Posted on 11/26/2011 1:01:37 PM PST by presidio9
GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich defended his immigration stance Friday, claiming that he was "not for amnesty."
“I am not for amnesty for anyone. I am not for a path to citizenship for anybody who got here illegally,” Gingrich said at a town hall event in Naples, Florida according to media reports.
“But I am for a path to legality for those people whose ties run so deeply in America that it would truly be a tragedy to try and rip their family apart," said the former House Speaker.
Gingrich has been under fire from some anti-illegal immigration groups since last Tuesday's GOP debate where he spoke out against deporting many illegal immigrant families.
During Friday’s town hall, Gingrich said that if elected he would make securing the border a priority and would support efforts to make English the country's official language.
He said he would also establish a guest-worker program to allow migrants to work in the U.S. But under such a program, businesses which hired undocumented workers would be hit with fines.
"I would have very, very stiff economic penalties for anyone who hires somebody who is not legally inside the system," Gingrich vowed.
At last Tuesday’s GOP debate, Gingrich said that he supported efforts to allow tax-paying illegal immigrants without criminal records to remain in the country or gain citizenship.
“If you've come here recently, you have no ties to this country, you ought to go home, period,” Gingrich had said. “If you've been here 25 years and you got three kids and two grandkids, you've been paying taxes and obeying the law, you belong to a local church, I don't think we're going to separate you from your family, uproot you forcefully and kick you out.”
"I don't see how the party that says it's the party of the family is going to adopt an immigration policy which destroys families which have been here a quarter-century," he added. "I'm prepared to take the heat for saying let's be humane in enforcing the law."
Gingrich has faced criticism for his comments from other Republicans. Rep. Michelle Bachmann (Minn.) said in an interview that Gingrich had the “most liberal position on illegal immigration of any of the candidates in the race.”
Influential Iowa congressman Rep. Steve King (R) described Gingrich’s proposals as a “form of amnesty”
“I wouldn’t agree with him on that policy,” King added, suggesting that Gingrich had hurt his chances of winning his endorsement prior to the Iowa caucuses.
The furor over Gingrich’s immigration stance comes as new national polls place him ahead of Romney in the GOP field.
Again you lie. That’s not what he said in the quote and you know it.
If that is aimed at me, you are incorrect.
Why take the risk of presenting your own solution, when you can just rely on buzzwords to destroy your opposition? This has been the liberal strategy on entitlements for the last 50 years, and it's gotten us to the edge of the cliff where we stand today.
I’m only on this thread because I want to know what the other candidates think.
Santorumn wont even take a stand.
You really are that transparent.
Raster! I was thinking of you just the other day. It is good to see you back. You are so welcome here!
"“But I am for a path to legality for those people whose ties run so deeply in America that it would truly be a tragedy to try and rip their family apart," said the former House Speaker.
What a disingenuous and duplicitous statement.
A "path to legality" IS Amnesty.
And he is certain that the bulk of the people are stupid enough to believe him.
Arrogance on a truly grand scale.
Any plan will add government spending, but you really need to take five minutes and actually read Newt's plan before you continue offering ignorant criticism. You complaint is addressed.
There isn’t anything complex about it. If I broke into your house, and took one of your bedrooms as my own, you’d call law enforcement to remove me from your property. Newt says if I stay long enough before law enforcement has an opportunity to remove me, I can claim your property as my own.
Citzenship for those who chose to break the law means that only some laws matter, others are meant to be broken. The illegal invaders are not going to “go to the back of the line” when there is zero encouragement to do so.
1. Enforce existing laws
All right, let’s look at that one. I’m getting tired of hearing it repeated like a mantra.
What is the existing law that says the illegal residents SHALL be deported without a hearing, en masse?
Or what existing laws would preclude that action? Perhaps the 14th Amendment, which protects “any person” within the jurisdiction of the US? IANAL but there was a case, Yick Wo vs. (?), where the Court decided that an alien deserved equal protection of law. That might get in the way of any proposal to deport all illegals collectively by “enforcing the law.”
Something to think about anyway :)
He didn’t say “Amnesty” either.
You are trying to sum up his position on a complex problem by siting one sentence out of a 4 page interview.
Spoken like Herman Cain. :o)
He didn’t say “Amnesty” either.
You are trying to sum up his position on a complex problem by siting one sentence out of a 4 page interview.
Besides, I thought this thread was about Gingrich.
Again, every president up to any including LBJ probably used the “N” word at some point in his life. That does not make it OK. It is clear that you are comfortable using racial slurs to make your point. Unfortunately, it reflects poorly on everyone else who uses FR. Please refrain from doing so. Thanks.
Yep, and it's A M N E S T Y.
The existing laws are the problem. The feds force states to educate these folks and provide heathcare. They wont deport.
E verify puts the burden on business, and the Fence AINT gonna happen.
Amnesty by any other name.....
No, I would shoot ya dead, and I would be within my rights in Texas.
I don't have the right to shoot someone because they are in the US illegally. Not even in Texas.
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