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Recall candidates spar at San Diego forum [McClintock defends Arnold against last minute smears]
SIGNONSANDIEGO NEWS SERVICES ^ | 10-4-03 | SIGNONSANDIEGO NEWS SERVICES

Posted on 10/04/2003 11:41:25 PM PDT by ambrose

 

SignOnSanDiego.com

 
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Recall candidates spar at S.D. forum

SIGNONSANDIEGO NEWS SERVICES

7:24 p.m. October 4, 2003


JOHN GASTALDO / Union-Tribune
Republican state Sen. Tom McClintock, left, and Green Party candidate Peter Camejo talk while Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante checks his notes prior to the debate Saturday night at San Diego State University.
SAN DIEGO – Front-runner Arnold Schwarzenegger wasn't there. The subject of Tuesday's recall election, Gov. Gray Davis, wasn't there. But the three candidates who aren't expected to win sparred Saturday night over health care, the car tax, immigrants and character issues at a forum at San Diego State University.

At the event – sponsored by The San Diego Union-Tribune, the League of Women Voters of San Diego County, KPBS-TV and SDSU – Democratic Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante expressed support for a bill that would require businesses with more than 200 employees to pay for their employees' health insurance.

Green Party candidate Peter Camejo said insurance companies should get out of the health care business and that the government should run a universal health care program.

"California should go in the same direction as every other industrialized nation has," said Camejo. "Get the insurance companies out of the business of health care."

Conservative Republican state Sen. Tom McClintock of Thousand Oaks said there is too much bureaucracy already in the health care system, and that a better alternative would be to tie the cost of health insurance to a family's income.

On taxes, McClintock said he would rescind the car tax, while Bustamante said his "tough love" program would tax tobacco and alcohol, which Davis tried but failed to get the Assembly to do during the last legislative session.

Camejo said he would increase taxes on the rich.

"I know the people of California would support a fair tax," he said.

Bustamante defended the governor's decision to sign a bill granting driver's licenses to illegal immigrants.

"I think the majority of people in California really believe that if you work real hard... you stay out of trouble ... you ought to have a drivers license ... you ought to have a pathway to citizenship," he said.

McClintock said he would repeal the driver's license bill and direct authorities to enforce immigration laws because he does not believe people should be rewarded for breaking the law.

He noted that illegal immigration is illegal and that it is costing the state $4 billion a year to provide health care, schooling and other services to people who are here illegally.

Camejo noted that immigration is a "divisive issue" in California.

"The immigrants have been invited here outside of the legal process," said Camejo, adding that they often work for employers who are Republicans.

"They are the hardest working people. They pay the highest tax rates," he said. "We need to legalize their circumstances. Give them a driver's license and services equal to everyone else."

McClintock defended his Republican rival when asked about the relevancy of a candidate's personal life.

He said he found it disturbing that media reports that Schwarzenegger had groped numerous women and once expressed admiration for Adolf Hitler arose in the final few days of the campaign, and that he was skeptical of the charges.

"I urge others to be as well," he said. "I do think we need to be a little careful in acting on those charges," he said.

Camejo said that if true, Schwarzenegger had committed a crime.

"If he (Schwarzenegger) was a black man, he would be in jail," said Camejo, asking what it means in this society that a rich white man can escape prosecution for crimes.

"If he was a poor white man, he would be in jail," Camejo added.

Bustamante also said he thought the allegations were serious.

"This serial activity is very serious," he said. "I tell you one thing, that if this had gone on with my daughter, it wouldn't have taken a campaign to resolve it."


TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: mcclintock; recall; schwarzenegger

1 posted on 10/04/2003 11:41:25 PM PDT by ambrose
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To: ambrose
Good for Tom. He also defended Arnold earlier in the week on some cable show.
2 posted on 10/04/2003 11:44:19 PM PDT by Texasforever
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3 posted on 10/04/2003 11:46:04 PM PDT by Support Free Republic (Your support keeps Free Republic going strong!)
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To: ambrose
Join Us…Your One Thread To All The California Recall News Threads!

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

4 posted on 10/04/2003 11:46:55 PM PDT by DoctorZIn
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To: ambrose

5 posted on 10/04/2003 11:50:45 PM PDT by BJungNan
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To: ambrose
The irony is delicious, AND my popcorn is almost ready!
6 posted on 10/04/2003 11:50:51 PM PDT by thoughtomator (Morbidly fascinated watching RINOs worship the golden calf muscle)
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To: ambrose

7 posted on 10/04/2003 11:50:55 PM PDT by DoughtyOne
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To: Texasforever
yeah I saw him defend Arnold on O'reilly too. I think that will go a long way toward easing any residual anger by Arnold voters toward Tom for not dropping out. I just hope that these smears don't erode Arnold so much that he needs the Mcc votes to win.
8 posted on 10/04/2003 11:51:31 PM PDT by GROOVY
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To: thoughtomator
The irony is delicious, AND my popcorn is almost ready!

You are easily entertained aren't you?

9 posted on 10/04/2003 11:52:14 PM PDT by Texasforever
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To: Texasforever
I'm impressed. Overall my feelings are pretty close to McC's. While I think I would vote for McC, were I a Californian, the smear campaign Davis and his media tools have launched against AS is incredible.

I still say, any CA'ers out there should see if the LA Times recent work for Davis can be counted as an illegal campaign expenditure.
10 posted on 10/04/2003 11:54:14 PM PDT by swilhelm73
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To: ambrose
Arnold runs from debates, and expects our vote. What kind fools does he take us for!!
11 posted on 10/05/2003 12:07:24 AM PDT by Russell Scott (Without massive intervention from Heaven, America doesn't have a prayer.)
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To: Texasforever
I wish some FReepers had as much kindness for Tom as he has for Arnold
12 posted on 10/05/2003 12:15:33 AM PDT by GeronL (www.geocities.com/geronl, stop the DAZI Party)
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To: GeronL
I wish some FReepers had as much kindness for Tom as he has for Arnold

That goes both ways. I see a LOT of moderation in the posts tonight from both sides and that is a good thing.

13 posted on 10/05/2003 12:17:52 AM PDT by Texasforever
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To: ambrose
"This serial activity is very serious," he said. "I tell you one thing, that if this had gone on with my daughter, it wouldn't have taken a campaign to resolve it."

===========================================

Wow, Cruz sounds like a tough guy without Arnold there. I bet that as soon as Arnold grapped one of his big plumb fat breasts, Cruz would run away screaming like a girly man.

14 posted on 10/05/2003 12:26:59 AM PDT by doug from upland (Why did DemocRATS allow a perjuring rapist to remain in the Oval Office?)
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To: Texasforever
You are easily entertained aren't you?

Well, I don't think he's swooning for Arnold.

15 posted on 10/05/2003 12:36:52 AM PDT by Roscoe
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To: Texasforever
The man has a spare pair of them, IMHO. GO TOM. He could win this.
16 posted on 10/05/2003 12:49:48 AM PDT by des
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