Posted on 10/25/2005 6:31:56 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
SACRAMENTO (AP) - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Tuesday took his special election campaign before a hand-picked Hispanic audience that was more interested in asking him about amnesty and driver's licenses for illegal immigrants than his "year of reform" ballot measures.
Schwarzenegger's appearance in the capital studio of Spanish-language television network Univision was another step in his attempt to connect with voters two weeks before they decide his proposals to change state government.
He answered questions during a voter forum Monday night in Walnut Creek and has additional forums scheduled in Fresno and Los Angeles.
Critics immediately assailed the Univision session because it did not provide time for any of his opponents to speak. Univision's chairman, Jerry Perenchio, is one of the governor's largest campaign supporters, having donated more than $3 million to Schwarzenegger campaign committees since he took office two years ago.
"This amounts to a one-hour infomercial for the governor," said Roger Salazar, a spokesman for the Alliance for a Better California, the coalition of labor groups opposing the governor's ballot agenda. "It is nothing more than one of his biggest contributors providing him the opportunity to deliver his message on his terms."
The question-and-answer session will be broadcast statewide Saturday on Univision stations. The company controls two broadcast networks and is the nation's dominant Spanish-language media company.
In response to questions from a Spanish-speaking audience, Schwarzenegger said he opposes amnesty for illegal immigrants, criticized the federal government for failing to secure the borders and defended his veto of a bill that would have granted driver's licenses to illegal immigrants.
The governor said an amnesty program similar to the one the federal government undertook in the late 1980s would be ill-advised today.
"It just didn't work," Schwarzenegger said. "It backfired big-time. It sent the wrong message: You come here illegally, and then we go and give you amnesty. So then, the next million come and they say, 'Hey, we get amnesty, this is really terrific.'"
Schwarzenegger also said he favors a guest-worker program in which immigrant laborers could obtain work permits.
"Look, I'm an immigrant, so I know what it is like to dream about coming to America and then to get here and be able to make your dreams a reality," the governor said. "Of course, there are millions of people who want to come here. Let's help them, let's find a legal way to do it."
The governor also repeated his defense of his veto of a bill that would have provided driver's licenses for illegal immigrants. He said that issue is under federal jurisdiction because of homeland security requirements that have yet to be implemented at the state level.
"We can debate over this issue about what to do about the driver's license from here to eternity," Schwarzenegger said. "The bottom line is what we really need to do is work on the problem. What do we do with the undocumented immigrant? What do we do with the people who want to come to the United States? What do we do with employers who need workers from Mexico?"
The governor blamed the federal government for not doing more to resolve problems associated with illegal immigration, saying officials "live in denial and look the other way."
Schwarzenegger has been an outspoken critic of the federal government's failure to secure the border with Mexico and has sometimes angered Hispanic interest groups with his comments on illegal immigration.
He praised the Minutemen, a vigilante group of volunteers that began patrolling the border in Arizona last spring and criticized as divisive a billboard by a Los Angeles Spanish-language television show that advertised its market as "Los Angeles, Mexico."
Questions about California's relationship with its largest trading partner arose again in August when state Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez took a three-day trip to Mexico. He said the visit was needed to repair frayed relations caused by Schwarzenegger's support of the Minutemen, even though Schwarzenegger's administration said the two governments got along well.
In addition to immigration issues, the governor also tried to persuade voters on the four ballot measures he wants them to support Nov. 8: a new cap on state spending, a plan for redrawing legislative and congressional districts, longer probationary periods for new school teachers and restrictions on the use of union dues for political purposes.
The appearance was important for Schwarzenegger, not only to burnish his image with Hispanics but also because they represent a growing percentage of the California electorate.
The state's 12 million Hispanics are about a third of the population. Schwarzenegger won 32 percent of the Hispanic vote in the 2003 recall, but his popularity has tumbled in recent months with Democrats and independents. Recent polls show only about 17 percent of Hispanics approve of his job performance.
"I think this was a way to reintroduce him to the Latino voters that he knows he will need next year," said political expert Jaime Regalado, referring to Schwarzenegger's 2006 re-election bid.
Regalado, director of the Pat Brown Institute of Public Affairs at California State University, Los Angeles, said Hispanics are less frequent voters than other groups, especially in special elections. Schwarzenegger's appearance on Spanish-language television, he said, was unlikely to generate much new support.
Each of the 60 audience members was invited by Univision executives, who also screened questions beforehand.
No one representing the groups opposing the governor was invited on the show. That drew objections from the Alliance for a Better California, the umbrella group opposing the governor's initiatives. The group said it will ask Univision for equal time to state its case.
No one from Univision would comment about why the other side was not invited or the request for equal time.
While unfair, the decision to exclude the opposition from the program is probably not a violation of the Federal Communication Commission's equal time rule, said Robert Stern, president of the Center for Governmental Studies in Los Angeles.
Stern said the rule applies to candidates, while the Nov. 8 election includes only ballot measures. Schwarzenegger's candidacy for re-election is irrelevant because that vote is a year away, he said.
I'll bet this Salazar gets a ton of free coverage for his agenda in the MSM. All the pro-illegal immigrant and immigrant rights groups do. God forbid someone else have a voice.
It took courage to face a culturally biased audience and defend the unpopular positions he espoused.
His reported criticism of current federal posturing and of Reagan's misguided policy was also surprising in the face of the constant pressure Schwarzenegger must receive from the Republican Party to downplay the role they have played in the current crisis.
I don't think he gives a hoot what any faction thinks about him. Schwarzenegger's leading the way he represented himself while campaigning and isn't disregarding the difference between legal and illegal immigration. This may be a windfall, as he certaintly has nothing to gain from the contributions of the neo-slavers who seek his favor.
If Univision is allowed broadcast over the public airways in Spanish, then why is it mandatory that children pass Englsh classes in order to gradate from public schools?
Not to speak out against English literature, just wondering why the inconsistency ?
You can broadcast in Pig Latin if you can find a station willing to carry it.
I don't think that's an issue.
Incidentally, Perenchio makes contributions to pretty much every politician who breathes. As I recall, he gave $100k to both Arnold and Gray Davis' people for the recall election.
D
Me too! But which is the truth? He has been quoted for years, as recently as last month, as supporting some sort of guest worker or amnesty program. This is the first time I've seen him say he would oppose it.
[Los Angeles Times, September 24, 2005: "Schwarzenegger also said Friday that he supports a proposal by President Bush to create a guest worker program that would temporarily legalize millions of illegal workers."]
I'll try to catch the show on Saturday and see whether Chorneau's excerpted quotes match the tone of the discussions.
This was written by Tom Chorneau, a vigilante Associated Press Writer.
Money talks, political hacks listen.
Chorneau does have a recent history of antagonizing Schwarzenegger's policies and the use of quotes at the end of the sentences you posted:
" ...and criticized as divisive a billboard by a Los Angeles Spanish-language television show that advertised its market as "Los Angeles, Mexico."
from this piece does appear to be an attempt by Chorneau to confuse Chorneau's "background" comments as part of Schwarzenegger's actual presentation on the show.
This is a cop-out. The federal requirements passed AFTER SB60 was rescinded. Schwarzenegger signed the rescission of SB60 because without that promise he wouldn't have been elected in the recall.
"You can broadcast in Pig Latin if you can find a station willing to carry it."
Laugh, well they might as well broadcast in pig Latin, since US citizens cannot understand spanish;
but the problem with learning pig latin, Kids can’t be dismissed from English class to study pig Latin even if the English class is full of kids who don’t speak English and even if being in that class would be less as beneficial than learning pig Latin!
Somewhere in the FCC Charter, they are to over see public airwaves to benefit the citizens of this country, but how is it that broadcasting in Spanish serves this purpose, when the official language is English which is mandated for all US citizens to master by mandatory attendance in public school English classes?
No it is not an issue that keeps people awake at night, but it is an ironic conflict of interest between government agencies, the FCC and dept of education...
Arnold has always cut the line at any kind of enforcement or deportation of those currently in the state. While he wants to have the inflow stopped ("close the border") and has criticized the federal government for not enforcing the borders, he has always said that he wants to find a way for all those illegals currently here to remain here. That LA Times quote was just one of many.
If he has changed his tune, I'm all for it. One cannot avoid noticing the similarity to Pete Wilson's actions before his reelection. Deja vu?
Schwarzenegger also said he favors a guest-worker program in which immigrant laborers could obtain work permits."Look, I'm an immigrant, so I know what it is like to dream about coming to America and then to get here and be able to make your dreams a reality," the governor said. "Of course, there are millions of people who want to come here. Let's help them, let's find a legal way to do it."
Have your contributors do the same for you. Sheesh!
"as supporting some sort of guest worker or amnesty program"
===
The problem is that you and many others are unable to tell the difference between amnesty and a guest worker program. Arnold always made his position very clear, he reiterated it here and he does understand that there IS a difference:
"Schwarzenegger said he opposes amnesty for illegal immigrants, criticized the federal government for failing to secure the borders and defended his veto of a bill that would have granted driver's licenses to illegal immigrants.
The governor said an amnesty program similar to the one the federal government undertook in the late 1980s would be ill-advised today.
"It just didn't work," Schwarzenegger said. "It backfired big-time. It sent the wrong message: You come here illegally, and then we go and give you amnesty. So then, the next million come and they say, 'Hey, we get amnesty, this is really terrific.'"
Schwarzenegger also said he favors a guest-worker program in which immigrant laborers could obtain work permits."
Wrong. The problem is that you didn't read/understand what I wrote instead going into super-defense-attack mode. Read it again. I said "OR"--and I did NOT say they were the same. That would depend on the specific provisions of the guest worker program and whether it pardoned lawbreaking, or not.
However, anyone who is currently breaking the laws, and is then given a pass and not prosecuted for such violations, is indeed being given "amnesty", imo. I have no idea what Arnold's position is specifically on this as he rarely gives any details on anything, instead speaking in generalities and offering conflicting thoughts (hence I said "some sort of guest worker or amnesty program").
Main Entry: am·nes·ty Pronunciation: 'am-n&-stE Function: noun Inflected Form(s): plural -ties Etymology: Greek amnEstia forgetfulness, from amnEstos forgotten, from a- + mnasthai to remember -- more at MIND : the act of an authority (as a government) by which pardon is granted to a large group of individuals - amnesty transitive verb
Did you notice what nonsense that sentence is? He's saying that immigrants are laborers who need work permits so they can become guest workers. Immigrants do not need work permits, they may or may not be laborers. and since immigrants are here legally, they have no need for a guest worker program, either. Arnold, they're called illegal aliens for a reason!
Then there's this: "Of course, there are millions of people who want to come here. Let's help them, let's find a legal way to do it."
There already is a legal way to do it and thousands do it every year. He talks about "people who want to come here" as if they (illegal aliens) aren't here already.
He's correct when he says that an amnesty wouldn't work and that it would be wrong to send the message that we'll reward someone for being here illegally. Unfortunately, he follows that up by saying that he "favors a guest-worker program" which is simply another way of rewarding people for being here illegally.
OK, that's my mini-rant for today!
ping
Protect our borders and coastlines from all foreign invaders!
Support our Minutemen Patriots!
Be Ever Vigilant ~ Bump!
There is a huge Spanish-speaking population, and it's not all illegals. I see no reason not to let people broadcast in the native language of this population.
Perenchio, incidentally, has gone from very rich (about $350m net worth) to extremely rich ($2.6 billion) doing it.
D
This is the first time I have had any respect for this guy.
He stood in front of an audience looking for their help on an initiative, yet he was willing to risk their wrath on the immigration issue ,when he could just as easily done the Washings republican two step .
Way to go Arnold !
I'm wondering how it is that people who are in the country illegally and aren't SUPPOSED to be able to vote perceive their numbers/kind as being able to influence who gets elected, in this state or elsewhere.
Oh, I forgot, they think that illegal aliens should be able to vote, too. Probably already have been.
I'll vote again for Schwarzenegger BUT it isn't because I approve of his Administration. I just disprove moreso of the Democrats in the State and appreciate small corrections.
But, otherwise, Schwarzenegger has and still has a terrible staff. Worse than did Grey Davis.
And I'm wondering about the GOP in CA (as with national party) and that is that continuing to vote for GOP candidates in party devotion just to defeat Democrats is not proving to be productive...perhaps if the GOP again receives minority status, they'll get the message: represent the constituency after you get in office or don't get in office.
I'm getting the point here that neither party as to party devotion is particularly concerned after winning with doing what the voters want. The GOP in CA, particularly, seems far more concerned with self-awarding than they do with anything that voters need or want or prefer.
If not a vote for Schwarzenegger, then whom? Another Democrat in CA? I'd rather see actual conservatives in the state get into office and the existing batch let out to pasture.
Can SOMEone PLEASE stand before a room of illegal aliens and teach them with some finality (understand this or fail) that "immigrant" and "illegal alien" are two distinct representations?
And why it is important to understand the two terms, the behaviors respective to both?
Schwarzenegger was/is an immigrant but he did it legally and his goal in the process was American citizenship. And he arrived here and worked toward that goal and achieved it.
An illegal alien is not an immigrant. Most aren't concerned with citizenship beyond protecting their existing nationality, and contributing to their "back home" conditions without regard for the United States otherwise.
If they "just want to work," then go home, apply for a job and then citizenship and arrive here legally as an immigrant.
This ongoing issue of comingling these issues is just an excuse to further attempt to excuse illegal abuses of our immigration laws and the country itself. It's insulting to everyone who is a citizen of the country.
>>Can SOMEone PLEASE stand before a room of illegal aliens and teach them with some finality (understand this or fail) that "immigrant" and "illegal alien" are two distinct representations?
Perhaps we should start by teaching politicians and reporters. I think immigrants probably already know the difference.
P.S.--another good rant! Keep 'em coming! lol.
Done so early? LOL
This whole guest-worker program makes no sense, imo. The only reason there should be a guest-worker program at all is for seasonal fluctuations or emergencies (e.g. Katrina) that require workers for only a period during the year, not for years on end. Otherwise, legal immigration should be modified to meet any special need for workers.
The pandering and mumbo jumbo coming out of most politicians mouths is sickening.
So far, I have yet to "rant." When and if I ever do that, it won't be on FR, fershure.
I also think that most people from wherever understand the differences and yet persist in confounding and confusing the issues moreorless like many suddenly can't speak or understand English when you confront them as to the issues.
I walked the other day to a local market, just a block from my residence, and the same Asian woman I've seen time and time again dumping shopping carts in the neighborhood was yet again dumping another, only this time I stopped and asked her to take it back to the store.
She kept moving her arms in gesture to me in some sweeping motion, indicating that I should go toward the store. I continued to say to her, 'take the cart back to the store, that cart you have there, take it back to the store, take the cart back, it doesn't belong to you, take the cart back to the store..." and she continued to feign understanding what I was saying.
If she DIDN'T understand what I was saying, there's no way she'd be motioning me toward 'the store.'
She shoved the cart into the street, yet again, and continued to motion to me to go toward that store she pretended she didn't understand I was referring to.
Every single day, another cart, shoved into the neighborhood by the woman. And the local police could be collecting $300/500 dollar fines with every single capture if they'd only make the effort to enforce the law.
You might want to try some of your "ranting", however, about the special election upcoming...that most voters I know are in support of.
Oh, yeah, "lol."
I'll be voting. I support some and oppose some. And... I've been doing my share of ranting.
"There is a huge Spanish-speaking population, and it's not all illegals."
There is good chance that anybody who is speaks Spanish is here illegally,
According to Mortimer B. Zuckerman ‘Land of Opportunity’
_ the transition from Spanish to English is virtually completed in one generation, on average. _
Couple this with statistics 2004 that show there were 35.7 legal million foreign-born residents with about 15 million arriving from Latin America, while the estimates for illegals are as high as 20 million with 75% of illegals coming form Latin America or about 15 million illegal immigrants who speak Spanish, therefore the percent of those who speak Spanish of recent arrivals who are illegal are compared to illegal is about 50%
Of course freedom of speech should be allowed, but it is a misconception that these broadcasts are meant to serve a majority audience that are US citizens only.
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/opinion/articles/050620/20edit.htm
http://usconservatives.about.com/od/homelandsecurity/a/illegalimmigran.htm
http://www.prcdc.org/summaries/immigration/immigration.html
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