Romney’s Tough Immigration Stance Excludes Cubans: ‘The More The Merrier’

Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney has tried to portray himself as a hard-liner on immigration. During last night’s debate, Romney aggressively went after former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani for presiding over such a “sanctuary city.” “[W]e should say if you’re here illegally, you should not be here,” he said.

In a recent campaign ad, Romney also promised that if elected president, he would “oppose amnesty,” “cut funding for sanctuary cities,” and “secure our borders.” Watch it:

Yet in an interview on Tuesday with the Tampa Tribune editorial board, Romney undermined all his tough talk by revealing that he actually wants America’s borders loosened for one constituency: Cubans. From the interview:

“I can tell you my inclination would be to say as many Cubans as want to come here should come in,” Romney said in an interview Tuesday with The Tampa Tribune editorial board. [...]

Romney replied that Cuban Americans are exemplary citizens who have brought “great vitality, skills and energy to the American experience.”

“In my opinion, the more the merrier,” he said.

Romney’s embrace of all Cubans seems to be a pander to Florida’s strong Cuban-American community, “a coveted voting bloc in past presidential elections.” In 2000, President Bush “won Florida by a mere 537 votes, but his advantage among Cubans was about 4-to-1.” In a poll right before the 2004 election, Bush drew 81 percent of the Cuban vote.

Romney added that on matters dealing with Cuba, he “depends on advice from prominent members of Florida’s Cuban American community, such as U.S. Reps. Lleana Ros-Lehtinen and Mario Diaz-Balart.” Time’s Ana Marie Cox spoke with Ros-Lehtinen and Diaz-Barlar, both supporters of Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), who denied that they have ever advised Romney.

Unclear if Romney’s open arms would welcome Fidel Castro as well.

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