Posted on 04/20/2005 2:38:42 PM PDT by John Jorsett
SACRAMENTO - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger moved quickly Wednesday to apologize for suggesting that California's border with Mexico should be closed in an effort to solve the nation's illegal immigration problem.
Schwarzenegger said he misspoke in comments to newspaper editors and publishers Tuesday, intending to say the border should be secured. The governor blamed the error on his sometimes flawed use of English - his second language.
"Yesterday was a total screw-up in the words I used," the governor said at a press conference. "Because instead of closing, I meant securing. I think maybe my English, I need to go back to school and study a little bit."
The contrition seemed to quell the issue at the Capitol. Hispanic lawmakers - many of whom are also rival Democrats - said they accepted his apology.
"I don't think the governor identifies himself with that kind of rhetoric," said Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, D-Los Angeles. "I don't know why he said it but I'm very pleased he has totally removed himself from those folks who espouse that kind of hatred."
Nunez's office, however, pointed out that Schwarzenegger said something very similar in a 2003 interview with Fox TV host Bill O'Reilly.
Margita Thompson, Schwarzenegger's spokeswoman, said it was unfortunate Nunez was promoting a "story that has no merit."
She pointed out that Nunez told a reporter only Tuesday that he too may have misspoken about holding up negotiations this summer on the state budget because of a disagreement with the governor on workers' compensation reform.
On Tuesday, before the annual meeting of the Newspaper Association of America in San Francisco, Schwarzenegger said it was "unfair to have all those people coming across, have the borders open the way it is, and have this kind of lax situation."
The Republican governor backed away from those statements Wednesday, saying that while securing the border is an important issue - he does not want to close it.
"We have a terrific relationship with Mexico," Schwarzenegger said. "I filmed four movies in Mexico, I love to go on vacation to Mexico. We have a great trade agreement with Mexico."
Thompson said that by securing the border, the governor means that existing immigration laws should be better enforced, that there should be better security that people and goods are crossing back and forth properly.
Somehow I knew it was too good to be true.
Somehow I knew it was too good to be true.
Ooooh, he said, "those people."
Well, isn't that special!
He still thinks the border situation is out of control.
And there's a problem with that? It's obvious that the Hispanic lawmakers care more about their illegal friends or la raza than our national security.
Another politician backing down under pressure - imagine that!
Go back to Austria, then. What a shameless liar. This is just the latest example of his complete lack of integrity.
Close the border and make tourists pass through Arizona.
I don't know if this is really "backing down." He's still saying "secure" the borders, which is better than "let everyone in," which is the position of the Democrats.
The republican party is a waste of time. We would be better off picking winners and losers in mexico; they seem to be the ones who are actually pulling the strings.
All these Pubbie politicians sure know how to fasttrack the backpeddling.
I don't know which is more disgusting: that they utter stupid remarks or that they are so quick to backpeddle.
Saying that, after a 40 year binge of immigration, both legal and illegal, we want to close our borders... is espousing "hatred"?
Boy...hatred ain't what it used to be
The Austrian Pretender has been on his throne long enough to now realize the economic terror that the flood of uninvited Mexicans and their progeny are wreaking on California.
That whole situation is ridiculous. According to the title "Hispanic leaders" seem to have a problem with closing the border. As if the mere suggestion of such a thing is tantamount to racism. I hate the political correctness of the left and its seepage into the rest of commonsensical society. Of course it could just be that I am jaded and cynical when it comes to the issue of illegal immigration.
Ouch. Well said.
"The border"......uh.......what border????
Thousands of illegal immigrants/workers/aliens moving in and out at their own whims while others wait years to get in legally.
The "Minutemen" accomplished with volunteers/tax free in 10 days what the Border Patrol could NOT do in 10 years.
"Minutemen" bravo!
That's it, I give up. We're in total Orwell-land now. What "hatred"? What the heck is this guy talking about?
Thompson said that by securing the border, the governor means that existing immigration laws should be better enforced, that there should be better security that people and goods are crossing back and forth properly.
Duh!
What a non-issue. I've basically had it with these manufactured "controversies". I can't even pretend to take them seriously.
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