Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger with a stuffed burro on Olvera Street in Los Angeles,
where he was campaigning last month for the Hispanic vote.
Posted on 08/19/2006 5:03:36 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, seeking to shore up support among conservatives, told the state GOP convention Saturday that he would be tougher on illegal immigration than Democratic opponent Phil Angelides.
"My opponent wants to pull the National Guard off the border. He wants to give undocumented workers California drivers licenses," Schwarzenegger said, as a few in the lunchtime crowd at the Century Plaza Hotel hissed. "His policies are disastrous."
Angelides, in a conference call with reporters, accused Schwarzenegger of using the issue to divide Californians and said the governor was "stirring up his anti-immigrant right wing base."
But the state treasurer also acknowledged he has said he would remove the guard troops from the border if he were elected governor. Angelides has also voiced support for allowing illegal immigrants to get drivers licenses.
Schwarzenegger's use the immigration issue was a switch for a campaign that until now has been focused almost single-mindedly on opposition to new taxes.
Immigration is a sore spot for Schwarzenegger, who has staked out a middle position in an intensely polarizing debate. While blaming the federal government for falling down on the job of policing the border with Mexico, Schwarzenegger has opposed building a border fence. He supports a temporary worker program and giving illegal immigrants a path to citizenship.
Conservative talk show hosts have lambasted his moderate views, but his campaign manager said polls show he still has the overwhelming support of his party
"There's a lot of disagreement on the question of immigration in both parties," said Steve Schmidt, who said the governor had a pragmatic view of the illegal immigration problem. "This governor is somebody who deals with reality."
In his speech, Schwarzenegger never mentioned Angelides by name, as he sought to undermine his positions on taxes, crime and health care. The governor referred to Angelides as "my opponent" and to Democrats as "our friends.
But even as he made a show of civility, the governor got in a few jabs.
He mocked Angelides for taking too long to endorse Jessica's Law, an initiative on the November ballot that would toughen penalties for sexual offenders.
"Unlike my opponent, I didn't have to study Jessica's law for one year to know in my heart that protecting our children is absolutely the right thing to do," he said, as the audience laughed and applauded.
Toward the end of his speech, Schwarzenegger made a sarcastic allusion to Angelides' past as a real estate developer, an unpopular job description in environmentally minded California.
Adopting an exaggeratedly serious tone, the governor said, "Even though we disagree with him, I think it is very important not to demonize our opponent. Because after Nov. 7, we will wish him well as he returns to his successful career in real estate."
With its more partisan tone, the speech was something of a departure for the governor, who has spent the year burnishing his moderate credentials in the hopes of winning back middle-of-the-road voters.
Still, he did not deign to be seen with the other more conservative Republicans who are running for statewide office. On stage, he appeared only with Secretary of State Bruce McPherson, himself a moderate Republican from Santa Cruz.
The crowd received the governor's speech warmly, though even some of his supporters said he did not go far enough on immigration.
"He should have put more teeth in it," said Steven Sarkis, an engineer from Orange County. "Like what he's going to do about all the illegals here."
There were other indications that the Republican stalwarts at the convention were not entirely in sync with the governor.
A committee recommended against supporting the affordable housing component of the $37.3 billion bond package the governor is campaigning for in November, and decided to remain neutral on the education bond. They endorsed the levee and transportation bonds.
The party's 600 delegates will decide whether to endorse the bonds on Sunday.
Still, he did not deign to be seen with the other more conservative Republicans who are running for statewide office. On stage, he appeared only with Secretary of State Bruce McPherson, himself a moderate Republican from Santa Cruz.
Pork, pork, pork. Unaccountable billions. It must be payday.
The other day he rushed 500 National Guardsmen to the phony scare at the airport but he won't put any on the border.
I read only one sentence attributed to the Austrain, referring to immigration, and it's a characterization of Angelides posture.
I read nothing from or about the Austrian on immigration, one way or the other.
Didn't the title say "Schwarzenegger appeals to conservatives on immigration"?
uhhhh,, Posted as found on the wire. :-}
I tried to address the reply to our imaginative friend Laura but our server couldn't find her account on FR.
You got stuck with the greeting.
a bump is a bump ;\
I love the AP spin in the title.
Immigration "appeals"....
No "Appeal" there.
"Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, seeking to shore up support among conservatives, told the state GOP convention Saturday that he would be tougher on illegal immigration than Democratic opponent Phil Angelides.
"
Yeah? What is 10 times nothing!!
.
.
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger ... after speaking at California Republican Party state convention, in Los Angeles on Saturday, Aug. 19, 2006. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)
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.