Posted on 10/22/2004 6:39:21 PM PDT by Mr. Mojo
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, under fire from American Indians for telling voters that tribes were "ripping off" the state with their casinos, refused on Friday to back down.
Schwarzenegger has invoked the "rip off" theme as he campaigns against a Nov. 2 ballot measure, called Proposition 70, that would permit rapid expansion of Indian casinos in California and side-step the governor's effort to manage them.
"Read my lips: The Indian gaming tribes behind Proposition 70 are trying to rip off California. I will say it again and again and again," a defiant Schwarzenegger said in Los Angeles. "That's why they are upset. Because the truth hurts."
Supporters of Proposition 70, which is funded largely by Indian gaming tribes, responded by calling Schwarzenegger's position racist.
"The governor's repeated use of racial remarks against Native Americans is wrong and only increases racial tensions in California," the Yes on 70 campaign said in a written statement. "Schwarzenegger says he can bring Indian tribes to the table, but with his racial remarks he's just pushing them away."
Earlier this week, a lobbying group for Indian gaming tribes demanded an apology from Schwarzenegger, saying that they share revenue with non-gaming tribes, donate money to charity and provide local governments with money for road improvements and public services.
Some Indian activists called the remark racist, saying that it taps into a deep vein of hostility that dates back to the migration to the U.S. West.
Indian casinos have become more numerous in the United States since key court rulings and new laws favorable to the tribes in the 1980s. That expansion has helped some tribes rise from poverty, but it also triggered a backlash.
Schwarzenegger made casino payments to the state an issue in his run for governor last year, saying tribes were not paying their fair share.
Schwarzenegger earlier this year struck a deal with five tribes to guarantee payments by Indians, who have a monopoly on slot machines. Proposition 70 would nullify that deal and set the payments at the corporate rate of 8.84 percent.
It also would allow tribes to sign contracts with the state to operate as many slot machines as they want on their land and introduce roulette and craps, which are now banned in California.
Which "racial" remarks were those, exactly?
Can someone smarter than me please point out the 'racism' in what Arnold said?
You know you're winning an argument with a liberal when they start calling you racist.
Perhaps the Injuns feel Arnold's use of the word "Indian" is racist.
Okay, the Indians can call Arnold a "gropper" or something and be even. Jeeze people need to lighten up, INDIANS included.
The fed govt has long known that tribal gaming has been infiltrated by the syndicate. An initiative in WA is on the November ballot to level the playing field by giving non-Indians gaming too. The only problem is that it means widespread gambling and naturally the move in by the mob. Generally, people don't want the state to look like Vegas/Reno, NV. So where's the happy medium?
If he had said the Indians are scalping us, maybe they'd have something to complain about.
Yup. Poor Arnold. He just dosen't get it. It's "Native Americans" now. Well, you know. He is a "foreignor". Maybe has not caught up with the PC terms yet. Give him a break. (/sarcasm)
Arnold has better political instincts than most life-long pols. He knows that most people (including Indians) will lose respect for him if he backs down from his "ripping off" comment and publicly kisses Indian hiney.
He'll make it up to them in some other way but public apologies to the thin-skinned, or those pretending to be thin-skinned, are not his style.
I hate it when these people start playing the race card. The governor didn't make one racist comment that I saw.
Great line!
What a barbecue.
Luv my Guv :-)
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