Romney: opponents of illegal immigration "have a heart and a brain"

Texas Gov. Rick Perry and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, right

/ AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack

Mitt Romney on Friday took his attacks on Republican rival Rick Perry to a large audience of Florida conservatives, braving possible blowback from activists receptive to Perry's bedrock conservatism.

But the former Massachusetts governor was careful to also emphasis an issue where he is further to the right than Perry -- immigration.

Responding to a Perry's assertion at Thursday night's candidate debate that people who opposed his policy offering in-state college tuition to the children of illegal immigrants didn't "have a heart," Romney said: "I think if you're opposed to illegal immigration, it doesn't mean that you don't have a heart. It means that you have a heart and a brain."

He told the audience of about 500 people at the Conservative Political Action Conference that he supports an E-verify system to ensure that employers hire only legal immigrants and also construction of a border fence, a position that far-right conservatives like Rep. Michele Bachmann have advocated.

Romney also continued to draw contrasts between his preparation to become president and Perry's, emphasizing his role creating jobs as the co-founder of private equity firm Bain Capital compared to the three-term Texas governor's career in public service.

"People who've been in the private sector understand how the economy works at the level of job creation," he said. "People who work in government all their life just don't understand that."

Romney's most robust applause came in response to his criticism of China, which he said is hurting the United States with a policy of currency manipulation. "It's time for us to recognize cheaters for what they are," he said.

"And on my first day in office, I promise to sign an executive order identifying China as a currency manipulator." He added said he would also implement a tax on Chinese goods as long as the country's currency policy remains unchanged.

Watch highlights from CPAC in Orlando below:

[SelfishGeek]

Most illegal immigrants don't pay taxes so why should U.S. citizens? This country doesn't really need anyone to pay income taxes otherwise the government would care that most illegals don't pay their share. I worked for a fast-food franchise that hired hundreds of such individuals over the years who put their withholding just out of reach. Let's stop paying income taxes so we can be treated as fairly as those illegal immigrants.

[colowww]

Being for immigration enforcement has nothing to to with being right or left leaning. Its like saying enforcing traffic laws is right wing. It just makes sense to enforce our immigration laws for so many reasons. If you want our country to meet any its futue energy and conservation goals you should be for enforcing illegal immigration and lowering legal immigration. If you want the size of our government to stop growing you should be for enforcing illegal immigration and lowering legal immigration. If not how many of the 7 billion people on the planet to we let in? One, two, three, billion? How much is too much?

[ThePeaceOption]

You are absolutely correct! I have been saying for years that Americans across the political spectrum are DEMANDING enforcement of our immigration laws. This Democrat is sick of it!

A government which refuses to enforce its own laws is INTOLERABLE!

[TogetherinParis]

Nuts trying to out-nut each other.

[lmoe47]

Perry barks loud about his job creations in Texas. A great percentage of those jobs are to illegal immigrants and are minimum wage levels. You are a mere representation of more of the same who make their allegiance to a political party or self greater than the Constitution. Why do we need that?? The people of Texas may like you Mr. Perry, I do not!

[skeeteril]

I long ago decided that to be a member of a political party in the U.S. was to abdicate my responsibility as a citizen to use my brain and values to assess individual candidates and policies. Right now, in the U.S., we are witnessing high theater as egotistical, self-interested politicians rearrange the chairs on the deck of the Titanic. That might be entertaining if it weren't morally bankrupt. A pox on all your houses! Rise up, citizens, look beyond the rhetoric, and demand representation for the United States, not for the Republicans, Democrats or Tea Party.


William A. Sahlman is the Senior Associate Dean for External Relations and Dimitri V. D'Arbeloff - Class of 1955 Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School.


RON PAUL 2012

[radsenior]

Sadly this is the only comment Perry spoke where I support him totally and completely. Other than that he cratered and burned along with the others on stage as they booed a gay service man and cheered previously to "let the poor die". Extremist have taken over the GOP and rendered them defunct and made Boehner a cripple!
They gathered yet again, to hash out their differences,
In just moments, the hair was flying, and Bachmann was crying
McMitt began hammering and everyone tried to flex their muscles,
"That deer in the headlights look" on Perry's face - priceless

[stan749]

Mr.Perry you lost my vote. I'm applauded that tax dollars are subsidizing the higher education of children of illegals. Yes, they are here due to "no fault of their own". Well either am I, how about tossing me 100K to bankroll part of my education. Gee, my parents "legally immigrated" to the US, learned to speak the language, worked, paid taxes and never received financial dime of aid from this great country.

[Aspblom]

It is not right-wing to oppose illegal immigration or to support repatriation of those illegally in the US. In fact, the great, liberal Nordic democracies deport all illegal aliens, check companies for the appropriateness of their hiring, and do not have birthright citizenship. These are the very liberal Nordic/Scandinavian democracies.

[colowww]

Absolutely correct being for immigration enforcement has nothing to to with being right or left leaning. Thats like saying enforcing traffic laws is right wing.

[WiseAsOwl]

Sorry... But, you're very, very mistaken.. Let me put that differently... YOU'RE either BEING STUPID... AND WRONG.... or YOU'RE A LIAR.. (Take your choice) The country is basically Conservative.. Liberals have to talk like Conservatives, to a degree, to ever get elected...

[gijoemcd99]

Romney "said he would also implement a tax on Chinese goods as long as the country's currency policy remains unchanged." OH THAT'S BRILLIANT. Who really pays the taxes? American citizens do. The price of the Chinese goods will be increased to offset the tax meaning that you and I pay the tax, not China.

[joelwisch2]

What that does do is put the cost of the Chinese goods higher, and makes the potential for selling an item made in the USA, now made by the Chinese, in a competitive market. That tax would have the effect of negating the effect of prison manufacturing in China, for example.