N.H. Debate: The GOP Field

Romney also released a Web ad called "Twists" on Jan. 4 that says "McCain supported this year's amnesty bill." And even as the debate was in progress, the Romney campaign sent out an e-mail saying, "Sen. McCain Still Won't Admit He Supported Amnesty."

We give credit to Romney for conceding during the debate that the McCain immigration bill "technically" would not have granted amnesty, which dictionaries define as a pardon. The bill would have required payment of thousands of dollars in fines and fees by any illegal alien applying for legal status. But Romney's denial that his advertising accuses McCain of supporting "amnesty" rings hollow.

For McCain's part, he denied ever favoring amnesty.

McCain: Let me just say I've never supported amnesty.

McCain is right when he says that his bill required penalties to be paid by illegals trying to adjust their status. But he himself has in the past used the "a" word to describe what he had in mind – for instance, in an interview with the Tucson Citizen on May 29, 2003.

McCain: "Amnesty has to be an important part because there are people who have lived in this country for 20, 30 or 40 years, who have raised children here and pay taxes here and are not citizens.