President Schwarzenegger?

CBS News ^ | Oct. 29, 2004 | unknown

[MarcoPolo]

Arnold Schwarzenegger says he would like to at least be able to entertain the thought, but the U.S. Constitution prevents foreign-born people from holding America's highest office.

So the Austrian-born governor of California tells Correspondent Morley Safer he favors a constitutional amendment to enable him to run for president.

Safer's interview with Schwarzenegger will be broadcast on 60 Minutes, Sunday, Oct. 31, at 7 p.m. ET/PT.

"Yes, absolutely (I would like to be eligible to run for president)," Schwarzenegger tells Safer. "Why not? With my way of thinking, you always shoot for the top."

Schwarzenegger favors an amendment that would make him eligible, but says he's too busy doing the job he promised to do for California voters to think about becoming president now.

"There are so many things I have to do in California, and my promise was to straighten out the mess in California," he tells Safer.

So how's he doing on that score? "Ten being the highest, I would give myself an eight," says Schwarzenegger. "I think I fell short on some of the things. Probably the communication with the legislators."

The California Republican called Democratic state legislators his now famous epithet, "girlie men," for not admitting they put special interests ahead of the public good, and for balking on his budget.

"It drove them nuts, but the interesting thing about it is, the following week, they signed the budget exactly the way it was a week before," Schwarzenegger points out.

It's not the first time Schwarzenegger has appeared on 60 Minutes. In a humorous moment, Safer shows the one-time Mr. Universe some clips from a 1977 60 Minutes profile featuring the younger, more-muscled weightlifting star of the '70s.

"You have to get me a tape of that," says Schwarzenegger.

[Mikey_1962]

No way; needs a Constitutional Amendment first; won't happen

[taxcontrol]

Sorry Arnold, I like you, but I'm not willing to change the Constitution to allow you to be President.

[camle]

oh pulleeze! president auhnold? you gotta be kidding.

if that's the best we can do then we'd better hang it up!

[MarcoPolo]

May I never vote for a foreigner for President!

Our forefathers understood that native-born Americans must maintain control of the highest offices of the land in order to keep our country from too much foreign influence. It's still a wise part of the Constitution, and I hope it is NEVER amended.

[El Gran Salseron]

"Sorry Arnold, I like you, but I'm not willing to change the Constitution to allow you to be President."

BINGO!

We just can't have some other whacko foreigner running for the Presidency at some point in the future.

[Reagan Man]

Aside from the fact that Arnold isn't constitutional qualified to be POTUS, Arnold is a liberal and espouses a policy agenda that is right out of the Democrat party playbook. He has been a lousy governor and would be an equally lousy POTUS.

[Winston7000]

There will be an outcry among the orange growers and almond farmers if Schwarznegger leaves his beloved California. Given the fact that this extremely popular Repubocrat is needed to maintain what little order exists in this soon-to-be new state of Mexico, may I suggest that he leave the Constitution alone until at least we can vote in his name postumously.

[Prime Choice]

Arnold Schwarzenegger says he would like to at least be able to entertain the thought, but the U.S. Constitution prevents foreign-born people from holding America's highest office.

No dice, Arnold. After you endorsed a $3 BILLION dollar bond to support embryonic stem cell research on the California taxpayer's dime, you lost all support from me and every other Conservative in America.

And when you, Arnold Schwarzenegger, signed off on more asinine gun control laws here in California, you lost all support from me and every other Conservative.

And when you, Arnold Schwarzenegger, threw your support to Open Primaries that will decimate the California Republican Party, you lost all support from every self-respecting Republican in the state.

The only good thing that will come out of this time is that a lot of Republicans have learned that when you vote for a Kennedy with an "R" by his name, you get what you paid for.

[G.Mason]

Yawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwn

[ScottM1968]

I agree. I like him in many ways, but the cause of changing the Constitution for him is well-intensioned but very misguided.

[kellynla]

He can't even handle the job he's got now!
and he's not going to be there much longer...

[Hi Heels]

I wouldn't bet the farm on that. Rumor has it he will run with McClintock next time, and THAT, my friend, will be a landslide.

[BonnieJ]

Well, you can call me old-fashioned or a traditionalist or narrow-minded...but it would be nice if just 2 jobs in the U.S. remained available only to natural-born citizens.

[TurtleStink]

His wife as First Lady. Ms. Shriver only agreed to support a charity that was going to refurbish the California State Museum if they would redo the museum of HISTORY from a woman's point of view. WHAT??? So PC it is sick. Ms. Shriver as First Lady, no WAY.

[G.Mason]

"It's still a wise part of the Constitution, and I hope it is NEVER amended."

It won't.

This is just a B/S story to get the "brass bells" clanging. ;)

[Mount Athos]

I don't like hearing Arnold even talking about this.

He can become a Senator later on if he likes.

[keysguy]

And you had what conservative Republican who is well known in mind to take out Hillary in 08?

[nj26]

R-I-N-O

Why encourage him with an amendment?

[Time is now]

Constitution? Who needs it. Take it out of the Archive and wrap some week old fish with it. It has been debased so thoroughly by the democrats and the hack lawyers on the bench that barely anyone in the country knows what the heck it says, and worse, means.

Let's have a Texas Cage Match to select the POTUS. Off the top rope, flying leg lock on the neck, figure four leg lock to get submission and finish with a sleeper hold...