Posted on 08/11/2003 8:31:06 AM PDT by kattracks
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger voted for a 1994 ballot measure to deny social services to illegal immigrants, his campaign said Sunday — offering the first glimpse of the actor's stand on a major policy issue.
The Republican has promoted himself as the candidate in California's gubernatorial recall who can best appeal to the state's politically and ethnically diverse electorate.
But Democrats were quick to jump on the disclosure as a chink in the action hero's armor.
The GOP-backed Proposition 187 to deny health care and public education to illegal immigrants was passed by a wide margin, although it was eventually ruled unconstitutional. It remains a contentious issue and a litmus test for some voters, particularly Hispanics, to gauge whether a candidate is immigrant-friendly.
Schwarzenegger campaign manager George Gorton said the Austrian-born actor's vote for the measure would not prevent him from reaching out to all voters.
"He has a lot of empathy for people who have come here for a better way of living, whether they have gotten here legally or illegally," Gorton said. "But he definitely feels that people should get here legally."
Gorton said Hispanics were among the strongest supporters of Proposition 49, a ballot measure Schwarzenegger successfully campaigned for last year aimed at dedicating as much as $550 million annually to before- and after-school programs.
Speaking on ABC's "This Week," Art Torres, chairman of the California Democratic Party, slammed Schwarzenegger for his decision to appoint former Gov. Pete Wilson, the architect of Proposition 187, as chairman of his new campaign.
"There's a famous phrase in our community, and that is, judge a person by the friends that he keeps," Torres said. "And unfortunately, his new chairman, Governor Wilson, supported 187 furiously against immigrants and Latinos."
The issue was one of the first Schwarzenegger's campaign has publicly addressed, discussing the vote in response to a reporter's inquiry.
Democratic Gov. Gray Davis, who is trying to survive the recall, and Schwarzenegger's Republican rivals have criticized him for speaking mostly in generalities since announcing his candidacy Wednesday.
Davis opposed Proposition 187.
Then why dont you STFU until you learn what they are? Most prudent people make decisions after considering the facts, not before. But then this we are speaking about California.
Not true. Arnold has 31% of self described Republicans and only 10% of Democrats. By the way, Arnold is doing several times better among Republicans than either McClintock or Simon.
And how does MccLintock get the Democrat dominated state house and senate to pass his proposal? You are not suggesting that McClintock rule by martial law do you? From what Ive seen of McClintock on TV, I wouldnt buy a used car from him. I dont see him persuading the people to FORCE their state reps to vote for his program. So how does he do it? Writing a white paper does not a solution make.
The recent polls show that three quarters of Arnolds vote is from Republicans, not Democrats. He has only garnered about 10% of the Dem vote but 31% of the Republican. Check the polls.
10% of self-described Democrats=4.8% of the electorate.
I haven't seen this survey that puts Arnold at 18%. Can you cite?
You left out independents. The poll didnt give independents. If I remember correctly it was the original Time/CNN poll where Arnold had 25% overall. He was 31% among Republicans and only 10% among Democrats.
What's needed to overide?
Okay you might cut some spending that way but how do you CUT taxes or pass any non budget related legislation? I am assuming that you do want to pass some "feel good" social legislation.
Of course, socially liberal means that people should be allowed to kill babies if they want to with no questions asked and no interference, and that Bruce and Lance should be able to marry (Howard Dean territory there) and to adopt innocent kids.
If Schwarzenkennedy gets elected, don't let your farm animals or household pets go unsupervised or someone will claim to exercise his or her "rights" while singing: "Yo ho ho and the canary's next!" After all, Schwarzenkennedy does not want to be seen as socially backward.
I'm pretty sure Bill Simon has a comprehensive budget plan that does pretty much the same thing.
Second, McClintock pledges to reverse the triple car tax signed by the Dimwit Davis.
This is a no-brainer. Anyone who gets in would do this.
Third, McClintock will rescind the 42 billion dollar electrical contracts signed by the Dimwit Davis.
I'm no expert, but I'm pretty sure those contracts are legally binding on the state. If there was a way out of those contracts, Grayout would have found it already. Adding a stipulation to an existing lawsuit is nice, but if this is the core of McClintock's plan to rescue the state I'd be concerned.
Fourth, McClintock proposes to change the workers comp system to the AZ system which will save 2/3's of the cost of workers' comp.
Great proposal. Does he also have the votes in the legislature to pass it?
Fifth, McClintock is against the issuing of drivers' licenses to illegals and pledges to enforce the immigration laws of CA.
How much will it cost the state to enforce US immigration laws, independently? Are these costs included in the balanced budget proposal?
I'm not suggesting McClintock wouldn't make a good governor, but I haven't seen anyone make the case that he's got a better plan to rescue that state than Bill Simon. I'll add that Simon has more money and a better statewide organization, not to mention name recognition.
God bless you and yours and it is good to see you here again. I had been asking around but heard nothing.
Sounds reasonable to me. GOOOOO McClintock! What say you, Jeff Rhodes? (I should duck at this point).
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.