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Subscribe to RSSIn remarks he delivered in Florida before Latino political leaders, presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney once again declined to answer if he would overturn President Obama's executive action to no longer deport qualified young illegal immigrants.
Instead, Romney explained that he would work to craft a long-term solution dealing with illegal immigration.
"Some people have asked if I will let stand the president's executive action," Romney said at the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials' conference. "The answer is that I will put in place my own long-term solution that will replace and supersede the president's temporary measure."
Left unsaid, of course, is what Romney -- if elected president -- would do before signing long-term legislation into law, or if the legislation couldn't be passed. Remember: Due to congressional opposition, both George W. Bush and Barack Obama have been unable to pass comprehensive legislation dealing with illegal immigration.
Today wasn't the first time Romney has declined to say if he would overturn Obama's policy to no longer deport young illegal immigrants who have graduated from high school, who are serving in the military, and who have a clean criminal record.
Mitt Romney criticized the action after the president announced it last Friday. The reason: because it is temporary.
“I think the action that the president took today makes it more difficult to reach that long-term solution, because an executive order is, of course, just a short-term matter.”
He added that Obama's executive action can be “reversed by subsequent presidents.”
But that begged the question: Would a President Romney reverse it?
It was exactly the question CBS' Bob Schieffer asked him last weekend.
BOB SCHIEFFER: Sure, but would you repeal this?
MITT ROMNEY: Well, it would be overtaken by events, if you will, by virtue of my putting in place a long-term solution with-- with legislation which creates law that relates to these individuals, such that they know what their-- their stat-- setting is going to be
BOB SCHIEFFER: I-- I won't keep on about this but just to-- to make sure I understand, would you leave this in place while you worked out a long-term solution or would you just repeal it?
MITT ROMNEY: We'll-- we'll look at that-- we'll look at that setting as we-- as we reach that. But my anticipation is, I'd come into office and say we need to get this done on a long-term basis, not this kind of a stopgap measure. What-- what the president did, he-- he should have worked on this years ago. If he felt seriously about this, he should have taken action when he had a Democrat House and Senate, but he didn't. He saves these sort of things until four and a half months before the general election.
The Obama campaign issued this response to Romney's speech: “Today, Mitt Romney told the largest national gathering of Hispanic elected officials: ‘When I make a promise to you - I will keep it.’ But in front of an audience of Republican primary voters, he called the DREAM Act a ‘handout’ and promised to veto it. Now, after seven days of refusing to say whether or not he’d repeal the Obama administration’s immigration action that prevents young people who were brought here through no fault of their own as children from being deported, we should take him at his word that he will veto the DREAM Act as president.”
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Sounds like a "yes, he'll overturn it," to me.
He needs time to discuss it with Uncle Grover and Brother Rush, first.
Make sure he has their approval before he signs anything.
After all, he is just a a warm body that can hold a pen, but not make any real decisions for himself.
Pathetic.
He has got a secret plan. Will advise in January.
The economy. Thats a secret too. You'll have to wait.
Iran. Not sure yet. We'll get back to you on that.
Doughnuts or cupcakes. Only if they are mass produced.
Yesterday there was an article that mentioned politicians picking which laws to obey and which not to, I think it had to do with Fast and Furious. There is nothing different here; none of them want to enforce the laws we have on immigration because it will cost votes. Romney is going to what and see what the President’s next step is before he claims he would do more or do it better. It’s all poker.
Is it politics? Yeah, sure- a little. But big deal- this and his gay marriage endorsement are both unpopular as well, so its not like he's laughing his way to the election.
But its still the right thing to do and no matter when it happened it would've been contraversial and politicized.
The liberals score political points buy giving more people, more rights-- while the 'small government' GOP spend their time taking rights away.
Look, there's a simple explanation for Romney's vascilation... He hasn't figured out which way the wind is blowing yet.
A mormon? Really? LMAO mormon? LOL
Of course Romney is mum on the issue. People forget his father is from Mexico (and Romney himself was probably born there too) so why would he want to close off the border to his fellow anchor babies? He pretends to walk to Republican party line when it comes to immigration, but never commits to a solid opinion on the matter.
It looks like Obama is probably going to win Florida. I am really interested to see how Romney plans to find a path to 270 without Florida. Obama has several different paths to 270, even without Florida. With Romney, I just don't see it.
You want Mitt to answer comment on Obama's over stepping of his powers and yet you do not ask the much larger question why and how does the OBama, Eric Holder get away with miss using again Executive Power to not answer to our CONGRESS on the gun running Dept of Justice screw up that cost hundreds of lives in the USA and outside of. Executive miss use of POWER AGAIN by this joke of a PRESIDENT, replace him America REPLACE him and his damaging staff of idiots they are jointly killing America and FAST.
Blah blah blah blah blah.............
Just about every recent president has used exective powers. Bush did it can't remember how many times and Clinton 14 times.
Sale ole same ole - he opens his mouth and says nothing. He's a typical politician and an idiot. Blah blah blah Obama's fault for everything - blah blah blah
Romney has no solution and now he doesn't have the guts to say what he'd do. Of course he'd repeal it. All the GOP are trying to figure a way of banning this.
Romney can't commit to anything. And when he does appear to commit to something he shakes the etch-sketch again and the next day he comes up with an opposite "committed" opinion. But, come November, his right wing base will still vote for him even if he still hasn't said anything about what his plans are for this or the economy, or anything else for that matter. What a bunch of lemmings.
Their ONLY plan is to defeat President Obama. Their only ideas are whatever the opposite of the President says. Of course they will have to look out for the rich and the lobbyist. To hell with the rest........
People are beginning to see that Romney is an empty suit.
Why is it necessary for Mitt to say "I'm going to overturn obama's immigration/amnesty reelection strategy rule."? He's said he intends to repolace this short term "fix" (election favor to a minor minority group) with a long term solution. All of the questioning about it is to 1) force Mitt to commit to overturning obama's arbitrary (and illoegal) order or 2) to admit that he agrees with it. He does neither. He sees it as a temporary measure grandstanded only to get undocumented democrats votes.
'overtaken by events' and 'we'll look at that' are some great filler. That's all this guy does. Mum on immigration. Gosh, he is mum on EVERYTHING. Look at that interview and tell me that isn't a guy that doesn't have the answer but is experienced at deflection, delay, and obfuscation.
It has to be weird for some republicans eh? I mean, we are only 8 years removed from their famous "flip flop" campaign, and now their OWN candidate has the title! HA. I wonder, what is it like being a hypocrite..Guess ill find some republicans who support Mitt and find out. lol
Based on the tepid response from the crowd at Romoney's speech today, they weren't exactly bowled over by his "plan" for immigration either.
The more he talks, the less he actually says!
Obama/Biden 2012
And NBC is still mum on the Romney editing...and you dems believe everything they say...this instance alone proves you can't believe the MSM..their favorite policy...editing...
Romney reminds me of "Chevy Chase" in "3 amigos".
Romney(Chase)... and we raped the horses!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(Crowd cheers hysterically) YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Romney(Chase)...and then we stole the women!!!!!!!!!!!!
(Crowd more hysterically) YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Romney seems to have adopted a policy of avoiding any direct statements of what he would do while passing no opportunity of criticizing everything Obama does or says he wants to do. It strikes me as anything but straightforward, totally lacking in any demonstration of personal commitment or integrity, completely lacking in courage and demonstrating none of the characteristics needed for leadership.
Not only has he flip-flopped on every issue imaginable, but in the rare instances when the press has called him out on his lack of forthrightness, he is wishy-washy, mealy mouthed and downright evasive.
And those are the nicest adjectives I can find to describe his actions.
The only poll that matters is the one in November. Makes me laugh to see people on both sides of the fence declaring victory in June. These forums are starting to remind me of middle school. Name calling, taunting and insults instead of adult debate with real information. The misinformation and outright lies that fly around on this forum are laughable. Are we really so divided? How long before this much hatred leads to our own civil war with no boundaries because Republicans and Democrats live as neighbors in all of the States. Would you talk to your neighbor whose politics disagree with yours the way you speak to people on this forum? I hope not.
I have been called a Democrap, Republithug, Liberal, NeoCon, etc. Kinda shows you where my views are. They are my own. I don't parrot talking points or belittle those who disagree. Please grow up people!
Willard Mitt Romney's speeches are becoming quite irritating to listen to. He lies and seems to believe his own lies....he has no sense of reality!
Romney will let us know where he stands once he figures out how latinos will vote. If they won't vote for him then he will overturn it, if they will he will uphold it... at least until after he takes office, then he'll overturn it.
When is Andrea Mitchell going to edit the video?
Unless Romney has a clear answer as to how his statements can benefit (or harm) his white house bid, there will be no precise answer forthcoming. To all political aspirants: It doesn't require a political degree to realize that your idiotic brain cannot even wrap its neurological processes around the fact that the Planet has no borders and that man, by erecting them is sowing the seeds of his own destruction.
Mr. Romney also ought to remember that the real "ILLEGAL ALIENS" are our ancestors who invaded this country and drove out the Native Americans. Hence, the hypocrites in Washington are just repeating - like a 'brainless' wonder - history against other human beings.
If the country belongs to the people, then the people belong to planet earth (which has no borders), planet earth belongs to the universe and the universe (through planet earth) will eventually kick some ass.
At least I know what religion he is, for sure where he was born, who he has associated with and that he won't bow down to foreign powers, or squander my money on White House parties and lavish vacations.
I think you need to catch the next space ship out uli. Nobody drove the Native Americans out of this country. We're still here.
Romney saved his state of Massachusetts from being the worst state in the union on
"jobs" he rescued in the nick of time from it's former Democrat successors death spiral!
And by the way, while Romney was Governor of Massachusetts, the unemployment rate dropped
from 5.7% to 4.9%.
Under Obama we have had unemployment over 40 months ABOVE 8%. HOW does this help any Latino? How?
MSNBC and it's very very few followers (FOX has twice the followers) are worried about what Romney has to say on immigration but could care less that Obama has wasted four years and has done nothing for the Economy or JOBS.
Obama's campaign theme song should be "Wasted Days and Wasted Nights".......
Can you post there since they are so great?