Hayden Accuses Gov. Wilson of Playing on Fears of Retirees

Speaking to senior citizens at Leisure World here, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Hayden accused Gov. Pete Wilson of playing on the fears of retired people to garner their votes in the upcoming election.

“You are truly representative of the majority voting public in California, and Mr. Wilson realizes that,” the state senator from Santa Monica said. “The ‘three strikes’ legislation is a ploy to get your vote.”

Hayden said that Wilson, like candidates in other races, tend to focus on and overplay crime to get votes.

“Don’t get me wrong, I’m tough on crime. I live in an area where it is a concern every day. But we need to attack it not from the point of building more jails, but curbing it before it happens through education. We are spending more money in California on crime than education.”

Hayden said he would make education his top priority and would work at reducing college fees.

His 30-minute afternoon speech, given almost two hours late because he had to cast a vote in Sacramento, was a departure from his regular speeches touting campaign reform and limitations on lobbyists.

“It’s an insult to say that as you get older, you’re only concerned about your fears,” he said. “I believe that everybody is concerned about the quality of life in the future.”