Posted on 06/05/2007 9:09:18 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
SAN FRANCISCO – Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger called President Bush “very courageous” Tuesday for pressing ahead with a contentious immigration reform plan, a welcome boost from a fellow Republican on an issue that has split the party.
Schwarzenegger rebuked those he described as partisan critics for trying to torpedo the bipartisan immigration deal struck by the Senate. It would allow 12 million illegal immigrants to remain in the U.S. while they took steps to gain citizenship.
“I think it's inexcusable that we have had this system, and that people are fighting from the far right and the far left over this issue, rather than coming together in the center and really coming up with a compromise that works,” the governor told several hundred members of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce.
“I have to say President Bush is very courageous to push this immigration bill,” he said. “I am very pleased that Congress is working very hard and negotiating so they can solve this issue once and for all.”
The negotiations on Capitol Hill are fragile because broad swaths of both parties oppose the Senate bill, which Bush supports. Democrats want to give family connections higher priority in the measure, which for the first time places greater emphasis on the education, skills and job experience of immigrants than on blood ties. Conservatives want tougher border security and favor an immigration system based more on the country's economic needs than on family connections.
Some of the most vocal conservative opponents oppose any attempt to legalize the status of immigrants in the U.S. illegally.
Schwarzenegger, an Austrian immigrant who is a naturalized U.S. citizen, told the chamber members gathered in the auditorium of Pacific Gas & Electric Co. headquarters that immigration reform is smart business.
“I believe very strongly that we must secure our borders, we must build the fence, we must have the best-trained border patrol there at the border,” he said.
“But at the same time, I feel very strongly we should be able to bring guest workers into the United States (who) can work here. Our farms need it, our construction businesses need it,” he said. “They can't find the work force here in California.”
Schwarzenegger's views on immigration have largely aligned with Bush's for some time. But the support he expressed Tuesday, in response to an audience member's question, came at a sensitive time for the president.
Bush has been pilloried by conservatives who oppose what they see as the immigration proposal's amnesty for illegal immigrants.
Of the 10 Republican presidential candidates who gathered in Manchester, N.H., on Tuesday night for a debate, only one, Sen. John McCain of Arizona, backs the bipartisan bill.
The governor's prepared remarks focused on political and infrastructure challenges he is trying to tackle, such as redistricting and the state's water needs.
On Wednesday, Schwarzenegger planned to host an evening fundraiser at his Brentwood home for some of the same causes. He and first lady Maria Shriver will entertain donors willing to give large sums to his main ballot committee, the California Recovery Team. Some are expected to give as much as $250,000.
The event is aimed at the governor's stable of big-money donors who pledge to contribute or raise large amounts of money to help finance his political operations, whether through ballot measures or promoting his policy initiatives.
The network of financial backers is similar to candidate Bush's “Rangers” or “Pioneers” – business leaders or wealthy individuals from the Silicon Valley to Wall Street who can provide a steady stream of cash for Schwarzenegger's political committees, sometimes in amounts that reach seven figures.
Government records show Schwarzenegger's top donors include developer Alex Spanos, DLH courier service founder William Robinson and Jerry Perenchio, former chief of the Univision television network, who each have donated more than $2 million.
AP Political Writer Michael R. Blood contributed to this report from Los Angeles.
“poor starving factory farmers”
As a rural Southerner who had farmers for family I have never met a poor farmer that owned his own farm. I have met a lot of poor mouthing farmers. Now share-croppers were a different story. Cheap labor just makes it easier to by a larger home at the lake.
that’s the cue for shoving this bill down the crap hole
Amen. There's nothing pragmatic about putting a liberal into office, even if that liberal's name is followed by an 'R' in parentheses.
Arnie is on record - a taped conversation - revealing that he knows mass immigration is simply employers screwing over the taxpayer in pursuit of cheap labor. Our rulers aren't stupid, they're evil.
He is courageous. Just dead wrong on this one.
Racist master, 1860: "But Rhett, without our African slaves, whoever shall pick our cotton cheaply?"
Racist master, 2007: "But Muffy, without our Mexican illegals, whover shall pick our lettuce cheaply?"
I rue the day I voted for this twit.....more angry at myself than this poor excuse for an immigrant!!
Yezz mazza!We need them quasi-slaves to fatten our wallets : )
“Racist master, 1860: “But Rhett, without our African slaves, whoever shall pick our cotton cheaply?”
Racist master, 2007: “But Muffy, without our Mexican illegals, whover shall pick our lettuce cheaply?””
Man I am so glad you are back...
R O T F L M A O !!
He was still a traitor to his country, and that is how he shall always be remembered down the years.
U.S. Constitution, Article 4 Section 4:
"The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government,
1. The act of invading; the act of encroaching upon the rights or possessions of another; encroachment; trespass.
The country-club set are gonna ram their “we need cheap yard work” bill up our butts if it’s the last damn thing they do.
Boy is this stupid. Farewell 40 years of conservative effort to fix this nation.
end of rant
The catholic leaders encourage lawbreaking just so they can fill the offering plates,
Well of course he does, his surname is Mr. Maria Kennedy/Shriver
a welcome boost from a fellow Republican.....
One of those "Kennedy/Republicans Duncan Hunter references!
PEOPLE! Vote your conscience!
can arnold even pronounce that word?
Gray Davis was like the Soviet Union - on its way out. Now Republicans won’t be in the governors mansion for over 20 yrs. He’s the best guy that the dems could ever come up with - and at conservatives expense.
Know-Nothing 2007: “No one named Rodriguez need apply"....signed Mr. McGee.”
Yep. And what has congress or any president since Ike done about it?
Arnies years of illegal testosterone abuse has finally caused his brain to evaporate.
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