Arnold Schwarzenegger,  California,  Election 2006,  Illegal Immigration

California Election 2006 Watch: Schwarzenegger Heckled on Campaign Bus Tour by People Upset with his Anti-illegal Immigration Positions

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California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger puts his arm around a woman who confronted him during his campaign bus tour Tuesday, July 25, 2006, in La Mesa, Calif. The woman would only identify herself as Kelly.

AP: Schwarzenegger Heckled on Immigration

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s campaign bus tour hit a pot hole on its very first stop: a town hall meeting Tuesday at which the governor was heckled by people upset with his position on illegal immigration.

The hot-button issue was a theme of a day on which Schwarzenegger emphatically distanced himself from a 1994 ballot proposition, saying “I was wrong” to support a measure that sought to deny illegal immigrants many government services.

Governor Schwarzenegger has been all over the map with pronouncements on illegal aliens/immigration while pandering to the Hispanic Democrat Left for votes. Does he have a consistent position?

NOPE

Does it matter this election cycle?

Maybe, if Phil Angelides can use his recent Flip-Flop to his advantage.

Remember this about Arnold:

First, he was with the Minutemen. Then, he was against a border wall. And he BLAMED the federal government for inaction.

And…….now what?

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Governor: My vote for Prop. 187 was ‘wrong’

In his clearest statement to date, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger renounced his one-time support for the anti-illegal immigrant Proposition 187 by calling his 1994 vote “wrong,” according to an interview published Tuesday by the Spanish-language newspaper La Opinion.

In the same interview, the Republican governor downplayed his past praise of the Minutemen, the brigade of private citizens that has tried to stop illegal immigrants from crossing the U.S.-Mexico border.

Schwarzenegger said during his successful 2003 recall campaign that he had voted in 1994 for Proposition 187, which was intended to prevent illegal immigrants from obtaining public services, including education and health care. The initiative passed overwhelmingly but was overturned by courts.

But in his Monday interview with La Opinion, Schwarzenegger said, “I think, looking back, it was the wrong decision.”

The governor also reiterated that he had proposed $23 million for counties to spend on health care for undocumented children, a move that contradicted the spirit of Proposition 187. But Schwarzenegger and legislative Democrats removed the funding in late June as part of a budget compromise with Republicans.

The Governator foremost wants to be re-elected. He does not want to be Jesse Ventura who left the Minnesota Governorship in disgrace. After all, Arnold is the star and Jesse was a bit player. And Schwarzenegger will do whatever it takes to win – including pandering to Hispanics for their votes.

What can conservatives do?

Not much.

Phil Angelides is so far to the left that no matter what he does it will not persuade many conservative and moderate GOP voters to vote for him.

Arnold is a RINO – Republican in Name Only. Conservatives and some in the GOP will have to swallow hard to support/vote for him in November. But, with Angelides calling for Gay Marriage and more taxes on a vibrant California economy, it will not be too hard.

A lesson to the California GOP: develop a “deep bench” so that you do not get stuck with the likes of Arnold again.

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California Election 2006 Watch: California GOP Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger Leads California Democrat Treasurer Phil Angelides by 8 Points in Latest Field Poll


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