For many California Latinos, “Pete” is truly a four-letter word.
Remember “They Keep Coming”?
In 1994, Republican Pete Wilson used Proposition 187 to win re-election to the California Governor’s Office.
“In the gubernatorial race, Gov. Pete Wilson, a Republican whose re-election bid has been based in large part on his support for the initiative, put two new 187 television advertisements on the air today.” – B. Drummond Ayres, New York Times, 10/25/94
This extremist initiative sought to deny even the most basic public services - things like health care and education - to undocumented workers and their children.
“Proposition 187…would prohibit public education, social services and nonemergency public health care for illegal immigrants, who are already ineligible for most noneducational state benefits.” – Associated Press, 1/20/95
“The law… would have removed undocumented children from public schools and denied…health care to people who were living in the state illegally.” – Anthony York, Salon.com, 7/30/99
Wilson’s divisive, cynical campaign of fear-mongering and immigrant-bashing earned him a reputation as "a monster...a Frankenstein" and "the ultimate bogeyman" to California's Latinos.
“To many California Latinos, former California Gov. Pete Wilson is ‘a monster ... a Frankenstein,’ says Latino leader Arturo Vargas. United Farm Workers President Arturo Rodriguez calls Wilson ‘the ultimate bogeyman’ for his advocacy of 1994's anti-immigration Proposition 187 that sealed his re-election.
“Analysts say Wilson's return - in name and policy - is bad news for Republicans hoping to reach out to Latino voters, who comprise 19 percent of the California electorate….
“…many Latinos older than 40 remember the fear and anger that Prop. 187 stirred in the community.” [Chronicle, 3/20]
“Go back to 1994, and look at the loss one after another of safe Republican seats. What do they have in common – growth of middle class Asian and Latino populations as these voters have moved to the suburbs and transformed formerly Republican areas into Democratic ones. That occurred in tandem with the last round of GOP immigrant bashing, 1994’s Proposition 187.” – Tony Quinn, Fox & Hounds Daily Blog, 3/23/10
“Proposition 187 was the beginning of the anti-immigrant brush fire that spread across the country between 1993 and 1996.” – Anthony York, Salon.com, 7/30/99
Fast forward to 2010.
Now Republican Meg Whitman is running for Governor.
She claims to be a different kind of candidate and says she wants to reach out to Latinos.
“In November, [Meg] Whitman…promised ‘to involve Latinos in this campaign in a way that hasn't been seen in Republican politics in some time.’’ - San Francisco Chronicle, 3/20/10]
“… I’m reaching out to Latinos, I want Latinos to be part of this campaign...” - Meg Whitman, as quoted in the Los Angeles Times, 2/24/10
But who did she choose as her campaign chairman? Pete Wilson
Wilson stands by Proposition 187, even though it was ruled unconstitutional by the courts.
“The long court fight over Proposition 187, which sought to bar illegal immigrants from receiving public benefits and services, was ended Monday by the federal judge who first found most of the initiative unconstitutional...” – Associated Press, 9/14/99
Pete Wilson made no apologies in 2002…
“Republicans are still apologizing to Hispanics for Pete Wilson's immigration policies. Mr. Wilson himself, however, offers no apologies.” – John Harwood, Wall Street Journal, 5/3/02
“‘I was right then,’ says Mr. Wilson, who was elected to two terms each as the state's governor and U.S. senator, in a three-hour interview. ‘I'm right now. I think time has proven me right.’” – John Harwood, Wall Street Journal, 5/3/02
Pete Wilson makes no apologies in 2010…
“Wilson is unapologetic, telling The Chronicle this week that ‘what we did in '94 we did because we felt it was essential to protect the state. We did it because it was the right thing to do. It's still the right thing to do.’” – Joe Garofoli, San Francisco Chronicle, 3/20/10
If Meg Whitman wants to earn the trust of California's Latinos, the right thing for her to do is fire Pete Wilson, right now.
It’s time for Meg to send Pete packing. |
