http://news.yahoo.com/s/azstar/20060628 ... rcampstory




By Daniel Scarpinato , arizona daily star Wed Jun 28, 4:41 AM ET

The news agency responsible for a story that ignited criticisms of gubernatorial candidate Don Goldwater last week has issued an apology for its "misleading characterizations" of the Republican's immigration plan.
ADVERTISEMENT

EFE News acknowledged Goldwater never called his plan to build a labor camp for illegal immigrants a "concentration camp." The article provoked statements from Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record) and U.S. Reps. Jim Kolbe and Jeff Flake, all Republicans, condemning the idea.

"We verify that our reporter never interviewed you or any of your staff in writing her story and her interpretations of your intent, obviously, were inaccurate," states a letter from Emilio Sanchez, executive vice president of EFE. The reporter's name is Maria Leon.

Under Goldwater's plan, illegal immigrants would be housed in a "tent city" and be required to build a fence along the border and clean the desert.

"Our investigation has determined that your plan to house illegal prisoners in a tent city is consistent with accepted practices for non-violent American prisoners in your area," the letter says.

Goldwater called the incident a "bump in the candidacy" and "reaffirms that I am the front-runner."

"This is a smear campaign," he said of the statements from his fellow Republicans. "I'm not their candidate."

While the piece — with its "concentration camp" headline — is what drew attention to the issue, it's the substance of Goldwater's plan that seems to have sparked controversy.

"My statement still stands," Kolbe said Tuesday after seeing the apology. "While he didn't use the theme 'concentration camps,' the substance of the idea is still an obnoxious one."

Kolbe said he has no intention to issue any further statement on the issue or apologize to Goldwater. McCain's press secretary did not return late-afternoon phone calls.

Goldwater, nephew of longtime Arizona Sen. Barry Goldwater, is seeking the Republican nomination for governor in a four-way race. A poll released in May showed Goldwater as the front-runner, although support for all the candidates was low.

In his statement last week, McCain said, "I hope that Arizona Republicans, no matter how passionate they feel about the issue, will not want Barry Goldwater's Republican Party to be associated with such an obviously inappropriate messenger."