FDT vs Mitt, Rudy on Immigration

Fred is criticizing Mitt and Rudy as being latecomers to the conservative cause. The internet ad is aiming at abortion. In a discussion in Georgia, he hit them on immigration and sanctuary cities in particular. It seems that Fred is coming out swinging and aiming at Rudy and Mitt.

I think the reason is clear. At the debate, he was excluded from the actual "debate" (argument) and almost put into an "also ran" type category. He is engaging both of them in the discussion bringing him into even more relevance.

Mitt is the one that is getting ticked off with the accusations.

Romney, who was campaigning in South Carolina, answered back, arguing that as Massachusetts governor he authorized state police to enforce federal immigration law and threatened to veto a measure allowing undocumented immigrant students to pay the same in-state tuition at state colleges as residents.

"I've been running for president a lot longer than he has," Romney said derisively of Thompson. "I've been talking about sanctuary cities and illegal immigration from the very beginning. I welcome Fred Thompson into the race, but he needs to get in a little longer and look at the records of those of us who have been talking about these issues for some time."

Fred may be wrong on Mitt regarding immigration (though not on abortion), but the reaction is what I find interesting. What Mitt call "the very beginning" is the beginning of his campaign. Fred's basic point is:

"I was walking the walk when others weren't even talking the talk yet," Thompson said at an appearance with supporters in Georgia.

He said he voted in 1996 to outlaw sanctuary cities, where city employees are not required to report illegal immigrants to federal authorities.

So Fred is pointing out that his "beginning" goes back farther than Mitt's and Rudy's.

It is clear from an earlier post that immigration is a big topic for Fred.