Immigration hard-liners give Schwarzenegger frosty reception

AP on Bakersfield Californian ^ | 7/25/06 | Allison Hoffman - ap

[NormsRevenge]

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's campaign bus tour hit a pot hole on its very first stop: a town hall meeting Tuesday at which the governor was heckled by people upset with his position on illegal immigration.

The hot-button issue was a theme of a day on which Schwarzenegger emphatically distanced himself from a 1994 ballot proposition, saying "I was wrong" to support a measure that sought to deny illegal immigrants many government services.

His day began in the San Diego County community of La Mesa, where about 150 people attended a campaign event.

Among them was Sally Plata, a 66-year-old retiree from El Cajon and a Minuteman civilian patrol member who expressed frustration about the porous U.S.-Mexico border.

"I voted for you. And right now I don't see much difference between you and Phil Angelides," said Plata, referring to Schwarzenegger's Democratic opponent in the November election.

Schwarzenegger smiled throughout the sometimes heated questioning. At one point, as audience members grumbled loudly at his comments, Schwarzenegger asked them to quiet down so he could finish.

"Never get mad at anyone who is trying to come to this country. Get mad at the federal government which is not securing our borders," Schwarzenegger told the crowd.

Afterward, Schwarzenegger told reporters he was troubled by some of the comments and surprised by their tone.

"It was pretty much the first time I saw the intensity of prejudice," said Schwarzenegger, an immigrant himself. "This one woman came up to me and said, 'Stop the invasion.' It was that kind of dialogue, and not, 'Hey, is there something we can do about immigration?' And I think that's going into a dangerous area."

Immigration is shaping up as a major campaign issue this fall, just as it was in the 1994 gubernatorial race.

Republican Pete Wilson won that race after embracing Proposition 187, which called for denying illegal immigrants many government services. The initiative passed handily but later was tossed out by the courts. It also moved many Hispanic voters to the Democratic camp.

Schwarzenegger has acknowledged supporting Proposition 187 and suggested he came to regret that vote after working with the children of illegal immigrants in after-school programs before being elected governor.

"I could be criticized for flip-flopping, but better to say I was wrong than to hold onto something that isn't my view," Schwarzenegger told reporters on his campaign bus.

The governor addressed the issue a day after he told La Opinion, a Los Angeles-based Spanish language newspaper, that "looking back, it was the wrong decision" to support the ballot measure.

Angelides, the state treasurer, seized on the governor's comments, accusing Schwarzenegger of pandering to Hispanics.

"He will do anything and say anything to get re-elected," Angelides charged.

Congress is wrestling with immigration reform and Schwarzenegger has split with many in the Republican Party - particularly in the House of Representatives - who favor a get-tough approach to illegal immigrants. His thinking is closer to that of President Bush, who has called for better border security, a guest worker program to ensure businesses have the workers they need and a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants who have been in the country for a significant period and not broken the law.

Schwarzenegger has long faulted the federal government for lax border security and praised efforts by the Minutemen to fill the gap. California has more illegal immigrants than any other state - an estimated 2.4 million.

Angelides also has called for increased border enforcement and a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants who have been in the country for a long time.

After the La Mesa appearance, Schwarzenegger got a friendlier reception in Temecula, meeting with diners at Sweet Lumpy's BBQ, a saloon-style restaurant peppered with American flags. A cheering crowd greeted the governor, who spoke briefly before heading back on the bus to events in Corona and Rancho Cucamonga.

As the governor was leaving the Temecula event, however, an opponent of illegal immigration chanted, "Secure our borders."

The bus tour continues Wednesday with stops in and around Los Angeles.

[Pukin Dog]

You know that I have supported Arnold throughout.

Now, I want him gone.

[TheDon]

"He will do anything and say anything to get re-elected," Angelides charged.

I'd say he's saying the wrong thing to get elected.

[NormsRevenge]

If I didn't know better , I'd say his whole run has been an act... and the intended and desired results have been delivered; ie., more spending, more muddle headed governing and pandering than ever, a continued fractionalization of the Ca GOP , not one seat changed hands last election and no reform props passed either along the way..

The real rub may be his lip service to a California State Border Police initiative and his line that it's all the Feds fault and responsibility when it comes to the invasion from the South..

But as usual, his sycophants here and on his latest dream team will lay all the blame on the grass roots and conservatives who saw it coming .. Go figure.

W.A.S.S.

[claudiustg]

---"It was pretty much the first time I saw the intensity of prejudice," said Schwarzenegger, an immigrant himself. "This one woman came up to me and said, 'Stop the invasion.' It was that kind of dialogue, and not, 'Hey, is there something we can do about immigration?' And I think that's going into a dangerous area."----

This is about as tone-deaf as a politician can get. Saying "Stop the invasion" is going into a dangerous area? This is not Austria, Arnold, and the woman is not denying the holocaust.

The problem is that if you through him out there is only worse coming this time around.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

The late afternoon KFI DJ's were holding a roast on Arnold's behalf....they were really laying it on him.

Their pet peeve above all the others was that he sat down for an extended interview with a Hispanic paper but has refused to
do the same with them!

apparently he was backtracking and fishtailing all over the place.

[NormsRevenge]

I hear what you are saying, yet..

In 1906, the state took a pretty savage jolt and survived, in 2006, we may take another one in the voting booths, and will likely survive.

We need to shore up the Republican seats in the Assembly and Senate so that they may act as barriers to what may be 4 years of a dem in the Gub office, and if possible , seek to terminate his term as Gray's was depending on how hard he comes out of the gate..

If the Ca GOP had saw fit to play by its own longstanding rules, none of this might have happened. Oh well.

Worse case, the Ca GOP needs to toss the Big Tent and stick the poles you know where. ;-)

[kellynla]

I could be criticized for flip-flopping, but better to say I was wrong than to hold onto something that isn't my view,"The governor addressed the issue a day after he told La Opinion, a Los Angeles-based Spanish language newspaper, that "looking back, it was the wrong decision" to support the ballot measure.

Another gelded RINO talkin' out his arse! "Anybody seen my balls?"

Is anyone actually buying into this fraudulent clown's BS? "I was for 187 before I was against it." Is this clown related to Kerry? LMAO

[NormsRevenge]

He will not go on a couple stations here in the Bay ARea. He knows what he would be asked about. His handlers do him no favors or the voters , imo, by limiting access.

[kellynla]

hey, we just vote for McClintock for Lt. Gov
and wait 'til 2010 to vote for McClintock for Gov!

[EagleUSA]

"He will do anything and say anything to get re-elected," Angelides charged.
----
Well I would rather see anyone even slightly resembling someone with sanity, than a Marxist, leftist, tax and spend maniac like this SlimeoRat -- did not Gray Davis teach the moron liberals of California anything?? Most likely not.

[ncountylee]

"It was pretty much the first time I saw the intensity of prejudice,"

That is taxpayer anger not prejudice Governor!

[NormsRevenge]

I may well do a write in for Gub and Tom for LT as well.

To those who blast me for voting for a demRat in doing so, prove it. We still have a secret ballot in the country.

Maybe they would be better off trying to rustle up votes at DU. They seem to be about as effective as some there at debating issues. lol

[kellynla]

All we can hope for is that RINOld, if he wins, will resign, making McClintock governor. And the sooner the better!

[kellynla]

"Their pet peeve above all the others was that he sat down for an extended interview with a Hispanic paper but has refused to do the same with them!"

Figures...a gelded RINO. Lest we forget, RINOld didn't have the balls for two debates in 2003 and finally "showed up" for the third and final debate. Lucky for him, he had a teleprompter to read. LOL

[claudiustg]

I voted for Arnold once, but I wouldn't again. His statements on the illegal invasion are unacceptable as was his signing of the 50 cal. gun ban. I will not vote for ANYONE that signs an anti-gun bill or ANYONE who is soft on the illegal immigrant issue.

Fortunately I have exited the state and won't be back. It was my home since I was a boy (more than 40 years), but not anymore. The crush of people and the bizarre politics have taken it.

[aliquando]

I never thought I would or could say this about him... Woos!

[rottndog]

I just don't see myself voting for this clown again.

At least Angelides is honest about who he is and what he believes.

Who else is on the ballot that could be a good protest candidate?

[kellynla]

look what our illustrious governor has said now!
is this clown related to Kerry or what? LOL

[calcowgirl]

Here's a thread on the La Opinion interview.
If you follow the link to their site, there are 4 audio files of parts of the interview.
Some of that audio is transcribed in posts to the thread.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1672055/posts

Arnold Schwarzenegger: Supporting Prop. 187 was an error
La Opinion ^ | 7/25/06 | La Opinion interview
Posted on 07/25/2006 12:47:33 PM PDT by lonewacko_dot_com