Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann is pouncing on comments made by rival contender Rick Perry during last week's GOP primary debate in Florida on the issue of immigration.
The Texas governor reiterated his support for a bill that provided in-state tuition to some undocumented students while speaking at the Sunshine State forum.
"If you say that we should not educate children who have come into our state for no reason than they've been brought there, by no fault of their own, I don't think you have a heart," Perry asserted. "I still support it greatly."
HuffPost's Elise Foley reported on reaction to the Lone Star State Republican's remarks from his opponents at the debate:
The other candidates piled on Perry, criticizing him for his support for the in-state tuition bill. The bill allows some undocumented students, who went to high school in Texas and are working toward legal status, to qualify for in-state tuition at Texas state colleges.
"You're sort of making this leap that unless the taxpayers subsidize it they won't be able to go," Rick Santorum said. "The point is, why are we subsidizing this? … Why should they be given preferential treatment as an illegal in this country?"
"Yes, I would say that he is soft on illegal immigration," he added.
Bachmann addressed what Perry had to say on the issue in a campaign email to supporters over the weekend.
"Perry was the first governor in America to give in-state tuition benefits to illegal immigrants and said to America that if you disagree... You don't have a heart," said the conservative congresswoman. "Immigration is one of the most important issues facing the United States, and we need a president who will enforce our laws and our borders. For too long, Washington has turned a blind eye to immigration and as President I will put an end to that."
She continued, "It’s time to make the tough choices and make the spending cuts necessary to balance our budget. Every four years, conservatives are told that we have to settle, and anybody would be better than Obama. That's what we're hearing this year, and it isn't true."
Below, video of what Perry had to say during last week's debate. Scroll down for full text of Bachmann's fundraising letter.
WATCH:
Dear ________,
If you oppose illegal immigration and don't believe illegal immigrants should be given taxpayer subsidized tuition benefits over American's children... than according to Rick Perry you don't have a heart.
You see, Rick Perry was the first governor in America to give in-state tuition benefits to illegal immigrants and said to America that if you disagree... You don't have a heart.
________, our nation is trillions of dollars in debt, millions of Americans are without a job, yet Rick Perry sees it fit to offer in-state tuition benefits to people who are not here legally…It just doesn’t add up.
Immigration is one of the most important issues facing the United States, and we need a president who will enforce our laws and our borders. For too long, Washington has turned a blind eye to immigration and as President I will put an end to that.
It’s time to make the tough choices and make the spending cuts necessary to balance our budget. Every four years, conservatives are told that we have to settle, and anybody would be better than Obama. That's what we're hearing this year, and it isn't true.
The time for settling is over. I am running for President of the United States to restore our constitutional conservative values to government and put our nation back on a path towards prosperity.
I am proud of the United States of America and firmly believe that our best days remain ahead of us, which is why I will not simply sit back and allow the Obama Administration and Washington Democrats to hold our nation back.
Below, I've included some informative articles about the past week, and some great ways for you to get involved with our campaign. After reading them, I hope that you will consider making a contribution of $25, $50, $100, or any amount up to the legal limit to help spread us our conservative message.
Sincerely,
Michele Bachmann