Thread: Slur words over DWI?

http://www.abqtrib.com/albq/nw_local_st ... %2C00.html

Slur words over DWI?
Governor jumps on radio comments made by his GOP foe

By Kate Nash
Tribune Reporter
July 15, 2006

SANTA FE - Twenty-one words on a radio talk show have sparked the biggest back-and-forth of the 2006 gubernatorial election so far.

The words: "I think that the Legislature understands that statistically, too many people who are repeat offenders happen to have Spanish last names."

The speaker: GOP candidate John Dendahl, on a KKOB-AM (770) talk show Wednesday that dealt, in part, with the state's DWI law. Host Jim Villanucci spoke with Dendahl about a range of issues in the hourlong show.

Dendahl went on to say, "And the Legislature will not enact legislation, on the basis (that) `Gee, that would be racist,' " according to a transcript of the show.

Gov. Bill Richardson's campaign lashed out at Dendahl on Friday, saying the words should be a "red flag" to Republican voters.

"Unfortunately, John Dendahl has a history of sticking his foot into his mouth by making insensitive comments and alienating whole classes of people," said Dave Contarino, chairman of the governor's re-election campaign.

Dendahl said Friday that his point was that Hispanics and American Indians have a disproportionally high number of DWIs and that the Legislature is doing them a disservice by not crafting stronger laws.

He said his comments were not intended to be racist and that his opponents were mischaracterizing them.

"Sometimes, in the radio studio, you aren't quite as articulate as when you are writing a column," he said.

Dendahl pointed to a state Department of Health report that showed 54 percent of 2003 DWI offenders were Hispanic, 24 percent were Anglo and 20 percent were American Indian.

It also showed American Indians and Hispanics had the highest re-arrest rates for DWI between 2000 and 2003.

Contarino said Dendahl didn't take into account the changes Richardson has made since taking office in 2003.

"All legislators, including Republicans, should be offended by Dendahl's careless comments, which minimize their hard work on DWI laws that have moved New Mexico forward and made our streets safer."

Under Richardson, it has become a fourth-degree felony to sell or provide alcohol to a minor. Another change in state law requires first-time DWI offenders to get an alcohol-detecting ignition interlock in their vehicles before they can legally drive again.

Dendahl said he intends to verify the Richardson campaign's boasts about his record.

"I'm checking his record to see if it's as fine as he says."

Voters will choose between Richardson, a first-term Democrat governor, and Dendahl on Nov. 7.

After reading this yesterday, I wrote to Gov. Richardson and sent him a copy of an article from the Tucson newspapers about a new State program kicked off last month focusing on Hispanic DUI's because of their unproportionately high number in the population. No one made an issue over that here, matter of fact, the people who kicked off the program were the Hispanic Police Chief of South Tucson, Sixto Molina and the Governor's Office of Highway Safety head Richard Fimbres. They all acknowledged that the Hispanic community has way too many DUIs.

New Anti-DUI Campaign Targets Hispanics

July 8, 2006, 09:29 AM MST


By Teresa Jun, KOLD News 13

A higher percentage of hispanics die in drunk driving crashes compared to the general population.

That's why Arizona is kicking off a new campaign called "Pass The Keys," or "Pasa Las Llaves."

"It's alarming because it's saying that we're not being educated enough to not drink and drive." Melissa Romero applauds the new education campaign.

It's something Melissa wishes she had learned from last year before getting busted for DUI—a mistake she's still paying for. "My total fine came out to be $4,500," she said.

Not to mention, giving up dozens of hours to attend alcohol education classes. And what may have been the worst part for Melissa, spending a night in jail. "Awful, horrible...it's not a place for a young lady."

Besides educating the community about consequences like these, the campaign will include ramping up DUI patrols around town.

"These additional patrols may take place in additional places such as Wilmot & Broadway, Oracle & Grant, South 12th Avenue and Ajo," according to Richard Fimbres of the Governor's Office of Highway Safety.

"It's not about putting people in jail and making lives miserable, and it's not about targeting Hispanics, it's about saving lives," says South Tucson Police Chief Sixto Molina.

At the campaign's kick-off Wednesday, community member Ruben Perez, whose son was killed in a drunk driving accident last year, sums up the appeal. "Hermano, hermana, amigo, amiga, por favor, pasa las llaves."

This specialized DUI campaign will run for two and a half years. Arizona is one of only two states to receive federal money for this project. If it's successful here, the program could go national.
http://www.kold.com/global/story.asp?s= ... =Printable

This Richardson is hollering racist???

4) Bill Richardson, New Mexico Governor, former U.S. Congressman, U.N. Ambassador, U.S. Sect'y of Energy interviewed on radio Latino USA responding to Congressional Immigration Reform legislation in 1996
"There are changing political times where our basic foundations and programs are being attacked, illegal and legal immigration are being unfairly attacked. We have to band together, and that means Latinos in Florida, Cuban-Americans, Mexican-Americans, Puerto Ricans, South Americans, we have to network better - we have to be more politically minded, we have to put aside party and think of ourselves as Latinos, as Hispanics more than we have in the past."

http://ccir.net/AUDIO/TakeoverOfAmericaCD/Menu.html