http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStor ... SFeeds0312


Republican Candidate's Call for Forced Labor Camp for Immigrants Angers
Two GOP Lawmakers
By JENNIFER TALHELM
The Associated Press

WASHINGTON - A Republican gubernatorial candidate's call for creation of
a forced labor camp for illegal immigrants drew rebukes Friday from two
GOP lawmakers, who labeled it a low point in the immigration debate.

Don Goldwater, nephew of the late Sen. Barry Goldwater, caused an
international stir this week when EFE, a Mexican news service, quoted
him as saying he wanted to hold undocumented immigrants in camps to use
them "as labor in the construction of a wall and to clean the areas of
the Arizona desert that they're polluting."

The article described Goldwater's plan as a "concentration camp" for
migrants.

Goldwater, a candidate for governor in Arizona, said in a statement
Friday that his comments were taken out of context. He said he was
calling for a work program for convicted nonviolent felons, similar to
"tried and tested, effective and accepted practices" used by state and
local jails.

But two Republicans, Arizona Sen. John McCain and Rep. Jim Kolbe, called
Goldwater's comments "deeply offensive" and asked state Republicans to
reject his candidacy in the Sept. 12 primary.

"That Mr. Goldwater is either unaware of or indifferent to the loaded
symbolism, injustice and un-Americanism of his 'plan' to address the
many serious issues caused by illegal immigration reveals his flaws as a
candidate and a stunning lack of respect for the basic values of a
generous and decent society," McCain said in a statement.

Kolbe said that if the comments are true, Goldwater "has demonstrated
his complete unworthiness for public office, and I am confident he will
be soundly rejected by Republicans from the party of Barry Goldwater,
who consistently demonstrated his compassion and respect for all people.
This is a sad day in the national debate on immigration policy."

McCain and Kolbe favor a guest-worker program for illegal immigrants.

Goldwater made a similar comment at an April anti-immigration rally.

"Build us that wall now!" Goldwater said, referring to a proposal to add
700 miles of fences along the U.S.-Mexico border. He promised then that
if elected, he would put illegal immigrants in a tent city on the border
and use their labor to build the wall.

Barry Goldwater, the former Arizona senator, was the Republican
presidential nominee in 1964.