Posted on 10/31/2007 12:18:43 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
The big news on Fred Thompson's site is the endorsement of Tom McClintock, a popular and conservative state senator. Nothing on Hillary's comment in the debates last night, although his immigration and border security plan is still high on the front page.
I think this is another example of Thompson's strategy of choosing to not do the things the media think he should be doing. Romney and Giuliani were quick out of the box to jump on Hillary's statement and denounce driver's licenses for illegal immigrants. Today, that'll show up in every story; the dominant story of the day is her muddy statement on licenses, and everybody, ordinarily, would want to make sure their quote is in tomorrow's story.
The downside of this approach is that Thompson is quiet for this news cycle, and as we get closer — 64 days to the Iowa caucuses! - one would think one would want a rarer lulls in news coverage...
...Eh, scratch that. No sooner than I write that then I get an e-mail from Thompson's campaign, offering a statement from campaign manager Bill Lacy on "Mitt Romney's Real Record on Immigration." Interesting. They're skipping Hillary and going straight for Romney.
Thompson campaign manager Bill Lacy today released the following statement regarding Mitt Romney's bogus immigration claims:
"Once again today, Mitt Romney is proving he will do anything and say anything for political gain. The fact is, Mitt Romney called the McCain-Kennedy amnesty bill 'reasonable' while the vast majority of conservative Republicans called it 'unacceptable.' No matter how many millions he spends trying to cover up his previous positions, Romney's record is to the left of the GOP base on immigration, just as it is on matters of life, gay rights and fiscal responsibility."
The rest of the release is after the jump.
ROMNEY'S RECORD ON IMMIGRATION
In 2005, Romney said he would be "delighted" to provide support to illegal immigrants who wish to seek permanent legal status in the U.S.
· YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpUNVRNVk-E
In 2005, Romney called the McCain-Kennedy-Bush comprehensive immigration reform bill "reasonable" and defended the Senate bill. "I think that an amnesty program is one which all of the illegal immigrants who are here are now citizens and walk in and get your citizenship. What the President has proposed and what Senator McCain and Cornyn have proposed are quite different from that...those are the things that are being considered, and I think that those are reasonable proposals." (Mitt Romney Interview, The Boston Globe, 11/30/05; Liste n: http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/03/16/romneys_words_grow_hard_on_immigration/)
In 2006, Romney vocally criticized fellow Republicans who stood up against the McCain-Kennedy-Bush amnesty bill and said they made "a big mistake." "...one of McCain's potential rivals for the GOP nomination, Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, has made it known that he supports the President's immigration position, saying that Republicans who have broken rank with Bush 'made a big mistake.'" (Liz Sidoti, "McCain May Alienate Some Conservatives," The Associated Press, 9/20/06)
In 2006, Romney said that some illegal immigrants in the U.S. "should begin a process towards application for citizenship." "Gov. Mitt Romney expressed support...for an immigration program that places large numbers of illegal residents on the path toward citizenship...Romney said illegal immigrants should have a chance to obtain citizenship. '...those that are here paying taxes and not taking government benefits should begin a process towards application for citizenship, as they would from their home country.'" (Evan Lehman, "Romney Supports Immigration Program, But Not Granting 'Amnesty,'" The Lowell Sun, 3/30/06)
As Governor, Romney allowed three sanctuary cities to operate in Massachusetts: Cambridge, Orleans, and Brewster. (Yvonne Abraham, "City's Sanctuary Status Mocked," Boston Globe, 7/5/06; Lisa M. Seghetti et.al., "Enforcing Immigration Law: The Role of State and Local Law Enforcement," Congressional Research Service, RL32270, 11/14/06; Town Resolution, http://www.bordc.org/detail.php?id=197, accessed 10/1/07)
FRED THOMPSON'S RECORD: Consistently Voted To Secure Our Border
ü Supported The "Illegal Immigration Reform And Immigrant Responsibility Act Of 1996."
o Improved border control, facilitation of legal entry and interior enforcement
o Enhanced enforcement and penalties against alien smuggling and document fraud;
o Inspection, apprehension, detention, adjudication, and removal provisions for inadmissible and deportable aliens;
o Enforcement of restrictions against employment;
o Restrictions on benefits for aliens.
(H.R. 3610, Roll Call Vote #200, Bill Passed 72-27: R 50-3; D 22-24, 7/18/96, Thompson Voted Yea)
ü Voted For "The Immigration Control And Financial Responsibility Act Of 1996" As Part Of The Senate Judiciary Committee And On The Senate Floor.
o The legislation increased enforcement of laws against illegal immigration and eliminated incentives for legal immigrants to come to the United States and obtain welfare benefits.
o Increased authorization of funding for enforcement personnel and facilities
o Development of a system to verify eligibility to work and receive public assistance
o Strengthened existing employment-verification procedures, including (1) social security account information; (2) types of acceptable documents; (3) birth certificates; and (4) driver's licenses.
o Authorized INS wiretaps for alien smuggling investigations
(S. 1664, Roll Call Vote #107, Cloture Motion Passed 100-0, 5/2/96, Thompson Voted Yea).
ü Voted To End Chain Migration And The Visa Lottery In Senate Judiciary Committee, And For The Construction Of A Border Fence Near San Diego. (S. 1664, Judiciary Committee, Committee Report, 4/10/96 )
ü Was One Of Only 20 Senators To Vote To Repeal The Ban On The Search Of Open Fields By INS Officials. (S. 1664, Roll Call Vote #80, Amendment Rejected 20-79: R 9-44; D 11-35, 4/24/96, Thompson Voted Yea)
ü Voted For "The Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act of 2001."
o Authorized 400 additional inspectors, investigators, and other staff on the INS over the next five years
o Strengthened the requirements that all commercial passenger ships and airplanes entering the United States provide a list of passengers and crew before arrival
o Provided for an entry-exit system in which visa holders are checked with a biometric identifier when he/she enters and leaves the country
(H.R. 3525, Roll Call Vote #75, Agreed To 97-0, 4/18/02, Thompson Voted Yea).
Bump!
It’s a good strategy for Thompson not to attack Clinton. He needs to break away from the guys he’s tied with, Romney and Huckabee first.
Despite what the nitwits at Gallup claim, the war, the economy and other such issues will not decide the election. Fighting illegal immigration will. It is the one issue that can draw labor Dems away from the party to vote for a pubbie.
Speaking the blunt truth about Slick Willard’s REAL record/agenda is a pretty damn good plan.
lol, I thought immigration was the ONLY thing Slick Willard hasn’t flip-flopped on. Guess I was wrong! Guns, taxes, abortion, gay “rights”...and now immigration. How special.
Of course he is. He's not running against Clinton. Yet.
Making the primary campaign about Clinton plays into Giuliani's hands -- compared to her, even Rudy looks marginally acceptable, at least to enough people. Thompson is running for the GOP nomination now, the general election is a year away. Step one is to create a two-tier race, with only himself and Giuliani in the top tier. Then he can take Rudy down without worrying about his own base of support being fragmented.
This endorsement from Tom McClintock definitely caught the media off guard.
Time for Fred to go over the media`s head more often.
Go Fred go!
Fred doesn’t need to “attack” Clinton. She’s doing enough to ruin her own self.
Besides, Fred doesn’t have to beat Clinton in the primaries, just the rest of the guys running on the Republican side.
With luck, Clinton will cut her own throat and someone else will get the nomination, but that’s doubtful.
Then, Fred will have his chance to rip her to shreds in the General election.
I’m thinking that unless something happens to Fred, he’s going to be going into the Battle against Clinton, with Hunter as his running mate.
I think McCain would be “just ok” as VP. I don’t want him to be President, mostly because of his drivel about meeting in the middle on some things, like McCain-Feingold... stuff like that. Otherwise, he’s a good guy I think. I mean a “Good Guy” with a white hat kind of good guy. If he is nominated I’ll vote for him for President over anyone the Left can throw at us.
However, I’d much prefer to see Thompson in there. I’m not 100% dead on with Hunter, but close enough that’d I’d vote for him over McCain if Thompson weren’t in the race. The rest... well... No to Rudy for sure.
MSM: “Senator Thompson, what is your statement on Hillary’s debate faux paux last night”?
Fred: “Conservative primary voters know what I think of her... they think the same thing. I’ll get around to her soon enough. Right now... I am running against other Republicans for our Party’s nomination. Her statements of last night have been critiqued to death... we know she is not qualified... Next question”.
LLS
I hadn’t realized that Romney originally spoke out in favor of the Bush “comprehensive immigration reform” plan.
How can Romney rationalize being for the original version but against the final version? The original version of that dead duck plan was actually even worse than the stinker that ultimately and thankfully was voted down. ???
I just posted the same thing — I thought Romney had been at least relatively consistent on immigration. Then again, he didn’t do anything about sanctuary cities in Mass., so I guess it’s not surprising.
Did you know that Romney once advocated not only hiking the minimum wage, but indexing it to inflation?? That was another surprise for me — I didn’t realize he had advocated liberal projects on the fiscal side...
Please illustrate where Fred Thompson is "weak" on guns. Many NRA members embrace Thompson candidacy http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070921/NEWS0206/70921059
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