Posted on 04/25/2005 9:00:17 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
SAN FRANCISCO - Among the many land mines that dot the California political terrain, few are as treacherous or unpredictable as the matter of illegal immigration.
The subject blew up in Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's face last week, at a speech before the Newspaper Association of America. Responding to a question, the Republican governor suggested officials should ''close the border in California, all across Mexico and the United States'' to stem the flow of undocumented migrants.
Critics pounced, and Schwarzenegger apologized the next day. He blamed faulty English for the gaffe, and said he was for ''securing the borders'' instead.
''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.''
But as Democrats huffed and puffed over Schwarzenegger's alleged malapropism -- ''the governor's words are an embarrassment,'' scolded state Treasurer Phil Angelides -- the state's two Democratic U.S. senators, Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, voiced their own concerns about the problems posed by leaky borders.
Boxer warned that President Bush's proposed guest worker program to grant legal status to millions of immigrants living in the United States would ''open the floodgates'' to more illegal immigration. And Feinstein helped block a bill to legalize about 500,000 farmworkers in the U.S., calling it a ''huge magnet'' for illegal newcomers.
The comments from the state's top three elected officials illustrate the growing concern over the challenges posed by illegal immigration -- an issue so vexing and emotional that it has proven resistant to political solutions.
A report released in March by the Pew Hispanic Center estimates that about 11 million undocumented migrants now live in the United States, half of whom come from Mexico. California is home to 2.4 million, far more than any other state.
Illegal immigration has become a matter of acute sensitivity for many Californians and residents of other border states. Fairly or unfairly, many voters believe undocumented migrants take American jobs, place undue burden on social welfare systems, and pose homeland security concerns. California currently spends more than $750 million per year to incarcerate illegal immigrants.
Overall, California's population is about 33 percent Hispanic -- the vast majority here legally. Taken together, the state's large Latino presence and a growing populist revolt over illegal immigration have created a perilous environment for politicians.
California Republicans saw their status take a nosedive back in 1994, when then-Gov. Pete Wilson backed a controversial ballot initiative, Proposition 187, that would have denied many social services to undocumented migrants. The measure was passed by voters, but courts blocked its enforcement, and the GOP paid a lasting political price as Latino voters fled the party in droves.
In the 2004 election, Republican Rep. David Dreier, the powerful chairman of the House Rules Committee, saw his winning margin dwindle to its lowest level in 24 years after he became the target of a fierce radio campaign over his support for Bush's guest worker program and for more H1-B visas to foreign workers. The popular John and Ken radio show dubbed him a ''political human sacrifice'' and he barely kept his Los Angeles-area congressional seat.
Democrats tasted political backlash of their own during the 2003 recall election, when then-Gov. Gray Davis signed legislation authored by Sen. Gil Cedillo (D-Los Angeles) allowing illegal immigrants to apply for driver's licenses.
Davis had vetoed almost identical legislation the year before, citing security concerns, so the move was seen as a craven attempt to secure his Hispanic base, and drove even more voters to Schwarzenegger, who made good on a promise to have the law repealed after he was sworn in.
Schwarzenegger has often found himself tangled in the complexities of the immigration issue, despite his repeated insistence that it is a federal matter.
One issue is his own immigration history. During the recall campaign, opponents raised questions about whether he worked with a proper visa when he emigrated to the U.S. from Austria in 1968. He was also grilled during the campaign about his past support for Proposition 187, and his position on the driver's license issue led him to be disinvited from a popular Mexican Independence Day parade in Los Angeles.
Since becoming governor, Schwarzenegger has expressed support for Bush's guest worker program. At the same meeting where he made the controversial remarks about the border, Schwarzenegger also spoke favorably about new legislation crafted by Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) that would combine tough enforcement and a guest worker program that would eventually allow immigrants to attain legal status.
For his part, John Kobylt of the John and Ken show said he watched the tempest over Schwarzenegger's statement with a mixture of amusement and disgust.
''Everyone has the case of the vapors,'' Kobylt said. ''You've got to do something to stop the illegal alien flow. No one is suggesting the Berlin Wall.''
As it happens, the John and Ken Show is one of several conservative California talk shows that are inviting listeners to fly to Washington next week to lobby members of congress on the illegal immigration issue.
''Most of them are just girlie men,'' Kobylt said. ''They are very frightened people. They give us big targets.''
''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.''
Yea, it's only costing California taxpayers NINE BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR because RINOld doesn't have the stones to call out the CA National Guard to secure the border...since W won't do anything!
This clown would be laughable if he weren't so pathetic!
Well, I won't say "I told you so!"
We elect a RINO and he takes the CA debt from THIRTY BILLION TO FORTY BILLION IN LESS THAN TWO YEARS!
Is this a great state or what!
Semper Fi,
Kelly
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
Nevermind what I posted about his cajones after he said "close the border" I guess he doesn't have any after all.
There are no re-dos in the real world, unlike Hollywood.
Our rookie Gubinor is still learning, in the mean time , Rome is burning ..
Insert comments about broken clocks and blind squirels here. Seriously if the Dems do a 180 and become the party that stands for ending illegal immigration they could win back the Whitehouse and Congress in '08. I hope the country club Republicans are paying attention.
"Nevermind what I posted about his cajones after he said "close the border" I guess he doesn't have any after all."
And neither does Frist, Hastert especially regarding JUDGES and ILLEGALS...
and even W regarding the issue of illegals.
The GOP has become the "Gelding Old Party!"
I wish that were true. Here in Utah, hardly a hotbed of liberal activism, the state Legislature won't do much of anything to get rid of illegals. They even voted to give them "driving privilege cards" rather than just simply kick them off the driver license rolls.
There are a lot of Republican-supporting business owners who WANT illegals depressing wages here, while the ordinary taxpayers bear the burden of supporting them. Until we identify and boycott the businesses that whore out our country for a quick buck, we won't get a handle on the problem.
-" No one is suggesting the Berlin Wall.''-
SAYS WHO?
Americans are opposed to illegal immigration.
======
And it is much bigger than that. Real Americans oppose:
1. The sanctioned breaking of our laws.
2. The REWARDED breaking of our laws.
3. The mockery that is made of U.S. citizenship.
4. The obscene tax thefth from the taxpayer to fund the illegals (against the will of the people).
5. The issue of national security as to what and who comes across our borders with ZERO traceability or knowledge.
6. Last but not least, the arrogance and irresponsibility of our Washington government in terms of fixing the issue.
Yes, there is alot more too it, than just the illegals, MUCH MUCH MORE!!!
GOP = Globalization's Our Priority
Just what we need is FTAA and LOST. And the president would sign BOTH of them.
In another 5 years there will be nobody left in CA except illegal immigrants. Any native born whites with any sense at all have either already left the state or are planning on leaving soon.
"Insert comments about broken clocks and blind squirels here."
My impression is that Feinstein has always been pretty good on this issue, by which I mean she has always stood up for border security.
There is NO REASON why we should let just anyone who wanders into this country stay here. And there is NO REASON why our borders should not be secure. And if Vicente Fox and anybody else does not like it they can lump it.
One of these illegal immigrants is going to have to knock off a top politician before anything is done.
well I can guarantee you one thing...
one more 9/11 terrorist type attack and W can bend over and kiss his legacy good byyyyyyyyye...
He's had two and a half years to secure the ports and borders and he has failed miserably!
Your right, they are fleeing to Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana and bringing all their Californicate ideas with them. As soon as they arrive in the above states they begin to initiate the same crap that ruined CA. They never learn. Airheads all.
you're making my point. 3,000 people could die, and no action on the borders at all. I bet that if a political bigwig got popped by an illegal alien while walking down Rodeo Blvd., all hell would break loose in DC.
I think Bush's masters have told him it's his job to push through the FTAA at all costs and the reason he does nothing about the border is that ill. immigration helps the whole process of conditioning us to the fact the globalists are going to stick it to us no matter what. That's why we see more dual language packaging, more bilingual teachers, more "services" for these newly arrived colonists from Mexico, etc. and a very heavy emphasis on shaking down gray haired old folks in airports while leaving the borders porous.
Where will the Hollywood crowd go? To say nothing of the yuppie/Guppie crowd in the Bay Area?
Cali has the most expensive real estate in the country. Somebodys paying a ton of money for those houses aside from poor illegals.
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