Assemblyman Takes Heat Over Poem : Reaction: The dispute divides Antelope Valley constituents.

The controversy over state Assemblyman William J. (Pete) Knight distributing a poem mocking illegal Latino immigration has divided the Antelope Valley he represents, with Latinos voicing outrage Wednesday but other residents expressing support for Knight and approval of the poem.

Latino community leaders and residents called the poem offensive and demanded that Knight apologize to Latinos. But many others in the conservative, mostly Anglo area insisted the poem properly satirized government programs that aid illegal immigrants.

Illustrating the community split were Palmdale Planning Commissioner Sandy Corrales and Mary Miller, president of the Antelope Valley Republican Women.

Corrales called Knight’s action shocking. “I can’t believe . . . this kind of attitude is still pervasive in our community. I can’t believe an elected official wouldn’t deem this poem the trash that it is,” she said.

Miller, however, expressed support for Knight and argued that the poem does not insult all Latinos, only those who enter the country illegally. “It’s telling what happens when the illegal alien comes into this country. The contents of the poem are true,” Miller said.

The issue arose Tuesday when Knight, a first-term Republican elected in November to represent the Antelope Valley and most of the Santa Clarita Valley, distributed the poem at a private meeting for Assembly Republicans in Sacramento. A copy was later obtained by The Times.

When asked initially, Knight, a former Palmdale mayor and aerospace hero, said he considered the poem “interesting” and amusing, saying he received it from a constituent and doubted it would offend anyone. But after a Times story on the subject Wednesday, the assemblyman apologized to members of the Latino legislative caucus who were outraged by the poem.

The five-stanza poem, titled “I Love America,” is written in mock-accented English from the point of view of an immigrant who crosses the border, goes on welfare and Medi-Cal, asks friends to help invade an Anglo neighborhood, and considers Americans “crazy” to provide taxes that support them.

Knight comes from a conservative Republican high desert community where many residents and politicians blame illegal immigration for draining government coffers and hurting the economy. That complaint is often voiced by Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich, who also represents the area.

Although Knight likewise is conservative on many social issues, observers could not recall him being involved in any racial incidents during his eight years, from 1984 to 1992, on the Palmdale City Council. And his supporters Wednesday, while admitting that he made a political gaffe, insisted that Knight is not a racist.

“I know that Pete Knight is probably the best United States citizen we have in the Antelope Valley,” said Palmdale developer Gregg Anderson, one of Knight’s major political supporters. “His life speaks for itself. He doesn’t have an ounce of racism in him.”

Anderson said he wished Knight had not distributed the poem, but said he agreed with its political message. Lancaster insurance broker Frank Visco, a former chairman of the state Republican Party who was born in Italy, also defended Knight, but said he found the poem “offensive.”

“I think those kind of racist remarks have no place in our society,” Visco said, calling the poem “stupid and uncalled-for.” Visco added, however, that he does not consider Knight a racist and would not criticize him. “It was probably just a joke of some type,” Visco said.

Many Latinos, who make up 17% of Antelope Valley residents, were not amused. “I’m extremely upset and angry that Assemblyman Knight would be so callous as to distribute a racist poem. He owes the Hispanic community a public apology,” said Lancaster School District Supt. David Alvarez, a Republican.

Alvarez said the poem “reeks of some underlying, subtle views” of race that Knight may have. Alvarez and Richard Loa, a prominent criminal defense attorney and a Republican, criticized Knight, saying the poem degrades and mocks all Latinos through stereotyping.

“I was deeply offended by it, and I felt as though he was actually pointing me out. I thought we were beyond this by now,” Loa said. He said Antelope Valley Latinos, who had already planned to meet Friday to discuss grievances, now will use that forum to discuss a response to Knight.

Loa said he believes that even most non-Latinos in the Antelope Valley would consider the poem and Knight’s actions offensive. But on Herb Nero’s popular talk show Wednesday on Lancaster radio station KAVL-AM, callers were overwhelmingly in favor of Knight, who also drew support from Nero, a conservative.

“Why are people so upset? We’re talking about illegal aliens here,” said Nero, who nonetheless recited only a “cleaned up” version of the poem on the air. He said he did not want Knight’s critics to assail him as well.

Said one Knight supporter among dozens who called in to express support: “He was elected to represent the people of this district, and that’s exactly what he’s done.”

Times correspondents Blaine Halley and Sharon Moeser contributed to this report.