Posted on 05/06/2005 9:51:29 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
SACRAMENTO Although Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has flung himself into the roiling debate over illegal immigration in recent weeks, he had virtually ignored the issue since being elected.
He made immigration a campaign theme in 2003 by promising to block driver's licenses for illegal immigrants which he did, in his first major official act and to secure more federal funds to deal with it.
But a review of Schwarzenegger's public speeches and statements shows he has been silent, with a few exceptions, on an issue that has raised alarm across the political spectrum. Lawmakers and immigrant groups say he has been absent behind the scenes as well.
--snip--
Minuteman Fan
Schwarzenegger has been alternately lauded and labeled a racist since he praised the work of the Minuteman Project, in which a group of armed citizens patrolled the border between Arizona and Mexico last month. His comments were encouraging to groups that oppose illegal immigration in California.
Previously, those groups said, Schwarzenegger had done little of substance to shut off state services to people in the country illegally. Nor had he brought significant attention to the issue of border security and the costs to taxpayers of illegal immigration, such as schooling, healthcare and imprisonment for crimes, they said.
"When you are governor of California, it's the elephant in the middle of the living room. You have got to deal with it," said Ira Mehlman, a spokesman for the Federation for American Immigration Reform.
"To the extent that he has been dealing with it, he has been flying below the radar."
Since being elected, Schwarzenegger has made few statements on immigration.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
No doubt about that! I saw the website for the park. This business about borders has been going on for centuries in many differnet countries between different groups. So no surprise about the Mexican-US border.
That was my two cents. Thanks for responding to my post. Have a great day.
Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, a Republican from Huntington Beach, said having a charismatic figure such as Schwarzenegger demanding more border controls is a welcome change. He said that given the $500-billion federal deficit, Schwarzenegger should not be faulted for failing to get more federal money.
Meanwhile, Rohrabacher said, the governor has been focused on a possible special election to shake up state government.
"Schwarzenegger
has been 100% committed to various economic and political reforms in California," Rohrabacher said. "No one should fault him for not having taken up yet another cause."
BTTT
Rohrabacher seems to believe Arnold can't walk and chew gum at the same time, not having enough time to address immigration at the same time as his "reform" agenda. Well, he certainly has time to foist toll-roads and hydrogen highways on the public. He had time to bring us $3 Billion in unaffordable, taxpayer funded stem-cell research. He had time to lock up 25 MILLION acres in the Sierra Nevada Conservancy. He, of course, had NO time to support the Save Proposition 187 campaign to limit social services to illegals.
Forgive me if I consider Rohrabacher an Arnold apologist who is completely out of touch. Contrary to Rohrabacher's statement, he can and should be faulted for not taking up the most important causes, vs. his enviro-green socialist causes.
The rest of the article clearly states that Arnold has been absent on immigration. When he does act, I believe it will be disappointing for those concerned about immigration.
"During his campaign for governor, Schwarzenegger promised to "put immigrants on a path to citizenship," punish immigrant smugglers and promote English language use".
Punishing smugglers is good. But what about the rest of the illegal aliens? They are all criminals. Arnold seems to believe they should all be citizens-next he'll want to apply the McCain/Kennedy plan and give them a slap-on-the-hand, a fine, and citizenship papers.
Even the ice between Sibera and Alaska couldnt stop the invasion.... ;)
A lying California politician alert should be accompanied by a picture of that statue in Los Angelos of some Mexican hero inscribed with these words "always Mexican land."
Many Californians are doing just that. It's hard to sit here and watch our state turn into a Mexican colonia, with approval of the President of the United States. I never thought I'd live to see this.
Californians were starstruck by a RINO, a fact that they're finally figuring out. Arnold either needs to become a DemonRat, or go back to making Hollywood garbage.
I'm praying that Tom McClintock will run again. I worked on his campaign during the Recall. He's the Real Deal ... pro-Christian, pro-English-only, anti-abortion, anti-tax and anti-queer. He'll shut down the welfare scams and use the California Guard to round up illegals and boot them back to Meh-hee-koe. He's the one California Republican who can energize the conservative base in an off-year election. Mcclintock has the vision and the political acument to make California a great state again.
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