Romney, McCain set to clash again tonight
By Michael Kranish
Globe Staff
MANCHESTER, N.H. _ As candidates prepare for tonight's Republican debate on Fox News, the issue of illegal immigration has again become a major point of contention.
Last night's lengthy debate on the issue almost certainly left significant questions about the matter in the minds of New Hampshire voters two days before the New Hampshire primary.
During the ABC News debate, Senator John McCain denounced an ad paid for by Mitt Romney's campaign that characterizes McCain as favoring amnesty for illegal immigrants. McCain, as he has for months, insisted he does not support amnesty. Romney then made a surprising comment.
"I don't describe your plan as amnesty in my ad," Romney said. "I don't call it amnesty."
Minutes later, viewers of New Hampshire's ABC affiliate, WMUR, saw the Romney ad. It featured people describing McCain's plan as "amnesty" and the ad had the standard statement that it was approved by Romney. While Romney himself isn't heard saying the word amnesty in the ad, he uses others to utter the word and it is his ad. As voters watched the ad, they might have wondered how Romney could say in the debate "I don't call it amnesty."
Moreover, Romney is airing another ad that in which an announcer quotes a publication saying "McCain supported this year's amnesty bill."
[UPDATE, 2:40 p.m.: Romney said today on ABC that "I was simply incorrect" during the debate when he asserted that his ad does not accuse McCain of supporting an amnesty bill. He said his staff told him after the debate about an ad that includes the amnesty charge, saying he had not seen the ad. However, the ad includes the standard phrase that he approved the message. Moreover, Romney has run at least two ads that include the amnesty charge.
It is unusual for a candidate to have to acknowledge providing false or misleading information on a central issue in a debate just before the primary. That heightens the possibility that Romney will face questions about the matter in tonight's debate.]
At the same time, McCain may also have some explaining to do on the matter.
At issue is McCain's support for a bill proposed by President Bush, under which illegal immigrants would pay a $5,000 fine, take English classes, and then get in line behind legal immigrants to apply for a pathway to citizenship. Critics said that would in effect grant amnesty to 12 million illegal immigrants. Asked whether he still supports the Bush plan, McCain replied, "Sure."
But he went on to explain all of his caveats: He first wants to secure the border, send back an estimated two million illegal immigrants who have committed crimes, and he wants the nation's governors to sit down and help work out a solution.
"If you have 12 million people here illegally, then obviously you have de facto amnesty," McCain said. "It is a federal responsibility. The federal government's -- government must act. I will act as president."
Making the matter more complicated, Romney, in a 2005 interview with the Boston Globe, described McCain's plan as " 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 called the plan "reasonable" and, like McCain, said it is not practical to round up 12 million illegal immigrants and send them back home. Romney has since said that he didn't like the details of the plan, which became increasingly unpopular and failed to win congressional approval.
This isn't a Republican debate tonight, it is a Fox News forum. The NH GOP has pulled it's sponsorship.
Mitt Romney will say and do anything to get elected. He has no shame.
It's really difficult to believe any of the candidates!!! They ALL play word games
It's really difficult to believe any of the candidates!!! They ALL play word games
Romney has nothing to be ashamed of! And if he is not elected he can't change anything! McCain's program vertually is an amnesty if illegals are allowed to stay. Illegals should not have access to the front of the line. People can say what they want about Romney but look at Huckabee, Hilary, Obama, or McCain and tell me they haven't filp-flopped a heck of a lot. Also Huckabee, Hilary, Obama, or McCain have been in the make believe world of politic's and accomplished little if anything especially relating to change. Romney has been in the real world, in private enterprize and been successful at everything he has done, besides saving the Olympics and his success as Gov .of Mass. Rob, "has no shame"? Give me a break.
Romney has nothing to be ashamed of! And if he is not elected he can't change anything! McCain's program vertually is an amnesty if illegals are allowed to stay. Illegals should not have access to the front of the line. People can say what they want about Romney but look at Huckabee, Hilary, Obama, or McCain and tell me they haven't filp-flopped a heck of a lot. Also Huckabee, Hilary, Obama, or McCain have been in the make believe world of politic's and accomplished little if anything especially relating to change. Romney has been in the real world, in private enterprize and been successful at everything he has done, besides saving the Olympics and his success as Gov .of Mass. Rob, "has no shame"? Give me a break.
This is Rupert Murdock's Fox News propaganda. The NH GOP has withdrawn support from the forum on grounds the Fox was unfair in excluding Ron Paul. Ron Paul polled at 14% in the last Rasmussen Poll. He should be included in this forum, but Fox has it's own agenda.
This is Rupert Murdock's Fox News propaganda. The NH GOP has withdrawn support from the forum on grounds the Fox was unfair in excluding Ron Paul. Ron Paul polled at 14% in the last Rasmussen Poll. He should be included in this forum, but Fox has it's own agenda.
Romney supported McCain's plan before he was against it? Wow, what a surprise that Romney changes his mind based on his audience. It will be interesting to see him change his stances if republican voters are naive enough to choose him in the primary.
Romney=Liar. We don't need four more years of real-time revisionist history.
Why is time of debate not part of this article?????????
Re "Mitt Romney will say and do anything to get elected. He has no shame."
And the others won't?
Read the articles on other candidates readjusting their messages, altering focus, etc.
Will Mitt Romney solve all he says he will? That is up to the American voter and who they elect to Senate and House. Is he most like GWB of the candidates, yes. Ask Jeb Bush who he sipports.
I wish Ron Paul was included because he makes the rst look so really Republican--talk about a changeling, a Libertarian who changed to GOP in name only. But leaving him out gave more time to more viable candidates. Ron Paul may be wonderful but he can't win nationally. Candidates have to reposition to the middle/. GOP test higher in IQ than dems. Maybe we could all learn that we are a coalition of many differing views and that Ron Pauls value is in the ideas that he has brouoght forth that can be worked into good governing compromise.
Bringing the troopa home on a timetable or like Obama says he will means a big natrional black eye like the shame of Vietnam and the killing fields of Cambodia. The hawks were right then but Nixon had to bring home the unfunded troops. How dems defeat ourselves.
Our Vietnam allies hanging off helicopter skids and left to be murdered. Do it agaiin in Iraq and qwe not only suffer a sinkinig dollar but a sinking National world presence.
Don't care, get ready to learn Chinese.
Here's some poignant info on McCain....
http://www.nolanchart.com/article993.html
Here's some poignant info on McCain....
http://www.nolanchart.com/article993.html
When you're filling your car with $3 gas and buying some $2.65 a dozen eggs, remember who is running on stopping deficit spending. The war for oil is what caused prices for anything that eats grain to skyrocket. When THOSE prices rise, the fresh fruit seller raises his prices again, now you have some nice $5 a pound grapes in the market. Laugh all you want, it's YOUR money being spent. YOU'RE the one going to pay $250 a week for groceries. Still think Ron Paul sounds like a bad idea? He's the ONLY candidate, Republican or Democrat that is running on reducing your cost of living. Maybe you have plenty money. Me, I'm not so rich.
Romney was the only one who spelled out a solution to health care in clear detail without going to socialized medicine and explained how he did it and that individual states would be able to determine how they want to do it. He discussed education and immigration more extensively and knowledgeably than any other candidate. He also demonstrated that he realizes what is going on internationally and that radical Islam should not
only be fought against by military force only. He explained what else should be involved to confront the jihadist mindset that leads to the violence in the first place.
Anybody who is not predisposed to a particular Republican candidate, just watch a debate and Romney ends up on top. I didn't even like Romney simply from what others had written or said about him. I watched him in action and he is probably the only chance for the Republican party (and a long shot even then because Democrats are really riled up).
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