California conservatives resuscitate Prop. 187

[Judi Lynn]

Jan. 6, 2004, 11:43PM

California conservatives resuscitate Prop. 187
By KIM COBB
Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle


Aiming to stir immigration debate during the presidential primary season, California conservatives are resurrecting the ghost of Proposition 187 with another state ballot initiative that opponents say could be just as racially divisive as the 1994 proposal to ban social services for illegal immigrants.
This time, supporters also want to deny driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants. But Ron Prince, the Orange County accountant who pushed the issue 10 years ago, promises a race-neutral campaign for an initiative written to survive the court challenges that prevented Proposition 187 from becoming law.

As Prince and others gather signatures to force a vote in November, California backers are pressing the measure as a deterrent to illegal immigration, even as President Bush proposes liberalized immigration to match foreign workers, mostly from Mexico, with U.S. employers. (snip)

(snip) Many of the state budget woes that drove voters to support the ban a decade ago have only worsened, contributing to last year's recall of Democratic Gov. Gray Davis.

But dramatic demographic changes in the past decade mean the powerful Latino vote could be a deciding factor this time. And as the Republican Party tries to lure parts of this traditionally Democratic voting block, the GOP is trying to avoid anything that can be perceived as racially motivated bias.
(snip/...)

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/nation/2339323

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. I love the california nuts err GOP

They are doing something that will back lash to them

GOOD

[Mountainman]

2. Prop 187 is a big part of the reason Repubs go nowhere in CA

They are shooting theirselves in the foot again. I don't get how stupid these guys are. The only way they can get someone in office here in CA is by some other means than a normal voting process. The need to steal elections or have recalls etc.

The Hispanic voting bloc will turn more and more to Dems with this kind of measure.

[proud patriot]

3. hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

This is going to go over real well

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

4. GO for it..beats the hell out of Dems expending energy to defeat you

[annagull]

5. The "Prop" that made them famous

Go, RNC, GO!!

[Piperay]

6. GOOD...

they're just going to screw themselves out of ever winning a "real" election again, just like they did before. The only way they got the groper in was to redo a real election and because too many people (Democrats included) couldn't stand Davis. I say "GO FOR IT, KNOCK YOURSELVES OUT" and I will even sign it. :evilgrin:

[velocity]

7. WHAT ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

didn't you hear Bush they are NOW LEGAL IMMIGRANTS......

[Ernesto]

9. WOW! on the same day

We hear about the revival of PeeWee Wilson's "ethnic cleansing" plan & the chimp's new plan to buy hispanic votes.

[David__77]

8. Arnie would oppose it, I think.

I don't see him risking the backlash. Anything that tears at the GOP is a good thing in one sense. Unfortunately, this could very well pass. There's a lot of white chauvinism in this state.

[Emboldened Chimp]

11. Arnie supported Prop 187 last time

It would be very interesting to see how he handles this. He'll try to wiggle out of making a firm stance either way; that's my guess.

[AP]

10. Conservatives desperately need race. They need to make white working and

middle class people feel like their tax money is going to some racialized other. When big business wants greater profits, a lower tax burden and less government regulation, they turn to the middle class and sell them racist stereotypes to get it.