State Sen. Abel Maldanado is apologizing for his public remarks about the Governor. Below is the short press statement. Can’t wait to see what is said tomorrow. Heads are spinning pretty fast, but that may be better than heads rolling.
RELEASE FROM ABEL MALDONADO’S OFFICE
Statement from Senator Abel Maldonado regarding his comments
in July 12, 2006, Los Angeles Times:
“I apologize to Governor Schwarzenegger for my public comments to the Los Angeles Times. The Governor and I have worked together for the past three years on important issues beneficial to California’s Latinos. I will continue to support the Governor in his efforts to strengthen California.”
Maldonado’s apology refers to his statements in this article, which are excerpted below:
Hours after Schwarzenegger’s appearance with Latino supporters, the state’s highest-ranking Latino Republican, Sen. Abel Maldonado of Santa Maria, questioned the governor’s loyalty to Latinos.
"Our governor cares about one thing only, and that’s Arnold Schwarzenegger," Maldonado said in a telephone interview requested by his staff.
Maldonado, who lost the Republican primary for state controller last month, said he was disappointed that the governor declined to support his candidacy.
At Schwarzenegger’s request, Maldonado had sponsored a bill to raise the minimum wage, a move that irked conservatives in the primary. "I kind of felt like I got left holding the bag," Maldonado said.
The senator also said many Latinos thought Schwarzenegger had shown "a lack of respect" with the Latino community by spending too little time in Mexico. Schwarzenegger has visited Mexico twice as governor and plans to visit again before the election.
"When he needs Latinos, Latinos are always there for him," Maldonado said. "When Latinos need him, the answer’s been no."
[Mike, I hijacked your original post with the release to add the LA Times link and the puppy – Flash]
July 13th, 2006 at 12:00 am
I have this vision of little Abel, clubbed into submission by his advisors, sulking by his capitol office fax machine waiting and hoping beyond hope that the Governor will fax out an apology to Abel for not endorsing him in the Republican Primary for State Controller.