http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5337368.html

Mike Huckabee, who has also come under GOP criticism for some of his immigration policies while governor of Arkansas, defended benefits he supported for children of illegal immigrants, including allowing children to be eligible to apply for college scholarships.

“Are we going to say kids who are here illegally are going to get a special deal?” Romney asked.

Huckabee objected, saying the benefit was based on merit. “We are a better country than to punish children for what their parents did,” he said.

http://www.democracynow.org/2007/11/29/romney_mccain_spar_on_waterboarding_and

At the Republican debate hosted by CNN and YouTube Wednesday night, Gov. Mitt Romney and Sen. John McCain were asked about waterboarding and torture. Romney refused to say whether the interrogation technique was torture and continued, “I want to make sure that what happened to Khalid Sheikh Mohammed happens to other people who are terrorists.” McCain responded, “I am astonished that…anyone could believe that [waterboarding] is not torture. It’s in violation of the Geneva Conventions.”

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=16726577

One of the evening’s most emotional exchanges came in response to a question from Andrew Jones, a college student from Seattle.

“Recently, Sen. McCain has come out strongly against using waterboarding as an instrument of interrogation,” Jones said.

“My question for the rest of you is, considering that Mr. McCain is the only one with any firsthand knowledge on the subject, how can those of you sharing the stage with him disagree with his position?” he said.

“I oppose torture,” Romney said. “I would not be in favor of torture in any way, shape or form.”

Prompted by the moderator as to whether waterboarding was torture, Romney said “as a presidential candidate, I don’t think it’s wise for us to describe specifically which measures we would and would not use.”

McCain’s response was passionate: “Well, governor, I’m astonished that you haven’t found out what waterboarding is.”

“I know what waterboarding is, Senator,” Romney said.

“Then I am astonished that you would think such a torture would be inflicted on anyone in our — who we held captive and anyone could believe that that’s not torture. It’s in violation of the Geneva Convention,” McCain said.

Good for him!