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    working4change
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    RNC official: Romney still deciding position on immigration reform

    RNC official: Romney still deciding position on immigration reform
    By Josh Lederman - 05/08/12 12:04 PM ET

    The Republican National Committee attempted to walk back a potentially bruising, botched response Tuesday after an official said Mitt Romney is still making up his mind on immigration.

    "As a candidate, to my understanding, he's still deciding what his position on immigration is," said Bettina Inclan, the Republican National Committee's (RNC) director of Hispanic outreach.

    Inclan was speaking at an RNC event unveiling six new regional staffers who will direct Hispanic outreach in swing states. But asked how the RNC will speak with Hispanic voters about immigration, Inclan said she couldn't speak about what policies GOP candidates would put forth.

    "He's talked about different issues," she said of Romney. "There's a very diverse opinion on how to deal with immigration."

    During the GOP primary, Romney tacked to the right on immigration. He embraced parts of Arizona's controversial immigration crackdown, vowed to veto the DREAM Act path to citizenship (though he later said he'd make an exception for the military service portion) and spoke of "self-deportation" as the solution to the millions of illegal immigrants who are living in the United States.

    A Fox News poll released in March showed that Hispanic voters prefer President Obama to a GOP candidate 6-to-1.

    Inclan said Hispanics are disappointed with Obama's lack of progress on immigration, saying that the election would be a referendum on Obama's record.

    "The reality is this president has deported more Hispanics than any president in American history," Inclan said.

    Within minutes, as Inclan's comments started spreading on Twitter, RNC spokeswoman Kirsten Kukowski stepped in and said Inclan's comments had been misconstrued.

    "We never said the governor is still deciding on immigration," Kukowski said. "I want to make sure we are exponentially clear."

    Kukowski said the RNC only started the transition to joint operations with Romney's campaign within the past few weeks, and that the RNC's task is to perform voter outreach and get-out-the-vote efforts, not to talk specific policy.

    "We are going to be able to talk about Mitt Romney's position. Right now what we are here to talk about is what our outreach effort is going to be," she said.

    Inclan took to Twitter after the event to correct the record.

    "I misspoke, Romney's position on immigration is clear," she said, appending a link to a page on Romney's campaign website dealing with immigration reform.

    Romney's campaign declined to comment, but referred to the website for question on Romney's immigration policies.

    The incident was also risky for Romney because it played into a narrative pushed by Romney's opponents that he alters his positions to please the electorate.

    Obama's reelection campaign called Romney "the most extreme presidential candidate in modern history on immigration," and said Hispanics and other Americans had heard his positions clearly during the primary.

    "His position may be inconvenient, but it has been clear," Obama spokeswoman Gabriela Domenzain said.

    — Posted at 12:04 p.m. and has been updated.

    RNC official: Romney still deciding position on immigration reform - The Hill's Ballot Box

  2. #2
    working4change
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    GOP Hispanic outreach hits snag

    By Seth McLaughlin
    The Washington Times
    Updated: 3:49 p.m. on Tuesday, May 8, 2012

    Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, speaks at a town-hall-style meeting in Euclid, Ohio, on Monday, May 7, 2012. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)


    Republicans underscored their difficulties in wooing Latino voters in this year’s elections on Tuesday when the party’s top Hispanic outreach official said it was unclear what likely presidential nominee Mitt Romney’s stance would be on the critical issue of immigration.

    Party officials tried to clarify, saying that it was up to Mr. Romney’s campaign to deal with specific policy matters on immigration — but for a candidate fighting an image of flip-flopping on big issues, the damage already was done, with the remarks catching on like wildfire across the Web.

    “As a candidate, to my understanding, he is still deciding what his position on immigration is,” Bettina Inclan, head of the outreach effort, said in a meeting with reporters that the RNC organized to highlight the new Hispanic outreach directors that the party has put in six battleground states.

    The comment, though, quickly made its way onto reporter Twitter feeds, opening up Mr. Romney to attacks from the Obama campaign and prompting another RNC official to clarify the remark.

    “As far as what Governor Romney’s positions are on immigration, that is for him and his campaign to talk about,” the official said, saying the first remark has been “misconstrued.”

    “We never said the governor hasn’t decided his position on immigration.”

    The Romney campaign also tried to clean up the mess, arguing that it is Mr. Obama who has not followed through on his promise to overhaul the nation’s immigration system and who has adopted policies that have failed to improve the economic prospects of Hispanics.

    “With a record like that, President Obama has no choice but to spend millions of dollars trying to spin his failed leadership and broken promises,” said Romney campaign spokesman Albert Martinez.

    The Obama campaign, meanwhile, pounced on Ms. Inclan’s remarks, using the episode to highlight Mr. Romney’s vow to veto “Dream Act” legislation that gives citizenship to some children of illegal immigrants, his belief in the notion of “self-deportation” and his embrace of hard-liners against illegal immigration such as Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach and Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer.

    They also highlighted how Mr. Romney praised Arizona’s immigration law and said that the state’s e-verify law is a “model” for the rest of the nation.

    “Over the past year Mitt Romney has proven time and time again that he is the most extreme presidential candidate in modern history on immigration,” said Gabriela Domenzain, director of Hispanic press for the Obama campaign. “His position may be inconvenient, but it has been clear.”

    Since former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania dropped his bid last month, clearing the way for Mr. Romney to win the nomination, the former Massachusetts governor has opened the door to take a look at other immigration options — in particular a proposal Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida is drafting that would provide some illegal immigrant children a path to legal status — as opposed to the path to citizenship supported by Mr. Obama and Democrats on Capitol Hill.

    He also has tried to reach out to Hispanics with an economic message, arguing that they’ve lost 300,000 jobs on the Obama administration’s watch.

    Ms. Inclan tried to stick with that “economy” message on Tuesday, saying that the election is a referendum on Mr. Obama’s record in office and that “the No. 1 issue is jobs and the economy.”

    But the party still faces questions over its game plan to woo Hispanic voters after polls showed Mr. Romney lagging far behind Mr. Obama among the fast-growing ethnic bloc and after Mr. Romney has laid out such a tough line on immigration.

    Story Continues →

    GOP Hispanic outreach hits snag - Washington Times

  3. #3
    Senior Member Ratbstard's Avatar
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    Advocating for IAs didn't help McCain in 08, just saying.
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    Senior Member AirborneSapper7's Avatar
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    sooooooooooo ole Mitt has been lying during his campaign all along... is this the Flip or the Flop being witnessed... when you go to the polling place; you should have already known a long time ago what that politician you are going to vote for's position is... ON Everything

    Soooooooooo has he been lying to the Republican voter's as he speaks to the town hall's... or he never knew what it was and his is just winging it as he goes along
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    Senior Member stevetheroofer's Avatar
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    Sorry! folks Romney didn't say this, la raza said it and MSM jumped all over what she said.

    It didn't come from Mitt. Just sayin' la raza and MSM are going to be saying anything to stop what is about to happen to them and the Democratic party! Good riddance!
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    Senior Member HAPPY2BME's Avatar
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    ‘Still deciding’ does damage to Romney’s Hispanic reach
    Aide’s remark heats up Twitterverse

    Since former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania dropped out of the GOP race last month, clearing the way to the Republican nomination for the former Massachusetts governor, Mr. Romney has indicated a willingness to look at other immigration options — in particular a proposal that Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida is drafting that would provide some illegal immigrant children a path to legal status.
    By Seth McLaughlin
    The Washington Times
    Tuesday, May 8, 2012

    The difficulties Mitt Romney faces in wooing Hispanic voters this year were underscored Tuesday when the Republicans’ top Hispanic outreach official said the former Massachusetts governor is “still deciding” his position on immigration.

    GOP officials moved quickly to walk back the remarks, saying that it was up to Mr. Romney’s campaign to deal with specific policy matters on immigration — but for a candidate fighting an image of flip-flopping on big issues, the damage was done.

    “As a candidate, to my understanding, he is still deciding what his position on immigration is,” Bettina Inclan, the head of the GOP Hispanic outreach effort, said in a meeting with reporters designed to highlight the party’s efforts to win over Hispanics in six battleground states.

    The comment, though, quickly overshadowed that message and spilled over into reporters’ Twitter feeds, where it spread like wildfire, opening Mr. Romney to attacks from the Obama campaign and prompting the Republican National Committee to go on the defense.

    “As far as what Gov. Romney’s positions are on immigration, that is for him and his campaign to talk about,” said one RNC official. Ms. Inclan’s remark, he said, had been “misconstrued.”

    “We never said the governor hasn’t decided his position on immigration,” he said.

    The Romney campaign also tried to clean up the mess, arguing that it is Mr. Obama who has not followed through on promises to overhaul the nation’s immigration system and who has adopted policies that have failed to improve the economic prospects of Hispanics.

    “With a record like that, President Obama has no choice but to spend millions of dollars trying to spin his failed leadership and broken promises,” said Albert Martinez, a Romney campaign spokesman.

    The Obama campaign, meanwhile, used the episode to highlight what it considers as Mr. Romney’s liabilities with Hispanic voters — including the former Massachusetts governor’s vow to veto the Dream Act and his embrace of immigration hard-liners, includingKansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach and Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer.

    “Over the past year, Mitt Romney has proven time and time again that he is the most extreme presidential candidate in modern history on immigration,” said Gabriela Domenzain, director of Hispanic press for the Obama campaign. “His position may be inconvenient, but it has been clear.”

    Since former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania dropped out of the GOP race last month, clearing the way to the Republican nomination for the former Massachusetts governor, Mr. Romney has indicated a willingness to look at other immigration options — in particular a proposal that Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida is drafting that would provide some illegal immigrant children a path to legal status.

    He also has tried to reach out to Hispanics with an economic message, arguing that they have lost 300,000 jobs on the Obama administration’s watch.

    Ms. Inclan, a longtime Republican strategist and former head of the Republican National Hispanic Assembly, tried to stick with that economic message Tuesday, saying the election is a referendum on Mr. Obama’s record and that “the No. 1 issue is jobs and the economy.”

    But the Romney campaign still faces doubts over its Hispanics game plan: Polls show Mr. Romney lagging far behind Mr. Obama among the fast-growing ethnic bloc.

    At the earlier meeting with reporters, Ms. Inclan said it is her understanding that Mr. Romney is still weighing how to approach the issue. “To assume the only thing we care about is immigration is false,” she said.

    After the meeting, she turned to Twitter and wrote: “I misspoke, Romney’s position on immigration is clear.”

    Hispanics have emerged as a key bloc in presidential elections. George W. Bush walked away with 40 percent or more of the Hispanic vote in his successful 2000 and 2004 presidential elections. In 2008, Hispanics went heavily for Mr. Obama, who secured 67 percent of their vote, compared with 31 percent for Sen. John McCain of Arizona.

    In a nationwide Fox News poll in March, 70 percent of Hispanics said they would vote for Mr. Obama and 14 percent for Mr. Romney in a head-to-head matchup.

    Meanwhile, nine out of 10 Hispanic U.S. citizens said they support the Dream Act, while eight in 10 said they support a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants.

    source: 'Still deciding' does damage to Romney's Hispanic reach - Washington Times
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  7. #7
    Senior Member HAPPY2BME's Avatar
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    Added Washington Times Article to ALIPAC HOMEPAGE NEWS with amended title ..

    http://www.alipac.us/content/rnc-off...on-reform-482/
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    Senior Member stevetheroofer's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by HAPPY2BME View Post
    Added Washington Times Article to ALIPAC HOMEPAGE NEWS with amended title
    P.S.

    This la razan traitor had to re-tract her statement, because Romney didn't say any of this!
    I'm sure Obama needs all the help he can get at this point!
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    The Republican National Committee had to retract a statement made by one of their own??! Naaaah... the same Republican establishment that time and time again can't decide what position to take on illegal immigration? I'm sure Mittens asked her to make that statement simply to test the waters and see how it plays with his base AND Hispanics. He is still trying to decide how to best word his position and whether to flip flop now or wait until more polling is done among Hispanics on this issue.

  10. #10
    Senior Member stevetheroofer's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by googler View Post
    He is still trying to decide how to best word his position and whether to flip flop now or wait until more polling is done among Hispanics on this issue.
    The waters have been tested and Romney didn't say this, and Obama needs all the support he can get! LOL!!!

    GOP fumbles Hispanic outreach

    Posted on Tuesday, 05.08.12

    Hoping to explain their plans to win over the country’s 12 million Hispanic voters, Republicans instead muddied their message on the sensitive subject of immigration.

    By Erika Bolstad
    ebolstad@mcclatchydc.com

    WASHINGTON -- They were supposed to be introducing the team whose savvy grassroots work would sway the nation’s 12 million Hispanic voters to the Republican Party in six battleground states, including Florida.

    Instead, the Republican National Committee demonstrated Tuesday just how far behind it is in persuading Latino voters to pick former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney over President Barack Obama.

    When asked what they’d tell voters about Romney’s tough immigration talk, Bettina Inclan, the RNC National Hispanic outreach director, replied:

    He is "still deciding what his position on immigration is."

    Oops.

    Another top RNC official, Kirsten Kukowski, interrupted the meeting to tell reporters that Romney’s position on immigration is, in fact, very clear. After the meeting, Inclan tweeted that she "misspoke," and posted a link to the immigration policy page on the Romney campaign website.

    Democrats, though, were happy to step in with their own definition of Romney’s immigration policy. That includes pledging to veto the DREAM Act and his assertion during a debate in January in Florida that undocumented immigrants should "self-deport." He also called parts of Arizona’s disputed immigration law a model for the nation "and has paraded around the country with the nation’s leading anti-immigrant voices," said Gabriela Domenzain, a spokeswoman for the Obama campaign.

    Over the past year, he has "proven time and time again that he is the most extreme presidential candidate in modern history on immigration," she said. "His position may be inconvenient, but it has been clear. Mitt Romney has decided to be the most extreme presidential candidate on immigration; Hispanics and all Americans have heard it loud and clear."

    Inclan noted that Hispanics don’t vote as a single bloc, and that to assume immigration is the only thing they care about is "almost insulting." She said the economy and jobs are at the top of list.

    Most polls bear show that Hispanic voters define immigration as an issue of top concern, in part, because 74 percent of Latinos in this country are U.S. citizens.

    But immigration is a symbolic issue for many, who see the Republican approach as a reflection of the party’s view of the as reflective of the party’s respect for the wider Hispanic community. Many in particular are concerned about Romney’s opposition to the DREAM Act, a proposal that allows young people who came to the U.S. illegally as children through no fault of their own to stay if they attend college or join the military.

    The RNC’s Kukowski urged reporters to put the remarks in context — Romney has only just emerged as the Republican frontrunner and the RNC and his campaign are just beginning to coordinate, she said. That only underscored the GOP’s late start in reaching out to Hispanic voters.

    On Tuesday, the Obama campaign released the second in a series of Spanish-language television and radio ads that are airing in Nevada, Colorado and Florida.

    Republicans have been looking for ways to repeat their success among Hispanic voters in 2004, when former President George W. Bush garnered 44 percent of the Latino vote. Obama captured 67 percent of the Hispanic vote in 2008, a feat he’s looking to repeat this fall.

    So far, many of those voters are still in his corner, despite some disappointments, including Obama’s failed campaign promise on comprehensive immigration reform. The administration has also deported a record number of illegal immigrants.

    Registered Hispanic voters back Obama by a 67-27 percent margin, according to a mid-April poll by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press. Those findings were consistent with a Pew Hispanic Center survey of 557 Latino registered voters in December, when 68 percent backed Obama and 23 percent Romney.

    So how will Republicans close that gap? Said Inclan: "We have six months."


    Read more here: GOP fumbles Hispanic outreach - Florida - MiamiHerald.com

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