March 11, 2005

StreetTalk by Carol Rosen

How do you feel about the move to amend the U.S. Constitution to allow people who were not born on this soil to run for president? It’s called Amend for Arnold.
(Asked at Evergreen Marketplace)

“I wrote a whole paper about this very subject. I feel that if foreign-born naturalized citizens are allowed to fight and die for our country, they should have the same rights as those of us who were born here. Because we as American citizens vote, they [foreign-born citizens] should have the same rights to run for any office that the rest of us have. U.S. history was founded by foreigners. I think Arnold [Schwarzenegger] is doing this for Arnold, but it’s been a long time coming.”

Julie Edgmon, 20
South San Jose
Evergreen College student


“Actually, I haven’t given too much thought to the idea. At this point, I don’t think it’s such a great idea; I think we need to look into it some more. With terrorist and immigration issues, I think those seeking such a high office should be born as a citizen of the United States.”

Charles Najar, 55
Evergreen
Mental health counselor

“No, I am absolutely not in favor of such an amendment. I’m totally against it, because it’s a Republican thing; it’s all about Arnold [Schwarzenegger]. Why all of the sudden are they bringing it up? Because there’s nobody else running. His attitude toward teachers stinks. My sister is a teacher, my husband is a police officer and what Schwarzenegger is trying to do to teachers, nurses, police [officers] and firemen is terrible.”

Phyllis Accardo, 47
Evergreen
Buyer for Photon Dynamics

“It all depends on who is running. I feel like I could go either way, but I’m not planning on running. If they amend the constitution, they are doing it for Arnold [Schwarzenegger]. Although, once it’s amended anyone can run. Actually, I don’t think I’m for it, because if it is only good for a few people, then it really doesn’t make sense.”

Terry Castro, 47
Evergreen
Realtor

“I honestly don’t agree with it. You never know what you’re going to get. If someone like Schwarzenegger, who was born with different values and customers, any foreign-born person, even if he is a citizen, has grown up with different customs and values and after he’s elected may change and want to enforce those that are foreign to us. Actually, he may be a good actor and seem nice with all the right ideas and then turn into a Hitler.”

Maria Sousa, 40
Evergreen
Realtor

“No, I’m not in favor of it. You have to be born here to be president. Schwarzenegger’s kids can be president, but you should be born in this country to run for the office.”

Michael Day, 60
Evergreen
Retired


“I’m a veteran, realtor, father and grandfather. I find it ironic that all of the sudden people want to change the constitution to fit the whims of one man. When he ran for governor, he talked about how important it is to follow the rules so he was totally against giving drivers licenses to immigrants. Now he wants to change the laws so he can be president. I’m a former teacher, I think the first thing our “education governor” wants to do is shaft [California] teachers.”

Al Garza, 67
Berryessa
Realtor

“I don’t think we should do it. We don’t know what a foreign-born citizen’s agenda is or who they are connected to. I think I prefer the way our founding fathers set it up. I think people are doing it so that Arnold Schwarzenegger can run, and I’m so mad at him right now with what he’s doing to teachers. In fact, he campaigned for governor saying he was going to fix California’s problems. Now he’s off in New York raising money and campaigning for president. What happened to California’s problems?”

Barbara Miller, 62
Evergreen
Former teacher, currently working for Santa Clara Unified School District