FNC's Rivera Slams Romney as 'Hypocrite' & 'Most Virulent Anti-Illegal Immigration Person Ever'
As he appeared on Friday's The O'Reilly Factor, FNC's Geraldo Rivera complained that GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney never mentions that his father, George Romney, was born in Mexico while campaigning as the "most virulent anti-illegal immigration person ever," and ended up calling the former Massachusetts governor a "hypocrite." (Video below)
After Rivera recounted the story of Mitt Romney's great grandfather leaving Utah for Mexico to avoid the state's anti-polygamy laws, with his grandson and Mitt's father, George, eventually returning to the U.S., the FNC host noted that Mitt Romney is technically eligible for Mexican citizenship, and then launched into him for not talking about his family connections to Mexico:
In 2007 to 2008, 2011 to 2012, thousands of campaign appearances, the most virulent anti-illegal immigration person ever, never once mentions that his father was born in Mexico, and his grandfather was born in Mexico, he is a hypocrite...
Below are both video and a transcript of the relevant exchange between Rivera and FNC host Bill O'Reilly from the Friday, January 13, The O'Reilly Factor:
GERALDO RIVERA: In 2007 to 2008, 2011 to 2012, thousands of campaign appearances, the most virulent anti-illegal immigration-
BILL O'REILLY: He's tough on it.
RIVERA: -person ever, never once mentions that his father was born in Mexico, and his grandfather was born in Mexico, he is a hypocrite-
O'REILLY: Oh, now you go off the rails!
RIVERA: How do you talk about illegal immigration of Mexicans-
O'REILLY: It doesn't matter.
RIVERA: -and you don't say once-
O'REILLY: I was, look, my people are from Ireland, and I didn't like what the IRA did.
RIVERA: But I hear that you're from Ireland all the time and your people are from Ireland all the time. How can you talk about all these Mexicans and never mention that your father is one of them and your grandfather is one of them?
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Comments
quick question
Submitted by 26CX on Sun, 01/15/2012 - 7:01pm.
Does anyone besides Rivera really care what Rivera thinks?
The other week I watched a
Submitted by ricklail on Sun, 01/15/2012 - 9:06pm.
The other week I watched a Perry Mason TV movie, The Case of the Reckless Romeo. Whorealdo played an obonxious host. Sort of a Jerry Springer type. He was murdered. I stood and cheered even though I knew it was just TV.
Illegal?
Submitted by Curly on Sun, 01/15/2012 - 7:10pm.
What is it about ILLEGAL libtards don't get?
This is like a great endorsement of Romney
Submitted by DaMav on Sun, 01/15/2012 - 7:39pm.
I'm not a Romney fan but I'll bet Mitt's lovin this soundbite: 'Most Virulent Anti-Illegal Immigration Person Ever'
So,......
Submitted by almostacowboy on Mon, 01/16/2012 - 12:14pm.
.....doesn't that make him (Romney) the biggest proponent of legal immigration ever?
But where they Mexican citizens?
Submitted by drsamherman on Sun, 01/15/2012 - 7:41pm.
Maybe not. Hundreds, if not thousands, of Mormons went to Mexico around the turn of the century as missionaries and established residency. Not all of them became citizens, and not all of them remained.
That his father might have been born in Mexico does not mean he automatically identified as being a Mexican citizen, and indeed he would not have chosen to come back to the United States to become the Governor of Michigan if he identified as being a Mexican citizen with exclusive loyalty.
Geraldo's argument is as empty as his Al Capone vault. And just as big a failure.
Doc, does Romney have
Submitted by killa37 on Sun, 01/15/2012 - 8:22pm.
Doc, does Romney have Mexican/Spanish blood running through his veins??? Is he a 'hispanic'?? Or are his 'roots' to Mexico as you said they are??
And still.................we ARE talking about 'illegal aliens'here, aren't we???
Geraldo - aka the Grim Reaper - is a full-blown dope in ANY subject that he discusses. And I quit watching O'Reilly a long time ago because of his own sanctemony and smarminess,as well as soft-peddling of his Obama interviews,and the fact that he allows Rivera to continue to have a platform to advance his idiocy.
His bio says he is Scots/Irish/German/English.
Submitted by drsamherman on Sun, 01/15/2012 - 10:41pm.
So he would not be considered by Latinos to be "Mexican" in the ethnic sense. He would be considered "Anglo". Looking at Romney's bio, I see that his direct lineage contains no reference to having Spanish colonial blood, though he may have continental Spanish blood at some point.
To most citizens of that country, "Mexican" would mean a person of blood Latino heritage who carries a passport, pays taxes, votes and identifies culturally AS a citizen. Romney's father was Governor of Michigan, and his side of the family returned to the US around 1912 and settled in the southern border area near El Paso. There is no mention of his father holding Mexican citizenship or dual citizenship, and more than likely he identified as an American.
I identify as American even though my family heritage is almost 100% Argentinian by source. My wife's family is Uruguayan, but she also identifies as American. It is insulting for someone to say that your political position should solely be governed by where you were born or ethnic or racial characteristics, but of course this is Geraldo the Leftwing Lunatic and he will never be able to comprehend the concept of cultural identification that does not involve his liberal sense that everybody born on one of the Spanish-speaking American continents is somehow required to be a victim and to be told how to vote in the traditional Democrat view of Latinos and other minorities. The Democrat mantra is "let us do the thinking for you and just vote like you are told", and it is complete and utter horse exhaust.
So Geraldo thinks.....
Submitted by Blonde on Sun, 01/15/2012 - 8:48pm.
....that if a child of American parents is born, say in Greece, it makes the kid a Greek?
He is truly an idiot. And I suspect he may have been the old "dusty illegal immigrant" troll (LOL, anyone remember that one with Sport Politics?) Tumbler. THAT was a troll.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
Yeah, Blonde - my youngest
Submitted by killa37 on Sun, 01/15/2012 - 8:58pm.
Yeah, Blonde - my youngest brother was born in Tripoli, Libya............and he's been a Libyan his whole life - a whiteboy infidel!!!
And he kept threatening to go back there and regain his rightful place to the throne - but I think that all of that tribal warfare, and the fact the Boy Barry was doin' ol' Moammar (not too long after he was doin' bin Laden) kind of kept him back in the USA, where he continues to be a virulent illegal immigrant!!!
Uhhh...
Submitted by pcantidote on Sun, 01/15/2012 - 8:51pm.
Shouldn't we all be anti-ILLEGAL immigration?
He actually uses the word
Submitted by ant on Sun, 01/15/2012 - 9:13pm.
He actually uses the word 'illegal' and still doesn't get it.
" I hate that _________, that __________ is the most virulent anti-drunk driving, anti- rape person ever....and I know for a fact his father once had a drink and owned a car..he's also had sex.."
It is time for Geraldo ...
Submitted by Bodini on Sun, 01/15/2012 - 9:16pm.
to return home ... to Ricky Martin! I watch FOX all the time, but have learned to change channels or get a beer when this Marxist-fool opens his mouth!
I saw this.......
Submitted by GregE on Sun, 01/15/2012 - 9:22pm.
and when he said Romney is anti-illegal immigration I thought........uhhh, ok. Shouldn't all American's be, Mustachio?
Mr. Rivera
Submitted by azgal602 on Sun, 01/15/2012 - 10:15pm.
is a one topic voter. There are more important concerns going on in the USA besides immigration. There is no PERFECT candidate and there never will be. You must go with what is best for the country, not just your personal issues.
One topic
Submitted by jpalm32 on Mon, 01/16/2012 - 9:55am.
NJ Menendez is one topic senator. Illegals.
Jerry Rivers. . .
Submitted by rickbren on Sun, 01/15/2012 - 10:31pm.
. . . needs to go back looking for Jimmy Hoffa and confronting pro "wrestlers."
Confused perhaps?
Submitted by 26CX on Sun, 01/15/2012 - 11:13pm.
I think it was John Stossel who confronted the professional wrestler and got smacked down on camera.
I wouldn't mind seeing Rivera get his bell run, though.
Nazi beating
Submitted by Schofield Kid on Mon, 01/16/2012 - 2:21pm.
I'm pretty sure Jerry got beaten with a folding chair by a Nazi he had on his talk show in the 80s. I remember seeing a billboard having a picture of him with his nose in a bandage. He was so proud of that! That he's actually given any forum as a legitimate reporter is a joke. Although not surprising he's on O'Reilly given that guy was host of Hard Copy or Inside Edition or some such tabloid-ish show at around the same time Jerry was getting beaten by Nazis.
Can't stand Geraldo
Submitted by cbeyer on Sun, 01/15/2012 - 11:11pm.
Don't have a clue as to why he is on Fox news and not MSDNC or CNN.
Wow!
Submitted by JustAl on Mon, 01/16/2012 - 9:03am.
I had no idea Romney was the most anti-illegal candidate, I may have to reconsider my pledge to never vote for him now.
Really
Submitted by jpalm32 on Mon, 01/16/2012 - 9:54am.
Need to start re-thinking Romney!
Only reason I left Perry.
Thank you Geraldo!
I guess Geraldo is unaware that
Submitted by SickofLibs on Mon, 01/16/2012 - 9:56am.
Mitt owns the only low-rider Jaguar in the world. Look it up; it's true.
Jerry hit his peak in Al Capone's vault.
Submitted by acaiguana on Mon, 01/16/2012 - 9:57am.
Loved that show.
ACA
...
Quoted from: 'Acaiguana notes from the Underground' (Soon to be at theaters near you)
Gerald Rivera (I refuse to
Submitted by ThePickle on Mon, 01/16/2012 - 12:33pm.
Gerald Rivera (I refuse to call him by that ridiculous stage name) claims that Mitt Romney is running as the "most virulent anti-illegal immigration person ever,", meaning that of all the Presidential Candidates running on the GOP primary ticket that Mitt Romney is the most AGAINST illegal immigration.
Well I guess that's at least one thing I like about Mitt. Might have to take a closer look.
Wow! Really? Romney is
Submitted by mattm on Mon, 01/16/2012 - 1:36pm.
Wow! Really? Romney is anti-ILLEGAL immigration? Hmmm, maybe I can bring myself to support him....
Does Mr. Rivera think we should be pro-illegal immigration? What a dope.
idiot
Submitted by angelann1 on Mon, 01/16/2012 - 1:56pm.
If rivera doesn't like Mitt, it means that Mitt is a good man ! His opinion means nothing!!
I will vote
Submitted by nolefan2 on Mon, 01/16/2012 - 3:54pm.
for anybody who runs against Duh One. I was not thrilled about Mitt, but if he is truly against illegal immigration, I have to put another check in his column. People do not have a problem with Mexicans or people of any other country becoming American citizens. We simply think they should do it legally. It make take a while and they may have to "jump through some hoops" such as a citizenship test, but it will be well worth it in the end. Why should Mexicans be allowed to sneak across the border and everyone else have to get in line? Just because we share a border doesn't automatically give them the right to take a shortcut to citizenship. Geraldo needs to chill out.
Geraldo in Mexico...
Submitted by adamsmith on Mon, 01/16/2012 - 4:22pm.
When Geraldo visits Mexico he thinks the Mexicans think of him as one of them. What they are really saying is, "What's with the Jewish guy thinking he's Latin. What a Gringo!!!!"