He's got the slogan down, but Newt is sloppy on immigration details

Yes, he’s good with words – remember the “Contract With America?” In an interview this week on immigration, Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich repeated over and over “We need absolute control of the border for national security.”

But it was more than a slogan, it was several slogans. “It’s very disappointing that our leaders in Washington don’t take responsibility for national security and homeland security,” he said repeatedly, adding “If you don’t have absolute control of the border, how do you think you can stop a terrorist from crossing the border.”

Gingrich, however, showed his true feelings when he rambled on as to how the United States needs a temporary worker program. But his real interest in immigration issues became apparent when, asked his opinion about the plight of Border Patrol Agents Ramos and Compean, Gingrich said that though he knew people had strong feelings “I’m not familiar enough with the issue to give you an opinion.”

U.S. Border Control Chairman Edward Nelson said he was reminded that in the mid-1990s “President Clinton would have been defeated and the NAFTA treaty would have died, but Newt Gingrich and Bob Dole stepped in to muscle the Republicans to back NAFTA, delivering a stunning victory for Bill Clinton; assuring his reelection; and leading American down the long dark path towards the North American Union we all despise.”