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| Mon, 02-23-2004 - 11:44am |
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/161657_arnold23.html
Schwarzenegger backs effort to let naturalized citizens run for president
Monday, February 23, 2004
By JOHN M. BRODER
THE NEW YORK TIMES
LOS ANGELES -- Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has been governor of California for just 98 days, already may be eyeing a bigger stage than Sacramento.
Schwarzenegger, who immigrated to the United States from Austria 35 years ago, yesterday endorsed an amendment to the Constitution to allow immigrants who have been American citizens for at least 20 years to run for president. Schwarzenegger became a citizen in 1983.
Making his Sunday morning talk show debut on NBC's "Meet the Press," Schwarzenegger was asked whether he would support changing the Constitution to allow naturalized citizens to serve as president. Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, has proposed such an amendment.
"Yeah, I should look at that," Schwarzenegger said smiling. "It sounds really good."
He asked the program's host, Tim Russert, "Are you going to help me?"
Schwarzenegger, a Republican who won the governorship in a recall election last fall, quickly dismissed any interest in higher office, saying he did not have time to think about his next political move.
"I haven't thought about that at all," the governor said. "I tell you, I'm so busy with our state. You know California is a big state, a very complicated state. Right now I concentrate just on that."
Nevertheless, he said Hatch's proposed amendment was "absolutely" a good idea, because it recognizes the contributions that immigrants make to the nation's political and commercial life.
"There are so many people in this country that are now from overseas, that are immigrants, that are doing such a terrific job with their work, bringing businesses here, that there's no reason why not. The key thing is you understand the political system and how it works," he said.
"Look at the kind of contribution that people like Henry Kissinger have made, Madeleine Albright," he said, referring to two former secretaries of state who emigrated from Europe.
Schwarzenegger was in Washington yesterday to attend a meeting of the National Governors Association and to attend a White House dinner. Tomorrow, he will be in New York to raise money for the state Republican Party and to pick up checks for his campaign to pass a $15 billion bond measure that he says will help ease California's budget crisis.
He said that despite the fact that California receives only about 75 cents for every dollar it sends to Washington in taxes, he remains a big fan of President Bush.
He said the president can carry California in November if he coughs up more federal largess. Bush lost the state to Vice President Al Gore in 2000 by more than a million votes.
"This is an election year," Schwarzenegger said. "The people of California expect certain things."
He added: "This is a very important year, and I'm absolutely convinced that we can deliver the state for George Bush. I think it is totally directly related to how much he will do for this state; there's no two ways about it."
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this country than many who have been here for years. We can use some new blood, not the
old crap coming out of "Tax"sachussetts.
Am I sensing prejudice in your initial comment???
It watched the interview
Oh, yes. The ones he inherited from a spendaholic Democrat governor and state legislature.
The Terminator (R) vs. The Clintonator (D) in 2008!
Prejudice?
His motives might be selfserving but he has a point.
Totally agree.