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Special Report Online: 4/25/12

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    Immigration reform battle heats up

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This transcript is automatically generated

Welcome to another edition of special report on line I'm Bret -- if you haven't been here before welcome aboard this is where you can interact with the panel.

Ask some questions make some comments.

Vote in some polls there's a poll ongoing right below here.

What scandalous most worrisome 75% of you say fast and furious currently and then -- GSA's standings coming in second.

But we'll see how that develops you -- -- -- don't worry if your comments don't get there right away there are producers putting him in the middle section as we speak.

Lot of people saying they are ready for some more fun -- in Albuquerque says hello from the land of enchantment -- Hello from New Mexico.

OK let's start where we left off.

So yeah.

Scott Jensen who is a regular contributor here from Wisconsin he was laughing when the kicker was shown and and and I said oh dear that's actually the second oh dear this week when there -- a little racy.

That's my default reaction I think it do that or it wasn't on CN.

That's yeah that's -- The people are not happy with few generals that they think that you're blowing off the Secret Service thing and that.

That potentially somebody could've been -- Protect the president even though it didn't happen this done.

Well I think there's no evidence -- highly unlikely -- -- also start with.

The axiom that men.

Animals and if it weren't for the stabilizing effect of the women.

We'd be living in -- -- coconut -- and throwing them at each other so I start with the bad friends so my I don't know how to recognize a violent.

-- -- you know this is what how long that we had a Secret Service and this is the first scandal of -- sort I think it's a pretty good record and you know who look out.

I hope people understand I was being tongue in cheek when they spoke about cursory look at the -- it.

Give me the impression that they weren't exactly stuff Mata Hari.

Yes you don't get that from photos from the New York Daily News command -- slightly ironic perhaps -- should have a Chiron on the bottom saying irony alert.

But -- fight if they were a scintilla of evidence there was anything organized here anything other than what it looks like I'd be concerned in the -- haven't enough.

Okay -- on Arizona says I agree with -- Secret Service scandal not a big deal.

Let's move -- Immigration.

This Supreme Court hearing started today.

The arguments oral arguments this is the Arizona law being challenged for its constitutionality.

Players.

And there are eight justices now because Elena Kagan has recused -- -- and solicitor general.

The time on the case is being put together.

AB what about this in political impact of this -- Well we can't say it's just -- just incredible looking at that from 30000 feet at the fact that both the health care decision.

And and the immigration system -- land in the heat of the campaign in the summer's pretty amazing.

And I think it's problematic.

For.

Mitt Romney.

This week when -- -- -- -- -- to become the nominee Indian general election campaign to have to answer questions about.

His immigration positions which he's trying to sort of run from a little bit.

It is indefinitely.

An opportunity Democrats safer for them because.

They are going to act no matter what to try to galvanize.

Their their base and -- Latino voters there you know.

Isn't there a story to tell that President Obama then Senator Obama promised action on immigration reform and didn't do anything with a democratic senate there -- a democratic house and -- democratic -- that's.

This this is absolutely -- case that when they have control they don't want to take responsibility for tough vote.

-- lose senate seats we've seen it every time.

It is an election hair issue -- -- -- a vote -- before.

The mid terms they make it they make it a promise every time.

Because of Arizona -- not because of the president you're seeing new Latino voter registration that is.

Absolutely mind blowing and parts of Arizona they actually it actually could put the state in play.

And that is what there that Democrats -- are are hoping to take advantage of nationally so if they put up a show vote on the senate floor.

If the Arizona laws upheld by the Supreme Court.

And and it's you know take the rhetoric to the trail about this -- -- it is -- -- -- Their voters and -- try to make up the gap because as you know President Obama has retired from the first segment.

He's going to lose voters from his own coalition from always gonna lose African Americans he's getting used lose young voters he's gonna -- women and he's gonna lose.

Latino some.

Deportations.

Are up under this president -- higher than any administration previously they're not sanctioning business so much -- going after criminals.

But there's still there's still -- there because they haven't offered.

Immigration reform and they have they have and carry out on the promises and the deportations are Latinos are not are are not necessarily happy with fat.

That Latinos are mad about Arizona so they seen as an opening.

They're gonna take that they need all the openings they can get.

Clearly stated this is a vulnerability for Mitt Romney I talked to Ed Gillespie last -- on the show and asked him whether Romney.

Stood by his statement in this errors on a debate that Arizona's law was -- model.

-- campaign has since said that he was talking about.

In that answer but it is it sounded like he was saying the states -- as a model -- you and it seemed like he Gillespie had a hard time with that answer and you know you have Marco Rubio out -- saying he doesn't think Arizona should be a model for states like Florida first night.

So.

I guess the question is.

Are Hispanic and Latino voters.

That they're not a block monolithic way voting but is this issue going to affect so many of them that it it really turns the -- in this race.

I think it could depending on what happens over the next six months.

One of the reasons we talked Republicans who are working on these issues on -- attracting Hispanic voters to.

The Republican side.

And they will say that they see an opportunity.

In part because President Obama didn't take up immigration reform and -- let's not forget.

Immigration reform wasn't.

Like some of the other promises that he made where he said you know we're gonna we're gonna heal the earth and we're gonna do these things.

Kinda gotten young voters excited that we're very vague and and unrealistic idealistic.

We're never gonna happen anyway he said -- -- gonna take up immigration reform in the first 100 days that was his promise and he didn't do it.

And I think there -- long memories on that issue what I hope I think Republicans are likely to do is end up.

At least some Republicans and I think Mitt Romney's -- in this direction.

Embracing this for -- rubio style DREAM Act which has higher qualifications for.

People who are eligible.

Four before being treated differently but is it is not is -- explicitly not a past.

-- citizenship let's just explain -- as we have time.

The proposal says that if you served in the US military.

Or if you go to four years of college in the US like you are allowed to stay here you're given a temporary -- In your stay here legally legal -- -- that you have to go to the back of the line just like everybody else if you wanna get a citizenship exact Romney.

Had expressed.

Well he's from the military part right we're not -- the contract.

And that's where -- he would well you know there are other differences.

I mean -- the rubio plan as I understand it that would not allow for.

In state tuition.

For the children of illegal immigrants there are -- a series -- very specific ways in which it differs from the broader.

But DREAM Act which was I think probably correctly perceived.

As a -- when you're then you're then you really are talking about jumping people to the front of the line.

Who did you know -- -- maybe don't deserve to be punished because they were brought here by their parents but at the same -- don't deserve.

To be rewarded and then you're looking at the long term.

Incentivizing of illegal behavior which creates a lot of problems I think.

Who you know what can we should -- this hasn't been written up in legislation yet it hasn't been -- conceptual bill.

But it's not pretty -- and I think rubio people have to have done quite have it work -- talk to them about some of the polling that they've done which is interesting and this is another reason that they see.

An opening here when you present the language of this from rubio style DREAM Act.

To voters and compare -- with the broader DREAM Act and then -- -- yet again with sort of -- more absolutist.

You know nothing you know they're legal -- a mall.

The rubio style plan that does it much better among all interestingly.

All demographic groups and all political groups so -- They see an opportunity there.

-- -- I think the rubio plan really threads the needle very well because.

There's a distinction between.

Entitlement and give away on the one hand and compassion on the other.

People don't like an effective that children of illegal aliens would get in entitlement of their tax money to subsidize.

The education of a child who was you know brought up here illegally.

But they are compassionate sensitive they don't want to see that person uprooted.

And tossed back to a country that he doesn't even remember.

Never.

I may never see.

So I think this -- it rather well you don't do -- giveaways you don't do the entitlements.

But you and you don't get citizenship which is sort of a high honor.

But you can stay -- that's a real achievement for the immigrant they get to stay without.

Having a war -- and citizenship like everything else Americans have a sense if you want citizenship.

My parents who waited years in Europe until they were admitted in the United States became naturalize and that's the way people assume and ought to be.

So I think that's really a good way to do -- I think on the point of Romney having said that the Arizona -- tomorrow I think you ought to stop using the word models.

First you know he's definitely times -- didn't -- Romney carried messages -- he's not talking about models.

Every state has its own browser for this -- rather than using issue they came out this week.

The numbers showing that the flow of Mexican American -- Mexican immigrants.

Out of America is now equal to the numbers coming in.

Well the name for that the word for that is self deportation.

And when Romney brought it -- he was mocked.

And accused of being either a dummy.

Or anti immigrant and -- self deportation simply means.

There are reasons for you to go home and if you can equalize the -- everybody assumed that when they heard.

The statistics that people coming in and healing hands and say that was a good thing it was sort of a solution.

If you like to the illegal immigrant problem that was not in post who was.

Was a cruel mother was in discriminatory.

So I think he can just that he probably should -- word again.

But that is when he was much of perfectly.

Reasonable way to address the problem.

OK I don't know it just something.

A problem in an email and then statements.

And I've received top.

And that is about natural born citizens.

Marco Rubio is a natural born citizen so is -- agent.

Here's what the constitution requires.

That the president be a natural born citizen.

But it doesn't define that term.

That job is left to federal law and in specific it's eight US code section 1401.

And all that law requires that the mother be an American citizen who has lived in the US for five years or more.

To at least two of those after the age of fourteen.

-- -- the mother fits those criteria the child is a US citizen at birth there's a couple other ways.

The constitution requires it to natural born citizen.

But the founding fathers as I said didn't define to show you have to look to the coat.

The law lists several categories more people American citizens -- one is born inside the United States.

No question there it's definitive they -- Americans it's.

There are people who are born outside the united states of parents who are both citizens provided one of -- has lived in the US for any period of time.

There are people who were born outside the United States to one parent who is a Unisys and the other is a US national that is from an -- position.

A possession of the US provided.

The citizen parent has lived in the United States or its possessions for at least one year prior to the birth of the child.

That person is a natural born American -- And then there are the people who were born outside in -- to one parent who was a US citizen.

And the other who is an alien provided the citizen parent lived in the united states -- possessions for at least five years two of them after the age of fourteen.

All of these people.

Our natural born US citizens so that includes people who -- born in Puerto Rico people who are born in states before they became states.

Born in Hawaii in 1950 the decade before statehood.

You're a natural born US citizen.

So.

I -- -- was -- you know by a long time.

For example -- George Romney the father.

Amid Romney who was born next in Mexico.

Was able to run for the presidency I don't remember a big.

Argument over whether he was eligible or not it was assumed and that's because of the provision about the parents.

Brett and for the people who are asking John in New Hampshire can person born in Puerto Rico via vice presidential candidate yes they can't.

And in fact governor for two no had been talked about as a possibility.

From that round and it's legitimate -- to -- -- that he would be considered but he's a conservative -- run Puerto Rico.

And he can't so.

-- -- -- That we get so much email saying you know Marco Rubio is ineligible Bobby -- ineligible.

And then let alone the president's -- -- the birth her back and forth from set aside the birth certificate and that he was born in Hawaii.

There are people who say he's not a natural born citizen.

But I just read all distinguish.

Would he then be.

Assuming you was born in Indonesia let's say -- somebody like him would he be eligible because the mother.

Well that's the only question about that -- if that scenario right was that his mother I think gave birth to -- mid nineteen.

And it would be the 145.

Years in the US life according to federal code but.

Was otherwise you -- born in Hawaii -- -- -- -- -- US it is no I.

I'm not reopening -- -- just it was a curious -- always sells.

You're saying the hypothetical right I was always assuming that you have to be disappointed in the US -- was -- yes you're -- if you -- do -- ineligible.

Mike Henry Kissinger but of course his problem was a German accent you can't be president it's.

Amazing.

And is that it -- law as written.

Is very.

Broad inclusive and broad street line I suppose some pretty good morning -- someone could make a legal argument and take it all with the Supreme Court and and you could fight the fights what the founders really meant.

But as it stands now all of those categories that aren't always sucked up about ten minutes time on that.

Good reveal further feet six discussion that.

Area yeah they were taken notes because they're going to be a quiz on these.

Have to do a story and show just two straight good things yeah.

Well -- VP.

Marco Rubio is apparently being vetted and he's at one of the top positions there but they don't -- Is rob port.

Because as a safe bet Ohio and he kind of fits the Mitt Romney.

Persona -- Someone who could take over easily.

Big economy.

Former head of Leo and -- former trade representative he's already been vetted by congress and it's safe.

Smart guy.

And I think more conservative.

In many ways than his public.

Reputation.

Would suggest and I think that the concerns if you're if you're looking at Romney ticket the concerns that you have if you if you are.

Somebody wants Romney to win would be.

Would Rob Portman would be spend much of his time defending.

The bush administration's decision on budgeting.

-- he actually played it an integral role in trying to restrain what could have been even greater out of control spending in the bush years.

-- -- coach sharing with Dick Cheney this is special sort of set aside group that was meant to restrain cabinet.

Agency heads for acting.

Asking for more money.

I don't think that that will be the way that -- time the bush administration for prints and -- -- asked quite a bit about that but I think there would be some concerns it would just.

By what you said Adam just about the fact that he's perceived as so safe he's perceived as kind of Romney like even though I think.

Portman certainly has a stronger set of conservative principles going back a longer way.

And Mitt Romney does demonstrably but I think that you know for people who want Romney to do something -- and -- some people to pick a conservative pick somebody you can feel the Tea Party.

Rob Portman probably doesn't satisfy that -- so much as somebody like -- Marco Rubio or Paul Ryan went you know maybe last night you said Condoleezza Rice.

And if you more -- you think about that I mean she's obviously so skilled and foreign policy.

Not so skilled in.

Politics and hasn't hasn't done it and number two would you want to re litigate the bush years foreign policy decisions whether you believe in them or not.

Would you re litigate the bush years by putting Condi Rice on the ticket.

That is obviously a downside everybody -- Rob Portman is infinitely more.

Prepared for this job than Marco Rubio is.

He would win him Ohio -- Florida has more electoral votes mean you could make an argument there's a downside to everybody.

Condoleezza Rice -- out of the box pick if you need to make -- splash.

It sends a strong message -- women but she's not a joke pictures serious tech.

That it is compelling combination if you disregard geography.

Because she is a national security expert and he's -- businessman.

And they would make an -- It did you virtual machine.

-- that I'm sorry that I don't know about but I think that that -- you I think issues if you -- okay well that may be that disqualifies her I think if you wanna send a strong message to women.

Picking Condoleezza Rice would do that.

But it wouldn't be a joke pick and it wouldn't be a toxic -- You're gonna re litigate the bush years with anybody the Fox News poll tonight shows that the public still blames.

Only my small markets and we put an outlet center outside -- cannot the state of the economy war.

Then President Obama now Rob Portman spent a lot of time talking about the bush years and the disappearance of the surplus and No Child Left Behind and Medicare part everything.

Everyone's gonna have a problem Marco Rubio and have some problems I don't think there's a dream pac.

And I think that probably.

Picking Marco Rubio hoping he could he could you know got -- -- Latinos which is not proven.

Is probably ultimately safer with a splash there and rob.

-- okay there's people.

Most responsible for current condition of the economy hard to believe.

25%.

Bush and the Republicans.

But this is why I mean you hear the president.

Continuing to bring that up.

The part of it is it's a take of his part of it is it's a way to offload.

Him being responsible for anything.

But there is a part where the bush taint.

Is still alive I think it'll be gone by the end of an Obama second term -- the first time around me.

And I think if -- you know Jeb Bush -- wanted to run 2016 will be fine but -- still in the period where the negative.

Aspects are attached and why any Republican candidate like Romney.

Who comes out from the outside had no connection whatsoever with the bush years.

Which to him as an electoral advantage.

Would why you would try to import.

Into his campaign association that the Bush Administration.

Would make no sense on Condoleezza Rice is fantastic and I wanted to run for the presidency and I hope that one day she will.

But I think for Romney it does not to make sense -- and there's another aspect.

Yes it would be a female on the ticket it would not be a token like -- Ferraro or.

Fairly.

Let me just go on they would -- -- -- if it wouldn't involve the problems some and so do like a Sarah Palin that.

However the media treat conservative women particularly accomplish conservative women.

As if thing that women that apply to Margaret Thatcher she didn't qualify.

As a woman and apply to Jean Kirkpatrick.

If you were strong conservative.

-- the establishment conservative woman you are written off as a woman certainly is a feminist or write you off.

So -- I mean that's not how ordinary Americans think.

But the media have an influence and I think there would be sort of he would have less of an impact on women I think than it would otherwise.

Because of the fact that she's conservative.

It just briefly I think that you bring if you bring other -- obviously she's been tremendously accomplished.

You know.

Everything -- you you both of says is true.

She would bring the Bush Administration foreign policy -- the play -- does it specifically for Democrats.

And independents who.

Independents are sort of divided on the Bush Administration foreign policy broadly they like the counter terrorism part they didn't like the Iraq part as much.

But she would make that an issue to be sure.

But for hawks for Republicans.

Who are conservative and and hawkish and thought that the Bush Administration went astray in the second term.

She's also viewed as something of adopt something of a moderate somebody who didn't continue.

The bush -- I -- I believe this myself I think that she was responsible for.

Shifting focus on some of our counterterrorism efforts abroad on Iran and North Korea in in -- much more conciliatory way that.

Certainly didn't produce any positive results and I would argue made us look weaker.

Globally and in particularly gave legitimacy through our negotiations with both Iran and north.

-- -- carry -- from Maryland says that.

He or she thinks.

John -- would be better than Portman he's got -- blue collar upbringing.

Basically.

Would be able to have to hit the it.

The lower middle income folks that it's many people believe that that -- has been the problem if you look at some of the examples.

He had -- -- real problem he had -- act.

When he tried to to changing unionization -- for government workers.

In Ohio and when you when you coming off a defeat of that.

Magnitude I don't think you can run in this cycle what happens if June 5 Scott Walker wins.

Is he on the list I don't think so.

He's too polarizing and -- it it would be if -- running you know in this is the governor of Wisconsin write it in July.

Forty decide that his only problem work to what -- that film.

Enthusiasm deficit among conservatives Scott -- would make.

A lot of sense when you look at the polling in Wisconsin it's 5050 to people who love love the people who hate him hate him.

I don't think you are not that he wouldn't -- you know I think he would do the job if he were.

If you vote on the taken and vice president but I don't think it would be something that.

The Romney campaign given all that's caution.

We would do if they were gonna pick a Wisconsin I think -- far more elected to be all right.

Home comes -- problems -- when you might want to budget Burmese Army embraced that much but -- that its benefits every day.

All you're talking I mean that every day that the Democrats are going to come back.

With the Romney Ryan budget thirty cent do you think -- so yeah it was -- this -- Brian not every day.

Yes yes I do I do I mean listen to -- who are essential so it last night.

I mean it was the Romney Ryan budget coming out -- -- -- terrific in all the other -- -- I just think that it does it does bring the focus of the budget and nothing else.

Although it Scott Walker loses I think Ryan's chances are.

Our way to but if he wins.

Don't you think I mean don't you think that they look at Wisconsin and say maybe we can win Wisconsin.

Democrats would say -- Republicans if if walker wins.

And makes this statement.

-- doesn't Paul and Paul Ryan's chances increase.

On -- vice presidential.

Sweepstakes.

I don't know I'm not sure I wouldn't think it would matter one -- -- and I think the state is in play regardless of what happens on June 5 I think whoever wins the recall.

Stands a better chance of winning the state being part because the organizations that are going to be put together are being put together right now -- get out the vote and these will -- a -- -- What four months before.

The presidential five months before the presidential sort of matter in that respect I don't know that it would matter.

This for Ryan and I think that that there are certain people in Romney world who have who have the view that they -- -- that this would be something over the last.

23 months of the campaign that we don't want to spend.

All of our time talking about we want to become -- -- sort of allude to this last night when he said.

It's still the economy and we're not stupid and the other suspend its long running debate in -- -- in the Republican Party more probably do we want this to be a referendum just in just stewardship election.

About President Obama or -- -- about something bigger about leadership and we've been getting different signals from from -- world I'd say for several months now.

-- -- I think you're I think it is right if you pick Ryan then you no longer have a choice.

And -- to make it is choice I'm you know you've made -- to drive made that choice and you've given the Democrats what they think.

Is a lifeline because it changes it from a referendum on the incumbent which is what it generally is into an election it's sort of a referendum on what the other guys are gonna do they have an office.

I think Romney would like to have the option to swinging away and -- economy improves its gonna have to be a choice election.

If the economy stable and you know goes south -- or doesn't improve.

I think he'll try to run it -- his stewardship election -- went on that he gives him a little the more -- I think need.

Beat boxing himself in a little bit with Ryan although I think -- -- great the vice president.

Department thing puzzles me why if you're probably is that you're stiff.

-- not exciting.

You've got Green eye shades and you have great otherwise but it's sort of not exactly a charismatic character why would you double down on that with -- -- Because that's -- he's the best prepared to take those because you could look at it and say this guy can take the -- as you're saying -- should -- in -- national inches rather than in his own interest.

I'm saying Harrison thought -- No I mean -- markets could I think there -- a lot of people who do.

I'm I'd be surprised I think he would think I can help the country the best if I get elected.

And Matsuoka who wrote Rob Portman is it looks like the guy that was born to be the guy standing next -- next to the funny lines and he has been any as I mentioned before he's been vetted.

In as US trade rep has also budget director he.

Is.

Has done -- prep work and murder boards for debate prep for Republican candidates for presidential debates he was the democratic stand it.

For both John Kerry.

And back in half the 2000 as well Al Gore right.

-- -- -- -- -- -- Lieberman.

Vice president -- look today he was basically playing the role of the Democrat twice right inside the White House so it you know -- He's been there done that.

-- that you woke up to George W of the debate prep and move over here.

Do a good he didn't.

Know -- terrifically accomplished that I don't think.

You have a scintilla of influence over the outcome of the election he would be in Ohio.

Carrier on state I don't know -- we haven't seen that happen.

I think you know last -- fifty years in May have only -- once would Texans I think the majority of vice presidential.

Carries over the last fifty years have lost their -- bush bush and Cheney -- -- moments.

Hey guys I think it goes up and sincere have you -- -- -- the vice president candidate state was lost by the -- right.

-- more often than one.

Alley -- and the Chico California says the vice president needs to be prepared to take over as president rubio is too -- he is 41 years old.

He is -- young young man whom were very impressive but he is young.

Next week we will have a series on vice presidential possibilities.

-- will have five of them plus a sixty report on others.

It's wrenching series.

We sit down with a number of them.

And we'll lay it all out for -- we're not gonna tell you who the five -- yet but there'll be interactive things on the website as well.

And you'll see the full interviews as your extensive interviews with these candidates -- -- all out on my one panel thank you very much.

Special report on line every Wednesday and of course every weeknight Fox News Channel 6 PM eastern for special report control room.

The good night and by the way Doug war back executive producers not here right now.

Because he's watching the Washington Capitals who we believe the Washington Capitals to win tonight game seven.

-- Boston.

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