Posted on 02/12/2005 1:29:29 PM PST by SmithL
SACRAMENTO - To jump-start spending for Arnold Schwarzenegger's 2006 re-election campaign, California Republican Party leaders will seek to endorse the governor this weekend even before he officially declares himself a candidate.
The move prompted a prominent GOP activist to resign from the party's rules committee in protest Friday, calling it an ill-advised proposal that will hurt the governor's credibility with voters and discourage primary competition.
The party should first let Republican voters in the June 2006 primary cast their ballots, said Dora Kingsley, a veteran member of the state party.
"It doesn't meet the smell-test," she said. "It puts the governor in an untenable position."
The plan calls for delegates meeting here this weekend for the GOP statewide convention to vote Sunday on a one-time suspension of a rule that bars pre-primary endorsements. An endorsement vote for Schwarzenegger would follow.
If successful, the move would free the party, under its own rules, to spend money on Schwarzenegger before the primary. It would put the GOP on even footing with Democrats, who do not prohibit pre-primary spending, said Republican Party Chairman Duf Sundheim.
As the party prepared to get behind Schwarzenegger, the governor taunted Democrats, labor unions and teachers preparing for a costly fight over his proposals to overhaul state retirement systems, redraw political boundaries and revamp education.
"They're going to spend $200 million in this state," he told hundreds of Republicans at the convention Friday night. "And I say: Bring it on."
Schwarzenegger vowed to go "right where all the evil is" in challenging those he derides as special interests and praised the party for helping to create a "Republican renaissance."
The quip drew an immediate retort from Vince Duffy, press secretary for Democratic Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, who described as "shameful" Schwarzenegger's attempt to caricature his critics.
"Where is the governor that was elected to govern from the center?" Duffy said.
While Schwarzenegger is preparing to fight for his reform package, his party is preparing to help him win re-election next year if he decides to run. Democratic gubernatorial hopefuls Attorney General Bill Lockyer and Treasurer Phil Angelides are already campaigning. "The election cycle has already begun," said Sundheim, who wrote the proposal.
The GOP must act quickly if "we are going to do all we can to help the governor," he said. Schwarzenegger Communications Director Rob Stutzman said his boss "is pleased that the party wants to endorse him."
But Kingsley, a 20-year veteran of the state party who has been on the rules committee for six years, said the endorsement will fuel public skepticism about the election process. The party banned pre-primary endorsements in 1989 to protect the integrity of the process and has supported initiatives to "enhance transparency and competition throughout campaigns," Kingsley wrote in her resignation letter.
The move also comes at a time when the governor is under fire for helping a business-backed group raise money for his package of proposed ballot measures. At issue is whether the group is bound by candidate fund-raising limits because Schwarzenegger is so closely aligned with them.
Two Democratic legislators and a nonprofit political watchdog group have asked the Fair Political Practices Commission to investigate. The business group responded by suing to overturn the cap on contributions to committees controlled by elected officials.
Schwarzenegger has not declared himself a candidate yet, but given the breadth of his reform agenda and his obvious relish for the job, he acts like a man who will run.
Sundheim is convinced. There's little doubt, he said, that Schwarzenegger will be the party's nominee.
And he rejects charges that a party rule change for Schwarzenegger would foul the political arena. The change would only apply to the governor's seat in this single election, he said.
The dems do it all the time. no big deal, right?
Why have rules at all if you can just break 'em?
On the surface, I agree with Kingsley.
Principles be damned. ;-)
Integrity Shmegrity!
The GOP will end up looking (being?) just as corrupt as the Dems!
Denny Crane: "There are two places to find the truth. First God and then Fox News."
If I'm not mistaken, Schwarzenegger publically stated that he was only going to serve one term?
>>The only thing is if Arnold's popularity drops like a stone next spring, the pre-endorsement could turn out to be an albatross. And politicians are more noted for caution than for bold moves...
Those that make bold moves often go up in flames, taking the party with them.
>>Maybe he will get the government overhauled and lead our party to a victory in 2006.
The reforms will not result in overhaul. They result in more debt and a shift in power from one corrupt group to another. I have little optimism that this will be judged as "overhaul," unless they continue their excellent demonstration of "smoke and mirrors."
He said a lot of things. Truthful and otherwise.
.
Yeah, I saw that right after he was sworn in, regarding the driver's license issue. My vote for him was a vote against Bustamante, but I didn't figure on him turning around so quickly. I don't think Simon or Mc Clintock will be showing up to challenge him this time :-(
Driver's licenses is one. There's lots more examples being posted on this active thread:
CA: Governor calls GOP to 'great battle' ('ToTal ReFoRm')
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1341852/posts
So far, all it's been is showmanship! Good showmanship to be sure, but, that's all it's been... no more, no less!!!
Sad, but true... you can only be made to "feel good" for so long without substantive results... then you become numb and desensitized and THEN the mockery stops the hard way!!!
I agree with her totally! It's wrong to slam the door on the primary process just because A.S. knows full well he couldn't survive a primary if ANY attractive conservative were to ride into the arena at the last moment! Sundheim sucks canal water!!!
Thanks for stating your opinion, SW. I added the "on the surface" part because I am not familiar with party politics. I do know I have never been impressed by Sundheim (i.e. totally unimpressed).
And, pray tell, why might such a rule be necessary? Would it have anything to do with conservative concerns about Arnold's record?
D'ya think?
Today the California Republican Party unanimously endorsed Governor Schwarzennegger's re-election.
Kingsley didn't even show up.
>>Kingsley didn't even show up.
Since she had resigned, was there much point?
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1341550/posts
I thought she only resigned from the rules committee, not the party. Sunday's meeting was the convention session not the rules meet.
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