Tuesday, December 04, 2007
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Return of Sanctuary Mansion
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Posted by:
Patrick Ruffini at
10:23 PM
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Oops:
Standing on stage at a Republican debate on the Gulf Coast of Florida last week, Mitt Romney repeatedly lashed out at rival Rudy Giuliani for providing sanctuary to illegal immigrants in New York City. Yet, the very next morning, on Thursday, at least two illegal immigrants stepped out of a hulking maroon pickup truck in the driveway of Romney's Belmont house, then proceeded to spend several hours raking leaves, clearing debris from Romney's tennis court, and loading the refuse back on to the truck. In fact, their work was part of a regular pattern. Despite a Globe story in Dec. 2006 that highlighted Romney's use of illegal immigrants to tend to his lawn, Romney continued to employ the same landscaping company – until today. The landscaping company, in turn, continued to employ illegal immigrants. I don't think Republican primary voters will respond directly to this, as they tend to close ranks on MSM hit jobs against their leading candidates. The more this is seen as a Globe-led crusade, the better for Romney.
But you have to wonder what Romney was thinking using the same company that got him in hot water the year before. You would think he would have had this kind of thing squared away before he became an active candidate. It's not like he's ever at the house overseeing these guys, but that's no excuse. This is exactly the kind of treatment any candidate can expect. Do we know, for instance, who's been tending the garden on Whitehaven Street or in Chappaqua? In light of this report, perhaps we should.
The other immediate results is that this gives retrospective legitimacy to Rudy's gutsy "sanctuary mansion" attack from the last debate. It was unconventional at the time, and the audience had a strong negative reaction to it. But debates aren't about what happens at the debate, but what happens in the spin afterwards. This has validated an initially controversial attack and given it a new set of legs.
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Hahaha hahahha hhahahha What a trip this is!!!
Okay I will sit back and wait for the spin
dirL |
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against Mitt Romney. The MSM does have a double standard and this is an obvious example. But it is crazy to cry foul that the Boston Globe checked to see if Mitt Romney was still using illegal aliens. I am frankly amazed illegal alien Guantamalans were working at Casa Romney yesterday!
This is an unforced error by Mitt Romney. As Patrick points out Mitt raised the whole "sanctuary issue" with Rudy Giuilani a few days ago. It is not like this is the first time it has come up, Mitt had to defend against this months ago. Even Michelle Malkin noted Mitt's decision not to fire this company was stupid.
How you going to trust Mitt to control illegal immigration when he can't seem to keep them off his lawn? Mitt made this a central issue in his campaign. It is not that big a deal and is not fatal in and of itself, but combined with Mitt's past statements on this issue it is going to hurt him because it exposes his pandering (again). |
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Richardo Saenz is supposedly a Mormon. This is another minor angle of this story that is only significant because it plays into Mitt's upcoming Mormon speech on Thursday. No big surprise about the hire, lots of people hire other people from their churches and temples. Why not? Presumably as a fellow member you trust them, but sometimes those you hire from your church and temple may not always be honest. You would think this guy would have understood bringing the illegal Guantamalans to Mitt's house would be a problem (especially after the dust up last summer). Did Mitt think he did not have to check up on the guy because he was LDS? Obviously if that was the case, his trust was misplaced.
See Virginia Patriot, I have been saying lots of illegals do not necessarily cross the border.
One said he had paid $7,000 to a smuggler to escort him across the desert into Arizona; the other said he had come to the country with a student visa that was now expired. Both were seen on the lawn by either Globe reporters or photographers over the last two months.
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Yes, this is a stupendous and inexplicable lack of judgment. Why oh why did he let this happen, he will be the laughing stock on the campaign trail tomorrow, and it feeds right into the suspicion he is just a slick talker saying what he thinks the rube GOP primary voter want to hear.
Hillary has been going downhill since he could not decide on the illegal license question at the debate. Will this mark th moment the wheels come off the campaign.
And right on the eve of the Speech, the timing could not be worse. |
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Maybe Rudy had inside information that the Globe was going to release the attack but only after Rudy set it up in the debate?
Rudy gets to set the timing of the attack on Romney. Sweet arrangement if you can get it.
Why would that not surprise me?
The Globe must coordinate all of their hit jobs before they drop it on Romney? |
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I am aware that at least 40% of illegal aliens are visa overstays. They are still illegal aliens. In any competent country, if you stayed beyond the limit of your visa, you would be found, detained and deported. We still have no "check out" system in place, only a "check in". Once in, you're home free, as there is no interior enforcement. That has to change if we wish to survive as a nation. |
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We should have a check out system that beeps when you go 1 minute over. Then a national bench warrant should be issued for your arrest. That way if you even get a speeding ticket, you are booked, taken to an airport and made to get on a plane.
And as for border crossers, we should be doing the same thing, If they are caught, back they go. I am willing to consider those illegal who have been here for years, speak English, have not committed crimes, and have jobs getting in line and getting processed. They should pay a fine and the costs of their processing. The burden is on them to justify why they should stay.
I am for strict work place fines for hiring illegals and for greater port and border security.
And you were instrumental in moving me in that direction. |
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Who gives a rat's rear end if Romney's yardcare company hired an illegal? Romney didn't. Just this week a man who does our neighbors yard agreed to come over and take out some bushes for me. I really dont' care where he's from, and I'm not going to ask. How many other candidates have their yards taken care of and actually ask if the employees are all legal?
Romney told his company that they needed to shape up, they didn't and he let them go. End of story - no controversy. My gosh, people! If this is all you have on him, he's pretty clean, eh?
I just can't get too worked up about it. But when you're looking for something to dig Romney over, apparently almost anything will suffice. |
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Only a Rudy fan would call that slam on Mitt's gardners "gutsy." It was a cheap shot at Romney's wealth, bringing up an issue long dead.
But now, you say, it's alive again, because the Globe did a stakeout of Romney's yard company? Oh, please. Let's see a similar effort for the yardwork done for Giuliani, Huckabee, McCain (in Arizona, yet!) and Thompson. Also, let's check to see if Rudy ever eats in restaurants that employ illegal busboys.
Give me a break. |
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I can not believe that you or anyone believe the following line;
"I don't think Republican primary voters will respond directly to this, as they tend to close ranks on MSM hit jobs against their leading candidates. The more this is seen as a Globe-led crusade, the better for Romney."
You do not get it man. I think a great many of us are tired and mystified by the illegal immigration problem. This will not play well with anyone. The incredible lack of judgment that Romney displayed here is very telling. Either Romney is stupid, foolish, gullible, naive or way too forgiving probably all the above -any of the above disqualifies him to be the president. Illegal Immigration is a very straight forward issue. To stand there and say you are against it and then continue to let them work on Romneybot Plantation is mindblowingly incongruent. Wow just wow. And this is a hit piece make no mistake, but how stupid do you have to be to let this happen again. Stuck on Stupid, too stupid for my vote.
Step up Romneybots what is the spin?
dirLs
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Ask yourself this question. Do you trust Rudy, Huck or Romney more to seal the border?
I'll take Romney over Rudy any day. Dittos for Huck.
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He has $200 million and he's still too cheap to hire Americans - you can't really blame him. He thinks he's better than all of us so he doesn't need to spend his precious money. He never thought for a minute we'd find out, or that we'd care. He doesn't really have any thoughts or platform of his own - he's just a sock puppet who floats any way the wind blows. Don't get me wrong - he LOOKS fabulous! Really beautiful guy, got a great smile - and tall as all get out. My candidate just kinda looks like an old bantam rooster - that's funny 'cause it's so true. Dr. Ron Paul has been fighting the good fight for 20 years now in Congress. You all hear about him as Dr. No, but do you know he authors at least 10 pieces of legislation a year to REDUCE the federal government's power to those enumerate in the Constitution? Sometimes bills, but sometimes Constitutional Amendments too. He believes that if we need to do something that's not in the Constitution we should amend it to allow us to do so LEGALLY. You'll note this post WON'T be followed by one showing all his flip-flops... because there aren't any. I KNOW you've seen us all posting about him - why not take half an hour and see what the buzz is about at http://www.RonPaul2008.com? Or just look in the Federal Register? |
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"Ask yourself this question. Do you trust Rudy, Huck or Romney more to seal the border?"
It comes down to Huck or Rudy because it certainly is not the guy who hasn't figured out how to keep them from working on his own lawn. |
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the anti-Mitt fanatics dedication commenting to Hugh's posts. Thats alot of time spent. If only you all spent it on something a bit more worthwhile in your own lives. |
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Romney has shown a clear inablity to even keep illegals off of his front yard.
I sure don't trust him to keep them out of the country.
What kind of business man is he that he wouldn't have fired this company a year ago? Stunningly dumb move on his part. |
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"If this is all you have on him, he's pretty clean, eh?"
No. The family of each illegal costs taxpayers $21K, at least. Unless the GOP has given up on the philosophy that smaller government is better, hiring illegals only a month away from the first primary is bad. Really, really bad.
If you and your neighbor hire illegals, then you and your neighbor are common thieves, just like Mitt Romney.
Except you are worse than common thieves. A common thief takes the chance of going to jail or being killed; the funds used to feed, clothe, educate, and provide health care for illegals and their families comes through government coercion. This means that you personally cannot be held accountable for the theft you advocate.
Not only are you a thief, you are a coward.
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Romney may not be you guy. Yeah, this hurts Mitt on that issue. Thompson looks a lot better. And even Rudy's snarky Sanctuary Mansion remark doesn't seem so snarky now. It matters because Mitt says it matters (and did the opposite).
Not exactly a trip on the Monkey Business, but not a plus for the Romney campaign right now. |
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Here are the facts:
1. There is not one of these guys, if elected President, that's going to do ANYTHING about illegal immigration. There's not going to be any fence, no penalties for employers, nothing. You may see some increased border patrol for show, and you amy get some sort of amnesty eventually. Virginia Patriot knows this is true, that's why he's for Duncan, who will not be elected.
2. Therefore, all talk about illegal immigration is just designed to get those of you who care about this issue to vote one way over another. As with abortion, you are just being manipulated for your support over this issue.
3. Mitt is weak on this issue. So is everyone else. But the idea that some people would think he is MORE weak because his gardener is illegal is totally laughable. As I asked before, who among us can separate ourselves from illegals at this point of time? For better or worse, we have allowed these people into the fabric of our lives. How many among us are "free" of illegals?
This landscaping thing deserves to be a non-story. It really says nothing about Mitt Romney, one way or another. |
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This has all the signs of a reprise of the various "nanny" troubles from Clinton's original AG choices through Linda Chavez.
I'll quibble with one comment of Patrick's, though, to wit:
"This is exactly the kind of treatment any candidate can expect. Do we know, for instance, who's been tending the garden on Whitehaven Street or in Chappaqua? In light of this report, perhaps we should."
A big perhaps to that - Hugh has commented elsewhere about various Kerry hires and contractors, and the Globe's disinterest in them. While any candidate might expect this, I wonder if the Globe really wants to claim credit for unleashing the follow ups which will wander in from all over the place, from all sorts of "investigative journalists". I look forward to the Globes upcoming extend and revise columns as the right wing media goes to town on the democratic field.
This is small beer for Mitt providing he maintains discipline - following this logic, nobody should ever order a BLT again, since each constituent element likely passed through countless illegal aliens hands on its way to the table.
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Democrats are pro illegal immigration, Mitt Romney said he was against it, hense this is a story. Mitt talked the talk about illegal immigration, but failed to walk the walk.
But with that much said. . .
Mitt is a good man. He is just not the best man, in my opinion, to be the GOP nominee. But if Mitt prevails I will proudly support him. Because for all his faults, Mitt is better than what the Democrats are proposing. |
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I didn't say they are illegals working on my neighbors or my yard, I don't know if they are or not - and I'm not advocating theft. There ae illegals working EVERYWHERE, restaurants, hotels, gas stations, you name it. Do you ask whether illegals are employed every time you use any of these businesses?
Romney did not hire illegals. The lawn care company did. As soon as he knew what was going on, he did the righ thing. Here's what he said,
"After this same issue arose last year, I gave the company a second chance with very specific conditions. They were instructed to make sure people working for the company were of legal status. We personally met with the company in order to inform them about the importance of this matter," he said. "The owner of the company guaranteed us, in very certain terms, that the company would be in total compliance with the law going forward."
Sounds like he did everything right. I don't think there is anything wrong with Romney giving the company a second chance, and I don't think any of this is earth-shatteringly important.
As governor, Romney was in favor of employer verification. He was against driver's licenses for illegals. He was for english immersion. He has the best record on immigration of the top tier, including Fred who was given a C on the issue as senator.
I wonder if the Globe has staked out any other candidate's yard. Pretty silly if you ask me. And quite funny that there is nothing worse to dig up about Romney.
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So everytime a guy that I hire and he brings his crew over to rake my leaves and shovel my snow or does some roofing work I am supposed to ask him for paperwork of all of his crew?? I agree with PC and a few others that if you're digging for dirt here on Romney this is really weak stuff. I think you don't like Romney for other reasons. I think it is hilarious how everyone always knocks his looks, wealth, success, etc. I thought as conservatives that is what we like to see each of us achieve or attain. It is liberals who always try to undercut our desire for success and play class warfare. I really scratch my head and wonder why we aren't behind Mitt more as a candidate because he is incredibly smart and successful and he WILL eat Hillary for lunch in a debate! |
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...while not walking the walk.
I truly wish all of the Mittophiles would realize just what a complete phony that guy is politically. I'm a Massachusetts Republican who has supported Romney in the past ('94 Senate, '02 Governor) and would- and will- not support him again. His record of- sparse- accomplishments (sorry Mitt- rhetoric doesn't count... and neither does blaming your inability to advance your agenda on a liberal Democratic legislative branch; it seems to me the former Mayor of NYC was able to achieve considerable cosnervative results while similarly saddled w/ a lib/Dem legislative branch- the NY City Council- and liberal media and cultiral establishments) politically is matched only by his utter cravenness in flip-flopping on almost all of his views simply to position himself better politically; one wonders if Romney HAS any core political beliefs and principles. That guy is the John Kerry of the GOP.
Don't buy the Romney hype. |
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There's an illegal alien in my soup! |
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That's a BS position to take, that Romney is anyway responsible for who works for his lawn care company. In this day and age, anyone who buys into that line of attack is simply(or simple)trying to unfairly attack Romney. I'm sick of these ridiculous efforts to make a good man seem bad!!!!!!!
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It might be a clue when your yard workers speak like Speedy Gonzales. It came out last time that Romney used to great them with "Buenos dias" when he saw them.
Now the first time, fair enough, burn me once shame on you. . . but this is Mitt Romney we are talking about. Hugh says he is the most organized, most competent politician out there. It is not like Mitt did not know about the illegal Guanatmalans, he had a dust up about it previously. It was Romney who decided to attack Rudy Giuilani on this issue last week. Mitt has lots of money and lots of campaign workers. No one was available to make sure the landscapers were legal? Romney has also said he will deal with illegal immigration. Now the sound bite is how can Mitt do so when he can't keep illegals off his lawn?
That is why this is such an embarassment and an unforced error. Big deal? In the long term, no. In the short term, yes, but only because Mitt made it so. |
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Try some truth for a change.
I must have missed all those posts knocking Mitt for his looks, wealth and sucess.
Please point them out to me. |
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Plumber, I'm pretty sure the folks we use for lawn service are illegal. And I have absolutely no intention of not dealing with them even if they are. For $150 a month they cut and trim the lawns, shrubs, and trees and in the winter they keep things straight. It's a very small neighborhood, maybe 15 homes total - but everyone uses them. It's a pretty good crew. They come once a week and have a full arsenal of lawn equipment. We've had this arrangement for the past three years, and it's provided some good opportunities to brush ip on my college Spanish.
I've had more than a few jobs, and most of them involved some contact with illegals or Mexigrants of questionable legal status. Whether it was working at a restaurant, in construction, or a stint in the Army (not to mention going to Mass, many a Spanish service BTW), the vast majority of them were hard working and decent. I'd probably be safe in guessing that they're far more decent, harder working, and have bigger hearts than many of the folks here like you, VA Patriot, and Joe. Honestly, you guys strike me as small-minded racists and I'd much rather share my country with the lawn service folks and the other hardworking "illegals" than with types like you. |
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Mitt is a hypocrite, that's why this is a story. It's like Larry Craig fighting against gay marriage rights, Giulliani talking about 9/11 while the FDNY slams him, and David Vitter going after Clinton for an affair while he himself was whorin it up in DC and New Orleans. There's nothing wrong with being an advocate of Christian values, but if you're going to talk the talk you need to be able to walk the walk. |
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The issue here isn't that you or I or anybody else has an obligation to check the papers of your lawn care contractor's employees ... the issue is one of hypocricy, which was Rudy's actual charge against Romney (re: "You act holier-than-thou on immigration, and yet ...").
People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw rocks. Romney has been incessantly going after Rudy over sanctuary city B.S., yet he can't even get around to demanding that his own lawn contractor use legal workers AT HIS OWN HOUSE. If you're making your case for President based upon holier-than-thou anti-immigrationism, then you better damn well make sure your own household can pass muster.
And what makes Sanctuary Mansion II even more galling, Romney basically flip flops and uses the same reasoning he blasted Rudy for in firing his lawn contractor.
Once a Flipper, always a Flipper.
The man has no character, Mitt stands for nothing but his own election. This man is "Hillary in Pants", rather than a Pantsuit.
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Obviously Mitt would not have attacked Giuliani on this issue if he knew the Guantamalans were showing up the next day to rake leaves at Casa Romney.
It is a lack of competency. |
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The Globe has identified two illegal aliens. By not reporting them to the proper authorities - indeed, by shielding their identities - the Globe is aiding and abetting their continued illegal presence. Regardless of what you think about Romney in all of this, don't let the Globe off the hook. They are both supporting illegal aliens and exploiting them for political purposes. That's the real scandal. |
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Mitt Romney was outed on the Sanctuary Mansion issue nearly a year ago. And he only got around to firing his landscaper yesterday ... and only after the Globe ran a followup article on it this week. Mitt knew all this year, right up through the You-Tube debate, that he was still contracting for lawnscape services with a company hiring illegal aliens. Mitt knew that the the entire time he was ragging on Rudy Giuliani for the sanctuary city thing.
Nope - there's no other word for it but crass, in your face hypocrisy by Mitt Romney.
Don't blame the Boston Globe for a hit job ... it's the media's job to uncover political hypocrisy, it always has been
Blame this one squarely on goody-two-shoes Mitt Romney and his holier-than-thou anti-immigrant rhetoric, and the fact that he's too damn stupid to be President.
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is that Mitt Romney's been (rightfully, and delightfully) hoisted on his own petard. |
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you write: "Don't blame the Boston Globe for a hit job ... it's the media's job to uncover political hypocrisy, it always has been"
but, they are doing more than that - they are actively complicit in aiding and abetting illegal immigrants.
everyone needs to calm down here - our fellow Republicans are our rivals, not our enemies. The Globe, the rest of the MSM, and the Dems are, however, enemies. Choose your targets with care. |
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Conservatives can nominate a conservative. All it takes is not acting like sheep and getting herded into nominating a northeast liberal. 49% will never vote for Hillary, only 60% voted last time. Turnout was the difference. Give Americans a chance to vote for someone who WILL secure the border and watch turnout soar. Americans want their government to fulfill its most basic responsibility.
The primary responsibility of the U.S. government is to protect the territorial integrity and people of this country. They have completely abdicated this responsibility. Both parties have been complicit in this. We are being told it is not possible to control our borders, enforce our laws, and thereby control our destiny as a nation. Hogwash. We are being sold out by corporations intent on importing workers for jobs that can't be exported with the taxpayers paying the true costs, financial and human. If we act like sheep and don't stop the inundation across our borders, we will lose our country without a bleat.
http://www.gohunter08.com
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"All it takes is not acting like sheep and getting herded into nominating a northeast liberal."
Or, getting stampeded into nominating an Arkansas liberal . . . |
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...considers Democrats to be "enemies?" Aren't we all Americans?
Would Moqui prefer a one-party state? There's a name for that type of system. Democrats are enemies?
Politically misguided as many of you righties may be, I certainly wouldn't consider anyone posting on this board, all of whom seem to care very much about the fate of America (albeit in their own peculiar ways), to be my enemy.
Take a deep breath, Moqui, my fellow American. Relax. Enjoy your day. |
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MR is not in "freefall" today but all across the board on both a national and state basis, he is taking substantial hits.
Even in NH, where he had been exempt, he is dropping and other are increasing.
RG is getting hit a little nationally but not much and the spread between he and MR widened again today.
MH is cloing in on MR nationally. |
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Dunno why folks think this is a story, perhaps for gullible rubes?
Ive supported Mitt Romney for months now and see no reason to change my mind, yet. I thought perhaps Thompson would lead me to change my mind and support him instead. Nope. I thought perhaps Huckabee would lead me to change my mind and support him. Nope.
There's only one conservative in the field that I can support right now and that conservative is Mitt Romney.
Just because the guy eats at restaurants that employ illegal aliens doesn't change anything. There's millions upon millions of illegals in this country. Trying not to do business or inadvertently help any of them would mean having to climb into a dark cave somewhere and hibernating until they were all gone or you were dead.
Guess which would probably come first? |
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