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NAPLES, FL -- Presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich defended his immigration policy after days of criticism from other GOP contenders – reiterating that he does not support amnesty -- on Friday night before his largest crowd yet on the campaign trail.
Erik Kellar/AP
Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich addresses a town hall meeting Friday at the Naples Hilton in Naples, Fla.
"I am not for amnesty for anyone. I am not for a path to citizenship for anybody who got here illegally," Gingrich told the crowd of roughly 750 people, many of whom were forced to stand in the hallway. "But I am for a path to legality for those people whose ties are so deeply into America that it would truly be tragic to try and rip their family apart."
The former House speaker, who is seen as one of the front-runners for the GOP nomination, has been taking some heat on his stance on immigration since Tuesday’s debate. After the debate some of his Republican rivals – Michele Bachmann and Mitt Romney – have accused Gingrich of supporting amnesty, which the speaker said Friday night was misinformed.
"It speaks badly of any candidate who would deliberately repeat something which they know is not true," Gingrich told the packed crowd inside a Naples Hilton ballroom. Later, he added, "Ironically, in the Reagan Library debate I think most of them actually agreed with me," on my immigration policy.
Gingrich wants to model his immigration plan for illegals already in the country on the WWII model of the Selective Service System program, which allowed local communities to decide who would be drafted for war. He noted that the program "really tried to take general policy and give it a human face."
"I think the vast majority [of illegal immigrants] will go home and should go home and then should reapply. I do not think anybody should be eligible for citizenship," the former speaker said to loud applause in Southwest Florida with his wife, Callista, sitting in the front row of the audience. "I am suggesting a certification of legality with no right to vote and no right to become an American citizen unless they go home and apply through the regular procedures back home and get in line behind everybody else who has obeyed the law and stayed back there."
Gingrich has been rapidly rising in the polls recently despite questions raised about his ties with Freddie Mac and now on his policy on illegal immigrants. Back in the summer months, many Republicans and pundits wrote off the former speaker after more than a dozen of his staff quit unexpectedly.
"Remember, I was supposed to be dead in June or July," Gingrich said. "One side of that is that for a long period of time, they didn’t pay any attention to me."
Gingrich and his wife are scheduled to sign books Saturday morning in Naples.
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any body can said anything but at the end nothing is done most people when they hear about immigration the first thing they said is "secure the border" yeah ignorant do you know how much money have been invest it on the border since the last amnesty and you people not even follow the money but as soon as you hear someone talk about the illegal that the first thing you come out with or how bad the illegal are well as your corporation how profitable we are and stop been so heartless and ignorant.
Send the illegal aliens back to their homeland.
We'll stop being heartless and ignorant Rubenim when you learn to spell and they stop stealing our resources. Yes, we do need to secure our borders and the illegal immigrants need to go home and work in their own country. If they don't pay taxes here, they don't deserve the free education, the food cards or any of the other benefits they automatically receive here. Having babies here is not a legitimate excuse for stealing. Comprende?
Gingrich would kill the community organizer in a legitimate debate!
Romney, Bachmann, Perry, Cain, and now Gingrich... but who will be the flavor of the week when it's nomination time?
When the illegals leave they need to take all their "anchor babies" with them.
"I am suggesting a certification of legality with no right to vote and no right to become an American citizen." Would this not be like a second class citizen?
They cannot go back to their country and re apply if they have not ever applied for U.S. Citizenship. If they have been here for 25 or so years and have family and such here, with the talk of exporting illegal immigrants one would think that they would have already took the steps to become legal immigrants so they are not separated from their family. If they and their family can come up with the finances to pay somebody to sneak them into the USA, then they and their family should be able to finance the process for becoming a legal USA citizen.
I do not want second class citizens laws implemented in our country. Reminds me to much of servitude, or slavery.
BRDH ...read what you wrote
Bigot Racist Discrimination, Hater
"I am suggesting a certification of legality with no right to vote and no right to become an American citizen" this I believe would make them a resident they are illegal resident's now all that would do is remove the illegal....not sure I agree with it...
The repub candidates are like a flock of pigeons sitting on a line above our heads and crapping on us at will. The latest Gingrich dropping is so patently hypocritical that it's actually funny. Here's my take on the flock: Gingrich, the elder bird with bowel problems. Cain, the clumsy bird who bumps into clouds and wonders what hit him. Perry, the bird who is chewing on his foot all the time, Romney, the bird who has a brain fart when he flip flops. And my most favorite of all, the Bachmann bird, the mean spirited bird, in execu-drag, who never takes off her girdle, even in bed. Oh my oh my, what a flock indeed!
Nice sermon on crap there deb. Now what do you have to say about the line of Bull crap that is being fed to us by the obamination?
Hey Deborah Biel funny........you got em right on the money! Come on give us your take on Obama that one would have to be hilarious!! You got me rolling on the Republicans...will wait here for the funnies on Obama...........man that will have us all rolling on the floor
What part of illegal does everybody not understand? You're paying billions of dollars to support them, and American criminals go to prison. Yet, when it comes to the hispanic population, it is suddenly illegal for us to enforce deportation laws? Its nice that some of you people have money to throw to the wind and we salute you for your pretended generosity, but the average American born, taxpaying citizen has a difficult enough time as it is. Some of us are tired of being called racist in our own homeland because illegal immigrants want to come here and poach on our lands and then return home with their loot. Hunters get fined for doing things like that, so why do these people get a free pass? Time to secure the borders. If they do the crime, they need to do the time, just like everybody else.
Also one would have to look at the injustice to people. We are all supposed to be equal according to the constitution. To do what Newt is suggesting, would make another class of U.S. people who have no rights, or very few constitutional rights.
This would open doors to a more injust america that the framers of the constitution never intended.
Better to keep the immigration laws we already have and enforce them.
Oh Debora you forgot Mr Obama the mocking bird! Telling us all about his love for the people! While filling his administration with Goldman Sachs executives who are raping and pillaging our economy! As he laughs all the way to retirement! BTW his illegal alien relatives are all breaking the law! He is indeed making a mockery of our system.
OH GREAT! -- NOW we can have "CERTIFIED" Illegals !
What Next? -- How about Just Certified Legals ?
"But I am for a path to legality for those people whose ties are so deeply into America that it would truly be tragic to try and rip their family apart."
Enough of the "illegal immigrant" rhetoric already; they're "illegal" deport them all. Instead, help the millions of legal American families that have been displaced from their homes and torn apart by our economy.
Free 1-way tickets back to your homeland along with your "anchor babies." If you want to come to the US then apply legally like the rest of us did.
I can pick my own fruit and clean my own toilet. I can't continue to pay for illigal health-care, education, food, and housing. Our prisons are full of illegal criminal gang members. Send them OUT of here!
Roll back child labor laws thought we already did that.There now working in congress as tea party republicans.
If the illegal immigrants were mostly blue-eyed blonds who spoke with a Swedish accent, none of this would be an issue. It's time for the "anti-illegals" crowd to come clean, and admit that it isn't illegal immigrants they don't like. It's Mexicans they don't like.
EarlyOut - Sorry but you are misinformed. It has nothing to do with race. I don't care if you are blue-eyed blond or whatever, if you are here illegally then you are a criminal. We must enforce our laws or our country will collapse.
What part of illigal do you not understand?
Sorry, Joyce, but I just don't believe you. No one is going after Canadians who are here illegally. The emphasis is all on the Spanish-speaking, brown-skinned people. It's clearly motivated by nothing but racism.
The notion that "our country will collapse" is laughably wrong. Without the illegal immigrants who are here already, our economy would collapse. Economically, they're a net plus to the U.S. Kicking them out would be spectacularly stupid.
Round up all the illegals and send them back to their homeland. Anchor babies do NOT deserve citizenship if the parents are illegal.
Secure the border or even more crime will be coming to a neighborhood near you.
You mean anchor babies like Mitt Romney?
Mitt Romney is not an anchor baby - you birther.
The "German Boot" style Government of 1938 Nazi Germany is coming to a town near you, next Nov 2012.
Uncle newt salivates with his longing for the yester-years of the 1700's Colonial US, and Jim Crow style laws, on no voting even if you are legal I guess?
And if you are a US Citizen thru Naturalization, well, they will not allow you now to become a Citizen, so you can't vote?
And that goes for everyone, not just the Mexicans.
If this is what they have in store for the migrants, imagine the " Austerity measures " coming for the American Middle Class.
And for those who don't believe it, just follow this link :
http://www.ferris.edu/jimcrow/what.htm
Make no mistake about Newt Gingrich people !
This is who he really is.
As I said, this goes for anyone, not just the Mexicans.
Asians, Hispanics or Hindus, if you live between East Texas and North Carolina, including Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia, your "Different Appearance" is not welcome in those States.
If you look "different", you or your wife or your kids, will be stereotyped and classified "Illegal by Appearance ".
Actually you already are, but now is more in the open, since it has become law in Alabama.
Remember, this man ( New Gingrich ) is still the same loose cannon he was 25 yrs ago.
Just let him get in power, and you will see who he really is, unfortunately by then it will be too late.
Make no mistake!
"Sandie-644591
I don't know about the repubs but I feel nauseated after each and every debate. If this bunch of hacks is the best they can come up with, they seriously need to rethink some things. Romney-changes his position to suit the polls; Cain-I'm surprised he can remember his own name. Can anyone seriously picture this man representing the country? Dealing with fellow presidents and dignitaries? Gingrich-his political style is passe, it's a far different world than the one he sees in his mind. Ron Paul- some of what he proposes is sound but some of it is umm, not so much plus he has never had the numbers needed for the GOP nomination let alone being elected president. Perry-he seems to be his own worst enemy and he sounds too much like Dubya (ugh!). The rest of the bunch is just exactly that. Bachmann, Santorum.....IDIOTS!!! Huntsman-I sometimes forget he is even in the running."
Not a Republican Sandie but yes nauseated will fit my feelings after each debate....but Sandie, I am nauseated, feel like I need a bath to wash all of the filth (ie lies) whenever Obama speaks....so what do we do?? Somebody PLEASE tell me what do we do!!
I just got tired of reading the comments: Putting Newt aside......
1st. We have gone from working for equal rights to creating a welfare society and training 2 generations of young people that it is acceptable to sit on your a$$ and get a check for it. This has some how become the acceptable norm.
2nd. We have somehow etched into our young that all they have to do is get a degree and learn to walk around staring at thier phone that they are somehow qualified to earn $150,000 a year even though they don't have a clue what the basics of thier occupation consist of and they think it isn't necessary to know. Somehow we have created a work force that thinks it is shameful to do manual labor. Blacks for some reason think we still need to pay for slavery that IS OVER. Get over it. We had nothing to do with it. Neither young whites or blacks want to do manual labor. Hence, we need the Mexican Labor. I promise you nothing will get built without them. If it is built without them, you can not afford it. I agree they should not be here illegally, we desperatly need them in the construction industry but the country needs thier tax dollars worse. If they cannot produce a proof of paying taxes then they need to go. I have heard it cost $8,000 to gain citizenship and it's a long process. Hell, lots of working American workers couldn't come up with that if they had to to stay here.
3rd. On 9-11-2001 I instantly knew the old America was dead and would never recover unless, We closed our borders after giving citizens abroad 30 days to get thier asses back here. The sand@!$%#s have been killing each other since the beginning of time and will never stop. They are ignorant with no desire to become civilized. Drop Daisy cutters until you see no more movement. AND, don't spend my tax dollars rebuilding the ruins.
4th. Nation building should start with our neighbors. Legalize marijuana to cut into the drug cartels profits to weaken them. Then, turn our military forces lose on them. Lots of our goods are made in Mexico already. Mexicans are a proud people. Help them in thier own country and they won't need to come here. I would rather import from Mexico than China. I really don't think the quality from either is being regulated.
5th. The American people are going to have to accept that we all can't be millionares. All jobs can't pay the same high wage. A pipe fitter or auto worker is not a Heart Surgeon and damn sure didn't make the long educational trip to get the training they use in thier profession. Deal with it. We always has been a class system ignore it if you like. The only difference in America is if you are willing to work hard enough, you can change classes. Yes, if you are wealthier, then you should pay higher taxes. Buy Amaerican!
6th. Tree hugging is out of control. We need to be drilling for oil in the gulf of Mexico and any where else that it is feasible. At least for ten years until alternate power is developed more. Even a spill creates jobs. Mother nature will over come. The shrimping industry is dead in Corpus because of protecting turtles. A seaside community that has to import shrimp? WTF?
7th. Why did we rebuild New Orleans? What part of below sea level do you not understand. This place should have been turned into a seafood ranch to feed the masses and create jobs. The place is a cess pool for drug addicted welfare recipients. The music can be played somewhere else. What do you mean no place else wants them? Duh! I wonder why?
Obama must go. I'm not sure whose side he is on, but it's not ours. I'm down to Ron Paul or Newt.
I am for having the children deported as well, Their birth was also a calculated act to circumvent the law. That is why they are called "anchor babies" in the first place. Every option these criminals have used, need to be taken from them. Then they'll start getting the picture.
Just because you drop your spawn here should NOT give you the right to stay here!
Funny, it sure sounded like he supported amnesty in the debate. I guess a majority of the country was confused. Smells like a flip-flop to me. Problem is the GOP is almost out of candidates to 'try on'. The GOP field is just too weak to capitalize on displeasure with Obama - and this includes serial candidate Ron Paul.
I love the comment on it showing what caliber of a person you are. Last debate Newt seemed to be kinder to Obama but Bachman wasn't. We are finding out what character these people are and what they will do to win. I think they all need a dose of character.
Newt,
Don't go away mad,but PLEASE go away!
I have no problem with having a march like the trail of tears, march their sorry butts back to the border. We have the troops coming home from Iraq. Time for a little police action here in the USA. If your not here the right way time to go. If you don't qualify using the same standards as everyone else trying to come here legally from around the world. CRY ME A RIVER OF TEARS. Also time to end BIRTH TOURISM. The child gets the moms citizenship like every other country on earth.
For the first time in a decade many of the long term unemployed/underemployed in the State of Alabama are actually starting to get the jobs these illegal mooches have been holding. Don't give me the BS about hard working. I never saw a bunch more dedicated to working so hard to look busy while in fact doing nothing but chit chat. No legal person could legally work the hours these illegals do. They will work in unlawful and unsafe environments. They don't care about OSHA requirements. They work 100 hour work weeks at the plants tell me how anyone can work 100 hours? They also for the most part are working under someone else's ID and in Alabama were getting food stamps, free housing free medicaid for the kids and free emergency room primary care for them selves.
When they go to apply for food stamps they have a la raza volunteer with them often work badges are still around their necks and they get no questions. Yep a poor working family gets the 10th degree. Very tired of the poor at our church not qualifying because they are truthful and the south of the border crowd without conscience gets it all. To include paying for their groceries with EBT cards and then having the publix clerk load them into the 28K shinny new truck.
While there is validity in much of what you say, using the "Trail of Tears" as an example of a just point in our american history and to be repeated shows a lack of understanding of what the trail of tears was about.
This was a very sad point in our history that should be learned from and never repeated. Yes, part of the tribes in Alabama were sent to Oklahoma, however that was a not a prideful moment for Alabama, or the other southern states that participated in this for a land grab.
There he goes again! 'Ol Newton Leroy trying to make things just right to gain votes in the primary. Newton Gingrich, the former ten-term congressman from an Atlanta-area district was Speaker of the House and resigned in disgrace. He resigned in disgrace because he was "Womanizing"! Newton's conservative stance will not stand as his "Contract for America" didn't stand, and trickle down didn't trickle down! This man is a retread, re-hashed and regurgitation of failed concepts doomed to failure again! His third wife testifies to his conservative stance and womanizing! This guy is in it for himself! Gingrich is a greedy, power-hungry and self-centered Republican! The biggest reason the TEA-GOP-Republican debates matter less and less these days is there are all the same. A stage to sound off against president Obama, who has gained unprecedented fame across the waters with the taking out of noted Al Qaeda leaders(Bin Ladin) within his first term and lending assistance to the ouster of Moammar Khaddafy(now deceased). Everyone of the TEA-GOP-Republican candidates have signed a pledge to Grover Norquist, Bob Vander Plaats, Edward H Crane and David Keene, and other puppeteers, rather than honor their commitment to the constituents in their respective districts. All constituents require representation. The budget impasse and repeated contentious bickering over taxation increases to the most affluent of America, has side tracked the real issues. It has always been about jobs, jobs, jobs. Americans need new blood with kahunas to exact America's people's needs, not the wants of the elite few. We know The concentration of wealth in the hands of fewer and fewer people and the concentration of power in stricter, less compassionate hands in all aspects of local, state and the federal government has colored the TEA/GOP/Republicans as the tormentors of the American dream. It's always been about jobs, jobs, jobs. It's the economy stupid!
Gizmowiz: Make 20 million illegals go home!
Karen,
"I have no problem with having a march like the trail of tears"???
Bad comparison. The Trail of Tears is a name given to the forced relocation and movement of Native American nations from southeastern parts of the United States following the Indian Removal Act of 1830. The removal included many members of the Cherokee, Muscogee (Creek), Seminole, Chickasaw, and Choctaw nations, among others in the United States, from their homelands to Indian Territory (eastern sections of the present-day state of Oklahoma). The phrase originated from a description of the removal of the Choctaw Nation in 1831. Many Native Americans suffered from exposure, disease and starvation en route to their destinations. Many died, including 4,000 of the 15,000 relocated Cherokee.
Treaty's were broken that were originally signed with the American Indian.
To compare illegal immigration with the native american Indian is pathetic.
You are so right only the ignorant would consider that statement..
This "certification of legality" - does this provide a path to subsidized housing? A path to food stamps or any of the other 14 food giveaway programs? Medicaid or any other free health care? SSD? SSI? Etc., etc., etc.?
Of course it does, to say otherwise is either disingenuous or just naivety.
The Land owners provide their housing.