Immigration rallies force L.A. mayor into political tight spot

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | May 14, 2006 | James Sterngold, Chronicle Staff Writer

[Sharks]

Los Angeles -- When the immigration rights movement erupted from coast to coast beginning in March, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa embraced it with greater energy and visibility than just about any other political leader.

Villaraigosa, the first Latino elected mayor here in modern times, spoke at every major demonstration in the city, in Spanish and in English, backing the calls for a fair path to citizenship for millions of undocumented immigrants. He was lauded by many of the demonstrators as a champion of their cause.

But the normally voluble mayor was uncharacteristically restrained in discussing the issue in an interview last week. What initially seemed to him a basic, practical appeal for dignity and understanding, as well as a consistent new immigration policy, has become, he acknowledged, a vexing political minefield.

In a long, late afternoon conversation in his office, Villaraigosa, 53, often pausing to collect his thoughts, said he fears that his conspicuous involvement may make him vulnerable to being branded a one-issue politician, aligned with one community. He also worried that the sudden dominance of immigration as a political issue risks knocking his stated priorities as mayor of America's second-biggest city -- such as school reform and better policing -- off track.

In a sense, Villaraigosa is struggling to avoid becoming caught up in the confusion and polarization that have crept into the increasingly emotional debate.

"People want to put me in a little box, define me as just one thing, but I won't let them do it," he insisted, while admitting that the immigration issue has made that more difficult.

[Sharks]

"He only represents one ethnicity and not all the citizens of the city," Barbara Coe, chairwoman of the California Coalition for Immigration Reform said -------------------------------------------------------------- As an elected office, he has been pandering to illegals. Now the heat is hot he is backing away. Too late dude. By now we know where you stand. See you at the next election.

[Sharks]

As an elected ====official======, he has been pandering to illegals. Now the heat is hot he is backing away. Too late dude. By now we know where you stand. See you at the next election.

[stopem]

That's exactly correct, HE made himself into a one issue politician now he is regretting it well to bad so sad he shouldn't have shot his mouth off for his ethnicity, he sure isn't a proponent of MULTI-culturism!

There are a lot of other politicians who are doing the exact same thing!! And they too will realize too late that they blew it by sticking with one ethnic group and pandering to ILLEGALS and their employers! That is a death knell for ALL politicians regardless how high on the ladder they are!

Giving the illegals amnesty who could care less about being a Citizen who just want amnesty for all it will bring them and an additional 20 million friends and family they will drag in to this country OVERCROWDING it even more!!

Hope San Bernardino passes their legislation!!

[stopem]

"Political suicide"

Thats 100% correct now he needs to go to Washuington and tell the rest of the Pols that!

"He has not endorsed the idea of blanket amnesty for illegal immigrants.

Well at least he is smart enough to realize that as well. He really needs to share that with our Senators. Congress already understands that it's the likes of Specter/Mccain that will learn it to late.

[stopem]

Washuington = Washington

[wolfcreek]

Shamnesty = re-election for the good Mayor.

[Beckwith]

The People of LA should vote this dickhead out of office, give him a one-way bus ticket to Mexico City and 1,000 pesos to begin his campaign for Mayor of Mexico City.

[kellynla]

I guess the mayor got the word that Hispanic Americans & Blacks are not happy with the illegals coming into the city and taking their jobs, pulling down the wage scale and ruining the quality of life in their neighborhoods...

[Altura Ct.]

Tight Spot? He is a traitorous SOB who has shown his true colors.

Wanna revote?

[FBD]

Alexander Hamilton, on excessive immigration:

"The opinion advanced in [Jefferson’s] Notes on Virginia is undoubtedly correct, that foreigners will generally be apt to bring with them attachments to the persons they have left behind; to the country of their nativity, and to its particular customs and manners. They will also entertain opinions on government congenial with those under which they have lived; or if they should be led hither from a preference to ours, how extremely unlikely is it that they will bring with them that temperate love of liberty, so essential to real republicanism?…"

"In the recommendation to admit indiscriminately foreign emigrants of every description to the privileges of American citizens, on their first entrance into our country, there is an attempt to break down every pale which has been erected for the preservation of a national spirit and a national character; and to let in the most powerful means of perverting and corrupting both the one and the other."
[From Hamilton, “The Examination,” nos. 7-9 (1802), Papers of Alexander Hamilton, ed. Harold C. Syrett (New York: Columbia University Press, 1961-), 25:491-501.]