Governor, Nunez Retreat From Daring Statements

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger made a bold statement Tuesday: Close the nation’s borders to choke off illegal immigration.

Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez also made a bold statement that day: He would tie up budget negotiations unless the governor restored benefits to injured workers.

On Wednesday, both made the same contrite admission: They didn’t mean it.

The mutual retreat came as two politicians who have been dueling for months sought to blunt a backlash over remarks they couldn’t defend.

Schwarzenegger tried to correct any misimpression about his position on the border, blaming an imperfect command of his adopted language.

He said, “And the bottom line is, I misspoke and I’m sorry if that, you know, offended anyone. But it was a language problem, because I meant securing our borders rather than closing our borders.... I think we have a terrific relationship with Mexico.

“I have done myself four movies in Mexico,” he said. “I love to go on vacation in Mexico. I think we have a great trade relationship with Mexico. We’re good friends.”

The governor’s office had sought to clarify his “close the border” comment seconds after the words came out. An aide sought out reporters as Schwarzenegger was still addressing the Newspaper Assn. of America, explaining that the governor was merely calling for tighter border security.

As for Nunez, the Los Angeles Democrat said he had misspoken when he discussed delaying budget negotiations unless a deal that would boost workers’ compensation benefits was reached.

Nunez said in an interview Wednesday that he wanted disability benefits to be part of any budget discussion. But “I didn’t mean to say I was going to hold up the whole budget for it,” he said.

Each had been quick to exploit the other’s gaffe.

Nunez issued a prepared statement soon after Schwarzenegger’s comments, criticizing his “narrow-minded approach to immigration policy.”

Without any prompting, Schwarzenegger press secretary Margita Thompson cited Nunez’s comments about the budget to reporters Tuesday. She said the speaker wanted “higher [workers’ compensation] rates” that would redound “to the detriment of the business community.”

It is not clear whether Schwarzenegger’s remarks will soon be forgotten.

Dissatisfied with the governor’s clarification, civil rights and union leaders called a news conference for this afternoon at Service Employees International Union Local 790 in San Francisco to denounce his “reckless attack” on people crossing the U.S.-Mexico border.

But at least one person was forgiving.

“I accept the governor’s apology,” Nunez said.

Times staff writer Robert Salladay contributed to this report.