Fred Thompson: Making it Up As He Goes...
October 23, 2007
Washington, DC - Fred Thompson is in the Sunshine State again today, announcing an immigration plan that earns an A+ for political pandering, but just doesn't line up with his earlier positions on the issue. Seeing a political opening, Thompson today called for stronger laws to force employers to verify workers' legal status and to increase the enforcement of existing immigration laws yet in the Senate, he supported a temporary guest worker program for agriculture workers and voted against funding to enforce laws and fines for employing illegal immigrants already on the books. Why the change of heart?
Thompson's flip-flop on immigration is just further proof that Fred lacks an agenda or reason to run. Just last week Thompson said, "I really don't know what I would do in my first 100 days." From covering up his true record on abortion to renouncing the campaign finance reform legislation he advocated for in the Senate, time and time again Fred has failed to articulate what he stands for or what he would do to tackle the issues facing our country. Thompson's inability to present a clear vision for America has clearly hurt him with voters as he went from tied for first at 27% last month to just 19%. [CNN Poll, Released 10/16/07]
"Fred Thompson seems to be making up his lines as he goes along," said Democratic National Committee Press Secretary Stacie Paxton. "Thompson's immigration plan is notable only for its contradictions with his actual Senate record. Fred Thompson may not have a clear agenda but it is clear he's willing to pander to score political points just like the rest of the Republican field."
Thompson Busy Flip-Flopping On Immigration:
Thompson Supported Immigration and Guest Workers in the Senate:Thompson Voted For a Temporary Guest Worker Program For Agricultural Workers. In 1998, Thompson supported legislation to help illegal immigrant farm workers temporarily stay in the U.S. The bill is "similar to the guest worker program supported by Bush." The bill stipulated that if there are insufficient US workers to fill the number of positions offered by a specific employer, the attorney general shall admit enough foreign workers to fill these positions. It would also require the attorney general to conduct a study on whether the workers should depart the country upon the completion of their stay. [Newsmax.com, 6/6/07; CNS News, 6/5/07; Senate Vote #233, 7/23/98, S2260]
Thompson Voted to Expand Immigration For Skilled Workers. Thompson voted for the bill that increased the number of H-1B visas, allowing highly skilled immigrants to work in the US for six years. [Senate Vote #141, 5/18/98, S1723]
But Opposed Dealing With the Problems of Illegal Immigration:
Thompson Voted Against Creating An Agency To Deal With Employers Who Hire Illegal Workers. Thompson voted against authorizing $100 million to establish with the Immigration and Naturalization Service an Office for the Enforcement of Employer Sanctions to levy fines for employing illegal aliens and to educate employers about the law and ways to prevent employment discrimination. [Senate Vote #99, 5/1/96, S1664]
Thompson Voted Against Establishing Programs to Verify That Employees Are Legal. Thompson voted against killing an amendment that would have taken out sections of the 1996 Immigration bill that establishes pilot programs to verify that newly hired employees are eligible to work in the United States and the sections that prescribe national standards for birth certificates and drivers' licenses. [Senate Vote #101, 5/1/96, S1664]
FDT Gets "C" Grade from Americans for Better Immigration. According to the New York Post, "Americans for Better Immigration- a group that advocates deportation of illegals and a stronger border- rates Thompson an overall "C." [New York Post, 6/13/07]
And Fumbles on the Issue:
Thompson: Illegal Immigrants Already in the US "Aren't as Much as a Concern." Fred Thompson identified the major problem of immigration to be future illegal immigrants by saying "The 12 million [illegal immigrants] here aren't as much as a concern as the next 12 million after that" at a Lincoln Club of Orange County speech. [Politico, 5/5/07]
Thompson Suggests Cubans Fleeing the Castro Regime Would Bring Suitcase Bombs Into the US. During a speech, Thompson "decried the flow of illegal immigrants from Cuba, saying: 'I don't imagine they're coming here to bring greetings from Castro. We're living in the era of the suitcase bomb.'" [Associated Press, 6/27/07]
