By Jon Gillooly
Marietta Daily Journal Staff Writer
MARIETTA - In his first campaign visit to Marietta on Sunday, White House hopeful and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani pledged to halt illegal immigration were he elected president.
Asked what he would do for such hospitals as WellStar Kennestone in Marietta, where residents at times have to wait up to eight hours in the emergency room because it's filled with illegal immigrants, Giuliani said, "We're going to end illegal immigration. It's as simple as that. You got stop it at the border. You have to set up a rule that you can't come into this country unless you identify yourself. Then you have to enforce it by setting up a fence," Giuliani said.
The barrier to keep illegal immigrants out should be a technological fence capable of alerting border patrol to trespassers. More border patrol officers are needed, as is a tamper proof ID card for immigrants.
"Then you allow the people here the tamper proof ID card," he said, noting that they must be fingerprinted, photographed and checked.
"Make sure they're good people. Make sure they just want to work," he said.
Giuliani denied that he was suggesting amnesty.
"That's not amnesty because you make them pay back taxes. You make them pay a penalty. And then, the ones who don't get a tamper proof ID card, you go find and throw out. But you got to do it in stages. I think the mistake that was made was trying to do both together. You have to prove to the American people that you can stop illegal immigration," he said.
Welcoming him to the Marietta Square at the Brumby Chair Company was U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) just back from a trip to Israel.
Isakson said he agreed with Giuliani's plan to stop illegal immigrants.
"If you want to see it in action you go to Israel and see it, and that's a country the size of New Jersey with hostile, if you will, countries on two sides. Yet they have security," Isakson said.
Coming to Cobb County, Giuliani was in Newt Gingrich territory. Asked how he would reach out to followers of former Speaker Gingrich, Giuliani was candid.
"Just tell them we're on the same page. We have the same aims. We may have a few disagreements, but you have a few disagreements with everyone. But we have the same aims. We're trying to move in the same direction - on terrorism, on the economy, on everything else," he said.
Giuliani said he and fellow Republican candidates were on the same page for the most part.
"The fact is that we agree on 90 percent of the issues. So you got to really work to find our disagreements. And the disagreements we have are with the Democrats," he said.
The GOP contender raked Democratic candidates over the coals.
While Republicans in the race want to lower taxes and rein in federal spending, Democrats want to do the opposite, he said.
As for Iraq, "every Republican candidate, I guess with the exception of Ron Paul, every Republican candidate is in favor of victory in Iraq rather than pulling out of Iraq prematurely like the Democrats," he said.
Republicans are also the choice when it comes to fighting terrorism, he said.
"Every Republican candidate I think of wants to be on the offense against Islamic terrorism, and we talked about it, and we even used the word 'Islamic terrorism' when we discuss it. The Democrats are afraid to use the word, which is very telling about how they're going to be on defense," he said.
That is not to suggest Giuliani believes other Republicans are better suited for the White House than he is. He said the next president will appoint between 180 and 200 federal judges.
"I worked for Ronald Reagan when he was appointing federal judges. I was the third ranking official in the Justice Department," he said, describing how he would appoint judges who interpret the Constitution, not judges who legislate from the bench.
Giuliani said he was campaigning as an optimistic American.
"An American that looks at the whole challenge of Islamic terrorism from the point of view of being on the offense about it, and willing to deal with it by having a strong military. Willing to deal with it by supporting our military rather than some of the things that I believe happen on the Democratic side that make it more difficult for our military to achieve their objectives. These are the same things that everyone all over the country is interested in. Lower taxes. Less government spending. Energy independence. Everybody in Georgia is interested in every single thing I just mentioned, and they are in Los Angeles and New Hampshire where I just came from. There's a little difference in temperature. But not much difference in what people are concerned about," he said.
jgillooly@mdjonline.com
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Posted Comments
Giuliani is as trustworthy on the issue of illegals as Isakson - not at all. They both have been bought and paid by corporate lobbyists and citizens are not important to them. Tom Tancredo has credibility.
Rudy should be asked if he supports English as our official language and whether he will rescind Executive Order 13166. In his last days in office, Pres. Clinton issued Executive Order 13166. This order is an unfunded mandate that directs any entity that receives federal funds to provide services in any of the over 200 foreign languages. With a stroke of his pen, Pres. Bush or his successor could rescind E.O. 13166.
Rudy is for Amnesty! The only way of stoping this invasion is with a fence, more border patrol stiff fines and imprisonment for employeers who hire Illegals and more interior enforcement. If Rudy is elected the border will remain wide open and gun control will stop us peasants from protecting ourselves. trhis is a third world invasion and Fred Thompson has the only soultion!
Guliani once again proves that he's a liar. He states that we will stop illegal immigration by documenting all the people that come in to work, and use a technological, rather than a real fence. Both of these things would increase illegal immigration, rather than stop it, and he knows it. He is just trying to smokescreen the fact, that he is for increased illegal immigration, so more republicans will vote for him. He is a disgrace to the republican party, and america as a whole!
To start with I am getting sick of all the BS the canidates are putting out. They all say "When I become President, I will do (insert your choice of items)! The President cannot do anything without Congress, so why try to BS us, just tell us you will try to do this or that! Do the canidates thing that the public is stupid enought to believe they as President can really do what they claim? As far as I am concerned for next year's election Mickey Mouse or Elmer Fudd would be a good choice!!!!
"Giuliani denied that he was suggesting amnesty. That's not amnesty because you make them pay back taxes. You make them pay a penalty." NO Giuliani, this IS amnesty, and is exactly the same type of "comprehensive" garbage that Bush peddled this past summer. You don't "solve" the problem by providing "pathway' amnesty to millions of illegals that Rudy is proposing; you ENFORCE THE LAW and BUILD A REAL FENCE. We're not fooled Rudy, and we're not buying your amnesty proposal. Please people, of the "major" candidates, support Romney or Thompson, both of whom reject Rudy's "pathway" amnesty.
Worst than just supporting the invasion from Mexico he would be fine with disarming us when we would need them most and if he is so fond of a virtual fence he should have virtual security around him.
This man is a sick demented lier. Most people now no it. He supports illegal immigration one hundred percent. Dr. Ron Paul,-President-2008-