Rohrabacher assailed on immigration stances

Paul Clinton

OCC CAMPUS-- Rep. Dana Rohrabacher refuted charges that he holds

anti-immigrant views during a Wednesday evening candidate forum for

the newly drawn congressional seat that includes Costa Mesa.

Democratic challenger Gerrie Schipske, one of three candidates

hoping to unseat the 14-year congressman, attacked Rohrabacher for

saying he would not support healthcare, education and other benefits

for immigrants who arrive in the United States without visas.

“I know tomorrow is Halloween and you want to scare everybody

about illegal aliens,” Schipske said during one of the forum’s

livelier moments.

The remark came in response to the Congressman’s earlier assertion

that he wants to stop “a flood of illegal immigration” across the

country’s borders.

“We have limited resources,” Rohrabacher said. “Those resources

should be spent on people who are here legally.”

Libertarian Keith Gann and Green Party write-in Tom Lash joined

Schipske and Rohrabacher at the Wednesday evening event, which was

held in the science hall at Orange Coast College.

During the two-hour debate, which began at 7 p.m., the candidates

hashed out their opinions on everything from military action against

Iraq to sanctioning gay marriages.

Rohrabacher repeated his hawkish view supporting President Bush’s

bid to remove Iraqi President Saddam Hussein with military force.

“We have a monster who murders his own people in Iraq,”

Rohrabacher said. “He has a blood grudge against us.”

Lash called Bush’s efforts to sanction military action against

Hussein “Orwellian mind games” and criticized the ongoing air strikes

against the country since the end of the Persian Gulf War.

Gann also said he hopes the country could avoid military action

against Hussein.

“I’m hopeful we can contain Saddam Hussein without a ground war,”

Gann said. “But I don’t have the classified information.”

Gann, repeating his party’s most well-known view, said he

supported the legalization of drugs, which Rohrabacher opposes.

“What’s the only difference between a Republican and a

Libertarian?” Lash asked playfully. “A Libertarian is just a

Republican who smokes pot.”

Mostly students attended the event in the science hall’s 375-seat

lecture hall. About half of the seats were empty.