Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Davis, Candidates Criticize Schwarzenegger on Immigration, Taxes
AP ^ | 8/31/03 | Beth Fouhy

Posted on 08/31/2003 3:06:15 PM PDT by Jean S

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Arnold Schwarzenegger's views on the economy and immigration came under attack Sunday in California's gubernatorial recall campaign, but the GOP front-runner continued to keep a low profile over the Labor Day weekend.

Gov. Gray Davis jabbed at Schwarzenegger's lack of specifics on his economic plan, while state Sen. Tom McClintock, the action star's chief Republican rival, chided him for failing to take a no-new-taxes pledge. Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante, the only prominent Democrat seeking to succeed Davis if he is recalled, attacked him as anti-immigrant.

"As far as I'm concerned, Arnold's going back to the same wedge-issue politics that his mentor, Pete Wilson, suggested to the state of California. It was a time of division in California," Bustamante said on CNN's "Late Edition." "He's wrong in doing this, and he's not going to get a pass from me. We're going to take him on."

Schwarzenegger, who came to the United States from Austria during the late 1960s, has acknowledged voting for Proposition 187, the 1994 initiative that denied some social services to illegal immigrants but has since been mostly voided by the courts.

The measure was championed by Wilson, a Republican who was then governor and is now co-chairman of Schwarzenegger's campaign. Schwarzenegger also was criticized last week about his membership on the advisory board of U.S. English, a group that supports making English the country's official language.

In an extensive radio interview, Schwarzenegger declined to give his opinions about affirmative action or Proposition 54, a measure on the Oct. 7 recall ballot that would ban state government from collecting most racial data.

Schwarzenegger campaign spokesman Sean Walsh strongly denied Bustamante's accusations.

"The man is an immigrant himself. To say he's anti-immigrant is Orwellian," Walsh said. "The only person talking about wedge-issue politics is Cruz Bustamante and the Democratic Party."

Immigration issues have become a central part of the campaign in recent days as Bustamante, the grandson of Mexican immigrants, has tried to consolidate the state's large Hispanic population around his candidacy. Hispanics represent about 16 percent of California's electorate, and recent polls show significant support for Bustamante among those voters.

But Bustamante also has been forced to respond to criticism over his involvement with an organization that advocated a separate Chicano nation while he was a student at Fresno State University in the 1970s. Bustamante said Saturday he loves his culture but believes racial separatism is wrong.

Davis, appearing on ABC's "This Week," criticized Schwarzenegger for not detailing budget cuts he would make as governor.

"Until he sits in those shoes - and I don't think he's going to have a chance to - he's really in no position to criticize what we've done," the governor said.

McClintock, a popular figure among the state's conservative voters, continued his assault on Schwarzenegger for refusing to rule out a tax increase to help balance the state's budget.

"The fact that Arnold Schwarzenegger has surrounded himself with the people that he has and the fact that he has refused to take a no-tax pledge leaves me very concerned about the future of California if he's elected governor," McClintock said on CNN.

One of Schwarzenegger's economic advisers, billionaire investor Warren Buffett, created a backlash after suggesting that California's property taxes were too low. That forced Schwarzenegger to pledge that he supported Proposition 13, California's landmark 1978 tax-cutting initiative.

On a radio show last week, Schwarzenegger refused to take a no-new-taxes pledge, but said he would raise them only if there were a state emergency.

Davis, Bustamante and McClintock all deflected questions about Schwarzenegger's 1977 interview with Oui magazine, in which he discussed past drug use and used raunchy language to boast about his sexual encounters. In one of those, Schwarzenegger said he and other bodybuilders engaged in group sex with a woman who appeared naked in a gym in Venice, Calif.

The interview has received widespread attention in the last week. When first asked about the article in a radio interview Wednesday, Schwarzenegger responded in part, "Obviously, I've made statements that are ludicrous and crazy and outrageous, and that's the way I always was."

AP-ES-08-31-03 1728EDT


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: California
KEYWORDS:
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-36 next last

1 posted on 08/31/2003 3:06:15 PM PDT by Jean S
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: JeanS
"The man is an immigrant himself. To say he's anti-immigrant is Orwellian," Walsh said. "The only person talking about wedge-issue politics is Cruz Bustamante and the Democratic Party."

Arnold cannot out-pander Bustamante for the Hispanic vote, but I suspect he will try. He is likely to show greater sensitivity and deference to liberal democratic Hispanics than he does to the Republican conservative base.

Arnold has already hinted that he will press for amnesty for illegal aliens.

2 posted on 08/31/2003 3:11:13 PM PDT by Kevin Curry
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JeanS
No new taxes

No new immigrants

Some new refineries

Many new nuclear power plants

Many new jobs

Many new pipelines bringing oil ashore.

Pledges a new California governor will one day use to get elected.....BIG TIME!!

It's not too far away.

3 posted on 08/31/2003 3:12:20 PM PDT by CROSSHIGHWAYMAN
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JeanS
"The man is an immigrant himself. To say he's anti-immigrant is Orwellian," Walsh said. "The only person talking about wedge-issue politics is Cruz Bustamante and the Democratic Party."

My thought exactly.

"Until he sits in those shoes - and I don't think he's going to have a chance to - he's really in no position to criticize what we've done," the governor said.

By that logic no citizen should ever criticize any officeholder. Davis' dream come true.

"The fact that Arnold Schwarzenegger has surrounded himself with the people that he has and the fact that he has refused to take a no-tax pledge leaves me very concerned about the future of California if he's elected governor," McClintock said on CNN.

It doesn't seem to concern the Howard Jarvis foundation. They just endorsed Arnie. For a guy who thinks he's a horse, Tom sure likes to beat this dead one.

4 posted on 08/31/2003 3:17:33 PM PDT by Hugin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kevin Curry
Arnold has already hinted that he will press for amnesty for illegal aliens.

I assume that's Bush he plans on pressing? Bush has already hinted he plans to give it to them.

5 posted on 08/31/2003 3:19:01 PM PDT by FITZ
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: JeanS
McClintock, a popular figure among the state's conservative voters, continued his assault on Schwarzenegger for refusing to rule out a tax increase to help balance the state's budget.

This was hardly an assault. LOL McClintock was merely pointing out the truth and something Arnold has freely admitted. Oui, oui!

"The fact that Arnold Schwarzenegger has surrounded himself with the people that he has and the fact that he has refused to take a no-tax pledge leaves me very concerned about the future of California if he's elected governor," McClintock said on CNN.

6 posted on 08/31/2003 3:24:14 PM PDT by Reagan Man
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Hugin
It doesn't seem to concern the Howard Jarvis foundation. They just endorsed Arnie.

Remember these are the same folks who endorsed Proposition 49 which is an expensive, off budget, part of the cradle to grave system.

Just another liberal group who borrowed the name of populist revolt leader.

7 posted on 08/31/2003 3:30:18 PM PDT by Amerigomag
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: FITZ
>>>Bush has already hinted he plans to give it to them.

You've got evidence to back that up with, I'm sure. Right?

The fact is, things have changed since 9-11 and PresBush better understands that American's in overwhelming numbers don't support any form of amnesty for illegal immigrants.

I reference the last time, PresBush publically commented on illegal immigration. Here's the link, Bush says he won't legalize immigrants

And here's PresBush`s statement on the issue:

""I don't think the wish of Americans is for an amnesty," said Bush

8 posted on 08/31/2003 3:34:02 PM PDT by Reagan Man
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Reagan Man
Okay thanks --- I didn't know Bush actually said he wouldn't give amnesty.
9 posted on 08/31/2003 3:40:38 PM PDT by FITZ
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: FITZ
You should have remembered that FR thread. You were on it, Fitz.
10 posted on 08/31/2003 3:41:20 PM PDT by Reagan Man
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Hugin
Until he sits in those shoes - and I don't think he's going to have a chance to - he's really in no position to criticize what we've done," the governor said.

By that logic no citizen should ever criticize any officeholder. Davis' dream come true.

According to Davis, NO ONE who has not been Gov can criticize him. Cute. OK then, Pete Wilson, who has been Gov, should be able to criticize him like crazy, and since Wilson is advising Arnold, that validity should pass through.

11 posted on 08/31/2003 3:42:30 PM PDT by sd-joe
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Reagan Man
Watch the Bush position change in early 2004. These current politico's are in so far over their heads they don't know where they stand at any given instant.
12 posted on 08/31/2003 4:32:09 PM PDT by AEMILIUS PAULUS (Further, the statement assumed)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Kevin Curry
Are you a California voter?
13 posted on 08/31/2003 4:37:12 PM PDT by Jeff Gordon
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: AEMILIUS PAULUS
>>>Watch the Bush position change in early 2004.

I don't think so.

>>>These current politico's are in so far over their heads they don't know where they stand at any given instant.

I disagree with you. I'd say PresBush has shown remarkable leadership, is a first class CIC and a smart and savvy politician to boot.

14 posted on 08/31/2003 4:45:38 PM PDT by Reagan Man
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: JeanS
PING!

Your One Stop Resource For All The California Recall News!

Want on our daily or major news ping lists? Freepmail DoctorZin.

15 posted on 08/31/2003 7:45:26 PM PDT by DoctorZIn
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Reagan Man
McClintock, a popular figure among the state's conservative voters, continued his assault on Schwarzenegger for refusing to rule out a tax increase to help balance the state's budget.

This was hardly an assault. LOL McClintock was merely pointing out the truth and something Arnold has freely admitted. Oui, oui!

That's not true. Arnold said, on Hannity's show, that he absolutely ruled out a tax increase to balance the budget. He did say that he couldn't rule one out in case of a devastating earthquake or terrorist incident. McClintock shouldn't need to distort Arnold's statements at this early point. It might tell me something that he thinks he does.

16 posted on 08/31/2003 8:17:53 PM PDT by speekinout
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Reagan Man
McClintock, a popular figure among the state's conservative voters, continued his assault on Schwarzenegger for refusing to rule out a tax increase to help balance the state's budget.

This was hardly an assault. LOL McClintock was merely pointing out the truth and something Arnold has freely admitted. Oui, oui!

That's not true. Arnold said, on Hannity's show, that he absolutely ruled out a tax increase to balance the budget. He did say that he couldn't rule one out in case of a devastating earthquake or terrorist incident. McClintock shouldn't need to distort Arnold's statements at this early point. It might tell me something that he thinks he does.

17 posted on 08/31/2003 8:18:17 PM PDT by speekinout
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: speekinout
I heard what Arnold said on Hannity's show too. He didn't take the NO tax pledge, that both McClintock and Simon took. A NO tax pledge means, NO tax increases! Period. California is in total meltdown and the last thing for a new governor to do, is raise taxes.

The twin pillars of fiscal conservatism, are cutting taxes and cutting spending. That's what Arnold should be talking about and in some specific detail. Arnold said, he will realease NO specifics and NO details of his economic recovery plan for California. That's bunkum!

Arnold is NO conservative. He's a liberal.

18 posted on 08/31/2003 8:26:10 PM PDT by Reagan Man
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: JeanS
Gov. Gray Davis jabbed at Schwarzenegger's

Now that is the good ole Gray. He loves to sling mud, smear, jab, poke... anything so that he does not have to defend his god awful performance.

19 posted on 08/31/2003 8:41:21 PM PDT by Jeff Gordon
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Reagan Man
Have you checked out Arnold's new political website? He has a plan and you decide if he's still a liberal. I love what he ripped off from Tom. I'd like to see him steal more of it, LOL!
20 posted on 08/31/2003 8:43:33 PM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives On In My Heart Forever)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-36 next last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson