This writer always has interesting opinions. Here he talked with Gov. Schwarzenegger and got his views on immigration. DP
By Ruben Navarrette, San Diego Tribune
presstelegram.com: Now for real insight, let's turn to a Republican who is also an immigrant. With the California primary approaching on Feb. 5, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has advice for Republican presidential hopefuls who intend to come to the Golden State and exploit the immigration issue: Don't.
During a recent meeting with the editorial board of The San Diego Union-Tribune, I asked the governor, who hasn't endorsed any of the candidates for the upcoming primary, what advice he'd give them.
Specifically, I wanted to know what he thought about how some have been using the immigration issue to scare up votes.
"In a way, I understand why they're doing it," he said, "because when it comes to close elections, it's all about winning. It's not about sending a good message."
Schwarzenegger understands immigration better than just about any elected official in the country, from a policy perspective and a personal one. And he has a lot to say.
About the possibility that California might grant driver's licenses to illegal immigrants: "It'll never happen. It'll never get past me because I made itvery clear that we have to have immigration reform" first and not address the problem piecemeal.
About the fact that foreign workers have become a permanent part of the American economy: "We have our domestic workers ... but we fall short of the workers (we need) on the farms, and in construction and other places."
About what that should mean for immigration reform: "We should have the right for companies to go outside of the state, outside of the country ... and find those workers and bring them in on temporary worker permits."
Be sure to read the rest of this story! This is only a small part of it.
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