After Opposing Immigration Reform During His Presidential Campaign, Romney Flip-Flops Again
After Opposing Immigration Reform During His Presidential Campaign, Romney Flip-Flops Again
Our guest blogger is Henry Fernandez, a Senior Fellow at the Center For American Progress Action Fund working on state and municipal issues.
During his 2007-8 run for President, Mitt Romney switched from historically supporting immigration reform to being against it, championing a mass expulsion plan that he acknowledged would not work. Romney was so right-wing on immigration, that he enthusiastically accepted the endorsements of anti-immigrant ideologue and former Congressman Tom Tancredo and Sheriff Joe Arpaio, now under investigation by the Justice Department for allegedly violating the constitutional rights of Latinos.
As a successful businessman who recently joined the board of the heavily immigrant-reliant Marriott hotel company, Romney has apparently learned that appearing anti-immigrant or anti-Latino is politically foolish in a country where Latinos and Asians have grown to 11% of the vote. He has now flipped again and is calling for the Republican Party to support comprehensive immigration reform and to pass such a bill right away. The Hill interviewed Romney and reported yesterday:
Romney believes that one way to attract more minorities to the GOP is to pass immigration reform before the next election, saying the issue becomes demagogued by both parties on the campaign trail. “We have a natural affinity with Hispanic-American voters, Asian-American voters,” he said.
Romney should know about demagoguing on immigration. He did it himself.
During the campaign, Romney thought his anti-immigration postition would help him with Republican primary voters. Ironically, it cost him the nomination when he ran head long into the diversity of the Republican Party in Florida. While John McCain did not beat Romney among white voters in the Florida primary, McCain crushed him among Latino Republicans, effectively ending both Romney’s campaign and the primary.
As I noted at the time, Romney’s hard line position on immigration was beyond hypocritical. His own family’s immigration history was to put it modestly, “unique.” His great grandfather immigrated in apparent violation of both US and Mexican laws to Mexico when the US government cracked down on polygamists. Three generations of Mitt’s ancestors lived in Mexico, his father was born there, and he has family which still resides there. What brought his grandparents back to the US were impacts of the Mexican Civil War. To be clear — like many more recent immigrants, Mitt’s immediate family immigrated to the US from Mexico because of increasing violence and changing economic conditions.
The fact the Republican Party was hijacked by anti-immigrant extremists has been obvious for some time. Republicans torpedoed the Bush-McCain-Kennedy immigration compromise bill in 2007 for fear of an extremist backlash. Conservative commentators like Richard Nadler have described how this led to a major shift in Latino and immigrant voters away from the GOP. In turn, states like New Mexico, Colorado, Florida, Indiana, and North Carolina flipped to Obama as Latinos, Asians and immigrants shifted their votes and came out in large numbers to vote.
Hopefully “Multiple Choice Mitt” has found his final answer.
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All the flip flopping Mitt does and his hair never gets messed up. It must be made of plastic.
April 2nd, 2009 at 2:58 pm.
(R)ushpublickin mantra…
… If the moment fit’s – Flip Flop!
.
April 2nd, 2009 at 3:01 pm.
No clue…
No facts…
No budget…
No plans…
No truth…
No faith…
No sense…
No future…
No reasoning…
No leadership…
No credibility…
No originality…
No Bipartisanship…
… The G(no)P!
.
April 2nd, 2009 at 3:06 pmPhotochromic trick
April 2nd, 2009 at 3:15 pmDisguise and disorient
Cuttlefish Romney
He’ll be flipping and flopping between here and 2012, you can count on it. His current level of pandering reflects an ambition to get into the WH at all costs. If he gets chosen as the next GOP prez. candidate, I wonder if his vp will get to choose himself for the position again.
April 2nd, 2009 at 3:16 pmI think that for certain people, we should move from calling it ‘flip flop’ to sandals…
April 2nd, 2009 at 3:20 pmRomney has waffled so damn much on this issue that he could be his own IHOP. It doesn’t matter how much syrup you pour on this, Mitty Boy, it still isn’t sweet enough to digest. It will stick in our craw through your next campaign, when we will puke it up all over you.
April 2nd, 2009 at 3:20 pmIt’s almost funny that he wants the Republicans to pass immigration reform not because it’s the right thing to do or because he truly believes that it would help the country, but because he thinks it will help Republicans win the Hispanic vote in 2012 when he runs for President. Are you serious? Come on, Mitt, that’s like saying the Democrats should champion a bill apologizing to the South for ending slavery as a way to win Alabama and Mississippi. How dumb does he think Hispanics are?
Then again, this is the same guy that tried to appeal to my demographic (young Black Americans) by huddling with a group of Black high school kids and awkwardly speaking the chorus to turn of the Millenium pop charter “Who Let the Dogs Out?” complete with the barks and everything…
April 2nd, 2009 at 3:21 pmWow – this behavior is so typical of these repugnicans. Mitt is just as fake as the rest of them – still politicking. Hopefully, this will have the reverse effect and Latinos and Asians will continue to stay away from the GOP’s hypocrisy.
April 2nd, 2009 at 3:25 pmI wonder what those, “patriotic” son’s of his are doing since he has no campaign to work on?
April 2nd, 2009 at 3:32 pmBeing anti-illegal immigrant should be the issue. Dems and repubs need to enforce a work visa program that is probably on the books. Many of us had family that came through Ellis Island, were checked for health problems, these immigrants had to have a sponsor and at least $20.00. What happened to having a safe method of immigration instead of border jumping.
April 2nd, 2009 at 3:34 pmNo conservative is against immigration, just lawbreakers. You speak of Romney’s great great grandfather,, come on give me a break! Every single person should be against amnesty! Did you get the speech the President of Mexico gave in America this weekend? Hope you have real job security…
April 2nd, 2009 at 3:36 pmSo if they got all of that 11%, they’d end up with 11% + the percentage of their base that hire illegals? Thems some dim bulbs, hey?
April 2nd, 2009 at 3:55 pmIf Obama does implement immigration reform and places a hispanic on the supreme court, I guarantee you, Mitt won’t have a chance with the latino community
April 2nd, 2009 at 3:57 pmAwwww, now, ya big ol’ buncha MEANIES!!
Mitty’s just so pretty – now leave him alone!!!!!
April 2nd, 2009 at 4:02 pmMittens really, really wants to be President.
Huckabible, the Palinator, Bobby Jingo to do, too.
Mittens reminds me of the late, great Warren Zevon’s ‘Werewolf in London’…‘and his hair was perfect’.
April 2nd, 2009 at 4:07 pmBut but but if Wrongey had been in town that day that Airbus could have landed on his shoulders!!
April 2nd, 2009 at 4:20 pmNo conservative is against immigration, just lawbreakers
Really? Didnt Limbaugh get oxy thru his maid? Illegally?
April 2nd, 2009 at 4:23 pmRomney discussing McCain-Kennedy during the primary debates.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6EPVyw9GU8
April 2nd, 2009 at 4:52 pmI can’t stand Romney but I’m glad he’s now supporting comprehensive immigration reform. That needs to happen this year. Yes, this year. If anything, the economy is all the more reason to support it. Employers will not be able to exploit this underclass of people once they’re brought out of the shadows.
April 2nd, 2009 at 5:01 pmWith unemployment at an all time high, isn’t this the best time to kick those out who are not here legally? Just a question…
April 2nd, 2009 at 5:08 pmNot really all time, but you know what I mean.
April 2nd, 2009 at 5:12 pmOK, I’ll answer my own questions.
Yes Independent 989 you are right. We should put Americans instead of those from outside of our borders to work. But we should also make sure that they are not a drain on our economy so let’s make sure that they do not have access to government help, accept of course bus fare.
April 2nd, 2009 at 5:21 pmLooks like the GOP has caught on to the fact that alienating a giant and growing voting bloc will render them obsolete. Michael Steele and others, however, have yet to get the memo.
April 2nd, 2009 at 5:23 pmipc Says:
Looks like the GOP has caught on to the fact that alienating a giant and growing voting bloc will render them obsolete. Michael Steele and others, however, have yet to get the memo.
The GOP will come to that conclusion at some point because they have no Moral compass, in general. They will do what they have to do to get votes, instead of standing for principles.
April 2nd, 2009 at 5:27 pmThe only Romney quote in this article:
“We have a natural affinity with Hispanic-American voters, Asian-American voters,”
This is not a confirmation in support of an amnesty.
The only thing you are trying to do is to further apply the “flip flopper” label on Romney in order to make him an unviable candidate in the future.
Romney,as a presidential candidate, really, has no weaknesses. I’ve read articles where reporters try to do their damndest to label him as the “flip flopper” for lack of another attack recourse.
For example, the $50 abortion in the Massachussettes health plan was never placed by Romney. It was mandated by the Massachussettes supreme court. Likewise, it was that same court which legalized gay marriage, not Mitt Romney. In fact, Romney tried to change the Massachussettes constitution to declare marriage as only between a man and a woman.
If the time is taken to really examine Romney’s record, it is clear he is not the flip flopper he has been labeled. And the above are only a few examples of the real facts as opposed to flip-flopper-labeling (obscurtion of facts)effort which has been targeted at Romney.
I’m hispanic,and I have constantly witnessed the total lack of respect for this country many times by illegal aliens. Anywhere from seeing mexican flags hung on front porches(no American flag in sight)to cheering for mexico in a soccer game in the United States(even here illegaly),and of course, refusing to learn English. At the same time demanding rights and respect! This is not normal behavior nor deserving of any reward.
Had Romney won the Florida primary, he would have had an excellent shot at the presidency. I am ashamed that latino voters put the needs of other countries and another culture instead of what was in the best interest of this country which was to vote for Romney. Instead, the vote went to John McCain and his promise of amnesty which meant the needs and best interest of a country other than the United States.
If you had any allegiance to this country, you would realize that mass amnesty is not anywhere near feasable nor in the best interest of this country. But you don’t care about that. Your interests and allegiance lie elsewhere.
And save the racism accusation. Don’t get me started on what a racist country Mexico is. I’ve been there where white mexicans don’t dare and even mingle with the “indios”. Or where I take a look at their television and see nothing but white european looking people on screen and turn around and see the opposite all around. I’d say mexico is the real racist.
April 2nd, 2009 at 5:57 pmmaldo: “…I’m hispanic,and I have constantly witnessed the total lack of respect for this country many times by illegal aliens. Anywhere from seeing mexican flags hung on front porches(no American flag in sight)to cheering for mexico in a soccer game in the United States(even here illegaly),and of course, refusing to learn English. At the same time demanding rights and respect! This is not normal behavior nor deserving of any reward…”
I’m not Hispano, but I have been living in an area that is about 84% Hispano for 5 years. I know opinions among Hispanos regarding illegal immigration are diverse. I also know that the Hispano population in my area is of a diverse background, Mexican, Spanish and other European ethnicities, even Native American. I see a lot of Mexican flags and other Mexican iconography here, in spite of the fact that most of the Hispano residents are born U.S. citizens. And I’m really surprised astonished at your remarks about speaking English! You of all people ought to know that the Southwest was largely populated by Spanish speakers when it became a U.S. territory, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo did not require Spanish speakers to give up the Spanish language as a condition of U.S. citizenship, so Spanish *is* one of the U.S.’s native languages!
April 2nd, 2009 at 6:37 pmThat is it… when there is an apparent change just slaughter it. Are you kidding me?!?! What an absolute joke. Yeah there is a HUGE problem with immigration. I love how so many just imply that they only come here to get away from violence and blah blah blah blah blah…. Look I accept that there are many who have come to escape violence. Do you not ever want to discuss the enormous issues and problems brought on by illegal or undocumented or whatever you want to call these law breaking individuals? You are quick to point out Sheriff Joe and his “investigation” yet you don’t mention that it is ultimately for upholding immigration laws. Illegals don’t have constitutional rights because they aren’t citizens and I grow so weary of that argument. How can the document of the USA be providing rights to a NON CITIZEN? Mitt is by far the most qualified to earn the nod. So let the smear campaign begin. Will you do me a favor in the interest of non partisanship… find me ONE of the Democratic Nom’s that didn’t have something you could, using this weak assessment, call a flip flop? I respect that politicians CAN change their mind. Yes sometimes and more often than not it’s to gain votes, but let’s not try and pin it on one. Hell we are seeing it manifest in our President now, yet worse he is flip flopping on what were campaign promises that he is flip flopping into policy! Now tell me which is more reprehensible?
Check out the skinny on Joe Arpaio…
April 2nd, 2009 at 6:59 pm
This column is a bunch of nonsense. There is only one quote from Romney in the entire piece and it doesn’t have anything to do with his supposed position change. Romney has not “flip flopped” on immigration reform. Anyone who followed the 2008 GOP primary knows that Mitt has always supported immigration reform…he just wants it done the right way. He doesn’t support the John McCain way of granting amnesty to illegal immigrants. This is a desperate attempt by the writer to further his cause to attack Romney and the GOP. There is about as much substance in this column as there are ski resorts in Florida.
By-the-way do Democrats really want to get into a debate about “flip flopping”. Wasn’t it Obama that said he would take public financing for his campaign..and then he opted out. Reference: http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0208/Obamas_public_financing_problem.html
Wasn’t it Obama that said he wouldn’t hire lobbyist….and then he hired one his first week in office.
Reference: http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/01/28/campbell.brown.ethics/index.html
April 2nd, 2009 at 9:22 pmI want to thank all of you who beleive the undocumented worker has a right to be here under any circumstance. i have become a millionaire at the tender age of 54 in my friends company after 5 yrs.
April 2nd, 2009 at 10:39 pmThis was all possible on the backs of the undocumented worker. By the way they have no desire to be documented. we make a fortune because we don’t have to pay a prevailing wage,income tax, futa, ssi. Where we really make a killing is the workmans compensation. This would ruin us be cause we run a high risk to injury company.
We have a steady flow of manpower our H.R. man is Cuban speaks the language. Gets us the best for our buck. He can’t stand the mexicans or Guatamalans so he shows no favoritism.
You might say we exploit. But I say we are benefactors. Where else can they go? My freind says society makes us this way.
JAJ: “…Yeah there is a HUGE problem with immigration. I love how so many just imply that they only come here to get away from violence and blah blah blah blah blah…. Look I accept that there are many who have come to escape violence. Do you not ever want to discuss the enormous issues and problems brought on by illegal or undocumented or whatever you want to call these law breaking individuals?…”
Look, if this country really wants to do something about illegal immigration, then we need to get people off the drugs coming through the borders and are destroying Mexico in so many ways. That means our friends, co-workers, neighbors, KIDS, etc. Do you not want to discuss the enormous issues and problems brought on by out of control drug addicts in this country, or whatever you call these lawbreaking individuals?
April 2nd, 2009 at 10:49 pm“Look, if this country really wants to do something about illegal immigration, then we need to get people off the drugs coming through the borders and are destroying Mexico in so many ways. That means our friends, co-workers, neighbors, KIDS, etc. Do you not want to discuss the enormous issues and problems brought on by out of control drug addicts in this country, or whatever you call these lawbreaking individuals?”
I don’t disagree that we have to work to get the drugees off the drugs. But ow can we when we have porous borders whereby drugs are nothing more than an illegal “import”. I never mentioned nor even discussed the existing problem of drugs, but sure I will discuss this. But if we can start to curb the incoming drugs, do a little homework on where most the drugs get here from, then it’s a step in the right direction. part of it is taking away the drugs from the users. DO you honestly suppose that the porous border doesn’t play a HUGE factor in the US drug “trade”?
How did we get on this anyway? Mitt was accused of being a flip flopper and you started spewing drug stuff? Since you asked if I wanted to discuss something, let me ask you the same… Tell me how and why undocumented/illegal workers are due CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS? Riddle me that.
April 3rd, 2009 at 3:34 pmFlip flopping like another GOP fish out of water.
April 4th, 2009 at 12:34 amBayh and his buddy are sob,s nort to help their own president they will pay darly for this including no reelection or any post on senate comittees they wuill be striped by Reis a good senator
April 4th, 2009 at 9:25 amOK Pat obviously senile dementia has set in. Time to see the nice young men that will need to take care of you soon.burun estetigi rent a car arac kiralama
April 18th, 2009 at 6:12 amsac ekimi