Veiled shots between the lines

Posted: Monday, November 26, 2007 2:56 PM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: Ads

From NBC’s Domenico Montanaro and NBC/NJ's Erin McPike
On the heels of a weekend filled with attacks on Giuliani, the Romney campaign has released a second immigration-focused TV spot. Even though Romney and his campaign have begun to hit Giuliani by name on the trail, he has still declined to do so in advertising.

He instead peppers the 30-second spot -- running in Iowa and New Hampshire --with veiled shots at multiple opponents as an announcer touts Romney’s record as governor of Massachusetts. “He said no to driver's licenses for illegals” (one for Clinton and other Dems); “no to in-state tuition; fought for English in the classroom” (there are a couple for Huckabee). “The only candidate with a proven record of fixing the big problems” (zing, Giuliani -- who said 9/11?).

Romney and Giuliani got into a volley in the Granite State this weekend over spending issues and judicial appointments, but they've been bickering even longer over who had the less impressive record fighting illegal immigration during their respective years in office.

Here’s the full transcript of the ad:
"Take Charge" (TV:30):

ANNCR: "Illegal immigration – we need smart, tough solutions, not just talk.
What will it take to fix it? Technology, new ideas, guts, values – Mitt Romney.
He said no to driver's licenses for illegals; no to in-state tuition; fought for English in the classroom.
The only candidate with a proven record of fixing the big problems.
From day one: Mitt Romney will do what he does best -- take charge, demand results, no excuses."
ROMNEY: "I'm Mitt Romney and I approve this message."

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Comments

This message connects for me. I have been watching Romney and if you can filter out the political bantering he may be the right man.

Scott, San Francisco California (Sent Monday, November 26, 2007 3:19 PM)

Technology, new ideas, guts, values'? Sounds like a potpourri of mismatched flash words unless they are the CODE words so favored by the GOP. I suppose Technology means unwarranted evesdropping, new ideas means gay marraige, guts means a draft for somebody elses kids, and values? No-Bid Contractor Deals? It's like buying a shrunken head in the Amazon, easy when you know the language. In this case, more Dubyatalk in the Classroom. Just an Independent observation.

Steve Turner Cedar Falls Iowa (Sent Monday, November 26, 2007 3:37 PM)

[quote]“no to in-state tuition; fought for English in the classroom” (there are a couple for Huckabee).[/quote]

First of all, Gov. Huckabee's proposal to allow high achieving children of illegal immigrants who already applied for legal citizenship to apply in a state scholarship program (which had no quotas) was not as egregious as Romney suggests.

Secondly, Domenico, who said Huckabee didn't fight for english in the classrooms? How is that a veiled shot against Huckabee? He didn't propose teaching spanish in classrooms.

Gov. Huckabee's position on illegal immigration can be found here:
http://www.mikehuckabee.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=Issues.View&Issue_id=4

jt, okc (Sent Monday, November 26, 2007 4:01 PM)

Why is it that almost all of the postings today and over the weekend are about the interaction of the candidates, i.e. Hillary says this and Obama responds, Romney says this and Rudy responds, and on and on and on. Do we not have any issues to discuss?

Carrie, Eastern Iowa (Sent Monday, November 26, 2007 4:01 PM)

Anyone interested in a very different story (and analysis) on illegal immigration should try:
http://goupstate.us/index.php/lanefiller/2007/11/14/the_illegal_immigrant_next_door

lane filler, spartanburg, sc (Sent Monday, November 26, 2007 4:34 PM)

Throw every rotten illegal out of the country. Jail anyone who hires them. We should continue to allow legal immigrants to come here, but throw out every trashy, law-breaking criminal illegal.

Jon Roberts Portland, Or (Sent Monday, November 26, 2007 4:42 PM)

Just a preview of what will be watching in 2008.Meanwhile Bush and Cheney are stirring their pots and plots against this country.Who is watching them and reporting on their antics?Not the media------

HMT-MI (Sent Monday, November 26, 2007 5:28 PM)

Sound a lot like "Us" vs. "Them" talk. Typical Republican "bring out the base" rhetoric. Just what we need, another divisive figure in the White House.

Steven San Diego, CA (Sent Monday, November 26, 2007 11:51 PM)

Mitt, What will it take to fix it? (immigration issue)
State governors not hiring them to manicure their lawns might be a good start, work down. Oh, but Mitt's such a 'good man' it must be ok if Mitt does it...he didn't know...like...he doesn't know the families who will have NO Christmas this year thanks to good ol Mitt and his forced buy outs of American companies. I bet they won't forget His name...and he talks about others as being 'un-American.'

MICK (Sent Tuesday, November 27, 2007 3:49 AM)

Mitt, a proven record of fixing the big problems?

Romneys campaign donations arranged by a guy indicted on charges of money laundering, mail fraud, obstruction of justice, perjury, now THAT's really Fixing a big problem! The media was all over the Clinton/Hsu ordeal. Clinton gave back donations 'arranged by' Hsu. The media barely touched this story. Were any donations 'arranged by' fabian returned?

I still want to know, WHY does Orrin Hatch say ANYONE should be AFRAID OF ROMNEY. On YouTube there's a clip, Hatch Defending Romney, and in it the "Boston Globe" comes up in the conversation.

ORRIN HATCH says

THOSE WHO ARE AFRAID OF ROMNEY ARE TRYING TO TAKE HIM DOWN.

This is NOT the 1800's, when LDS prophet/candidate for President of the USA, ordered the destruction of the printing press and newspaper of a dissenting LDS who had reported on the multiple women and young girls of the prophet and other LDS men, before their God had given his law of plural wives. the prophet was killed by a mob of disgruntled LDS and local citizens while jailed on charges including treason.

WHY SHOULD ANYONE BE AFRAID OF ROMNEY?

Some say the LDS "Danite" band (LDS leaders' secret special ops force)who 'destroy/ed' dissenters, apostates, and 'enemies of the church' is still in operation. Is that what Orrin Hatch refers to?

WHY does Hatch say ANYONE would BE AFRAID of ROMNEY? If referring to the Boston Globe, it sounds like a back-door threat against the press. Maybe they are AFRAID Romney will pull one of his Forced Buy Outs and shut them down (?)

Is this how Romney Fixes the Big Problems? How he is going to TAKE CHARGE, DEMAND RESULTS, NO EXCUSES? Using FEAR? "THOSE WHO ARE AFRAID OF ROMNEY." Great.

MICK (Sent Tuesday, November 27, 2007 4:41 AM)

Do we not have any issues to discuss? <<

What issues haven't been discussed? If anyone doesn't know a candidates position by now, then they have not been paying attention.

Ted (Sent Tuesday, November 27, 2007 8:46 AM)

Ted:

The point I was making is that First Read has become preoccupied with the he said/she said, back and forth bickering between the candidates rather than focusing on substantive issues. They are covering soundbites, not the election.

Carrie, Eastern Iowa (Sent Tuesday, November 27, 2007 9:55 AM)

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