[MittFan08]

At this point, I'm undecided between Romney and Thompson. I've been disappointed in some things that Mitt has said and done, and I'm very disappointed to read this report on Fred. I will want to hear a very good explanation as to why he was apparently one of only 6 out of 100 Senators to vote to deny public services above and beyond emergency care and education to illegal aliens.

We don't have a perfect candidate, and we'll have to choose the one who is the least imperfect. Maybe that's Fred, but if so, he's got some explaining to do to get my vote.

[MittFan08]

Obviously, I should have said Fred was one of only 6 Senators to vote AGAINST denying services to illegal aliens.

[eboyer]

Fred Lobbyist does what the special interests tells him to do.

He is loyal to the CFR first and foremost.

[The_Republican]

Obviously you have never watched “Law & Order”.

One thing he is NOT is SOFT!

[dirtboy]

I will want to hear a very good explanation as to why he was apparently one of only 6 out of 100 Senators to vote to deny public services above and beyond emergency care and education to illegal aliens.

Federalism. I believe Fred thought it wasn't the fedgov's role to mandate to the states on this matter. A quaint notion for many in this day and age, but critical if we are ever gonna start shrinking the federal behemoth.

[jdm]

I'm very disappointed to read this report on Fred.

Feigned disappointment, I'm sure.

[upchuck]

I’m pretty much a fan of FRed.

But his membership in the CFR is troubling as are the votes mentioned here.

He has spoken about the illegal situation.

I’d feel a lot better about this if he’d come out with a no BS, no read between the lines statement on this including exactly what, if anything, he plans to do about the illegals situation and the work done so far towards the NAU.

[cripplecreek]

Some of us have been aware of his immigration record all along but it’s been made clear that we’re to STFU unless we want to be called racists, nazis, etc.

Only a fool would believe he could get through an election without having to answer questions.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

I do think we will end up with an imperfect candidate. That doesn’t mean we have to vote for anyone with an R by their name.

[xcamel]

Gnats..

[Tarpon]

Ah yes, compared to what? When Mitt decided he was going to run for President he decided to order the Mass State Police to apprehend illegals ... which the next Dem governor rescinded. But for the years proceeding, Mitt did exactly ...

Fred is the real deal, the rest are just pretend.

[abercrombie_guy_38]

I’m with you. I’m trying to decide between Romney and Thompson but it’s like being between a rock and a hard place. There is no perfect candidate but they all could be a hell of a lot better, especially the majors.

It’s a damn shame Hunter isn’t as widely known.

[jdub]

Some votes are likely to draw scrutiny, particularly a series of votes in the 1990s against cracking down on illegal aliens. Those include a 1995 vote against limiting services other than emergency care and public education to illegal aliens — he was one of just six senators to oppose that proposal — and a 1996 vote against creating an employer verification system to help businesses filter out illegal aliens who apply for jobs.

The problem with statements like these is they usually only tell a small part of the story. What else was in the bill? Was it full of unpalatable earmarks that made it worth voting against a measure you might otherwise support in order to block a bunch of things you don't?

As someone else pointed out, was the measure even constitutional?

[dragnet2]

Those include a 1995 vote against limiting services other than emergency care and public education to illegal aliens — he was one of just six senators to oppose that proposal — and a 1996 vote against creating an employer verification system

The definition of insanity is continuing to do the same thing over and over, and expecting different results.

[mnehring]

I really wish that the WP article gave bill numbers because there are a couple of bills out there that have been repeated over and over incorrectly.

One website that a lot of articles refer to (NumbersUSA) shows Thompson voting for S1556 when he actually opposed: http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=105&session=1&vote=00265

Another bill, S1664 never made it to a vote, it was killed in committee: ( http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_keyvote_detail.php?cs_id=V907&can_id=53292 )-they take a procedural vote to move a bill from one committee to another committee and label that as supporting the bill.

[org.whodat]

We don't have a perfect candidate, and we'll have to choose the one who is the least imperfect. Maybe that's Fred, but if so, he's got some explaining to do to get my vote.

Sure and you screen name sure makes you open minded . LOL,

What a crock!

[freekitty]

You could vote for the best.

[lone star annie]

Vote for Duncan Hunter. He is right on all the issues. I don’t trust anyone who supported McCain in 2000.

[freekitty]

Thunder says vote for Duncan Hunter.

[org.whodat]

At this point, I'm undecided between Romney and Thompson.

Every attack you have made against Fred after this post makes you a damn lier. While you have repeatedly carried water for the yankee liberal.

[Williams]

I'm much more concerned with the policies he will announce and carry out as president. All the "holier than your candidate" posts here are entertaining, but let's not get carried away.

I TRUST the republican candidates to do what they say. So I'll judge Thompson by his announced policies, and I won't worry one bit about something Romney did as Massachussetts governor. Rudy creates a unique problem because he stands by certain liberal opinions, although I trust whatever pledges he makes on judges, etc.

BTW I heard Romney say things about Bush's immigration proposal that would not earn Romney my vote (in a primary).