If there’s one important lesson we can learn from Gov. Schwarzenegger it is that black blood and Latino blood can make for one hot assemblywoman.

During a March 3 speechwriting session with his aides the governor asked his chief of staff, Susan Kennedy, to comment on California Assemblywoman, Bonnie Garcia, R-Palm Springs, and whether her ethnic background was Cuban or Puerto Rican.

Of course, only key issues are discussed during a taped meeting but the occasional questioning of another person’s race is probably very relevant when planning the governor’s next public speech.
In the recording the governor said, “They are all very hot, they have the, you know, part of the black blood in them and part of the Latino blood in them that together makes it (www.sfgate.com).” Horrible grammar aside, the comment was completely inappropriate to discuss at a meeting. Schwarzenegger is the governor who represents the state of California and the statement he made was tactless.

There were mixed reactions from politicians, which was surprising because the governor’s comment failed to make waves and some people appeared to be apathetic. California Assemblyman Mervyn Dymally, D-Compton, chairs the state Legislative Black Caucus and said that the comment was not unusual. However, it was rare that the comment leaked to the public (www.MercuryNews.com).
“This is usual political banter. We do this all the time,” Dymally said. “In this case, it just happened to be taped (www.MercuryNews.com).”

What’s of concern is the fact that casual banter about race is on the agenda instead of other political issues. It’s not as though the meeting was secretly taped either, the governor knows that the sessions are recorded but he was still left with his foot in his mouth.

Schwarzenegger later apologized for his comments and said that they weren’t meant to be negative. He also admitted to cringing when he read his own comments in the newspaper. Hey, what a coincidence, so did most of the public when they read it.

Garcia, who is in fact Puerto Rican, in case you were wondering, said she was not offended by the comments and has referred to herself as a hot-blooded Latina. This was almost as offensive as the governor’s comment because she was condoning his inane behavior.

This should not give the governor permission to make race related remarks during a meeting. Perhaps Schwarzenegger should work on the thinking before he speaks concept instead of tasteless comments, especially during this fast approaching election season.