Gingrich, Romney at each other's throats over immigration

Updated at 9:10 p.m. ET

Right out of the gate in Thursday night's Republican debate, Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich were at each other's throats over the issue of immigration, with Gingrich calling Romney the most "anti-immigrant" candidate and Romney calling that charge "repulsive."

On Wednesday, Newt Gingrich's campaign pulled a Spanish-language ad labeling Romney as anti-immigrant after Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida complained it was "inflammatory." But when asked Thursday night if he stood by his charge that Romney is the most anti-immigrant candidate in the race, Gingrich said yes.

Gingrich charged that Romney's immigration plan would go after undocumented grandparents with families in the U.S.

"We're not going to walk in there and grab a grandmother out and then kick them out," Gingrich said. "You have to be realistic in your indignation."

Gingrich added that his position, by contrast, would be "bold" but "realistic." Immigration is a hot-button issue in Florida, which holds its primary on Tuesday.

Romney said it was "inexcusable" to characterize him as "anti-immigrant," pointing out that his father was born in Mexico.

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"This is the type of over the top rhetoric that has characterized politics for too long," Romney said, earning applause. He said that Gingrich should apologize for such "highly charged epithets."

Romney has called for enforcement of immigration laws and has said he expects "self-deportation" among undocumented immigrants who can't find work. Gingrich has acknowledged that some "self-deportation" may occur, but has called for local citizen panels to consider whether undocumented immigrants should be allowed to earn legal residency if they have ties to the community, like established families.

"All I want to do is to allow the grandmother to be here legally with some rights to have residency but not citizenship, so that he or she can finish their life with dignity within the law," Gingrich said.

"Our problem is not 11 million grandmothers," Romney retorted. "Our problem is 11 million people getting jobs that many Americans, legal immigrants, would like to have."

Romney added, "I'm not going around and rounding people up and deporting them... I'm not going to go find grandmothers and take them out of their homes and deport them."

Former Sen. Rick Santorum said he agreed with Romney that if undocumented immigrants were denied an opportunity to work, they would "self-deport."

"If you don't create an opportunity for people to work they will leave because they can't afford to say there," he said.

Rep. Ron Paul said that illegal immigration would be less of a problem in a better economy but said that the U.S. border should be better managed.

"The way we're handling our borders is actually hurting our economy because visitors have a hard time coming in," he said. "I think we need more resources, but where are the resources going to come from? I think we spend way too much time worrying about the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, use some of those resources on our own border."

More from the debate:

Florida Republican debate: Winners and Losers
Gingrich hints at making Marco Rubio VP
Gingrich, Romney hit each other over involvement in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
Romney tells Gingrich: I'd fire you for your moon proposal
Gingrich, Romney agree to blame the Palestinians, Obama for lack of progress in the peace process

[xxoxxoxx9]

Newt's personal life says a lot about the man and his abilities to be stable and loyal.
I have made a humorous video that I believe shows how his wives must have felt about his loyalties. You may see it at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQSsMRe6BJE
Hope you enjoy!

[Daves1221]

Nobody in this country should be financially supported by taxpayers, who entered this country illegally or should they get any kind of amnesty?They are already have stolen millions of jobs with forged or stolen Social Security numbers, birth records--now they want New Mexico provide or re-issue Drivers License? What next allowed to vote in state and federal elections, just like United States citizens? Isn't anything sacred anymore? Mind--illegal aliens have been voting in our elections, using fraudulent Absentee ballots and procured picture ID of a legal citizen in the same family? Fight back and join the TEA PARTY. Go to www.numbersUSA.com, www.judicialwatch.org and www.heritagefoundation.org for stomach churning details of where your taxes are going, for any person who slips past the border or flies in from foreign counties. hopefully citizens voters recall or throw out of office every pro-illegal alien, anti-sovereignty Governor, Judge, Police Chief and city administrator, who is an advocate for wide open borders.

[endurorob_5]

askagain January 27, 2012 12:34 AM EST
My sister and her husband are happily retired, in good health, and have combined pensions of @ $120,000 per year plus what they have saved and invested. They are happy with Obama and I can certainly understand why. Hopefully, most Obama supporters are doing just as well.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++Most Obama supporters are living off the taxes your sister and husband pay.

[kansas1946]

Really?? I happen to be an Obama supporter as well as many of the people that I work work. We work in the IT departement of our company, make good money, and I have never take a DIME from the federal or state government in aide, or any other benefit. I was a Republican for 27 years, but at this time, I would rather cut my arm off than pull the lever for any of these Republicans.

[endurorob_5]

So Gingrich advocates amnesty for criminal immigrants.

[MANFROMOZ]

Too bad our local TV stations chose not to show the debate. They should be required to show every debate. Instead, we get to watch trash like WIPEOUT or American Idol. This is what is wrong with this country; a nation full of morons watching moron TV shows.

[credibility2]

The issue is illegal immigration...that should be the focus of any admonishment. We're a nation of legal immigrants.

[starving1968-3]

Obama is CRUSHING the competition in these debates.

I wonder why they keep having them?

[askagain]

Obama isn't competeing in these debates. The show is for people voting in the Republican primaries, not for people who wouldn't vote for a Republican if he came as an angel from heaven. Obama will have his chance to debate whomever is nominated by the Republicans. And I wouln't be so confident about Obama this time around.

[askagain]

My sister and her husband are happily retired, in good health, and have combined pensions of @ $120,000 per year plus what they have saved and invested. They are happy with Obama and I can certainly understand why. Hopefully, most Obama supporters are doing just as well.

[kbbpll]

Exclude the grandmas and the children and the fine upstanding church-going pillars of the community illegals and who do we have left? Sheesh, the GOP has gone all mamby-pamby on us all of a sudden. Oh yeah, it's Florida. Watch what happens when they head to Texas. What a bunch of butt-clowns.

Our current President killed Osama chum Laden. These losers are just hoping for more book deals.

[askagain]

Let me preface my comments with the belief that most Democrats will not find favor with any of the Republican candidates. The candidates know this and are not trying to appeal to Democrats. They are trying to appeal to Republicans and Independents. My problem in choosing one of the Republican candidates is that there are things appealing to me about each candidate. This may be true of many Republicans. Unlike Democrats who might not like any of the Republican candidates, there may be many Republicans who don't know whom to favor because they see positives in each candidate.

[askagain]

ainttaken - You are correct. Just remember both parties are responsible for allowing the problem to become so big. Obviously the solutions we choose today have to be different from what could have been done 10, 15, and 20 years ago. Remember the expression, "politics make strange bedfellows."