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| Mitt Romney's wobbly week - US politics live | Mitt Romney's wobbly week - US politics live |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| 12.50pm: So after hearing Mitt Romney's stirring call for a "long-term solution" with "bipartisan support" on illegal immigration, here's a video compendium of Romney's previous remarks on the subject. | |
| Strangely, "self-deportation" didn't get a mention today. Fancy. | |
| 12.28pm: Here's the text of Romney's speech going on now – well, the relevant parts that refer to illegal immigration. | 12.28pm: Here's the text of Romney's speech going on now – well, the relevant parts that refer to illegal immigration. |
| Some people have asked if I will let stand the President's executive action. The answer is that I will put in place my own long-term solution that will replace and supersede the President's temporary measure. | Some people have asked if I will let stand the President's executive action. The answer is that I will put in place my own long-term solution that will replace and supersede the President's temporary measure. |
| As President, I won't settle for a stop-gap measure. I will work with Republicans and Democrats to find a long-term solution. I will prioritise measures that strengthen legal immigration and make it easier. And I will address the problem of illegal immigration in a civil but resolute manner. We may not always agree, but when I make a promise to you, I will keep it. | As President, I won't settle for a stop-gap measure. I will work with Republicans and Democrats to find a long-term solution. I will prioritise measures that strengthen legal immigration and make it easier. And I will address the problem of illegal immigration in a civil but resolute manner. We may not always agree, but when I make a promise to you, I will keep it. |
| Let me speak to a few principles that will guide me. | Let me speak to a few principles that will guide me. |
| As I have said many times, it is critical that we redouble our efforts to secure the borders. That means both preventing illegal border crossings and making it harder to illegally overstay a visa. We should field enough border patrol agents, complete a high-tech fence, and implement an improved exit verification system. | As I have said many times, it is critical that we redouble our efforts to secure the borders. That means both preventing illegal border crossings and making it harder to illegally overstay a visa. We should field enough border patrol agents, complete a high-tech fence, and implement an improved exit verification system. |
| Our immigration system should help promote strong families, not keep them apart. Our nation benefits when moms and dads and their kids are all living together under the same roof. But, today, too many families are caught in a broken system that costs them time and money and entangles them in red tape. For those seeking to come to America the right way, that kind of bureaucratic nightmare has to end. And we can do this with just a few common-sense reforms. | Our immigration system should help promote strong families, not keep them apart. Our nation benefits when moms and dads and their kids are all living together under the same roof. But, today, too many families are caught in a broken system that costs them time and money and entangles them in red tape. For those seeking to come to America the right way, that kind of bureaucratic nightmare has to end. And we can do this with just a few common-sense reforms. |
| As President, I will reallocate Green Cards to those seeking to keep their families under one roof. We will exempt from caps the spouses and minor children of legal permanent residents. And we will eliminate other forms of bureaucratic red tape that keep families from being together. | As President, I will reallocate Green Cards to those seeking to keep their families under one roof. We will exempt from caps the spouses and minor children of legal permanent residents. And we will eliminate other forms of bureaucratic red tape that keep families from being together. |
| So he did mention the "high tech fence", I was wrong. A "high tech fence" could be an iPad app for all we know. | So he did mention the "high tech fence", I was wrong. A "high tech fence" could be an iPad app for all we know. |
| Otherwise: what is this "long term solution" that Romney is promising? We don't know. But it appears he won't immediately scrap the Obama administration's change. | Otherwise: what is this "long term solution" that Romney is promising? We don't know. But it appears he won't immediately scrap the Obama administration's change. |
| 12.21pm: Mitt Romney takes the stage at the Naleo conference, and addresses the audience of Latino leaders in fluent English. | 12.21pm: Mitt Romney takes the stage at the Naleo conference, and addresses the audience of Latino leaders in fluent English. |
| His speech is going to focus mainly on the economy, apart from a few Delphic mentions of immigration. | His speech is going to focus mainly on the economy, apart from a few Delphic mentions of immigration. |
| 12pm: With Mitt Romney speaking shortly to a conference of Latino political leaders, the campaign are leaking out a few of his remarks on immigration: | 12pm: With Mitt Romney speaking shortly to a conference of Latino political leaders, the campaign are leaking out a few of his remarks on immigration: |
| Some people have asked if I will let stand the President's executive action... I will put in place my own long-term solution. | Some people have asked if I will let stand the President's executive action... I will put in place my own long-term solution. |
| Clear as mud. It wasn't an "executive action," but that aside, Romney is still ducking the answer, it appears. | Clear as mud. It wasn't an "executive action," but that aside, Romney is still ducking the answer, it appears. |
| The Romney campaign has also sent around a list of Romney's policies, which includes this: | The Romney campaign has also sent around a list of Romney's policies, which includes this: |
| Mitt Romney will complete a high-tech fence to enhance border security. | Mitt Romney will complete a high-tech fence to enhance border security. |
| This is unlikely to get a mention this afternoon. And fancy that: now it's a "high-tech fence", is it? So not an actual fence. That's an etch-a-sketch change from the Republican primaries. | This is unlikely to get a mention this afternoon. And fancy that: now it's a "high-tech fence", is it? So not an actual fence. That's an etch-a-sketch change from the Republican primaries. |
| But as for specific details on illegal immigration? Well, there's this: | But as for specific details on illegal immigration? Well, there's this: |
| As president, Mitt Romney will implement a national immigration strategy to address our nation's broken immigration system. He will reach across the aisle and work with Congress to forge lasting solutions. | As president, Mitt Romney will implement a national immigration strategy to address our nation's broken immigration system. He will reach across the aisle and work with Congress to forge lasting solutions. |
| If only someone had thought of that before. | If only someone had thought of that before. |
| 11.47am: About the only interesting thing from John Boehner's press conference just now is that Boehner didn't call for attorney general Eric Holder to resign over Fast and Furious, and when asked directly merely sidestepped the question. | 11.47am: About the only interesting thing from John Boehner's press conference just now is that Boehner didn't call for attorney general Eric Holder to resign over Fast and Furious, and when asked directly merely sidestepped the question. |
| For our British readers: Eric Holder's UK equivalent is Theresa May. | For our British readers: Eric Holder's UK equivalent is Theresa May. |
| 11.38am: Speaker of the House John Boehner is currently flapping his gums on the subject of Fast and Furious in his weekly press conference. | 11.38am: Speaker of the House John Boehner is currently flapping his gums on the subject of Fast and Furious in his weekly press conference. |
| "What is the Obama administration hiding regarding Fast and Furious?" says Boehner in his opening remarks. Probably a vast conspiracy that goes right to the heart of government. Or maybe nothing. Who knows? | "What is the Obama administration hiding regarding Fast and Furious?" says Boehner in his opening remarks. Probably a vast conspiracy that goes right to the heart of government. Or maybe nothing. Who knows? |
| 11.24am: Unsurprising news: commerce secretary John Bryson – who was involved in two car collisions following a seizure earlier this month – has announced his resignation. Via AP: | 11.24am: Unsurprising news: commerce secretary John Bryson – who was involved in two car collisions following a seizure earlier this month – has announced his resignation. Via AP: |
| President Barack Obama says in a statement that he has accepted the resignation and thanks Bryson for the "invaluable experience and expertise" he brought to the administration. | President Barack Obama says in a statement that he has accepted the resignation and thanks Bryson for the "invaluable experience and expertise" he brought to the administration. |
| Bryson says in a letter to Obama that he is concerned his seizure "could be a distraction" from his performance as secretary and says the nation would be better served by "a change in leadership" at the department. | Bryson says in a letter to Obama that he is concerned his seizure "could be a distraction" from his performance as secretary and says the nation would be better served by "a change in leadership" at the department. |
| For British readers wondering who John Bryson is, his UK equivalent would be... let's see... Mark Prisk. | For British readers wondering who John Bryson is, his UK equivalent would be... let's see... Mark Prisk. |
| 11.05am: There was one supreme court ruling of interest this morning. Contra the Federal Communication Commission, nudity and searing are ok on television, so long as it is done in the best possible taste. | 11.05am: There was one supreme court ruling of interest this morning. Contra the Federal Communication Commission, nudity and searing are ok on television, so long as it is done in the best possible taste. |
| The excellent timing of this ruling means that CNN's legal pundit Jeffrey Toobin will finally be able to shout curses while tearing off his clothes when the healthcare ruling is eventually handed down. | The excellent timing of this ruling means that CNN's legal pundit Jeffrey Toobin will finally be able to shout curses while tearing off his clothes when the healthcare ruling is eventually handed down. |
| 11am: Fox News is still beating the drum on the Fast and Furious investigation – which should have been renamed Slow and Tedious, given yesterday's events in Congress. | 11am: Fox News is still beating the drum on the Fast and Furious investigation – which should have been renamed Slow and Tedious, given yesterday's events in Congress. |
| Karl Rove says executive privilege was good when Bush did it for him. Says it's bad when Obama does it for Holder. #amusing | Karl Rove says executive privilege was good when Bush did it for him. Says it's bad when Obama does it for Holder. #amusing |
| Karl Rove is very unhappy. | Karl Rove is very unhappy. |
| The new news is that Republicans in the House may be prepared to make a deal with Eric Holder and the justice department on access to documents. Neither side wants to see this go much further because of the murky legal waters it might enter. | The new news is that Republicans in the House may be prepared to make a deal with Eric Holder and the justice department on access to documents. Neither side wants to see this go much further because of the murky legal waters it might enter. |
| 10.45am: No wonder Mitt Romney wants to downplay any good news from Florida – a new Quinnipiac University poll shows Obama leading Romney by 46% to 42% in the Sunshine State, and that Romney's central theme of economic competence isn't helping him much: | 10.45am: No wonder Mitt Romney wants to downplay any good news from Florida – a new Quinnipiac University poll shows Obama leading Romney by 46% to 42% in the Sunshine State, and that Romney's central theme of economic competence isn't helping him much: |
| While Florida voters say 48%-44% that Romney would do a better job on the economy, they split 45%-45% on who would create more jobs and say 49%-44% that Obama would do more "to advance the economic interests of middle class Americans." | While Florida voters say 48%-44% that Romney would do a better job on the economy, they split 45%-45% on who would create more jobs and say 49%-44% that Obama would do more "to advance the economic interests of middle class Americans." |
| Are the attacks on Romney as job cutter paying off? That would explain the divergence there. | Are the attacks on Romney as job cutter paying off? That would explain the divergence there. |
| 10.30am: More on the dynamite Bloomberg story alleging that the Romney campaign has been asking state governors to talk down their local economic prospects ahead of the general election: | 10.30am: More on the dynamite Bloomberg story alleging that the Romney campaign has been asking state governors to talk down their local economic prospects ahead of the general election: |
| Mitt Romney's presidential campaign asked Florida Governor Rick Scott to tone down his statements heralding improvements in the state's economy because they clash with the presumptive Republican nominee's message that the nation is suffering under President Barack Obama, according to two people familiar with the matter. | Mitt Romney's presidential campaign asked Florida Governor Rick Scott to tone down his statements heralding improvements in the state's economy because they clash with the presumptive Republican nominee's message that the nation is suffering under President Barack Obama, according to two people familiar with the matter. |
| Scott, a Republican, was asked to say that the state's jobless rate could improve faster under a Romney presidency, according to the people, who asked not to be named. | Scott, a Republican, was asked to say that the state's jobless rate could improve faster under a Romney presidency, according to the people, who asked not to be named. |
| Since consumer confidence is an important aspect of any economic recovery, this is dangerous stuff from the Romney campaign, talking down America for political gain. | Since consumer confidence is an important aspect of any economic recovery, this is dangerous stuff from the Romney campaign, talking down America for political gain. |
| There's more: | There's more: |
| A Romney adviser made the request this week to Scott's staff after press releases from the governor's re-election campaign and Internet messages from the Florida Chamber of Commerce trumpeted the state's drop to 8.6% unemployment rate in May from 8.7% in April, the people said. The national unemployment rate is 8.2%. | A Romney adviser made the request this week to Scott's staff after press releases from the governor's re-election campaign and Internet messages from the Florida Chamber of Commerce trumpeted the state's drop to 8.6% unemployment rate in May from 8.7% in April, the people said. The national unemployment rate is 8.2%. |
| Scott's news release said the jobless rate had dropped 11 consecutive months in Florida and asked supporters to "spread the news" on Facebook, Twitter and by emailing their friends. | Scott's news release said the jobless rate had dropped 11 consecutive months in Florida and asked supporters to "spread the news" on Facebook, Twitter and by emailing their friends. |
| The piece also details how other swing states such as Ohio have Republican governors touting good economic news in the state, at odds with the Romney campaign message of gloom and doom. | The piece also details how other swing states such as Ohio have Republican governors touting good economic news in the state, at odds with the Romney campaign message of gloom and doom. |
| 10.25am: And in case you were wondering – there will be no announcement by the US supreme court on either its healthcare reform ruling or the Arizona immigration laws. Maybe Monday or a week from today. | 10.25am: And in case you were wondering – there will be no announcement by the US supreme court on either its healthcare reform ruling or the Arizona immigration laws. Maybe Monday or a week from today. |
| 10.15am: The honeymoon appears to be over for Mitt Romney's presidential campaign, with the Republican presidential candidate enduring his roughest week since winning the GOP nomination. | 10.15am: The honeymoon appears to be over for Mitt Romney's presidential campaign, with the Republican presidential candidate enduring his roughest week since winning the GOP nomination. |
| The latest polling – including a new poll from the key swing state of Florida – shows Romney failing to put clear water between himself and Barack Obama, despite the string of bad economic news. | The latest polling – including a new poll from the key swing state of Florida – shows Romney failing to put clear water between himself and Barack Obama, despite the string of bad economic news. |
| To make matters worse, a memo reveals that the Romney campaign lobbied Florida's Republican governor to downplay good economic news in the state, while Romney himself was bounced into publicly backing Florida senator Marco Rubio's credentials as vice president. | To make matters worse, a memo reveals that the Romney campaign lobbied Florida's Republican governor to downplay good economic news in the state, while Romney himself was bounced into publicly backing Florida senator Marco Rubio's credentials as vice president. |
| Romney today faces another tricky dilemma when he addresses the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (Naleo) – and surely must end his silence on the issue of immigration in the wake of the White House's decision to allow young undocumented immigrants a legal status. | Romney today faces another tricky dilemma when he addresses the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (Naleo) – and surely must end his silence on the issue of immigration in the wake of the White House's decision to allow young undocumented immigrants a legal status. |
| Here's a summary of the latest news from Ryan Devereaux: | Here's a summary of the latest news from Ryan Devereaux: |
| • Romney's team has asked Florida governor Rick Scott to be more depressing. Bloomberg reports that Romney's campaign has requested Scott tone down his positive comments about the state of Florida's economy – he recently said "brighter days" had arrived – because they clash with Romney's narrative of a nation in financial despair. Scott hasn't had much luck pleasing his party peers lately. On Wednesday, former GOP chairman Tom Slade – a former co-chairman of Scott's campaign – said "Rick Scott doesn't seem to have any political skills at all. I'd give him a B for governing. I'd give him an A for strangeness." | • Romney's team has asked Florida governor Rick Scott to be more depressing. Bloomberg reports that Romney's campaign has requested Scott tone down his positive comments about the state of Florida's economy – he recently said "brighter days" had arrived – because they clash with Romney's narrative of a nation in financial despair. Scott hasn't had much luck pleasing his party peers lately. On Wednesday, former GOP chairman Tom Slade – a former co-chairman of Scott's campaign – said "Rick Scott doesn't seem to have any political skills at all. I'd give him a B for governing. I'd give him an A for strangeness." |
| • The evolving drama between US attorney general Eric Holder and Republican lawmakers, led by Darrell Issa, continues. The ongoing battle increased in intensity yesterday when Issa's panel recommended Holder be held in contempt and the president invoked executive privilege to shield the disclosure of certain justice department documents. | • The evolving drama between US attorney general Eric Holder and Republican lawmakers, led by Darrell Issa, continues. The ongoing battle increased in intensity yesterday when Issa's panel recommended Holder be held in contempt and the president invoked executive privilege to shield the disclosure of certain justice department documents. |
| • President Obama has a new campaign ad touting the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. The video opens with a photograph of Obama with his mother when he was a kid and goes on to describe him as "the son of a single mom". The commercial marks a change in tone for the president's campaign, which in recent weeks has been releasing numerous videos attacking Mitt Romney as an out-of-touch job cutter. | • President Obama has a new campaign ad touting the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. The video opens with a photograph of Obama with his mother when he was a kid and goes on to describe him as "the son of a single mom". The commercial marks a change in tone for the president's campaign, which in recent weeks has been releasing numerous videos attacking Mitt Romney as an out-of-touch job cutter. |
| • The Associated Press and Gfk are out with a new survey that has Obama winning support from 47% of registered voters, while Romney is close behind with 44%. The AP poll also found that 49% of respondents approved of how Obama is doing his job and 4 out of 10 say they are worse off than they were four years (60% of whom plan to vote for Romney). | • The Associated Press and Gfk are out with a new survey that has Obama winning support from 47% of registered voters, while Romney is close behind with 44%. The AP poll also found that 49% of respondents approved of how Obama is doing his job and 4 out of 10 say they are worse off than they were four years (60% of whom plan to vote for Romney). |