Thompson raps rivals on immigration

[Ron Burgundy]

AP - Fred Thompson accused Republican campaign rivals Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney of being soft on illegal immigration Thursday, dismissing them as latecomers to the issue as they strive for the presidency.

"I was walking the walk when others weren't even talking the talk yet," Thompson said at an appearance with supporters in Georgia.

He said he voted in 1996 to outlaw sanctuary cities, where city employees are not required to report illegal immigrants to federal authorities.

"Along about that same time, Mayor Giuliani was supporting the concept of sanctuary cities," Thompson said. "Governor Romney certainly didn't say anything against sanctuary cities until recently."

Thompson said that to know where he would be on bedrock conservative issues, people need only look at his record.

"I was a conservative then, I am a conservative today and I will be a conservative tomorrow," he said.

The Romney and Giuliani camps responded by saying Thompson had voted as a senator against a stricter employment verification system and a measure that would have blocked illegal immigrants from receiving certain benefits.

"Senator Thompson's missing a few pages from his screenplay," Giuliani spokesman Elliot Bundy said, a reference to Thompson's career as an actor as well as his years as a senator from Tennessee.

A Romney spokeswoman lumped Thompson together with Giuliani on immigration.

"Both Mayor Giuliani and Fred Thompson have embraced immigration policies that weaken our nation's ability to secure our borders and stop the flow of illegal immigration," spokeswoman Gail Gitcho said.

Giuliani is a former mayor of New York City. Romney is a former governor of Massachusetts.

In his first visit to Georgia since announcing he was entering the presidential race, Thompson emphasized conservative stances on taxes, national security and welfare — and strong opposition to abortion.

Asked by a reporter about the lobbying work he did on behalf of National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association, an abortion rights group, Thompson said Thursday he had no regrets.

"That was private life," Thompson said.

"Those people now are coming out of the woodwork now because I'm their worst nightmare," he said. "I proceeded to go to the United States Senate and vote against them consistently for eight years so now they're trying to defeat me."

source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071018/ap_po/thompson_immigration [link]

[DinTN]

KENNESAW, Ga. (AP) — Fred Thompson accused Republican campaign rivals Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney of being soft on illegal immigration Thursday, dismissing them as latecomers to the issue as they strive for the presidency.
"I was walking the walk when others weren't even talking the talk yet," Thompson said at an appearance with supporters in Georgia.
He said he voted in 1996 to outlaw sanctuary cities, where city employees are not required to report illegal immigrants to federal authorities."


Fred Thompsons Immigration Voting Record:

Voted to grant amnesty to close to one million illegal aliens from Nicaragua and Cuba in 1997:
Sen. Thompson voted to grant legal status to Nicaraguans and Cubans who had lived in the United States illegally since 1995, along with their spouses and minor unmarried children. The overall ten year impact of this legislation will be the addition of some 967,000 people to U.S. population.

Voted in 1996 to continue chain migration:
Sen. Thompson in 1996 voted against the Simpson Amendment to S.1664. It was a vote in favor of a chain migration system that has been the primary reason for annual immigration levels snowballing from less than 300,000 in 1965 to around a million. Sen. Thompson supported provisions that allow immigrants to send for their adult relatives. Then each of those relatives can send for their and their spouse’s adult relatives, creating a never-ending and ever-growing chain. The bi-partisan Barbara Jordan Commission recommended doing away with the adult relative categories (begun only in the 1950s) in order to lessen wage depression among lower-paid American workers. The Simpson Amendment attempted to carry out that recommendation. But Sen. Thompson helped kill the reform by voting with the 80-20 majority against the amendment. Sen. Thompson’s vote helped continue a level of immigration that the Census Bureau projects will result in a doubled U.S. population in the next century.

Voted in favor of chain migration in 1996:
Sen. Thompson voted in 1996 against the Feinstein Amendment to S.1664. The Feinstein Amendment would have reduced annual admission of spouses and minor children of citizens to 480,000 and significantly reduced annual limits other categories of chain migration such as parents of citizens and adult unmarried children of citizens. By voting against the Feinstein Amendment, Sen. Thompson voted in favor of a system of chain migration that has been the primary reason for annual immigration levels snowballing from less than 300,000 in 1965 to around a million today.

Voted to allow firms to lay off Americans to make room for foreign workers in 1998:
Before the Senate passed the H-1B doubling bill (S.1723), Sen. Thompson had an opportunity to vote for a measure requiring U.S. firms to check a box on a form attesting that they had first sought an American worker for the job. Sen. Thompson voted against that, joining those who said the requirement would give government too much authority over corporations’ right to hire whomever they please from whatever country.

In 1996, removed higher fines for businesses which hire illegal aliens:
Sen. Thompson, in committee consideration of S.1664 protected businesses from having to pay higher fines when they are caught hiring illegal aliens. Under the idea that current fines were not enough of a deterrent against businesses cutting their labor costs by hiring illegal aliens, the Senate immigration subcommittee approved higher fines.

Tried to kill voluntary pilot programs for workplace verification in 1996:
Sen. Thompson voted IN FAVOR of the Abraham Amendment to S.1664. He was part of a coalition of pro-business conservatives and liberal civil libertarians who tried to use the amendment to kill the establishment of voluntary pilot programs in high-immigration states. The programs were intended to assist employers in verifying whether people they had just hired had the legal right to work in this country.
...
"I was walking the walk when others weren't even talking the talk yet."
RON PAUL / TOM TANCREDO IN '08!

[DosEquis]

Good find Rook!

[avsp]

Sorry I didnt move this over sooner.

Bumped for your attention

Does Thmopson have a better or worse record of misrepresenting his history than other candidates?

[DinTN]

Given the short amount of time since his announcement, he's spouted off about illegal immigration far more than any other in the long run. Than, I guess, I'd say worse.
I have to admit I'm fairly new to politics and don't always express myself as well as others who are much more experienced in the process.

I see what illegal immigration is doing to this country, and being nostalgic in many ways, (not wanting to grow old, I guess) I just can't invision my Grandchildren in an America over-run by Mexican flags, the Spanish language, and a leader who puts the interests of illegals ahead of our own.

I'm now in Tennessee, as a transplant from central Florida, so I've seen Thompson around for a long time. I just can't vote for any candidate that I don't trust, don't believe and especially one who I feel only says what he thinks people want to hear, or just because it's the popular issue of the day. I'm paying attention more to what they do, have done in the past, and less of what they say.
For someone who states, "I was walking the walk when others weren't even talking the talk yet..." is totally rediculous.
Tom Tancredo has been around and fighting illegal immigration for far longer than Thompson or any other candidate.

[RMNIXON]

Glad he saw the importance of the issue and started the fight, but no one is coming out clean I suspect!

[DinTN]

Oh, I don't know. You can't come much cleaner than this can you:

Obama Statement on Dream Act (Amnesty)
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Obama Statement on Dream Act | U.S. Senator Barack Obama
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) today released the following statement on the Senate’s failure to move forward to consider the DREAM Act (S.2205), which would provide undocumented children the opportunity to pursue higher education or serve in our military, and eventually become legalized citizens:

“We need comprehensive immigration reform in this country – reform that promotes our national and economic security and creates a pathway to earned citizenship for the 12 million undocumented immigrants in this country. We should not punish undocumented children who were brought to this country illegally through no choice of their own by keeping them in the shadows. The DREAM Act would have given these young people the opportunity to earn a degree or serve in our military, and eventually become legalized citizens. Failing to pass the DREAM Act only compounds the immigration crisis by continuing to drive thousands of young people every year into hiding.

“Today is another missed opportunity in the battle to solve the immigration crisis in this country. The immigration debate has been wrought with the politics of division and fear, and been exploited by some politicians, blocking the real reform we need. Today's vote proves that we need to do more to transcend these divisions – especially to provide solutions to help the most vulnerable in our society. I will continue to work with Senators Durbin, Hagel, Lugar and Kennedy on this issue, and will fight to bring this legislation back for another vote as soon as possible.”
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Statement of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton on the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act

Washington, DC – “More than 65,000 immigrant students will graduate from U.S. high schools this year only to see the doors of opportunity closed to them. These are gifted and highly motivated children who grew up in the United States. For these children, many of whom arrived to this country as babies, America is the only home they know. They speak English fluently, and for many it is their first and only language. Many have never even visited the country of their birth. They have been educated in our public school system. They have stayed in school and stayed out of trouble. These kids are honor students, team captains, student body presidents and valedictorians.

“Many would like nothing more than to contribute to the only country they’ve ever known as home. But for these children, because of their immigration status, they are often effectively barred from pursuing a post-secondary education and reaching their full potential. Through no fault of their own, they are forced to live in the shadows and denied their chance at achieving their God given potential.

“What are we saying to these hard working students? Well I will tell you. We are saying they are not welcome in the only country they have ever known. We are telling them to go back to another country they often know little about, where they may not speak the language, or understand the culture. These are children caught at a crossroads, and rather than providing them with an opportunity, we are holding them accountable for the actions of their parents.
“This is not the America I know.

“There is a solution to this crisis, but sadly, the Senate today failed to act. The DREAM Act – which I have proudly cosponsored for several years – would help expand opportunities for our nation’s immigrant children. For those students who have grown up in the United States, have demonstrated good moral character, and are pursuing a college education or have enlisted in the military, the DREAM Act will provide an opportunity to earn legal status in this country.

“There are many good reasons to enact the DREAM Act. In today’s twenty-first century economy, where a post-secondary education is quickly becoming the minimum requirement for higher-earning jobs, we need to provide the children in our country with every opportunity to achieve academically, both for their benefit but also for the benefit of our society. The DREAM Act would also strengthen our nation’s military readiness, allowing these well-qualified young men and women to serve their country with honor. But most importantly, the DREAM Act ensures that the promise of the American Dream becomes a reality for all our children.

“I am disappointed that the Senate failed to pass the DREAM Act. The enactment of this legislation is long overdue, and I will continue to fight for its passage, for all of our children and our nation.”
HillaryClinton.com - Media Release
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With no regard to American children or the fact that the chain migration will over run our country with illegal invaders! Campaign contributions from immigrants no one can track down or identify and Latino votes is what it's all about.
I hope this is the beginning of the end for both of them along with La Raza's Bill Richardson.