Posted on 11/06/2007 6:21:08 AM PST by Liz
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney is drawing contrasts with rival Rudy Giuliani on the issue of immigration in a new mailing being sent to Iowa Republican activists.
In the mailing, Romney touts his plan to slash funding for cities that declare themselves immigration sanctuaries. "When America's major cities _ like New York, San Francisco and many others _ adopt sanctuary city policies, they serve as magnets for millions of illegal immigrants to cross the border and take advantage of these legal protections," states the mailing, which began arriving at Republican homes this week.
Sanctuary cities forgo strict enforcement of immigration laws, instructing police and other governmental agencies not to inquire about a person's immigration status when providing services. While critics bemoan the lack of law enforcement, those who support such policies contend they help ensure illegal immigrants will seek police protection and health care.
Although the mailing doesn't mention Giuliani, Romney routinely charges on the campaign trail that New York was a sanctuary city when Giuliani was mayor. How widely the mailing was distributed was not announced.
"Liberal cities like New York even banned employers from turning in known illegal immigrants to federal officials," the mailing argues. It notes that Romney has called for cutting federal funding to cities that take that step.
In response, Giuliani aides accused Romney of distortion and hypocrisy. "Iowa voters can't be bought and they certainly won't buy what Mitt Romney is selling _ distortion, hypocrisy and a clear willingness to say and do anything for political gain," said Giuliani spokeswoman Maria Comella.
Comella said that as governor of Massachusetts, Romney had "a record that included allowing the number of illegal immigrants to skyrocket while he was in charge, and even hiring some of them to work on his lawn while he was governor."
Romney spokesman Tim Albrecht said Giuliani advocated "troubled policies that made his city a magnet for illegal immigrants.""Governor Romney has been this campaign's most vocal advocate of stronger enforcement of our nation's existing immigration laws," Albrecht said.
Giuliani leads in most national polls of Republicans seeking the GOP presidential nomination. Romney is ahead in Iowa, where caucuses launch the presidential nominating season on Jan. 3.
"Liberal cities like New York even banned employers from turning in known illegal immigrants to federal officials," the mailing argues. It notes that Romney has called for cutting federal funding to cities that take that step. In response, Giuliani aides accused Romney of distortion and hypocrisy.
"Iowa voters can't be bought and they certainly won't buy what Mitt Romney is selling _ distortion, hypocrisy and a clear willingness to say and do anything for political gain," said Giuliani spokeswoman Maria Comella. Comella said that as governor of Massachusetts, Romney had "a record that included allowing the number of illegal immigrants to skyrocket while he was in charge, and even hiring some of them to work on his lawn while he was governor." Romney spokesman Tim Albrecht said Giuliani advocated "troubled policies that made his city a magnet for illegal immigrants."
"Governor Romney has been this campaign's most vocal advocate of stronger enforcement of our nation's existing immigration laws," Albrecht said. Giuliani leads in most national polls of Republicans seeking the GOP presidential nomination. Romney is ahead in Iowa, where caucuses launch the presidential nominating season on Jan. 3.
* Seriously damaging Hillary Rodham Clinton's presidential campaign, as demonstrated in last week's Democratic presidential debate.
* Helped guarantee blowout GOP wins in hotly fought contests in New York Democratic strongholds, alone.
* Virtually ending Spitzer's political ambitions and his chances to be taken seriously as a presidential candidate.
* Putting Republicans in the driver's seat of a jet-propelled issue that nearly all Americans agree on----stopping the illegal alien invasion..
Someone should tell Mitt that mayors and alder-persons should be jailed for making an illegal declarations. Fedweral crime, federal hoosegow!
What did Mitt do while governor of MA to stop sanctuary cities in his own state? Did he ever speak out about it, then?
I’d like to see where his roots lie on this issue.
As I understand the policy, New York did some things to protect illegals (promised not to turn them in if they reported crimes or sought health care). But it did not do what a lot of true sanctuary cities do: refuse to report CRIMINALS who were illegals to ICE.
If that’s accurate, Mitt is truly distoring the situation and I don’t like it.
When will Mitt finally start using Rudy911’s liberalism against him in advertisements? I really think that GOP voters seeing and hearing Rudy911 in his own voice will be devastating for the Rudy911 camp.
I mean, there’s so much that could be used which would be just nuclear (NARAL speeches, Roe v. Wade, Illegal Immigration).
I hope Romney (or someone else) starts using Rudy’s own words and past against him in advertisements. I truly think it could derail Rudy911 big-time.
-—But it did not do what a lot of true sanctuary cities do: refuse to report CRIMINALS who were illegals to ICE.-—
You’re definition seems a bit restrictive there.
I go by the one in the article:
“Sanctuary cities forgo strict enforcement of immigration laws, instructing police and other governmental agencies not to inquire about a person’s immigration status when providing services.”
What is Romney’s position: (1) Today; and (2) During the immigration debate about:
(1) Building a fence now;
(2) Vigorous enforcement of laws now against employers;
(3) Increasing border patrol resources and infrastructure to eliminate catch and release.
(4) Amnesty or regularization of illegals in any form.
Just askin’. I’m thinking his feet are made of clay in this series of attacks.
“Romney touts his plan to slash funding for cities that declare themselves immigration sanctuaries.”
Like Cambridge, Somerville, and Orleans in Massachusetts?
Mitt did nothing to cut state aid or services to these towns. These three are “declared” sanctuaries, but Worcester, Chelsea, and a couple others have similar policies.
So he allowed sanctuary cities in Massachusetts but will be tough on them at the Federal level.
If anyone has any quotes or things that he actually did to stop sanctuary cities like Boston or Cambridge, I’d certainly appreciate seeing them. It would definitely bolster Mitt’s case that he’s well-grounded on this issue.
He did nothing and he said nothing. He had illegal aliens cut his lawn.
Hopefully he and others have seen the light and will oppose sanctuary cities. It makes no sense to me except sanctuary cities are meant to make it easy for criminals.
I think Mitt is jumping on the immigration law enforcement band wagon just to garner votes. I do not recall him being for enforcing the laws before becoming a pres candidate.
That said: Rudy gave specific instructions to his police NOT to report illegals to ICE. This is one of his biggest mistakes in that it helped the terrorists of 9/11 carry out their WTC destruction.
Rudy helped cause 9/11 by his illegal coddling yet he paints himself as a hero of the day. What a jerk. Mitt has him painted correctly here but of course Mitt is no better in that he is merely using the issue to get votes and doesn't actually believe what he is saying.
All the candidates have been hit with a blinding moment of truth: Illegals will cost them the votes if they(the candidates) support them. Spitzers license folly has made that plain, hence Mitt's sudden love for enforcing border laws.
I noticed that too, but I am accustomed to the term referring mainly to the police part, which Rudy claims he did not do. I am not clear whether under HIPPA, a hospital or health care provider would be able to report info about a patient to ICE unless ICE comes and asks.
I will try to nail this down.
“Hopefully he and others have seen the light and will oppose sanctuary cities.”
Point is, when he was in a position to oppose sanctuary cities himself, he did not, but now criticizes others for not doing what he did not do either.
In June of this year, when our esteemed "leaders" in the US Senate came up with the "No Illegal Alien Left Behind" bill, 78% of the American people opposed it and so I am not the least bit surprised that Spitzer and Hillary have created another firestorm with their ill conceived support of driver's licenses for criminal aliens.
Leave it to the Democrats to return to their old bad habits.
Leave it to the American people to turn them out of office in 2008.
Rudy says police were required to report illegals who committed crimes. Am pretty confused at this point!
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/1104sanctuarycities1104.html
ping
~~~snip~~~ Immigration politics have similarly harmed New York.
Former mayor Rudolph Giuliani sued all the way up to the Supreme Court to defend the city’s sanctuary policy against a 1996 federal law decreeing that cities could not prohibit their employees from cooperating with the INS.
When advisors cautioned against it, "Oh yeah?" responded Giuliani, "just watch me. "
The INS, Rooty claimed, with what turned out to be grotesque irony, only aims to “terrorize people.” Though he lost in court, he remained defiant to the end.
On September 5, 2001, Giuliani's handpicked charter-revision committee ruled that New York could still require that its employees keep immigration information confidential to preserve trust between immigrants and government.
Six days later on 9/11 several visa-overstayers participated in the most devastating attack on the city, and the country, in history.
New York conveniently forgot the 1996 federal ban on sanctuary laws until a gang of five Mexicans—four of them illegal—abducted and brutally raped a 42-year-old mother of two near some railroad tracks in Queens.
The NYPD had already arrested three of the illegal aliens numerous times for such crimes as assault, attempted robbery, criminal trespass, illegal gun possession, and drug offenses.
The NYPD had never notified the INS.
CONCLUSION Rooty doesn't govern----he "rules" like a tinhorn dictator. Rooty's sole concern was his political ambitions----to suckup to illegals fraudulently registered to voter.
Rooty's trampling the US Constitution and ignoring the US Rule Of Law is so typical of the 1940's-era utilitarian doctrine of the ends justifying the means.
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