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July 12, 2006

Run, Arnold, Run

From Roger Salazar, Communications Director, CDP Democratic Victory 2006:

After getting caught sneaking in the backdoor of the White House this week it will be good fun watching Team Arnold hide out next week when Jim Gilchrist, Founder of the Minuteman Project, appears before the Sacramento Press Corps.

Just last year Arnold was praising Jim and his merry band of vigilantes:

John and Ken Radio Show (4-28-05)

Q: Are you happy with what the Minuteman Project has done?

AS: I think they have done a terrific job, and, look, they have cut down the crossing of illegal immigrants by a huge percentage. So it just shows that it works when you go and make an effort and when you work hard.
We would say that maybe this is the reason Team Arnold no longer wants the press corps to know when the Governator does right-wing talk radio -- except he went and did it again!

Yesterday, Schwarzenegger renewed "his support for the civilian Minuteman border patrols at a campaign stop to showcase his Latino supporters in a Mexican restaurant in Lynwood.

"'I support any time that a civilian wants to go and do the job that law enforcement cannot do,' Schwarzenegger said in response to a question. 'I'm for that.'" (Los Angeles Times, July 12, 2006)

Nice. I’m not sure praising an armed group of border "vigilantes"—as President Bush has characterized them—is the best way to ensure support amongst a group of Latino supporters, even if it is a fake group. (Oh, and I’m sure law enforcement will appreciate Arnold letting them know they aren’t up to the job, either on the border or in his own ritzy neighborhood.)

It’s these kinds of comments from El Governador that have turned off Latino voters statewide, including some high ranking Latinos from his own party:

"Hours after Schwarzenegger's appearance with Latino supporters, the state's highest-ranking Latino Republican, Sen. Abel Maldonado of Santa Maria, questioned the governor's loyalty to Latinos."

"'Our governor cares about one thing only, and that's Arnold Schwarzenegger,' Maldonado said in a telephone interview requested by his staff." (LA Times, July 12, 2006)

Ouch.

"The senator also said many Latinos thought Schwarzenegger had shown 'a lack of respect' with the Latino community by spending too little time in Mexico. Schwarzenegger has visited Mexico twice as governor and plans to visit again before the election."

"'When he needs Latinos, Latinos are always there for him,' Maldonado said. 'When Latinos need him, the answer's been no.'" (LA Times, July 12, 2006)