THE SPINE DECEMBER 6, 2007
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Just about a year ago I posted news gleaned from the Boston Globe about Mitt Romney having retained a gardening company for his enormous estate in Belmont, Mass.* The rub was that, like many gardening concerns, the workers were illegal immigrants...or, as the colloquials put it, "undocumented." Maybe you read the new news about Romney's shenanigans. But you haven't seen all of the news about this, with all the slippery nuances, unless you've read yesterday's Globe. Two articles, in fact: one, "More immigrant woes for Romney;" the second, "Candidate provides new fodder for rivals." Then, there's a third article in this morning's Globe: "Reaction mixed after Romney fires service."Romney is not all heart. We know from the ugly campaign he's been waging against "illegals," as if there were no complicated moral and, indeed, constitutional issues to be confronted on this matter, that he's prepared to be as Draconian as the Republican base will take. That's a lot.And, yes, the Democrats want to be soft and look away from the question of how we got where we are. Which is that, as soon as the last amnesty for illegals was signed into law, everyone averted their gaze from new illegals heading across the borders or staying on after their visas expired.The fact is that these people do not hate America. They love America. And, however problematic and it is very problematic, that should be a source of pride for us.
*Correction: The original version of this post mistakenly referred to Mitt Romney as George Romney.
6 comments
The Democrats don't want to avoid the issue on its merits, they want to avoid the issue because of the balancing act between satisfying both the black community and the Hispanic community, who are at differing ends of the immigration issue. Sigh, this is another reason why I wish Congress had passed the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act.
- rozenson
December 6, 2007 at 5:42pm
peretz,
Here, here. Well put. I am in complete agreement on all your points. (which includes your speculation on Democratic avoidance...I hate to say it but I sense that you are right on that too)
- thejauntyboulevardier
December 6, 2007 at 6:22pm
Freudian Slip there with the 'George' Romney line.
Your post is to a Mitt Romney story, so maybe your just getting a little old.
I thought there would be a little more George Romney in the campaign coverage. He was an interesting character.
George Romney was born in Colonia Dublán, Galeana, in the Mexican state of Chihuahua. And he ran for President of the United States, even though you have to be a natural born citizen to qualify. I would ask Mitt if his father met the qualifications to be President, do the Illegal Immigrants who cut his grass qualify to be citizens? In 2008 would he support his Dad's position that a foreign born citizen could run for President?
Nah. Let's just scream at each other and call them hypocrites.
- CRS9TNR
December 7, 2007 at 8:12am
CRS9TNR, being born to American citizens anywhere in the world qualifies as being a natural born citizen. My sons were born in China but were citizens of the US by birthright. You do not need to be born in the United States to be a citizen. (if this were not the case all of the children of US military personnel born abroad would also be ineligible to be President). this is logical, you simply can't expect that children born of american citizens abroad be considered countryless (many countries do not give citizenship due to being born in the country, reserving the right to its citizens only, something I find deplorable)
- blackton
December 7, 2007 at 1:34pm
Correction: they love *some* of America -- take a look at the polls of Mexican attitudes towards African-Americans (exemplified best by Vincente Fox's not-too-sbutle work ethic remarks and their Sambo-stamps). Maybe they want to emigrate to Dixie.
- Lymon1
December 7, 2007 at 3:31pm
Blackie,
Thanks for clarifying there. I am with you in your analysis, but I would still ask the question. Some of the best questions I ever asked, I knew the answer before I asked the question. I just want Mitt to explain his immigration policy within the context of his own family.
George Romney thought he was eligible because he had an American Father when he was born in Mexico. But his Grandparents fled the US to Mexico to avoid procesution as Polygamists. There is no way the Supreme Court would approve a family that fled US Laws to allow their children US Natural Born Citizenship.
The point here is about values an Immigrant brings to the US. The Romneys did not accept the Mexican values of marriage when they immigrated to Mexico. Would Mitt expect immigrants to speak English?
Yes Mitt would defend his Father's Interpretation of the Constitution. Would he accept the consequences today of those decisions? Let him talk and explain himself.
The let his oponnents discuss his positions. That's what a debate is about.
Once again, thanks Blackie. Good to know you are keeping up with things here at TNR.
- CRS9TNR
December 8, 2007 at 11:55am