Posted on 07/26/2006 4:17:22 AM PDT by DeusExMachina05
LA MESA, Calif. (AP) — 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.
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.
The bus tour continues Wednesday with stops in and around Los Angeles.
...how quaint....Ahnold opposed the unrestricted entrance of illegal aliens who would doubtless vote him out of office anyway if they could do so...and would do so....and very likely will do so if the California Democrats can somehow manage to get them to the polls
"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.'
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Prejudice? Pretty much says it all about Arnold Kennedy's mindset, doesn't it? I have never trusted that RINO.
Tell me, Arnold, do you leave your house unlocked at night, or are you too prejudiced to let strangers walk in at will?
The more I hear from him the more I wish he would have stopped his acting career with the Conan movies.
Arnie! It's not about immigration, it's about an invasion.
The lady didn't need to "dialogue" (sic) as she'd already told you, (her employee,) the solution to the problem.
Ahh yes buisiness would shut down, commerce would grind to a hault.
Nice talking points.
Good!
-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."-
ARGH!!! Now The People are racists, eh, Arnold? We're also angry at local politicians for supporting the inaction of the Feds. THERE IS NO EXCUSE. You all have ignored us for FAR TOO LONG.
I bet Arnold has a big Fence around his property and surveillance cameras. But - he doesn't want a Fence on the Border.
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But..but...do you think he wouldn't just let me wander onto his property, even if I promise that I'll cut his grass or wash his dishes as long as he lets me live in his house? No! That would be prejudice on his part!
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Arnold is a political fool. He thinks he can ride the 'Fence' (pardon the pun). As with most politicians - since he has paid NO ATTENTION to the heated disagreement with giving away this country with wholesale Amnesty - he is surprised and calls what he hears prejudice - HOW SAD!
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Well said!
Typical. First the Elites create a unbearably threatening and difficult situation for the American middle class, then they blame them for having the nerve to get angry about it. We're supposed to meekly accept the lowered wages, crime, tax increases, traffic congestion, pollution, and general degradation of our quality of life without complaint, because people like Ahnold say so!
If the out-of-control Third World invasion continues unchecked, it will create more prejudice and it will create the danger of civil unrest. But that's not the fault of the people trying to resist the eradication of America, it will be the fault of the people who created the dangerous situation for their own personal benefit.
Well said!
Another 1/2 Billion dollar Socialist ballot proposition for that should have failed.
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