The Telegraph - At BAE Visit, Hunter Blasts GOP Rival on Link to China

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The Telegraph - At BAE Visit, Hunter Blasts GOP Rival on Link to China

Speaking to about 40 BAE Systems workers in what he called a "town hall meeting," Republican presidential candidate Duncan Hunter again blasted an opponent because his former company is doing business with a Chinese defense contractor.

Hunter, a U.S. congressman from California, called on Bain Capital, a company founded by former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, another GOP presidential contender, to drop its strategic partnership with Chinese defense contractor Huawei Technologies in a bid to buy U.S. defense contractor 3Com.

Hunter will also ask Romney to use his influence with Bain to end the proposed merger between Huawei and 3Com.

The congressman called the merger "unpatriotic" and a threat to national security.

During his address, which concluded with questions from BAE workers on their lunch breaks, Hunter touched on conservative themes that have become linchpins of his campaign.

"Immigration is the hottest issue in show business right now," Hunter said.

He touted the double-wall border near San Diego that his legislation helped build to keep out drug traffickers and other illegal immigrants from crossing over from Mexico.

The issue isn't just about Mexicans, Hunter said. He said 1,100 people from China, Iraq and many other nations have entered the U.S. illegally from Mexico.

"Everybody in the world who has a TV set right now knows how to get into the U.S. illegally," Hunter said.

Hunter, who favors a constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union between a man and a woman, said strong families will "lift the country up" but upholding such virtues as "fidelity, morality and faith in God."

In response to questions, Hunter said he opposes creating a North American union for trade, similar to the European union.

"I have an idea for a North American union - if Canada and Mexico had supported us when we went to Iraq. They turned their back on us," Hunter said.

He also said he favored having corporations and businesses paying "next to nothing" in taxes to encourage companies to grow here and not move operation overseas.

Hunter thanked the BAE workers for making products that keep soldiers safe.

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