October 18, 2011 9:56 PM

Mitt Romney and Rick Perry go mano-a-mano over immigration

By
Corbett B. Daly
Topics
Campaign 2012

UPDATED 10:26 p.m. ET

Mitt Romney and Rick Perry went mano-a-mano Tuesday night, with the Texas governor accusing the former Massachusetts governor of being "number one" on the list of magnets that attract workers to enter the United States illegally.

"You are number one on that list, sir. And people need to understand that. You are one of the problems, Mitt," Perry said directly to Romney as he accused him of maintaining his lawn with workers who had not entered the country legally.

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The Boston Globe in 2006 reported that Romney hired a landscaping company that relied heavily on Guatemalan gardeners who were not authorized to work in the United States.

"The idea that you stand here before us and talk about that you are strong on immigration is on its face, the height of hypocrisy," Perry said.

Romney said he did not know the workers' status and promptly fired the landscaping firm when it was brought to his attention

"A year later?" Perry interrupted in an unusually testy exchange, "it's time for you to tell the truth."

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"You have a problem with allowing someone to finish speaking. And I would suggest that if you want to become president of the United States you gotta let both people speak. So let me speak," Romney fired back, adding "this has been a tough couple of debates for Rick." Perry's recent debate performaces have been widely criticized.

Perry accused Romney of playing fast and loose with the facts.

"You stood here in front of the American people and did not tell the truth about illegal immigrants," Perry said directly to Romney, who put his hand on his opponents shoulder as they shouted at each other.

"I don't think I've ever hired an illegal in my life," Romney said.

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  • Corbett B. Daly

    Corbett B. Daly is CBSNews.com's deputy politics editor.

Add a Comment See all 37 Comments
by ihaveonethingtosay October 20, 2011 11:17 AM EDT
Perry is fact less, Rommey is condescending, personal, and him raising his voice in his manner tells a lot about a man that combats opposing views or other un-popular ideas. Wouldn't want either of them as Commander In Chief.
Reply to this comment
by miamivic2 October 19, 2011 8:51 PM EDT
Romney Serves Up Perry's Blooper Reel

http://www.washingtontimes.com/blog/inside-politics/2011/oct/19/romney-serves-perrys-blooper-reel/

In yet another sign that the Republican presidential race is getting nastier, the presidential campaign of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney unveiled a new web ad Wednesday afternoon attacking rival Rick Perry that is, essentially, a collection of the Texas governor's worst moments from the GOP presidential debates he's participated in since joining the race in August.

The Romney campaign, which earlier this week had launched an anti-Rick Perry website, careerpolitician.com, announced the new video, titled "Ready to Lead?" on Facebook by asking followers: "Do you think Governor Perry would be able to challenge President Obama in a debate?"

The Romney team zeroed in another example of what Perry's critics cite as the mangled syntax, awkward pauses and meandering answers that have marred the Texas governor's performances in the GOP debates.
Reply to this comment
by Brokennews October 19, 2011 10:32 AM EDT
It's Official: Obama Has Deported More Than A Million Unauthorized Immigrants

by pahgre October 19, 2011 10:19 AM EDT



While I commend the large number of deportations & I'd be alot happier if that number was much larger. Still, it's only addressing a symptom and doesn't do anything to address a cure. Much like an asprin will help ease pain, it's probably a good idea to address the broken leg at some point!
Reply to this comment
by actornaught October 20, 2011 10:51 AM EDT
But there is practical, affordable, realistic "fix".

Immigration, as it's been addressed since the 1990's, is strictly a phony outrage issue, purely to manipulate votes.

Even when Obama has been more aggressive and effective at enforcing the border, foxrush media pounds him as the opposite.

Phony outrage for votes, all of it.
by actornaught October 20, 2011 11:10 AM EDT
OOPs, correction: But there is NO practical, affordable, realistic "fix".
by pahgre October 19, 2011 10:15 AM EDT
Mitt Romney and Rick Perry go mano-a-mano over immigration
===========================================================

by nuttyworld October 19, 2011 3:45 AM EDT
"Thank you, Arizona, for doing the job that Washington won't do."
==================================================================






Hmmmmmm.....the ONLY thing that brewer and the racists in AZ have done so far, is pass UNconstitutional legislation that has done nothing but create hatred and demagoguery!

Saying that Washington is "doing nothing" is an outright LIE:

U.S. deports nearly 400K in a year -- A RECORD!

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director John Morton said Tuesday his agency deported nearly 400,000 individuals during the fiscal year 2011 that just ended in September.

Morton announced the numbers in Washington, saying they were the largest in the agency's history.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/10/18/national/main20122063.shtml
Reply to this comment
by pahgre October 19, 2011 10:19 AM EDT
It's Official: Obama Has Deported More Than A Million Unauthorized Immigrants

How does that compare with Obama's predecessor, George W. Bush? The answer, if you've been hearing republicans accuse Obama of "backdoor amnesty" and holding the border hostage, may surprise you.

The Obama administration had deported about 1.06 million as of September 12, against 1.57 million in Bush's two full presidential terms.

That's right, Obama is on the verge of deporting more undocumented immigrants in a single term than Bush did his full eight years in office.

Despite the administration's stated focus on unauthorized immigrants with criminal records, more than half of those deported had no criminal records, 54 percent to 46 percent.
by GOPeconomicterror October 19, 2011 6:48 AM EDT
Ummmmmmmmmmmmm, Rick, most illegals cross over into Texas before spreading out across America on buses chartered by meat packers, farmers, builders, etc.
Just saying, you should have talked to Anita first.
Reply to this comment
by louiville12 October 19, 2011 7:49 AM EDT
Well Arizona tried to stop them and you were against that, now you are for states providing their own enforcement???
by pahgre October 19, 2011 1:04 AM EDT
The debate was awash in interruptions, accusations and petty point scoring that made all involved look less than presidential.



I thought romney and perry were going to duke it out on stage.
Reply to this comment
by slappy-mcjohnson October 18, 2011 11:42 PM EDT
Illegal immigrants are just that - illegal.

I have no problem with immigrants. Illegal ones? Big problem.

I remember driving around Phoenix suburbs in the morning, and barely being able to stop at a corner in my pickup thanks to all of the illegals asking if I needed help. I've heard it's been cleaned up some.

The truth is that the EMPLOYERS should have hefty fines and jail sentences. Cut off the pay, cut off the illegals.

.
Reply to this comment
by pahgre October 19, 2011 1:01 AM EDT
I agree, if we went after employers hiring illegals, we would solve the problem quicker and easier than the GOP's pipe dream of fencing.
by nuttyworld October 19, 2011 3:45 AM EDT
Thank you, Arizona, for doing the job that Washington won't do.
by slappy-mcjohnson October 18, 2011 11:31 PM EDT
by Mortarman29_1SG October 18, 2011 11:26 PM EDT
Kuching...please put down the pipe.

--------

And.... the princess of ad-hominem attacks is back. When Mortar can't win a point, he insults and berates his fellow humans.

It's what Jesus taught him, according to him.
Reply to this comment
by ainttaken October 18, 2011 11:26 PM EDT
Rick Perry is desperate
thank god
Reply to this comment
by Mortarman29_1SG October 18, 2011 11:27 PM EDT
Agreed
by GOPeconomicterror October 19, 2011 6:51 AM EDT
Are you in agreement with Perry being desperate, or with thanking God we won WWII so Hitler didn't drown you at birth??
by slappy-mcjohnson October 18, 2011 11:21 PM EDT
by bajajohn1

No honest Latino will vote for a party of bigoted loser Republicans.

by Mortarman29_1SG
What about the party of bigoted loser Democrats?

---------

Mortar's debate style peaked in the third grade.

.
Reply to this comment
by kuching88 October 18, 2011 11:25 PM EDT
Mortar's attendance of the 3rd grade was rumor, likely started by Mortar Man/Boy(?)
by Mortarman29_1SG October 18, 2011 11:26 PM EDT
Kuching...please put down the pipe.
See all 37 Comments
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