Thread: Praise for Minutemen Riles Hispanics

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Praise for Minutemen Riles Hispanics
May 2, 2005

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's praise for U.S. anti-immigrant vigilantes patrolling southern Arizona have rankled many in his state's huge Hispanic community.

The chairman of the state Democratic Party, Art Torres, went so far as to suggest legal steps against the governor for his remarks in support of the controversial Minuteman Project, which has been criticized by President George W. Bush.

"It is illegal to interfere with law enforcement, and if the governor is promoting that, then maybe we should think of bringing action against him," Torres told a California radio station.

"And when the president of the United States and the Border Patrol both suggest that these activities (by the vigilantes) are not only not helpful, but possibly illegal, that needs to be seriously examined," he added.

In comments Thursday on Los Angeles KFI radio station's "John and Ken" program, Schwarzenegger said of the self-styled Minutemen border sentinels: "They've done a terrific job. And they have cut down the crossing of illegal immigrants by a huge percentage."

Organizers of the Minuteman Project proclaim their effort a complete success, though the roughly 750 volunteers - many of them armed - deployed along a 23-mile stretch of the Arizona-Mexico border have spotted only 350 illegal migrants since the initiative began April 1.

Schwarzenegger also used his appearance on the conservative talk show to criticize a local Spanish-language television station for an ad campaign he said "promotes illegal aliens to come in here."

Put up on billboards along several Southern California freeways, the ads for Channel 62 feature a view of the L.A. skyline on which is superimposed Mexico City's landmark golden angel. The Spanish caption reads: "Your news, your team. Los Angeles, CA," but with California crossed out and replaced with "Mexico."

One of California's two Democratic U.S. senators, Dianne Feinstein, said Schwarzenegger's remarks about the Minutemen indicated that the governor was at odds with Bush and other members of his own Republican Party on immigration policy.

She also called it surprising that Schwarzenegger would praise vigilantes instead of calling on the federal government to expand the Border Patrol.

The governor got into hot water last week for seeming to advocate the sealing of the U.S. border with Mexico.

"Close the borders. Close the borders in California, and all across Mexico and the United States," he said at a gathering with newspaper editors.

Within a day, and after a torrent of criticism, the Austrian-born Schwarzenegger issued an apology. "I meant 'securing' our borders, not 'closing' them," the governor said before quipping that he should "go back to school and study" English again.

State Democratic chairman Torres, a retired state senator, said Schwarzenegger is seeking to divert attention from recent political setbacks and his declining popularity by attacking immigrants.

A poll published Thursday by the Public Policy Institute of California showed the governor with an approval rating of 45 percent, down from 60 percent in January

Personally I see the MMP as true patriot heroes.
However I also feel that the more succesfull they are,the more bad politicians will ride their bandwagon to their own success.We know you only have to give the people a good promise to get in office;you don't (and rarely do they) have to follow through.

The chairman of the state Democratic Party, Art Torres, went so far as to suggest legal steps against the governor for his remarks in support of the controversial Minuteman Project, which has been criticized by President George W. Bush.

"It is illegal to interfere with law enforcement, and if the governor is promoting that, then maybe we should think of bringing action against him," Torres told a California radio station.

This clown is joking right? This clown is like the king champion of Mexican lawbreakers and he's talking about bringing on legal action? Arnold could just as easily break legal actions against him and the cronies (oath of office violators) in Sacramento that represent Mexican interest over the will of his constituents. Give me a break. Somebody needs to shove a copy of the constitution in this idiots face and tell him to read it and understand it. Arnold speech is protected under the first amendment like everyone else and the first amendment isn't just for protecting the speech that only Art Torres agrees with.

I laugh at these clowns for their concerns about the MMP. Funny all this anger and outrage over the MMP supposed vigilantism, but yet not one word of outrage over their country being invaded by tens of thousands of Mexican vigilantes who take the law into their own hands on a daily basis without any respect or regard for our sovereignty.

Art Torres you are the real criminal and I hope Arnold finds a way to terminate (not literally) you and your cronies out of Sacramento for good. Go get em Arnold. Don't take no flak from these clowns. They don't represent the will of the people, they only represent the will of Mexico. They'll never support you, no matter what you do. They are the real racist/bigots. Stand by your comments and the people will stand by you. Get these con men kicked out of Sacramento immediately before they finish turning California into a third world Mexican bananna republic.

Art Torres is the former Lt.Govenor of California.Yes he's still pissed he lost the election to Arnold.Torres only went so hard core pro Latin after Arnold went so hard core anti Latin.Plain old politics.Once again,let's not let one good deed-his support of the MMP (currently)-distort that so far Arnold is as lame and empty as they come.It's important to remember he's an actor.JUST an actor.
As for California and the Bannana Republic-it's about 16 years too late.

Art Torres is the former Lt. Govenor of California

I think you're confusing him with Bustamonte, who's still the Lt. Governor of CA.

This is Art Torres:

Chair, California Democratic Party

Career Background

Ran unsuccessfully for the California Assembly in 1972, went to work as the national legislative director for the United Farm Workers Union, AFL-CIO. Served as a John F. Kennedy teaching fellow at the Harvard University Institute of Politics, 1974. Elected to the California Assembly 1974; elected to the state Senate in 1982, then won the Democratic nomination for Insurance Commissioner, 1994; lost the general election. Assumed chairmanship of the California Democratic Party, 1996-to present.

Personal

Bachelors and Juris Doctor degrees from the University of California. Father of two -- Joaquin Nava Torres, just completed Master of Fine arts degree at Tisch School of the Arts, New York University; and Danielle Torres, junior at University of Southern California majoring in the recording industry.

Claim to Fame

"Creation of the most successful anti-high school dropout law in California history. Co-authored the Clean Water Drinking Act; helped create the first Japanese-American National Museum."

Best Days

"When my children were born!"

Worst Day

"When I lost the statewide insurance commissioner race in 1994 to a Republican opponent who was later forced to resign."

Ten Years From Now

"Continuing to advocate against injustice."

Immediate Goals

"To continue my work as chairman of the party and as president of the Walter Kaitz Foundation to help foster and support diversity in the cable and broadband industry in America."

Political Heroes

Cesar Chavez, Dolores Huerta, Sen. Ted Kennedy.

Secrets of Success

"Always give credit to those who help you as an individual with shared tasks and visions. As U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi always says, 'Keep the friendship in your voice.'"

Biggest Gripe

"Child and elder abuse."

Predictions

"The next mayor of Los Angeles will be a Latino(a); California will have a Latino(a) governor; Gov. Gray Davis will be President of the United States someday."

Favorite Books

All of Shakespeare's works, the poetry of Octavio Paz, Profiles in Courage by John F. Kennedy.

Favorite Movies

"Advice and Consent," "Moulin Rouge," "Stand and Deliver".

Best Moment in a Campaign

"Standing next to Sen. Ted Kennedy as he delivered his speech to the Democratic National Convention in New York, 1980, after his presidential campaign was over."

Worst Moment

Losing the insurance commissioner's race in California, 1994.

If I Were President For A Day

"Provide universal health care for every American; provide access to higher education for every American; and help find a cure for cancer and AIDS."

Damn,my bad.

Originally Posted by rickesteves

Damn,my bad.

But the Arnold matter is still correct.

Originally Posted by CountFloyd

Art Torres is the former Lt. Govenor of California

Political Heroes

Cesar Chavez,

So one of Art Torres' heroes is a guy who offered to send the United Farm Workers to guard the border so that UFW members did not have to compete with illegal alien wage rates?

Interesting.

Chavez was a phony and so is Huerta;they both capitalized on something where the foundations were done by Filipinos,Portugese,Italians,Japanese,and Whites from Oklahoma and Arkansas.

So one of Art Torres' heroes is a guy who offered to send the United Farm Workers to guard the border so that UFW members did not have to compete with illegal alien wage rates?

Interesting.

Well, consistancy is the province of little minds, especially when it gets in the way of politics.