Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Kaine likes to speak in Spanish on the campaign trail in hopes of appealing to Latino voters, but it was in 2005 that he was speaking another language when he lashed out at “the immigration problem” and the “inflood of illegal immigrants” afflicting his home state of Virginia.
“I’m deeply opposed to illegal immigration,” Kaine, then Virginia’s lieutenant governor, said during an Oct. 9, 2005 Virginia gubernatorial debate against Attorney General Jerry Kilgore.
“And I call on the federal government, the president, and immigration services to stop the inflood of illegal immigrants into this country.”
The video, which can be found on C-SPAN, was brought to light by Twitter user @phillyrich1, an independent researcher who has uncovered several other examples of Democratic hypocrisy.
Kaine has touted himself as a staunch pro-immigration progressive. In addition to breaking into Spanish during stump speeches, the Virginia senator has called for comprehensive immigration reform and for amnesty for millions of so-called DREAMers.
Gone from his remarks on the issue is any reference to an “inflood of illegal immigrants” or “the immigration problem.”
Kaine’s rhetorical flip-flip is not much different than his running mate’s. (RELATED: Unearthed Audio: Hillary Says She’s ‘Adamantly Against’ Illegal Immigrants)
As a New York senator, Hillary Clinton railed against illegal immigrants and lax border policies.
“I am adamantly against illegal immigrants,” Clinton said during a radio interview in Feb. 2003. “Certainly we’ve got to do more at our borders. People have to stop employing illegal immigrants.”
“Stand in the street corners in Brooklyn or the Bronx. You’re going to see loads of people waiting to get picked up to get yard work, and construction work, and domestic work,” she continued.
Kaine’s remarks during the 2005 debates are similar in terms of policy and rhetoric.
“I’ve supported wide state policies to make sure that we do not provide services to folks in this state who are not here illegally unless public health or safety demands it,” he said during the October debate.
In a debate the month before, Kaine blasted the federal government’s relaxed immigration policies and weak border enforcement.
“I call on the federal officials and the president to stop it, to enforce the federal laws,” Kaine said.
“There’s a cynicism at the federal level where they pass these laws, they don’t enforce them despite our repeated requests that they do, and then they leave us as states and local governments trying to deal with the consequences of it.”
Kaine went on to win his race against Kilgore, 52-46.
“What I will do is stand up again and again and ask that the federal government just do what we pay them to do, enforce the immigration laws of this country,” Kaine said during that debate.
“The problem is a federal government that turns its back, that lets employers violate the law, and then expects local governments to pick up the pieces.”
