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McCain Raps Romney, Thompson Over Immigration

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May 21, 2007 3:05 PM

ABC News' Rick Klein reports: It sure doesn't look like Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., is afraid of the politics of immigration.

On a conference call today with conservative bloggers, McCain launched his sharpest attack yet on former governor Mitt Romney, R-Mass., who has begun running television advertisements criticizing the immigration reform bill McCain is championing in the Senate.

"Maybe I should wait a couple weeks and see if it changes," McCain said of Romney’s position on immigration. "Maybe his solution will be to get out his small-varmint gun and drive those Guatemalans off his lawn."

Listen to McCain's comments by clicking here.


This is actually a triple-barreled attack wrapped into two sentences. It takes on Romney for his shifting positions, his claim to have been a regular hunter when in fact he has only occasionally hunted small game, and a Boston Globe story that reported that Romney's one-time landscaping firm employed undocumented immigrants from Guatemala.

McCain also responded to former senator Fred Thompson's, R-Tenn., critique of the bill. Thompson, who was one of McCain’s biggest supporters in 2000, has also sharply criticized the bill brokered by McCain.

Despite the fact that Thompson has yet to enter the presidential fray, the Arizona Senator labeled that a shift by non-declared actor turned politician.

"I'm a little disappointed in Fred, because, again, he had a different position not that long ago," McCain said.

In the last congressional session, Romney spoke of a roughly similar immigration bill in favorable terms, calling it a "reasonable proposal."

But Romney has blasted the latest version of the bill as "a form of amnesty," citing the new visa classification that would give undocumented immigrants legal status.

The Romney camp responded to McCain's attack within hours.

"It seems that certain candidates who brokered this flawed plan are having a very difficult time grappling with or coming to terms with the political fallout that has ensued in a substantive manner," said Kevin Madden, a Romney spokesman.

May 21, 2007 in Thompson, Fred | Permalink | User Comments (13)

User Comments

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I think that the Senate approach is rather practical and definitely a starting point. The fact of the matter is that America is quickly becoming more educated with so many people going to college (highest in history) which is definitely good for our economy but it could turn into a problem if we don't have enough people to work in the service sector, agriculture, construction, elderly care (this last one will continue to grow as technology keeps on imporving), etc.
Mitt Romney's flip-flopping and lack of a pragmatic alternative only appeals to ignorant people who will cheer just about anything.

Posted by: Seth | May 21, 2007 6:09:50 PM

I'm disappointed with McCain. He wasn't involved with the negotiation of this bill and as soon as he's called on it the best he can do is swear and demean people.

His comment about Mitt is more of the same. Romney has said nothing personal about McCain, but rather a poorly written bill. The best McCain can do is demean. He should be articluating the details about this bill. What the problems are and what it will solve.

Romney has identified what needs to be done to move forward in a good way.

This just supports my theory we don't need any more career politicians in the White House.

This is also a very poor reflection on McCains ability to deal with people of differing opinions (this is NOT what I want in a President).

Posted by: Taresa | May 21, 2007 8:57:33 PM

While being attacked for his alleged wishy washy position may not be music to Romney's ears, I believe that more good is coming out from the so-called attacks. People are not only listening these days to what's being said about Immigration reform. People are now actually talking about the various issues involved, as it becomes clear how American lives will inevitably be affected by the kind of law that will be passed.

Posted by: Paola | May 22, 2007 7:25:45 AM

NO AMNESTY EVER.

Posted by: Howard | May 22, 2007 10:28:13 AM

Watching McCain is like watching someone in a canoe on a fast moving river approaching a waterfall. He's not paddling away from danger because heaven forbid should he learn from experience and change direction. Mr. Romney is not a flip flopper. He learns from experience and knows when to paddle.

Posted by: Mike | May 22, 2007 1:35:31 PM

Illegal immigrants are,illegal,and shouldbe treated as such. They have broken our laws ansd should be held accountable and not be given amnesty. Once the go back,however it can be done, they can apply for citizenship and then can be accepted as one of us. Until then, they are outlaws.

Posted by: jose | May 22, 2007 10:21:34 PM

Democrat and repbublic liberal just easy to get more vote from illegal and be come cesspool coorporation ...corruption becoming culture,this peoples the worse ever I see horoble peoples

Posted by: ls | May 22, 2007 10:59:39 PM

"Mr. Romney is not a flip flopper. He learns from experience and knows when to paddle."

He learns from experience that some of his positions are unpopular with the Republican base, and changes them in hopes of increasing his appeal.

The term "flip flopper" is terribly overused, having become a blanket attack on any change in stance for any reason at any time. But in Romney's case, where his shifts on various hot-button issues (from immigration to gay rights to abortion) have all come suddenly after he decided to run for president, the term is apt. Had these shifts come several years ago, they'd be more believable, but the convenient timing tells me that it's just a matter of him realize that there's a wide gap between what will get a Republican elected in Massachusetts and what will get him nominated by the party nationwide.

Posted by: Cal | May 23, 2007 12:34:16 AM

McCain is so overly sensitive about everything! Romney was just helping McCain understand what he already knew-the bill is a disaster! McCain is a disgruntled old man.

Posted by: Micah | May 23, 2007 1:57:05 AM

It's amnesty for people who broke the law. i wonder if i could get this free pass in their countries, if i sneak in, i wonder if i could make demands for change to suit my purpose.

Posted by: strikefire | May 23, 2007 12:01:04 PM

HEY I JUST WANT TO SAY FOR THOSE ILLEGALS THAT HAVE CAME HERE AND HAVE BEEN HERE FOR OVER 12 YRS I THINK THAT THEY ARE PEOPLE TOO AND THEY DESERVE A GOOD LIFE ALSO SO DROP ALL OF THIS BS AND LET THEM BE ONE OF US. THEY ARE PEOPLE TOO THEY JUST WANT TO BETTER THEM SELVES.

Posted by: ANGELA | May 27, 2007 3:12:43 PM

So tired of so-called "leaders" that cannot even fathom the concept of enforcing our laws. We need to begin recalls on all those that cannot develop the testicular mass to defend our borders and demand the law be enforced. These people are criminals. They have no lregal business in our country. The American people WILL learn-but most likely the hard way-we cannpot absorb this criminal class AND be a FREE country. By the way- Ron Paul IS running. Hopefully we'll no longer need to tolerate the slop these louts are peddling. America is sick to death of it.

Posted by: William R. Sell | May 27, 2007 5:43:15 PM

This country was and for now is a predominately English speaking, European based culture. I like it that way. I will fight to keep it that way. There is nothing wrong with that. If you were to ask a Japanese, Iranian, or a Peruvian they would all say the same thing about preserving their heritage. There is nothing wrong with that. Somehow over time liberal have perverted this desire for self preservation as something evil. It's just common sense.

Posted by: john zizka | Jun 4, 2007 11:17:23 PM

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