Sometimes you just need to call a spade a spade. Over at B4M I’ve made it a point to have a lot of fun at Damien LaVera’s expense. He’s Howlin’ Mad Howie Dean’s Head Mitt Hit Man – which means he’s tasked with writing press releases every few days where he takes pot shots at “Smooth Talking Mitt”. For some odd reason, the irony of a DNC staffer deriding anyone as a Smooth Talker (in the wake of Slick Willy) has yet to dawn on LaVera. Add to that the fact he continuously quotes himself – probably only to increase his Google rating – and you end up with a really comical press release.

Well, today LaVera crossed a line. Evidently he thinks if you repeat a lie enough times it will be believed as the truth. Last December, the Boston Globe’s Jonathan Saltzman, Maria Cramer, and Connie Page wrote a story with the headline “Illegal Immigrants toiled for governor” – insinuating that then Governor Romney hired illegal immigrants to landscape his Belmont property.

There’s only one problem with the story. Governor Romney didn’t hire the Guatemalans – they worked for the landscaping company he hired. The company’s owner was, in fact, a legal immigrant. Governor Romney wasn’t required by any law or policy to enquire or verify the immigration status of the landscaping company’s workers. The Boston Globe’s story was based on a false premise and fueled by a false headline. Said story has long since been debunked.

Damien LaVera didn’t get that memo and probably ignored the facts surrounding this non-story altogether. Truth and other factual information mean little to him because that kind of thing doesn’t make for good press copy. Today LaVera released the following statement about Governor Romney:

…Romney himself employed undocumented workers at his own home in Massachusetts as recently as December.

This statement, taken from the first paragraph of LaVera’s self aggrandizing press release is an outright bold faced lie. Governor Romney did not employ the “undocumented workers”. He did not interview them, he did not directly pay them. The most contact he had with them was the occasional “Buenos Dias”. Unless you consider the occasional glass of water from Ann to be a direct payment, LaVera’s statement leaks credibility like a sieve.

Facts are stubborn things. The fact of the matter is, of the current crop of presidential contenders, Governor Romney is the only one who actually did something on the issue of illegal immigration. You’ll notice that article wasn’t cited in LaVera’s hit piece.

Damien LaVera’s job is to tarnish Mitt as much as possible. His job is an unenviable one because there is so little for him to work with that he must rely on lies, half-truths, and ad-hominem attacks to fill his daily press quota.

I’m sorry, Damien. Your cheap shot press release comes across a little more than a lie, and a pathetic one at that. Try harder next time.

The NY Post has the details on McCain’s angry, profanity-laced tirade at fellow Republican senator John Cornyn of Texas over the immigration bill.

Help Romney put this on the air at this crucial time when McCain and Kennedy are trying to rush through a “comprehensive” immigration bill:

‘nuf said…

DON’T LET MCCAIN WIN.

FACT: As Governor Of Massachusetts, Governor Romney Took Action To Enforce Immigration Laws.

ENFORCEMENT: In December 2006, Governor Romney Signed A Memorandum Of Agreement With The Federal Government To Allow State Troopers To Enforce Federal Immigration Laws. “Governor Mitt Romney and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Assistant Secretary Julie L. Myers today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and ICE, which will give specially trained Massachusetts State Troopers the authority to administer and enforce federal immigration laws in the Commonwealth.” (Office Of The Governor, “Governor Romney, ICE Sign Immigration Enforcement Pact,” Press Release, 12/13/06)

IN-STATE TUITION: Governor Romney Vetoed In-State Tuition For Illegal Immigrants. “Romney also vetoed a number of outside sections of the budget, including:…A plan that would have permitted illegal aliens to pay the same in-state tuition rate at our public colleges and universities as Massachusetts citizens.” (Office Of The Governor, “Romney Signs $22.402B Fiscal Year 2005 ‘No New Tax’ Budget,” Press Release, 6/25/04)

ENGLISH IMMERSION: Governor Romney Fought Efforts To Weaken Massachusetts’ English Immersion Law. “But yesterday, Romney press secretary Shawn Feddeman said the governor will fight all attempts to slow the implementation of English immersion, known on the ballot as Question 2. … ‘He will veto anything that weakens or delays English immersion,’ Feddeman said.” (Anand Vaishnav, “Romney Firm On English Timetable,” The Boston Globe, 1/24/03)

In June 2002, Mitt Romney Said “The Approach Of English Immersion Is One That I Support. … I Would Make English Immersion The Educational Norm For All Non-Native English Speakers.” (John McElhenny, “Mitt Romney Endorses ‘English Immersion’ Education Plan,” The Associated Press, 6/4/02)

DRIVER’S LICENSES: Governor Romney Opposed Efforts To Give Driver’s Licenses To Illegal Immigrants. “‘Those who are here illegally should not receive tacit support from our government that gives an indication of legitimacy,’ the governor said, echoing arguments that opponents have voiced in the Commonwealth and in other states considering similar license measures. ‘If they are here illegally, they should not get driver’s licenses,’ he said.” (Scott S. Greenberger, “Romney Stand Dims Chances Of License For Undocumented,” The Boston Globe, 10/28/03)

FACT: Governor Romney Would Take Action To Secure The Borders Through Physical And Virtual Fences.

Governor Romney: “In my view, there are several principles that need to be part of our immigration plan. First, to secure the border…” (Governor Mitt Romney, Interview On The Northern Alliance Radio Network, 1/27/07)

Governor Romney: “You’ve got to have a wall or fence or electronic surveillance. You have got to make sure we secure our border, that’s first.” (Fox News’ “The O’Reilly Factor,” 9/19/06)

FACT: Governor Romney Supports Strong Reforms To Stop Illegal Immigration And Encourage Legal Immigration.

Governor Romney: “The current system puts up a concrete wall to the best and brightest, yet those without skill or education are able to walk across the border. We must reform the current immigration laws so we can secure our borders, implement a mandatory biometrically-enabled and tamper-proof documentation and employment-verification system, and increase legal immigration into America.” (David Yepsen, Op-Ed, “So Far, Romney’s Been Most Impressive Republican,” Des Moines Register, 7/11/06)

FACT: Governor Romney Opposes The McCain-Kennedy Bill And Any Form Of Amnesty For Illegal Immigrants.

Governor Romney: “McCain-Kennedy Isn’t The Answer.” “Another aspect of American sovereignty is the security of our borders. The current system is a virtual concrete wall against those who have skill and education, but it’s a wide-open walk across the border for those that have neither. McCain-Kennedy isn’t the answer. As governor, I took a very different approach. I authorized our state police to enforce federal immigration laws.” (Governor Mitt Romney, Remarks At The Conservative Political Action Conference, Washington, D.C., 3/2/07)

FACT: Governor Romney Supports A Strong Employer-Verification System That Includes A Tamper Proof Worker Verification Card.

Governor Romney: “First, to secure the border, number two, have an employment verification system. This would be a card – a biometric card – that people who are not citizens would have and before an employer hires a non citizen they would have to look at the card, type in a number on a computer, and get verification from the federal government that this person is eligible for work in the U.S. If they hired someone not so eligible that company would be fined just like not paying taxes.” (Governor Mitt Romney, Interview On The Northern Alliance Radio Network, 1/27/07)

FACT: Governor Romney Supports Empowering Local And State Authorities To Enforce Federal Immigration Laws.

Governor Romney Believes More State And Local Police Agencies Should Work With The Federal Government To Enforce Immigration Laws. “Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney said Tuesday that more state and local police agencies ought to consider making deals with the federal government to have their officers trained in enforcing elements of federal immigration law. … ‘I think it’s a good idea for us to communicate that we intend to enforce our laws,’ Romney said.” (Jacques Billeaud, “Romney: More State, Local Police Should Get Immigration Training,” The Associated Press, 3/13/07)

“And my fear is that McCain-Kennedy would do to immigration what McCain-Feingold has done to campaign finance and money in politics, and that’s bad.”
– Mitt Romney, Republican Presidential Debate in South Carolina, May 15, 2007

Of course we know what happened to money in politics after McCain-Feingold: it increased instead of decreasing. We can only speculate the extent of damage that would be caused by the immigration reform that McCain and others proposed yesterday. However, my intent is not to debate the merits of the bill, but to discuss McCain’s approach to solving problems.

When asked at the debate about McCain-Feingold and McCain-Kennedy, McCain had this answer:

SEN. MCCAIN: Well, the first issues you mentioned have to do with bipartisanship, have to do with reaching across the aisle and work for the good of the American people. That’s what I intend to do. That’s what leadership is all about. And the reason why congressional approval ratings — I saw at 28 percent as — and you get down to blood relatives and paid staffers when you get down that low — (laughter) — is because they want us to work together, they want us to reach across the aisle on issues that are important to America.

Apparently McCain gives us this formula: Bipartisanship = Leadership. However, this formulation seems dubious at best. To McCain, any answer that passes, with both sides agreeing, is the right answer. But consensus is not leadership. In fact leadership may be just the opposite. It would seem that McCain would understand this in his defense of the Iraq war. What is his defense of the Iraq war, then, if it fails his bipartisanship = leadership formula? His position does not garner bipartisan support. Does that make his support for the Iraq war wrong, or against American interests? Certainly not.

McCain’s propensity to sell Republican values and principles for the pottage of bipartisanship is why we should avoid him. His latest immigration proposal only reaffirms the need for someone who, even in the toughest of times and places has stood against the tide of liberal ideals. After listing the fights he’s led for life, traditional marriage, English immersion in schools, the death penalty, and abstinence education, Romney summed up true leadership:

“In the toughest of states, I made the toughest decisions and did what was right for America.” – Mitt Romney, Republican Presidential Debate in South Carolina, May 15, 2007

From last night:

Amnesty John is unsuited for the Presidency based on this issue alone. If someone has this little respect for something as basic as our borders why should we trust him with the presidency.

A U.S. Border Patrol entry Identification Team site was overrun Wednesday night along Arizona’s border with Mexico.

According to the Border Patrol, an unknown number of gunmen attacked the site in the state’s West Desert Region around 11 p.m. The site is manned by National Guardsmen. Those guardsmen were forced to retreat.

Click here for the rest of the story.

This story took place in Arizona. What does McCain think about Immigration? Well in 2004 he said; “Those who live closest are the ones who can get here. Everyone in the world should have the opportunity through an orderly process to come to this country.”

What does Romney think?

“Immigration has been an important part of our nation’s success. The current system, however, puts up a concrete wall to the best and brightest, yet those without skill or education are able to walk across the border. We must reform the current immigration laws so we can secure our borders, implement a mandatory biometrically enabled, tamper proof documentation and employment verification system, and increase legal immigration into America.”

* “We need to make America more attractive for legal immigrants for citizens and less attractive for illegal immigrants. I want to see more immigration in our country, but more legal immigration and less illegal immigration.”
** Governor Romney, AP, June 23, 2006)

For the rest for the rest of the story, click here:

http://myclob.pbwiki.com/Immigration

~ Myclob