Posted on 09/24/2011 4:40:14 AM PDT by iowamark
ORLANDO, Fla. — Rick Perry went out on a limb Thursday by refusing to back off his support as Texas governor for granting in-state tuition to some of the children of illegal immigrants, and painting critics of the law as heartless — remarks that landed him in the crosshairs of his GOP rivals.
The three-term Texas governor said he still supports the program "greatly" and that the Lone Star State needs "to be educating these children because otherwise they’ll "become a drag on society."
"If you say that we should not educate children who have come into our state for no other reason than they've been brought there by no fault of their own, I don't think you have a heart," Mr. Perry said.
The stance also put Mr. Perry at odds with a chunk of the audience, which booed, and opened him up to attacks from the Republican field, including former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who said the law carries an annual price tag of $22,000 per student and acts as a magnet for illegal immigrants.
"If you're a United States citizen from any one of the other 49 states, you have to pay $100,000 more," Mr. Romney said, alluding to the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition at the University of Texas over four years. "That doesn't make sense to me. That kind of magnet draws people into this country to get that education, to get the $100,000 break. It makes no sense."
Former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania piled on the criticism and called Mr. Perry "soft on illegal immigration" and alluded to a Perry speech from 2001 at which the Texan extolled the virtue of studying a "binational health insurance" program between border areas of Texas and Mexico...
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
These so-called "debates", that turn on cramming trite sound bites into 60 seconds, are part of the dumbing down of America.
These were real debates:
LINCOLN-DOUGLAS DEBATE FORMAT
1.) The debates were held in seven towns.
2.) One candidate spoke for 60 minutes, then the other candidate spoke for 90 minutes, and then the first candidate was allowed a 30-minute "rejoinder."
The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 exempts the children of illegals under the age of 18, so what are we supposed to do with them after they graduate from High School?
Actually Romney’s fact checkers read my posts at Free Republic. He was prepared for a few more things.
Their regular out of state tuition levels now exceed those of YALE UNIVERSITY! That's a message to Americans that they are not wanted in Texas schools anymore.
Just send 'em back.
You were aware, of course, that federal law already establishes the fact that you don't gain any time toward residency requirements unless you are a citizen, or legally present in the United States as an immigrant. These people are NOT TEXAS residents.
Listen to Romney say "Bi National Medical Insurance" in response.
Of course they are both wrong and nobody here is going to support either of them. They continue to put the requests of foreigners ahead of American needs.
I believe you.
FR is the ‘center ring’ for internecine issues.
We are pretty close to destroying all nine candidates.
9-9-9
There is no subsidy for out of state rates.
Much of the universities physical plants are paid for through a variety of means, so to the degree the students use those buildings, those costs are certainly not covered by instate tuition rates.
I really wish people who propose to be Perry supporters would become as well versed as Mitt Romney in how Texas handles tuition issues. (BTW, I know you'll all jump right on that because you know there's evidence there that everything Rick told you is correct ~ even though I know there's no evidence whatsoever that anything he told you is correct, but I want you to find that out for yourselves.)
“Have we become such a whiny bunch here in the U.S. that when a man expresses that he feels you “Don’t Have a Heart” if you want to deny education to people allowed in your country?”
1 - ILLEGALS are NOT allowed in our country.
2 - The idea of upholding the border and immigration law is a basic part of conservative thought. It is Obama & the liberals who want us all to be ‘citizens of the world’, not conservatives.
3 - If a man spits on you while asking FOR your vote, what will he do once he has it?
Perry used a typical democrat tactic - calling names, and saying those who disagree with him are evil. He did that with HPV, and he is doing it again with immigration.
I despise people who do that.
And since MOST conservatives think illegal immigration is ILLEGAL, Perry’s willingness to crap on us while asking for our vote means he will be happy to crap on us in office.
Maybe you like crap sandwiches. I’ve been getting a steady diet of them from GHW Bush, Bob Dole, John McCain & GWB. I’m tired of candidates who hate conservatives. I’m tired of the crap sandwiches. And I won’t vote for someone who intends to give me a steady diet of them.
“The media loved that and jumped on Perry.”
Bullshit. I saw the debate. I watched and heard what he said. This is NOT a media creation.
Then why are their minor children allowed to attend U.S. public schools, unchallenged?
Perry didn't "spit on you." Get a grip and a stop acting so "offended." Has Perry been on your list? Which candidate do you praise?
Perry has been attack by Bachmann, Santorum, Romney, Paul, Huntsman and they've all used "tactics."
Perry wants the border sealed. Keep shoveling your misinformation, you have it down to a fine art.
“The bigger problem with Perry isn’t the fact he called us names.”
I respectfully disagree with you. I think most conservatives want someone whose heart is in the right place - whose instincts are conservative. We loved Reagan because while he couldn’t always deliver on conservatism, we knew his heart and knew Reagan would fight for the best deal possible.
Perry wants our votes. If he is willing to call us names and show contempt for us now, what will he do once he can take those votes for granted? If he is running to the left in the primaries, what will he do in the general? Right now, I have a choice. In the general election, I’ll vote against Obama. But I’d like to also vote FOR someone.
Brilliant.
“Then why are their minor children allowed to attend U.S. public schools, unchallenged?”
Because we have had democrats and compassionate conservatives as Presidents, instead of a conservative. But it remains against public law, and Obama knows he could NEVER get a change to that approved in Congress.
“Perry didn’t “spit on you.””
He says I’m a racist & heartless. That doesn’t exactly sound like a kiss of affection, does it?
“Which candidate do you praise?”
Pretty much anyone besides Mitt or Perry.
“Perry wants the border sealed. Keep shoveling your misinformation, you have it down to a fine art.”
I wasn’t in the debate. Perry shot himself. I didn’t have to do it for him.
And someone that inept is likely to get HAMMERED when running against Obama. The media will repeat ever gaffe, every fumble and probe every inconsistency of the GOP’s candidate - and Perry will be giving them 100 round magazines daily.
Can't this be sued under the "equal protection"? clause - illegals get a break but citizens of other states pay extra?
Perry, et al, could have diffused some of the anger by saying these illegals had to pay out-of-state fees since they weren't citizens.
ROFLOL!
The fact of the matter is that for the last 50 years illegals have been more than welcome in our country. Sure we have laws against it, but nobody has enforced the laws in the last 50 years.
Oh, sure once in a while a few get deported, but for every one that gets deported we welcome another thousand into the country.
The speed limit is 65, but anyone who drives it on the interstate is likely to get run over by an 18 wheeler.
A law is only as effective as the dedication of law enforcement to enforce it.
If the ICE were as dedicated to enforcing the immigration laws as the IRS is dedicated to enforcing the tax laws, there wouldn't be any illegal alien problem at all.
Every hack (pick a side) wants the wet back vote.Nothing new move along now.
Vote every election to keep the one term rule in use.
you don’t need to use profanity to make your point.
yes, that is what Perry said.
but I stand by that that was what the media (ALL of them)focused on and trashed him with...including the edited Fox Focus group.
My basic problem is that children of illegals in Texas get a better deal than either of my children (and both were born in Texas). And I don’t give a rip how much support it gets in any legislature - it’s not right.
BTW - I will take Perry over Romney any day.
You may have a solution;) Keep the trial lawyers employed.
On a slightly different issue: that illegal immigrants are future voters is a specious argument. Before an immigrant can vote - he/she must apply for, and be accepted as a ‘naturalized’ citizen. See requirements on the link.
Their illegality would seem to make citizenship improbable. But, then again -bureaucrats run this nation.
http://www.legalzoom.com/us-law/immigration/becoming-american-understanding-legal-and
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