AP
Posted on 08/03/2006 5:39:50 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
SACRAMENTO – Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata Thursday discussed the difficult political climate surrounding illegal immigration and as an example said “You've got all these crackers down in San Diego.”
At a briefing with reporters, the Oakland Democrat was asked about the prospects of pending legislation to grant driver's licenses to illegal immigrants. Though a similar bill has passed the Legislature before – only to be vetoed – Perata said he was cautious about moving the current bill to the governor's desk in an election year.
“Immigration is a red meat issue,” he said. “You've got all these crackers down in San Diego taking on the governor. Even the governor was shocked.”
The Senate leader was referring to a town hall-style event the governor held in La Mesa last week as he kicked off a Southern California bus tour. The governor was confronted by several angry people in the audience who accused Schwarzenegger of being soft on illegal immigration because he favors comprehensive federal legislation that includes a guest-worker program and path to citizenship for many people here illegally.
Later, the governor admitted he was surprised by the “intensity of the prejudice” of some of the more strident opponents.
Perata held the Capitol news conference Thursday to discuss numerous issues he expects legislators to deal with when they return from summer break Monday before they wrap up the session for the year in three weeks. But most of what he said was overshadowed by his comments related to illegal immigration.
Referring to those who faced off with the governor last week, Perata said “those aren't the people I represent. But there is no point in getting into a pitched, vocal battle with these people.”
He added that, “I think the bill on its merits should be passed into law. Now that is different from the political climate. My responsibility is to look at all things, including in an election year, the political climate. I don't want to give undue advantage in an election year to people I believe do not have the best interest of this democracy at heart, some of those people that I intemperately call crackers.”
His office later issued a clarification, though not an apology.
“Next time I come to Sacramento in August I'll be sure to run the air conditioner,” Perata said in a statement.
“I want to clarify something I said earlier today. While I am concerned about the coarse and divisive tone used by a small minority in the driver's license debate, I believe that the vast majority on both sides are people of good will.”
AP
Caption for shot above.
California Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata discusses the difficult political climate surrounding illegal immigration and as an example says, “You've got all these crackers down in San Diego.”
Don, you're a cracker, too. All the pandering in the world isn't turning you any browner. ;)
No...I don't want a vocal battle: I just want to hurl a racial slur in their faces and walk away without being confronted.
Racism is amazing...
Didn't he just commit some kind of prosecutable hate crime?
Perata is just another lock-step socialist, pandering to the Mexicans for their votes, like the rest of the socialists running this state. Barf bag please!!!
Wow! I had no idea that I was a cracker. I'm now wondering if I'm a soda or graham cracker???????? Couldn't he have been a bit more specific?
<sarc
IT's the crackers in San Diego that you are trying to dis-enfranchise you ignorant poli-slut!
Crackers get riled up over wetbacks, Don.
Well, that Stupid, Lying, hypocritical, Deomcrat SOB doesn't have me and my family paying taxes from San Diego County anymore. And, judging by the people I met at the DMV here in Arizona, there are a lot more new Ex-californians, and new Zonies.
Haven't we been through that licenses for illegals enough yet? Didn't they notice we threw out a governor for that very thing?
Fo' sho'! White people be trippin' dawg!
If you're from Florida or Georgia , ya could be. ;-)
http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/cracker
Main Entry: crack·er
Pronunciation: 'kra-k&r
Function: noun
1 chiefly dialect : a bragging liar : BOASTER
2 : something that makes a cracking or snapping noise: as a : FIRECRACKER b : the snapping end of a whiplash : SNAPPER c : a paper holder for a party favor that pops when the ends are pulled sharply
3 plural : NUTCRACKER
4 : a dry thin crispy baked bread product that may be leavened or unleavened
5 a usually disparaging : a poor usually Southern white b capitalized : a native or resident of Florida or Georgia -- used as a nickname
6 : the equipment in which cracking (as of petroleum) is carried out
7 : HACKER 4
Worse, "you've got all those Mexicans up in Sacramento."
I am trying not to get back into the "Angry White Male" funk.
"Be thankful we're not getting all the government we're paying for."- Will Rogers
TT
-PJ
"Perata said “those aren't the people I represent..."
Yes, certainly true - you don't represent us, or anyone concerned with the law.
"..there is no point in getting into a pitched, vocal battle with these people.”
Also true - you'd lose hands down, belly up, and foaming at the mouth.
“I think the bill on its merits should be passed into law. Now that is different from the political climate. My responsibility is to look at all things, including in an election year, the political climate."
(Hint: they're not SUPPOSED to be voting!)
"I don't want to give undue advantage in an election year to people I believe do not have the best interest of this democracy at heart..."
True, you do not; you want to give the advantage to people who do not have the best interests of this Republic at heart...a group rapidly increasing because there are no effective borders.
"...some of those people that I intemperately call crackers.”
I presume this means you are giving Mel Gibson a pass??
Waiting for a response....
Waiting...
"Next time I come to Sacramento in August I'll be sure to run the air conditioner...”
Thanks, the rest of us would appreciate that gesture.
"While I am concerned about the coarse and divisive tone used by a small minority in the driver's license debate, I believe that the vast majority on both sides are people of good will.”
And this means 'the vast majority' should open their doors to intruders and welfare cheats?
Dear Sir: I will, regretfully and with conditions, accept the tab for my own flotsam; not for mexico's.
The Cracker-BESERKIR RAGE: “...For that the Saxon British will ever submit to sink along with them(aliens) to such a state, we assume as impossible. There is in these (Saxon British), thank God, an ingenuity which is not false; a methodic spirit, of insight, of perseverant well-doing ; a rationality and veracity which Nature with her truth does not disown;- withal there is a “Berserkir rage” in the heart of them, which will prefer all things, including destruction and self destruction to that. Let no man awaken it, this same Berserkir rage! Deep-hidden it lies, far down in the center, like genial central-fire, with stratum after stratum of arrangement, traditionary method, composed productiveness, all built above it, vivified and rendered fertile by it; justice, clearness, silence, perseverance, unhasting unresting diligence, hatred of disorder, hatred of injustice, which is the worst disorder, characterize this people; their inward fire we say, as all such fire should be, is hidden at the center. Deep-hidden; but awakenable, but immeasurable;-Let no man awaken it !" Thomas Carlyle 1839
I felt the hatred: I think we need to prosecute for persecution!
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