Mitt Romney whacks Rick Perry over immigration

The Miami Herald ^ | September 2, 2011 | Adam C. Smith

[2ndDivisionVet]

With Rick Perry proving to be a serious threat to Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign, the former Massachusetts governor swung through Tampa Friday to exploit what some Republican see as Perry’s Achilles heal: immigration.

"We must stop providing the incentives that promote illegal immigration,’’ Romney told more than 100 people attending a Republican Hispanic conference in Tampa. " As governor, I vetoed legislation that would have provided in-state tuition rates to illegal immigrants and I strengthened the authority our state troopers had to enforce existing immigration laws."

Romney, 64, never mentioned by name the Texas governor, who leads Romney in most national polls as well as in early primary and caucus state. But immigration is a new issue of focus for Romney in this campaign cycle, and his campaign knows that Perry, 61, is already facing criticism from conservatives for not taking a hard enough line on illegal immigration.

Perry, for instance, in 2001 signed a Texas version of the "Dream Act" that made Texas the first state to allow in-state tuition to undocumented immigrants - much like the bill Romney boasted of killing in Massachusetts.

Illegal immigration remains a hot button issues among Republican activists, though leaders in Texas - where 38 percent of the population is Hispanic - have tended to take a more moderate approach to the issue. Perry, for instance, said last year he had no interest in passing a tough Arizona-style immigration law for his border state.....

[Brimack34]

I side with mitt over perry on the border.

[DoughtyOne]

Face it, your boy is somewhere to the left of John McCain.

Yes, he is.

I'm not convinced he's that bad yet, but I am still looking, and I am open to discuss the matter. :-)

[BillyBoy]

>> Does Assachassets have a big immigration problem? Its pretty easy to act tough on this stuff in Assachussetts. Our biggest problem in Texas as a border state is that the Feds wont allow us to act. <<

There are plenty of non-border states (which are geographically nowhere near the Mexican border) that are flooded with illegal aliens and have a huge immigration problem. I live in one of them, I'm from Illinois. The reason we have so many illegals is because our politicians roll out the welcome mat for them.

This map gives a good overview of which states are illegal alien friendly and which aren't. There several pro-illegal states on the Mexicans border, and a good chunk of pro-illegal states far away from the border:

Mass. may be a socialist hellhole on every other issue, but in terms of illegal immigration it seems to much better off than alot of states. This isn't simply due to its geographic location on the east coast... check out the illegal immigration population of nearby New Jersey.

[cripplecreek]

Now imagine how many congressional districts exist simply because illegals are being counted in the census.

The “red states” don’t want to admit is but they’re the blue states of the future.

[hocndoc]

Texas passed our voter ID law this year.

Our county’s Dem precincts are down to one from 3 in 2004. And that is determined by the precinct vote in the Governor’s election.

One of the 2008 Dem precinct judges resigned over abortion and marriage policies, just this year.

It’s foolish of anyone to assume that God-fearing, pro-life, pro-family people will continue to vote against these core beliefs.

[PGalt]

Thanks for the ping. Great thread (yes, I read every post). Thanks to all posters.

[muawiyah]

Take a good look at the rules some time. Tell me if they are the same for everyone. Did you know they have rules to TAKE AWAY INSTATE TUITION?

[trisham]

Me either.

[Will88]

Our Nation is built on inalienable rights that are endowed to individuals, not the government.taking all that land and destroying the rightful and productive use of private property is not American.

Eminent domain is in the constitution. There could be no more justifiable use of it than to secure our southern border, definitely more important than using it to build another highway or school or government building,which is done constantly. - And I've seen ranchers interviewed who want a fence, and have been part of some of those fundraisers by individuals to build fencing on some parts of the border.

It's amazing that anyone thinks that ranches on the border should be given higher priority than controlling the border for 48 states, because what happens on the border affects the lower 48 in every negative way possible.

[cripplecreek]

It's amazing that anyone thinks that ranches on the border should be given higher priority than controlling the border for 48 states,

Actually that would be some ranches because we all know that there are plenty of ranchers screaming for border control. (aside from those who have fallen silent when they were killed) And yes, public projects are the legitimate place for eminent domain.

[redgirlinabluestate]

Perry is NOT a guy that intends for the US taxpayer to give Mexico a blank check.

Bwhahahaha!!! He's just a guy that wants to give illegal immigrants a open borders work permit policy, access to taxpayer funded college scholarships, and bi-national healthcare!

perrybots are the biggest liars around.

I don't know about liars, but they sure are ignoring some very LARGE red flags. I just can't get over the Al Gore thing. Not just supported him or voted for him, but was his campaign chairman! Ugh.

[South40]

Thanks for the ping. Great thread (yes, I read every post). Thanks to all posters.

You are welcome my FRiend. :-)

It's always good to see you in a thread.

[Tennessee Nana]

Sure, Romney is more lucky than principled to be to the right of Perry on this.

But he is.
______________________________________

No hes not

Romney was FOR the AMNESTY Bill every time

“We cant send them all back”

“We need to find a path to citizenship for them”

also RINO Romney hired illegal aliens when he was Gov of MASS

When he was told they were illegal aliens he went right out and hired the same bunch again...

he also had sanctuary cities in MASS

Romney is not to the right of Perry on the illegal aliens

They are Siamese Twins when it comes to the illegal aliens...

[ejonesie22]

Battle of the RINOs take 126...

Sheesh... Well Perry is a damn sight better than Mitt but that ain't sayin' much...