing the Rio Grande and successfully dodging the border patrol to have their babies in the US, really? Any 9 month pregnant woman that can achieve that deserves a medal. When a man and a woman meet, become attracted to each other, get married and have kids, it is *wrong* to classify the offspring as anchor babies. Those kids are just the result of the normal course of life. But if you want to prevent undocumented aliens from having kids a solution presents itself: ‘sterilization’. You, Mitt Romney and CNN’s Lou Dobbs could form an effective taskforce to sterilize all illegal aliens. For better results, your taskforce may even consider studying some of the sterilization techniques applied by Nazi Germany. This way you could still enjoy the benefits of immigrant labor but prevent them from having the kids you so despise.

    Posted by Romeny_Is_Cruel November 28, 07 07:25 PM
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  1. In response to Romeny_Is_Cruel:

    I think your views are very generous and kind. Those qualities make this country the great nation that it is today. You should help that young intelligent young woman that finds herself to be in illegal alien. Pay for her plane ticket back to her home country so she can go to college there, then join productive society. She can then apply for American citizenship if she enjoys the states so much.

    What you seem to miss is that many American families that I know don't have free healthcare or tuition assistance either. They work hard and pay high taxes to enjoy citizenship. If you have disposable income, then feel free to donate it to you illegal immigrant friend to help her start a life back home. Don’t take money from the rest of us to support illegals like her, it’s not your tax money to be handing out to everyone.

    I’ve served my country as many in my family did before me. Many people have fought and died for my freedom. People who disrespect our laws to come and take what they did not earn are cowards with no honor.

    Posted by Time to change the 14th amendment January 30, 08 08:53 PM
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About political intelligence Field reports from Boston Globe reporters and editors covering the 2008 presidential campaign and the national maneuvering of Bay State politicians.

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