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Schwarzenegger Backs Amendment to Allow Immigrant Presidents
February 23, 2004
By JOHN M. BRODER
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 22 - Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has been
governor of California for just 98 days, may already be
eyeing a bigger stage than Sacramento.
Mr. Schwarzenegger, who immigrated to the United States
from Austria 35 years ago, on Sunday endorsed an amendment
to the Constitution to allow immigrants who have been
citizens for at least 20 years to run for president. Mr.
Schwarzenegger became a citizen in 1983.
Making his Sunday morning talk show debut on the NBC
program "Meet the Press," Mr. Schwarzenegger was asked
whether he would support changing the Constitution to allow
naturalized citizens to serve as president. Senator Orrin
G. Hatch, the Utah Republican, has proposed such an
amendment.
"Yeah, I should look at that," Mr. Schwarzenegger said with
his polished performer's smile. "It sounds really good."
He asked the program's host, Tim Russert, "Are you going to
help me?"
Mr. 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 that Mr. 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 immigrated
from Europe.
Mr. Schwarzenegger was in Washington on Sunday for a
meeting of the National Governors Association and to attend
a White House dinner. On Tuesday, 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 even though California received only about 75
cents for every dollar it sent to Washington in taxes he
remained a big fan of President Bush. He said the president
could carry California in November if he coughed up more
federal largess. Mr. Bush lost the state to Al Gore in 2000
by more than a million votes.
"This is an election year," Mr. 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."
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/23/national/23ARNO.html?ex=1078582920&ei=1&en=98b0c39ca5b8e3f2
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