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Thursday, June 21, 2012

2012 Mitt Romney Doesn't Appear to Know What Mitt Romney's Stance on Immigration Should Be

Posted by Paul Constant on Thu, Jun 21, 2012 at 1:07 PM

For days now, the press has been trying to get Mitt Romney to take a stand on President Obama's new immigration policy. It's an important question, because Romney came down hard on illegal immigration during the Republican debates, and Obama's new policy appears to be very popular across the board. Well, today Mitt Romney somehow gave a whole speech on immigration in Florida without actually saying what he would do about immigration:

"Some people have asked if I will let stand the president's executive order," Romney said at the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials conference. Romney incorrectly referred to the policy change as an order from the president instead of a directive to agencies dealing with immigration.

"The answer is that I will put in place my own long-term solution that will replace and supersede the president's temporary measure," he said.

Instead, he just flung around the usual cliches, about putting an end to a "broken system" that's gummed-up with "red tape" by passing legislation to "promote strong families, not keep them apart." The speech was weak on policy and tried to frame immigration as an economic issue, because the economy is the only reliable perceived strength that Mitt Romney has. But instead, he comes across as vapid, aimless, and terrified of pissing anyone—conservative, Latino, whatever—off. He also shows a serious lack of empathy by relating to a problem that affects millions of human beings almost solely on economic terms. My favorite response to the speech is from Reason's Peter Suderman on Twitter:

Screen_shot_2012-06-21_at_12.59.11_PM.png

Not to mention, Romney still hasn't answered the goddamned question of what he thinks about President Obama's new policy.

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Comments (12) RSS

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How does the Long Term Solution compare to the Final Solution? (Godwin!)

Posted by pox on June 21, 2012 at 1:30 PM

The man is an empty vessel. A container into which whatever audience is watching him can pour their own ideas and positions. If he were to actual give voice to an idea, state a position he'd lose the one thing that got him where he is. The ability to morph into whoever is listening to him wants him to be.

Its is a salesman's trick a trick he has based his entire career on whether in business or politics. After all Bain Capital was/is nothing more then equity sales business. And like all salesmen he can create nothing more then the sale. Once the sale is done there is nothing.

Posted by Machiavelli was framed on June 21, 2012 at 1:42 PM

As compared to Obama's position - pander, pander, pander.

Posted by delbert on June 21, 2012 at 2:02 PM

Romney is in full campaign mode, every statement and policy idea having to be vetted before he can change his mind (again).

Side note, the Romney boys were on Conan. Take what you will from dad's long history of humor... http://jezebel.com/5920229/mitt-romneys-…

Posted by Large Hardon Colluder on June 21, 2012 at 2:56 PM

@3 as compared to "i would pander pander pander, too, but i'd have pandered faster and for 20 billion less".

Posted by Max Solomon on June 21, 2012 at 2:59 PM

What is Obama's policy anyway?

That he will only enforce deportation of adults?

So he'll separate families from their children?

And is going to do the same thing he did with pot enforcement...say one thing in 2010 and then turn around and change it all the next year once people go out on a limb?

When is this guy going to keep a firm hand on the tiller?!

Posted by Supreme Ruler Of The Universe

on June 21, 2012 at 3:03 PM

Welcome to the emptiness of 21st C. American politics. There is the RNC option, wholesale ATM worshiping of the financial vultures. Then there's the Dem option, who want to negotiate having not to swallow every tenth time.

And, of course, the idiots who insist that everything will be fine once their candidate is given all the power.

Our current system is broken. The US government does not operate for the people and has pretty much given up all pretense that it does so. The only major shift is that people of all political stripes are realizing this, and thus we are entering a major crisis of legitimacy.

Posted by Some Old Nobodaddy Logged In on June 21, 2012 at 5:36 PM

@6 this thing called the DREAM act; if you want Obama's policies implemented, write your congresspeople!

Posted by JonnoN on June 21, 2012 at 8:27 PM

@7 - Your ranting is so malleable because your thoughts are so uncoordinated.

Posted by Phoebe in Wallingford on June 21, 2012 at 10:41 PM

I was just listening to a story about Washington not having enough migrant workers to pick fruit- Americans don't want to do this work, It's a false argument that they are stealing our jobs, Fact is we should embrace them.
-Two generations out of Mexico

Posted by seattlejenny on June 22, 2012 at 5:19 AM

Previously, didn't Etch-a-Sketch say that he would veto the Dream Act? I think his position is pretty clear. He just doesn't want Latinos to know it.

Posted by Patricia Kayden on June 22, 2012 at 8:15 AM

wasnt romneys dad born in a polygamist cult in northern mexico?

Posted by porchedge on June 22, 2012 at 9:25 AM