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Schwarzenegger Can't Have it Both Ways on Immigration

As Gov. Schwarznegger tries to rally his conservative base by saying he's going to crack down on immigrants while at the same time trying to court the Latino vote, many of us are intent on not letting him have it both ways.

Immigration is an important issue in this governor's race, and each candidate has a very distinct view of the issue and of solutions. Phil Angelides views it as a human rights issue, and believes that those millions living and working here as second-class citizens deserve a chance at citizenship if they work hard and don't commit crimes. He sees the Governor's office as a powerful place from which to advocate for this kind of reform at the federal level.

Schwarzenegger's so far has consisted of policy-less pandering, depending on who he's talking to. He tells Latinos he's an immigrant and understands people wanting to come here. He throws red meat at the state GOP convention, saying things like "Being an American means learning English!" And of course, we cannot forget his famous support of the Minutemen Project, armed individuals patroling the border who even President Bush called vigilantes.

For more background, check out this documentary piece on the Minutemen Project in Arizona by a New Mexico public television station:

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