AD WATCH: New Ad No Sanctuary for Romney’s Immigration Hypocrisy

As he raises campaign cash in Nevada today, smooth talking Mitt Romney is hitting the airwaves with a new radio ad aimed at convincing Iowa and New Hampshire voters to ignore his record of flip-flops and hypocrisy on immigration reform. The new ad, entitled "Exceptional," is Romney's latest desperate attempt to hide the fact that he defended the Bush-McCain immigration proposal in 2005 by saying it was different than amnesty, and supported a "path to citizenship" for undocumented workers as recently as 2006. Now, struggling to earn conservative votes, Romney has reversed himself. [Boston Globe, 3/16/07; Lowell Sun, 3/30/06; AP, 8/15/07; Boston Herald, 8/15/07]

While Romney has never hesitated to flip-flop to win over skeptical primary voters, the one thing he has refused to do is offer a clear plan of his own. Even the chairman of the Republican National Committee, Senator Mel Martinez (R-FL), has blasted Romney for offering all criticism and no solutions on immigration reform. [McClatchy Newspapers, 6/9/07]

"The only thing exceptional in smooth talking Mitt Romney's new ad is his willingness to say anything to hide his record of flip-flops and hypocrisy on immigration reform," said Democratic National Committee spokesman Damien LaVera. "Slick ads can't hide the fact that immigration is one of an endless list of issues on which Romney has refused to offer a clear vision or real plans for the future."

ROMNEY AD WATCH: "EXCEPTIONAL" (RADIO)

Romney Rhetoric: Immigration laws don't work if they're ignored. That's the problem with cities like Newark, San Francisco and New York City that adopt sanctuary policies. Sanctuary cities become magnets that encourage illegal immigration and undermine secure borders.

• Romney Reality: Three cities in Massachusetts are "Sanctuary Cities." Three cities in Romney's home state of Massachusetts are also "Cambridge, Somerville and Orleans in Massachusetts - are those where local authorities actively prevent any efforts by the feds to identify and round up illegal aliens." [New York Post, 8/16/07]

Romney Rhetoric: As Governor, Mitt Romney didn't wait on Washington. He acted to make our immigration laws work. Mitt Romney is the exceptional Governor who took a stand so State Police could enforce federal immigration laws.

• Romney Reality: Romney Policy to allow State Police to Enforce Federal Laws "will do little." According to a Boston Globe editorial, in his last weeks in office, "the Romney administration announced the State Police would begin enforcing federal immigration laws. The troopers will check on immigration status during a traffic stop or other routine work if they believe something is amiss, and only a few of the force's 2,500 officers will be involved. Even on a limited basis, however, this is an unnecessary broadening of responsibility and will do little to diminish the flow of illegal immigrants, who surely number in the tens of thousands across Massachusetts." [Editorial, Boston Globe, 12/6/06]

Romney Rhetoric: Mitt Romney said 'No' to drivers' licenses for those here illegally.

• Romney Reality: March 2007--Romney Said First Step is to Register Illegal Immigrants. In March 2007, Mitt Romney told the San Francisco Chronicle that "the first thing I'd like them [illegal immigrants] to do is to register, so I know how many there are, and what their circumstances are." "And on that basis, we can see who would receive temporary employment visas and who would instead be required to return home," he said. Illegal immigrants, Romney continued, "can apply for a green card. They can apply for citizenship just like anyone else," stressing though that "there should be no advantage in citizenship or permanent residency'" for the undocumented. [San Francisco Chronicle, 3/17/07]

Romney Rhetoric: Mitt Romney insisted on teaching our kids in English.

• Romney Reality: Romney Was First Candidate to Launch Spanish Language Ad in Immigrant-Rich Florida. Romney launched a Spanish radio ad in South Florida paid for by "Romney para presidente." The Spanish ad, along with an English-language TV commercial, made Romney the first and only presidential candidate already on the air in Florida. The advertisement came four days after Romney told the Conservative Political Action Committee, "You strengthen the American people by securing our borders and by insisting that the children who come here legally to this country are taught in English." [Miami Herald, 3/9/07]
• Romney Reality: Romney Accused of Being Hypocritical on the "Official Language: English" Issue at the GOP Debate. During the audience Q&A portion of the June 5, 2007 debate, an airline worker singled out Romney for what appears to be an inherent hypocrisy by calling for English as the official national language while running ads in Spanish and offering a Spanish version of his campaign website. Romney replied, "I'm not anti-immigrant. I'm happy to communicate to them and I hope they vote for me." [Chicago Tribune, 6/6/07]

Romney Rhetoric: And as President, Mitt Romney will cut back federal funds to cities that provide sanctuary to illegal immigrants.

• Romney Reality: Romney Opposed Denying Services to People Who Come from Across the Border. In 1994, Romney said, "I do not believe that we should deny all services to people who come here from across the border." In March 2006, Romney told the Lowell Sun, "I don't believe in rounding up 11 million people and forcing them at gunpoint from our country. With these 11 million people, let's have them registered, know who they are. Those who've been arrested or convicted of crimes shouldn't be here; those that are here paying taxes and not taking government benefits should begin a process toward application for citizenship, as they would from their home country." [Boston Herald, 3/14/07]

Romney Rhetoric: Legal immigration is great. But illegal immigration, that we've got to end. And amnesty is not the way to do it."

• Romney Reality: Romney Acknowledged Senate Immigration Bill is Not Amnesty. Mitt Romney acknowledged that the Senate immigration bill does not technically constitute amnesty. "I understand that in some respects this (SB 1348) is not technically amnesty, because it does come with some penalty," Romney said. "It comes with a $5,000 penalty, so technically lawyers would probably tell us that's not amnesty," he admitted. [Sioux City Journal, 6/1/07]

Romney Rhetoric: Mitt Romney - an exceptional leader for exceptional new challenges.

• Romney Reality: Member of "Hispanics for Romney" Committee Solicited Donations from Illegal Immigrants. One of the members of Mitt Romney's "Hispanics for Romney" committee once attempted to solicit campaign donations from illegal immigrants. While raising money for Representative Chris Cannon of Utah, Marco Diaz told listeners of Spanish language Radio Unica: "If you are undocumented you must find, we welcome this money, but you have to find someone who is legal in order to donate money." He also instructed illegal immigrants that if their children were citizens, they could donate money under their children's names. "Many of you," Diaz said, "have children who are citizens." [Politico, 6/8/07; Fox News, 6/20/04]