Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Rudy Doesn't Favor Immigration Bill Because...

"Rudy Giuliani came out against the proposed immigration compromise yesterday, saying it didn't do enough to set up a federal database to track illegal immigrants.

"It doesn't achieve the purpose that I would like to see it achieve," said Giuliani, who as mayor staunchly defended the rights of illegal immigrants to access government services under a "don't ask, don't tell" policy.

But as he has on a number of issues as he seeks the Republican presidential nomination, Giuliani appears to be shifting to the right on immigration, which he now calls a matter of national security.

Now he says he would only be open to letting illegal immigrants gain citizenship once they came forward and entered their names in a central database, and once they were issued "tamper-proof" ID cards.

The maneuver came as Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) got personal with his surging GOP rival Mitt Romney yesterday, lampooning Romney's opposition to an immigration reform bill.

"Maybe I should wait a couple of weeks and see if it changes," McCain said when asked about Romney's criticism of the proposed measure - a clear jab at Romney's shifting position on abortion and other issues.

Driving the stake deeper, McCain added, "Maybe his solution will be to get out his small-varmint gun and drive those Guatemalans off his lawn."

The quip was a reference to two embarrassing stories in Romney's past. Although he called himself a life-long hunter, Romney later conceded his quarry was limited to "small varmints, if you will."

Also, The Boston Globe reported last year that several illegal immigrants, including at least one from Guatemala, cut Romney's lawn in a Boston suburb for a decade. The former Massachusetts governor said he was unaware of the workers' status.

The maneuvering comes as Romney is rising in polls in New Hampshire and Iowa, both key battleground states.

Romney's campaign did its best to fire back, casting the comments by McCain, who helped to craft the immigration bill, as a cheap attempt to avoid substantive debate."

By substantive debate, Manchurian Johnny means SIGN HERE AND MOVE ASIDE. Do any of them have the stones to speak the truth? And tell us that, no, I don't want the country turned into Mehico-North anytime soon. Rudy wants a better I.D. Card. And NOT one that comes with an English tutorial, either.

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