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McCain and Immigration Issue in Debate
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ShareJanuary 05, 2008 10:05 PM
ABC News' Ron Claiborne and Alyssa Litoff report: Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney said in the Saturday Republican debate that he had not run any ads accusing Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., of favoring amnesty for illegal immigrants.
During a heated exchange with McCain, Romney said, "I don't describe your plan as amnesty in my ad. I don't call it amnesty." At another point, he conceded the McCain plan "technically" was not amnesty.
But in a recently released Romney television spot in New Hampshire, what the Romney campaign said was that New Hampshire citizens say such things as: "On immigration, McCain supported this year's amnesty bill," and "Higher taxes, amnesty for illegals."
In another Romney television ad, one person says of McCain, "Opposing tax cuts that would have helped our family, supporting amnesty for illegal immigrants, taking jobs away from Americans." Another person says, "He wrote the amnesty bill that America rejected."
A few hours after the debate, the Romney campaign issued a release that said, "Sen. McCain Still Supports Amnesty for Illegal Immigrants."
McCain aides said the clash with Romney had succeeded in clearing up the issue. McCain has been mulling how to respond to the ads, which also say he favored granting citizenship to all of the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in the United States, and granting them Social Security benefits.
But McCain was forced to acknowledge that he still supports the legislation he sponsored earlier this year, creating a path for millions of illegal immigrants to "earned citizenship." He was asked if he still favors that, and quickly said, 'Sure, but ...," and then launched into his newer position about how deals with those in this country would come only after securing the borders.
January 5, 2008 in Hunter, Duncan, Palin, Sarah, Thompson, Fred | Permalink | User Comments (8)
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Re: Issue of Immigration in Debates
Why do we not have any discussion on Illegal "residents" in the US who have no interest in becoming US citizens or have any interest in our country. For many Illegals I have personally met in Florida they are only here for the money which is sent home and have no interest in our way of life or in making this their home- the US is only a paycheck. For the companies that hire them cheap labor. For the rest of "US" a burden on our Social Services,
Posted by: Charlie | Jan 5, 2008 10:44:16 PM
I don't know how New Hampshire voters will respond to McCain, but tonight he looked like a character on "grumpy old men".
He just appeared to be trying to get cheap shots on Romney. He certainly could hit Romney on some issues, but he certainly didn't come across as respectful or dignified (two qualities I'd like in a president).
I expect his tactics to backfire on him, although I don't know who will pick up the slack.
Posted by: Jack Lyvan | Jan 5, 2008 11:33:49 PM
If ABC had been doing their job, this wouldn't be an issue. McCain's scheme was obviously amnesty, because that's how it would have been perceived by millions of prospective illegal aliens. Instead of calling him on that, ABC just let him give his stock speech.
Posted by: ABC is incompetent | Jan 5, 2008 11:57:43 PM
I agree with Jack Lyvan. McCain was very rude and distasteful in his personal attacks and interruptions towards Romney. I lost a lot of respect for McCain tonight.
I just hope NH voters will see it the same way I saw it. Iowa voters weren't as smart. Exit polls showed that Romney was the most electable but they decided not to vote for him. To me that is silly.
Posted by: Quinn | Jan 5, 2008 11:59:07 PM
As an individual having lobbied in Congress and having run-ins with McCain, I can assure you he is neither respectful or dignified and is rude and distasteful with a definite problem with anger management. He is definitely not the man we want in our country's highest office.
Posted by: karen | Jan 6, 2008 8:42:09 AM
When Senator McCain supported the "Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill of 2007", 70% of the American citizens viewed it as "Amnesty" for 12 to 20 million "Illegal Immigrants" now in our country. If it looks like amnesty, walks like amnesty, sounds like amnesty and smells like amnesty - it's "Amnesty". Changing our Immigration Laws should not pardon, forgive or over-look laws previuosly broken by people who entered the U.S. illegaly. Senator McCain remember President Bush's comment - "See you at the bill signing".
Posted by: Jerry Jobes | Jan 6, 2008 11:34:03 AM
You Romney Robots are all the same. This article was how Romney lied on TV when he said his ads dont claim McCain favors amnesty. So when McCain calls him on his lie you Robots say that McCain looks mean. Please..Romney is a liar and a flip flopper. I just used to think we was a flip flopper.
To Karen the lobbyist, I'm glad McCain doesn't take hand outs from people like you. More politicians should follow McCain's lead.
Posted by: imwithmmcain | Jan 6, 2008 11:52:28 AM
Romney is right to call the bill McCain tried to pass in congress amnesty- He even gave McCain a chance to explain for himself what it would do. Fred Thompson had it right- if the illegal immigrants get any concession for breaking the law it's amnesty. American's already knew McCain's bill was amnesty no matter what Senator Lieberman thinks- now we are all just disgusted that McCain's getting grouchy from missing his afternoon nap.
Posted by: Alli | Jan 6, 2008 5:21:17 PM
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