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Posted on 10/04/2003 11:41:25 PM PDT by ambrose
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Recall candidates spar at S.D. forum 7:24 p.m. October 4, 2003 |
 JOHN GASTALDO / Union-Tribune Republican state Sen. Tom McClintock, left, and Green Party candidate Peter Camejo talk while Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante checks his notes prior to the debate Saturday night at San Diego State University. |
At the event – sponsored by The San Diego Union-Tribune, the League of Women Voters of San Diego County, KPBS-TV and SDSU – Democratic Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante expressed support for a bill that would require businesses with more than 200 employees to pay for their employees' health insurance.
Green Party candidate Peter Camejo said insurance companies should get out of the health care business and that the government should run a universal health care program.
"California should go in the same direction as every other industrialized nation has," said Camejo. "Get the insurance companies out of the business of health care."
Conservative Republican state Sen. Tom McClintock of Thousand Oaks said there is too much bureaucracy already in the health care system, and that a better alternative would be to tie the cost of health insurance to a family's income.
On taxes, McClintock said he would rescind the car tax, while Bustamante said his "tough love" program would tax tobacco and alcohol, which Davis tried but failed to get the Assembly to do during the last legislative session.
Camejo said he would increase taxes on the rich.
"I know the people of California would support a fair tax," he said.
Bustamante defended the governor's decision to sign a bill granting driver's licenses to illegal immigrants.
"I think the majority of people in California really believe that if you work real hard... you stay out of trouble ... you ought to have a drivers license ... you ought to have a pathway to citizenship," he said.
McClintock said he would repeal the driver's license bill and direct authorities to enforce immigration laws because he does not believe people should be rewarded for breaking the law.
He noted that illegal immigration is illegal and that it is costing the state $4 billion a year to provide health care, schooling and other services to people who are here illegally.
Camejo noted that immigration is a "divisive issue" in California.
"The immigrants have been invited here outside of the legal process," said Camejo, adding that they often work for employers who are Republicans.
"They are the hardest working people. They pay the highest tax rates," he said. "We need to legalize their circumstances. Give them a driver's license and services equal to everyone else."
McClintock defended his Republican rival when asked about the relevancy of a candidate's personal life.
He said he found it disturbing that media reports that Schwarzenegger had groped numerous women and once expressed admiration for Adolf Hitler arose in the final few days of the campaign, and that he was skeptical of the charges.
"I urge others to be as well," he said. "I do think we need to be a little careful in acting on those charges," he said.
Camejo said that if true, Schwarzenegger had committed a crime.
"If he (Schwarzenegger) was a black man, he would be in jail," said Camejo, asking what it means in this society that a rich white man can escape prosecution for crimes.
"If he was a poor white man, he would be in jail," Camejo added.
Bustamante also said he thought the allegations were serious.
"This serial activity is very serious," he said. "I tell you one thing, that if this had gone on with my daughter, it wouldn't have taken a campaign to resolve it."
You are easily entertained aren't you?
That goes both ways. I see a LOT of moderation in the posts tonight from both sides and that is a good thing.
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Wow, Cruz sounds like a tough guy without Arnold there. I bet that as soon as Arnold grapped one of his big plumb fat breasts, Cruz would run away screaming like a girly man.
Well, I don't think he's swooning for Arnold.
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