Posted on 12/02/2007 12:10:08 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
New Iowa Leader Criticized by for Indecision on Federal Student Aid.
Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor who backed in-state tuition for the children of illegal immigrants, hedged Sunday on whether illegal immigrants who have gone to school in the United States should become eligible for federal student aid such as Pell grants and subsidized federal student loans.
"I'm not sure that I would support that," Huckabee told ABC News, "it was a different program in Arkansas."
Huckabee's failure to take a clear position on federal student aid while appearing on ABC News' "This Week with George Stephanopoulos" drew swift rebukes from two Republican rivals.
"Gov. Romney does not support providing federal taxpayer-funded student aid intended for legal residents going to illegal immigrants," Romney spokesman Kevin Madden told ABC News. "Mike Huckabee's position [in Arkansas] that taxpayer dollars meant for students who are legal residents should also be made available to illegal immigrants puts him squarely at odds with the American taxpayer."
Echoing a line that Romney used against Huckabee in last week's CNN/YouTube debate, Madden added, "Mike Huckabee needs to understand that it's not his money. It's the taxpayers' money."
Huckabee's indecision on federal student aid was also criticized by the campaign of former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson.
"Children who are born in this country are U.S. citizens and entitled to the privileges of citizenship," said Thompson spokeswoman Karen Hanretty. "Those in our country illegally are not. It's that simple."
Huckabee appeared on "This Week" on the same day that a highly respected poll showed him as the new Republican leader in Iowa.
Huckabee leads the GOP field with 29 percent support, according to a Des Moines Register poll released Sunday. Romney has 24 percent, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani has 13 percent, and Thompson has 9 percent. The Iowa Republican Caucuses take place on Jan. 3.
In-state tuition for illegal immigrants was never enacted in Arkansas. But Huckabee's rivals believe that his momentum in Iowa can be stopped once his views on public benefits for the children of illegal immigrants become more widely known.
Asked on "This Week" about his Arkansas record, the former Baptist minister said, "You don't punish a child because a parent committed a crime, or committed a sin, you just don't do it."
Huckabee did not rule out that his principle might extend to the federal level.
He suggested, however, that he might view state and federal benefit questions differently.
"It's the difference between being punished and being rewarded," said Huckabee. ". . . the point in Arkansas was, we had kids who had been in our schools, by law. And to simply shut them out of any additional educational advancement, to me, seemed not only in their worst interests, but ours, as well as the state's."
Huckabee was all for pulling our troops out of Iraq, when he appeared on the “first question and answer session” conducted by the media. Now he’s for staying in Iraq, now that things have settled down and we’re making headway and allowing the Iraqs to take much of their burden of freedom. I don’t trust a flip flopper and it looks like he has that tendency.
The MSM will attack any Pubbie who is gaining traction in the race. They hate them all.
“And they say he’s from Hope, Arkansas?”
Yes, and we Hope he is exposed soon!
“Wait a minute. You rabid Thompson supporters have been saying that the MSM is behind Huckabee getting elected.”
Dead wrong!!!!
We have been saying that they want a Rudy/Huckster ticket so the MSM can destroy them before the election.
Does he do a mean Arkansalsa or just the musical chairs Macarena act?
I listened to the exchange. Huckabee would not commit to going further than his nodrugsandalcohol+academicmeritgetsyoumoneyforcollege program.
The problem is his philosophical “we can’t punish children of illegals” and his steps taken backing that with taxpayer dollars.
With that philosophy, any entitlement this country has available must be granted to the “child of the illegal” otherwise, based on his own guiding principal, it is a punishment.
He is toast. He has boxed himself in. He is a ball atop a tee a n d i f t h e w i n d i s r i g h t? yes. yes it appears it is. I expect my man Fred to lean back and drive him into “former presidential candidate” status.
“Does he do a mean Arkansalsa or just the musical chairs Macarena act?”
LMBO!!
Don't the people of Arkansas ever get tired of this?
Why do you reward a child at the expense of taxpayers because a parent committed a crime?
Romney is on the right side of the immigration mess. In fact, he's been more forceful than Fred on the issue of whether illegal aliens should be entitled to special breaks, tuition assistance, and other taxpayer funded benefits.
Romney adamantly insists that illegal aliens should NOT be provided special breaks, tuition assistance, and other taxpayer funded benefits. He's a hard-headed businessman who knows that the more government tries to be "compassionate" with tax monies, the more misery and inefficiency it creates. H knows that if the government gives special breaks and privileges to illegal aliens and their children it will only encourage MORE illegal immigration and waste--which harms everyone.
Romney HATES to see money get wasted. When he took over the Salt Lake Olympics the FIRST thing he did was implement an austere budget and hold everybody--including himself--to it. For example, fancy catered meals for planning officials were eliminated. He mandated that nothing fancier than pizza would be ordered and paid for with Olympic funds. He turned a bankrupt Olympics into one of the most profitable Olympics in history.
For making such hard-headed, frugal, sensible decisions about "other people's money" Romney has been pilloried in the MSM for being mean, uncompassionate, and stingy.
Fred has not been subjected to any similar attacks, although he does seem to be on the same side of the issue as Romney.
” am wondering...WHY on earth should the candidates of BOTH parties be kneck-deep in graft and corruption from Arkansas? Who would want to promote that scenario for a U.S. presidential election and why?
Don’t the people of Arkansas ever get tired of this?”
I dunno.....I for one am sure tired of it : )
Yeah, Romney was real fiscally conservative imposing socialized medicine in MA.
His choices of liberal judges sure worked well, too, if you like the Ruth Bader Ginsburg types.
His joining the NRA two weeks before running for office was real swell, too.
“Romney is on the right side of the immigration mess.”
No proven history of same. Beware politicians from my corrupt home state.
Well it isn’t working then, and I will point out to you that the more you fanatics* or other candidates resort to attack against Huckabee, you just push moral conservatives more solidly into his camp.
From Rasmussent today:
“Rudy Giuliani continues to lead nationwide with 22% support, but his lead is shrinking. Surging Mike Huckabee now attracts 17% of Likely Republican Primary Voters nationwide. Fred Thompson and John McCain each earn 14% while Mitt Romney is close behind at 11%. Ron Paul attracts 6% of Likely Republican Primary voters nationwide and no other Republican candidate reaches 2%.”
*I don’t have any problem with someone supporting another candidate. It took me a long time to finally settle on Huckabee. However, I’m not fanatical in my support of him and can see his weaknesses and faults. There are other fine candidates like Thompson and Hunter that I would gladly vote for in a general election - but their supporters are becoming so entrenched that they can’t deal with the possibility that their guy(s) might not get the nomination and will stoop to doing or saying anything (even distortions and outright lies) to attempt to get that person elected. Kamakazee tactics.
It would be easier and less expensive just to send Tyson (and the governor) to Mexico.
"You don't punish a child because a parent committed a crime, or committed a sin, you just don't do it."
You don't punish the US taxpayer --- making them pay for education/healthcare of illegals --- just because the US government refuses to enforce the border. You just don't.
Sola hi,
I listed to all MSM interviews whereever the candidates are discussing issues.
MSM opinion is meaningless, including the neocon orgy at Fox News.
Discussion regarding MSM strategy takes away from discussing who is the best qualified to lead this country and secure freedom and liberty for future generations (Fred Thompson). To me that is a waste.
No one is looking out for conservatives, except conservatives. ...and I will take a rare moment to thank Jim Robinson for this sight, a true gift.
ANY OPEN BORDERS CANDIDATE THIS TIME AROUND WILL FINISH OFF THE USA. No sale!
"It's the difference between being punished and being rewarded," said HuckabeeThere's a difference between spending your own money the way you want to and spending my money the way you want to. Spend your own damn money, you freaking socialist pig, and keep your hands off mine.
Oh, I forgot. You have no money.
“It would be easier and less expensive just to send Tyson (and the governor) to Mexico”
They aren’t that stupid : )
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