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Updated 12:53 p.m. - Mitt Romney found himself in a difficult position -- and on the receiving end of an attack by President Obama's campaign -- after an RNC official suggested the presumptive Republican nominee is "still deciding" on his position on immigration.
Bettina Inclan, the director of Hispanic outreach for the Republican National Committee, appeared to suggest the former Massachusetts governor's immigration position was still very much up in the air.
Rebecca Cook / Reuters
Mitt Romney addresses a crowd of supporters during a rally May 8.
"As a candidate, to my understanding, he's still deciding what his position on immigration is," Inclan said at a briefing for reporters on the party's outreach to Latinos.
The quote quickly exploded on Twitter, and the president's re-election campaign condemned the comment.
Inclan later tweeted that she had misspoken, and included a link to Romney's immigration policy.
"Over the past year Mitt Romney has proven time and time again that he is the most extreme presidential candidate in modern history on immigration," said Gabriela Domenzain, the Obama campaign's director of Hispanic press. "Mitt Romney has decided to be the most extreme presidential candidate on immigration; Hispanics and all Americans have heard it loud and clear."
Domenzain pointed in particular to the instances in the Republican primary in which Romney outflanked his opponents to their right. Romney had promised to veto the DREAM Act, and curiously suggested at a GOP presidential debate that his immigration policy involves "self-deportation."
Romney faces a serious deficit among Hispanic voters versus Obama, according to recent polling, a gap that means trouble for the Republican nominee this fall, and possibly spells long-term peril for the party.
That said, Romney has begun softening his language on immigration as he begins pivoting toward the general election. He said he's studying a proposal by Florida Sen. Marco Rubio -- a possible running mate for Romney -- to modify the DREAM Act to allow legal residency, but not citizenship, to illegal immigrants in a narrow set of circumstances.
Complicating matters for the Romney campaign, though, is the Obama campaign's uncontested advantage is Hispanic media. The president's campaign announced a second wave of Spanish-language radio and TV ads (focused on health care reform) on Tuesday.
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It does not matter who did what in the past. I feel that Immigration reform and control is the largest problem facing Romney, Obama, whoever. The numbers just do not lie. The cost to the system to house (Section 8, etc.), feed (Food Stamps, etc.), provide Medical Care for (Obama Health Care plan, etc) for the growing number of illegal aliens will absolutely bankrupt this Country. Why should those of us Law abiding, hard working, dilligent Legal Americans pay one red cent to fund this system.
Anything less than an absolute committal to stop the problem by whoever wins the election is a slap in the face to those of us who have earned the right to be called Americans.
It is pretty clear that the Democrats count on the perpetuation of the Welfare state as a voting block now and in the future. Get them out at the State and Federal levels while we have a chance.
You are forgetting one of the most powerful lobby's we have in this country, religion and they support the illegals. If you believe in Christianity then you can not treat them as less than human are so they say and the right seems to be divided on this, they hold their religion close and tight but then not so much when it comes to illegals. The left goes a little to far left on this subject. It is not a tough one, we have laws already on the books we just need to enforce those. If we decide to have a dream act. were you come here go to college and want to become an American great I have no issue with that. If you come here and want to serve in the military to earn the right no issue as today no telling if you will survive. If you come here illegally then no you and your childern can go back even if the child was born here they can return when they are 18 but the parents have to apply just like everyone else. If they are here illegally then no medical, housing or drivers license, Temp jobs only on work visa's. Follow that laws we have that all.
Ask Alabama farmers how they feel about getting rid of all the Mexicans that were kicked out of Alabama with the strict immigration policies they enacted last year..... Fruits and vegetables are rotting on the ground, as they can't get American workers to do the job....at 10 to 12 dollars an hour... The farmers also say that if they can get an American to hang around long enough, Mexicans do 2 to 3 times the work..... You are clueless.... Your comments are nothing more than baseless GOP, Fox News, Rush Limbaugh talking points to spread hate and fear,,, nothing to do with reality.. In Oklahoma we couldn't get a house built without Mexicans.....President Obama if he had his way would document workers and provide a path to citizenship and make them tax paying citizens....Explain how that is going to get done when the current wacko GOP votes against their own bills....... Wake up moron... Your kind of rhetoric is not working anymore, people finally are starting to see what's really going on in this country and the GOP is going to pay a big price in Nov..
Your stuff is old, lies and rumors.....78% of all welfare are handicapped, the elderly and kids.... 60% are white Americans.... What going to break this country is corporate America and their greed...
I'd say the citizens of America don't know the half of what the illegal immigrants are costing us. Here's another little addition as to where our money goes. Approx. 4.2 bllion per year. You bleeding hearts may want to check this out.This just adds insult to injury!! I think I'll just keep my money from now on and see how long the IRS likes it if I withhold payment.
http://www.wthr.com/video?clipId=7054149&topVideoCatNo=103348&autoStart=true
Tis,...Come back to reality, demanding people abide by the law is not treating them less than human. Do you really think it is being unfair to ask people to respect the law and wait their turn in line ?......That is what is at the core of this whole illegal immigration issue,"RESPECTING THE LAW AND THE RIGHTS OF THOSE THAT DO !"
So, Pdug, who pays the bill? I'd say many of these illegals have no plan to follow through and allow Obama to document them. Then they would have to pay their fair share. I for one am sick and tired of anyone putting their hand in my pocket to pay for those living on the dole. If someone who worked for a living legally most of their life becomes disadvantaged, welfare should be available to them. Someone who worked legally and gets laid off should have the benefit of unemployment benefits or job training.
Someone who comes here to sponge or leech off of the rest of us should be shown the door, plain and simple.
that'sbecause Mitt MoMoney has a ton of mexican relatives, so he can't decide whether to affront them or the American people!!! and Oh! by the way Mittens, how about you show us your birth certificate????
Then the POS better hope they have a voter registration card.
Robert Wood...How about you look up the facts!! Mitt's father is an American citizen....moved his morman relatives to Mexico after the birth of Mitt for religious reasons and to start a mormon chapter down there!! Please educate yourself!
Too many different promises to different groups. Now Romney's problem is to avoid any specifics until after elected. But then that is his problem on many issues.
THIS IS NUTS!
Any Legal Hispanic or otherwise Worrying about Illegals Is UN-American!
What is it that they don't understand about ILLEGAL?
My wife and I patiently Waited and Paid for Her LEGAL STATUS !
PS -- She Wouldn't Have It Any Other Way!
Hanks Common Sense. This is absolutely the point. Your Wife did it the right way as those that went through Ellis Island did years ago. This Country's lifeblood is the bi-product of the Legal Immigration process. Those that came here to seek out a new life and to join and add to the US society, not try to change it or to milk it for an illegal or subversive purpose.
Good Luck to You and your Wife.
Cplusmc1002,
Why is all the problems of this country President Obama's fault... What did George W and the GOP do on immigration, jobs, healthcare and the deficit in their two terms, not a damn thing, except to destroy the economy and jobs...and took a budget surplus and turned it into trillions of dollars of debt... George W took 8 years to destroy this country and you expect President Obama to right the ship in less time and with no cooperation from the GOP.... Wake up Moron!!! Without their help President Obama has created more private sector jobs in 3 years then George W did in his 8 years....
Ask Alabama farmers how they feel about getting rid of all the Mexicans that were kicked out of Alabama with the strict immigration policies they enacted last year..... Fruits and vegetables are rotting on the ground, as they can't get American workers to do the job....at 10 to 12 dollars an hour... The farmers also say that if they can get an American to hang around long enough, Mexicans do 2 to 3 times the work..... You are clueless.... Your comments are nothing more than baseless GOP, Fox News, Rush Limbaugh talking points to spread hate and fear,,, nothing to do with reality.. In Oklahoma we couldn't get a house built without Mexicans.....President Obama if he had his way would document workers and provide a path to citizenship and make them tax paying citizens....Explain how that is going to get done when the current wacko GOP votes against their own bills....... Wake up moron... Your kind of rhetoric is not working anymore, people finally are starting to see what's really going on in this country and the GOP is going to pay a big price in Nov..
Your stuff is old, lies and rumors.....78% of all welfare are handicapped, the elderly and kids.... 60% are white Americans.... What going to break this country is corporate America and their greed..
Vote out all the GOP in congress in Nov so President Obama can get something done and get rid of the party of NO.!!
Isn't that special. He's "deciding". What deciding? When did he EVER maintain a position once he "decided"? When he found it convenient he completely reversed himself. Many times. So the "deciding' is pure bullsh*t. Jesus people, can we really afford to elect a man as phony as this hypocrite?
Wow, and you get to vote? You actually believe one word that comes out of Obama's mouth? Do yourself a favor and type in Google: Obama Honduras Coup. You'll read numerous perspectives from people that actually live there, left and right articles. Read a little, than tell me you respect this idiot running our country.
Why does it appear most posters on this blog are unable, or unwilling, to look back further than the present administration when it comes to solving the immigration issue? This is an issue that goes back further than the Reagan administration, and no one, regardless of party, has come close to addressing the issue. Now it has reached a critical level, and at least the current administration is trying to address the issue.
I live in Arizona, and have for 54 years. While I don't support SB1070, I understand when our attorney general makes statements during an early morning C-SPAN panel, with participants from all sides of the discussion, that SB1070 was signed by Brewer (who I do not care for) because the federal government has failed to address the issue for decades, regardless of party affiliation. It is a political move to push the federal government into action, regardless of what party initiated it, and which party is in the White House, or controls Congress. BTW - all members of that panel, from all view points, agreed on the following - THERE MUST BE IMMIGRATION REFORM ON A FEDERAL LEVEL, AND IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO REMOVE ALL ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS IN THIS COUNTRY! Please pay closer attention to the issue, and investigate beyond your parties' brief press releases on the topic, and media's sound bites - get educated, and get involved!
He still deciding what's oranges, what's nuts?! I will help you here Mitt. Nuts are something that you have to be born with, oranges are something that you can eat and be healthy.
If we were next to Ireland, and had lots of illegal Irish immigrants coming over, and I was running for President, and I am Irish, I would STILL enforce immigration law! THE LAW IS THE LAW! It's stupid the pres doesn't believe in enforcing that and would rather go against the majority of what Americans want!
Mittens still hasn't decided which way to Mitt-flop yet.
Hey Romney - ANY kind of approval for breaking the laws and you don't get my vote!
No one knows Obama's reasons for bailing out the auto industry. It may have been for the unions but it saved management's bacon too. Anyone who thinks they should have been put into bankruptsy was not following what was happening at the time. They have cleaned their act up and are building cars people want again. I did not vote for Obama but credit where credit is due.
His solution will be whatever gets him the Hispanic vote. Just like Obama. It's OK for them to break the law, but not legal citizens of the United States of America. Why is it that only caucasions are racist (haters)? I am getting sick and tired of being called cracker, whitey, honkey and white trash. The people that call us those names are not called (or even considered) racist.
He's just a person blowing a lot of hot air who is so arrogant that he thinks he can be the President.
Much like the little boy in school when asked, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" He's not the patsy they're looking for... even though he would be easily manipulated.
Much like our current Idiot in Office does?
He can be a good president. Even Ted Turner thinks so.
In all honesty, who cares what the network of Contessa Brewer and the Trayvon Martin tape editors think? A compromised, in-the-tank joke.
He can't decide were he stands on imigration. Ok I know were I stand on him.
It's funny how the libs are now trying to bash Romney on his stance on immigration. Isn't rushing into every decision our current President made what makes him arguably the most inept President we've ever had. How about taking your time, analyzing, and coming up with a plan once you've explored all angles. I think Obama still hasn't learned. And the most outrageous thing is his even reaching out to the Latino population at all. Just read many articles concerning his support for the ousted Dictator of Honduras. He has crippled that country because the local population and the Honduran Supreme Court would not bend and bring the Dictator back, so Obama, (without approval from Congress) cut off all aid to that country. This is not some silly Faux News b.s. Google it your self. Just type in Google: Obama Honduras Coup. You'll see plenty of articles from Honduras, the left and right wing groups. The Latinos should spit on him before voting for him.
And here I thought you were talking about Bush!
Sorry, I wasn't a big Bush fan either. Unfortunately our choice of candidates last election and this one haven't been too stellar, but Obama has had his chance and failed miserably. Why not give someone with practical business experience a shot. If we don't like the results we'll change again in 4 years and keep doing so until WE get it right. You do realize this was basically Obama's first real job.
TO: Hanks Common Sense who wrote:
What does that mean? Many LEGAL immigrants still have close relatives in foreign countries, and I wouldn't call it "un-American" to worry about their family members.
Obama / Biden 2012
And the door opens wider and wider for Ron Paul, the most independent, noble and rational person running for president since Ross Perot
What's there to decide upon?
Follow the current laws.
If you broke the laws suffer the consequences like citizens do and do it willingly if you really want to be a citizen!!
What the heck is Obama mucking around with. Time for a another 'change'.
I go the gym 4 times per week and I swear I'm the only person speaking English. Yup, the GOP better start understanding it. And they are not illegals. Mostly are legal or are from Puerto Rico.
move
What people are looking at is a person who has no clue about the people in his campaign and for Romney to not have a clear picture of where he stand on issues is becoming a bigger joke every day. People on the right have to be totally brainwashed because any sane person would look at Romney and run the other direction.
The man has been running for the presidency for six years now and there is any matter what ever that is yet to be decided? There is a a way to summarize this it goes like so: "What is it that I need to say? Just tell me, I'll go along with anything."
Another classic Flip Flop issue for Mitt. He has to plug into his business algorithm who will contribute the most money to him for each "position" scenario and then cross check that against the likely votes and that will spit out what he "NOW" thinks.
"As CAP’s Melissa Boteach, Lawrence Korb and Max Hoffman noted in a report last month, with the cuts they are calling for, House Republicans will be protecting “largely useless” weapons systems, preserving funding for unnecessary programs like the V-22 Osprey, and adding two nuclear submarines to the U.S. military’s already “overwhelming preponderance of sea power.”
"At the same time, the GOP plan would, for example, cut food stamps for 2 million people and reduce the same benefits for 44 million others. Nearly 300,000 school children would lose free school meals and hundreds of thousands could lose their Medicaid or CHIP coverage."
"These are the idiots who are in the House of Representatives. And anybody who voted for these idiots are either incrediblty stupid, incredibly ignorant, or a combination of both. There is a simple solution to fixing America's problems. Whatever conservatives want, do the opposite.
good idea...spend more increase the deficit, welfare, foodstamps. We can mimic Greece, great idea. Spend our way into austerity.
Obama in the air...literally since inauguration campaigning.
But on the real front..who will do the jobs the illegals are doing? Construction, roofing and list is long, a lot say the people out of work if the wages go up...who can afford a that sort of work now..if wages go up what the hell, how will we pay for it?
Farm work without illegals will stop,ask the farmers in Ga. I don't know the answer but it is complicated and there maybe NO correct answer
??? What is there to decide? ILLEGAL ALIENS are NOT IMMIGRANTS! They are criminals who think nothing about breaking the laws of this nation. They care nothing about the people whose SS number they steal. They could not care less about the thousands of Americans who have had their lives shattered after being in a car accident caused by 1 of these criminals. The list goes on and on. Only hypocritical Liberals call them "immigrants" and that is only to divide this nation and get themselves elected.
It is slap in the face to every immigrant who goes thru the process to become an American citizen!
Actually: Here's a bigger slap for the citizens of the USA!
I'd say the citizens of America don't know the half of what the illegal immigrants are costing us. Here's another little addition as to where our money goes. Approx. 4.2 bllion per year. You bleeding hearts may want to check this out.This just adds insult to injury!! I think I'll just keep my money from now on and see how long the IRS likes it if I withhold payment.
http://www.wthr.com/video?clipId=7054149&topVideoCatNo=103348&autoStart=true