Posted on 04/21/2007 11:58:20 AM PDT by calcowgirl
DES MOINES, April 16 --Rudolph W. Giuliani is a long way from Ellis Island.
A decade ago, as mayor of New York, Mr. Giuliani used that historic backdrop to champion the cause of immigrants, calling attacks on people who came here legally a blow to “the heart and soul of America.” And from City Hall he often defended illegal immigrants, ordering city workers not to deny them benefits and advocating measures to ease their path to citizenship.
But now he is running for president, and the politics of immigration in the post-9/11 world is vastly different, with the issue splitting the Republican Party and voters peppering Mr. Giuliani on the campaign trail with questions about his current thinking. Perhaps more than any other candidate, Mr. Giuliani has a record on immigration with the potential to complicate his bid for the nomination.
In contrast to his years as mayor, when he fought federal efforts to curtail public hospital or educational services to illegal immigrants, he now talks of penalties for people here illegally and requirements for them to wait at the back of the line. And while he once pushed policies like providing schooling for the children of illegal immigrants by saying, “The reality is that they are here, and they’re going to remain here,” now he emphasizes denying amnesty.
(snip)
Mr. Giuliani’s approach is similar to the one proposed by President Bush, advocating an orderly flow of immigrants by providing a clear path to citizenship and thereby easing the pressure at the border.
Like Mr. Bush, Mr. Giuliani emphasizes the need for tough border controls. He said he wanted to help those who are already in America become citizens, but he is quick to highlight that he is not in favor of amnesty, which leading Republican candidates dare not endorse.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Rudy must change his ideas on immigration.
Looks like Rudy’s principles are almost as flexible as our very own Austrian’s principles (such as they are)...
A decade ago, Rudy was NOT the only politician who would NOT speak against illegal intruders.
A decade ago, some of us were aware the problem was much worse than the media spoke about, but we were ignored.
We were ignored at the risk of the entire nation, IMO.
The problem is much bigger, and the 12 million number is a joke. I estimate it at closer to 45-50 million.
What makes you think that? I haven't seen anything where Rudy was favored by the majority of Republicans.
Guess he and his staff are finding out that the USA isn't like New York City and he just can't give any answer that pops into his pea brain - then tell the press and people to shove it if they don't like it.
(Goodbye all you Zotted Rudybots, we hardly knew ye)
> “In contrast to his years as mayor, when he fought federal efforts to curtail public hospital or educational services to illegal immigrants, he now talks of penalties for people here illegally and requirements for them to wait at the back of the line.”
Rudy is Captain Pander of the Flipflop Patrol. Not even Kerry flippityflopped this bad!
“Well it appears the majority of the party does want to nominate him.”
Never going to happen. There is a very vocal minority supporting him but he has absolutely no chance whatsoever! Real Republicans will turn him out during the primaries. Rudy offers absolutely nothing of value to the party, including his so called expertise on fighting the WOT.
Have you checked the Harris (39% to 18%), with similar results in Fox, and Gallup Polls? Their surveys are of Republicans.
You guys are deluding yourselves if you think America’s mayor can’t win. I still say it will be Rudy/Fred or Fred/Rudy in ‘08. Rudy’s momentum will be hard to stop.
You forgot “Borders should be uniters, not dividers.”
“Rudy is Captain Pander of the Flipflop Patrol. Not even Kerry flippityflopped this bad!”
Rudy has to moderate his views in order to get the nomination. Only trouble is he has to move from left to the center in order to do that. Even after all that, he is still too liberal for the base. Expect more flip flops but don’t believe the sincerity of his “new” positions!
Less than 40% is NOT a majority.
I guarantee you, Fred Thompson will not come out in favor of en-masse deportation, round ups, mass arrests by local law enforcement of day laborers, etc.
I wonder what people here are going to say when that happens.
Put Rudy on either end of the ticket and they will not get my vote. I have said it repeatedly and I mean it! So the only ones being deluded are those who think he has a chance.
I still want to know where you got "majority of the party does want to nominate him."?
BTW, There's no way a principles conservative like Fred Thompson will agree to be on a ticket with an unprincipled liberal like Rudy. Thompson might run because he thinks he can help his Country not because of a lifelong quest for power. He will not agree to be VP just so he can be close to power. He doesn't need it.
I believe he has already said that mass deportation is not the way to go about it.
A steady 40% is a helluva lot better than the 10% or less most of the others have.
I guess you are too young to remember when Hillary! and her infamous committee proposed to overhaul the entire health care system (1994). Their famous legislation expected that every health plan, public or private, would provide abortion coverage.
Guess you also missed Rudy's statement the other day agreeing with the recent SCOTUS ruling on partial birth abortion. Hillary! issued a screeching opposition statement that verged on hysteria.
Let's adopt a 12th commandment. Though shall not exaggerate about a fellow Republican.
True. Fred will have the same immigration policy as Bush.
Your vote doesn’t decide whether or not any candidate ‘has a chance’.
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