Posted on 03/23/2005 11:08:18 AM PST by John Lenin
Tuesday, March 22, 2005 5:43 p.m. EST Arnold's War Chest Draws Scrutiny Shortly before he was elected governor in 2003, Arnold Schwarzenegger stood in the state's railroad museum, which he called a monument to the special interest that dominated California politics for decades until it was finally curbed in the early 1900s. Story Continues Below [AD] Now, as governor, Schwarzenegger is being accused of blatant hypocrisy over his own two-fisted fund-raising. The Republican collected a record $26 million in contributions last year, much of it in big corporate checks from the pharmaceutical, insurance and energy industries. And this year he wants to raise twice that amount to push government-overhaul measures he is trying to put on the ballot this fall. He has raised more money in more ways than former Gov. Gray Davis, whose own lusty fund-raising helped lead to his recall from office. To back his agenda, Schwarzenegger has created a network of nonprofit groups that do not reveal their sources of money or where they spend it. And he has sued the state's election watchdog to let his allies raise more money than California regulations allow. "This is Gray Davis on steroids," said Jamie Court, president of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, a Santa Monica consumer group.
Californians, Schwarzenegger declared that day, believe their government "is corrupted by dirty money, closed doors and back-room dealing. They see the contributions go in, the favors go out and they're punished with wasteful spending and high taxes."
(Excerpt) Read more at newsmax.com ...
I don't see how he is breaking the law. Maybe they ought to pass a law that Republicans can't raise money for political purposes. Then they'd have something to whine about.
I don't have any problem with it. Arnold does not have the benefit of a compliant Legislature. Has to take it to the people. That takes money, lots of it. That the presstitutes, rats and unions are screaming and suing is a very good sign...
Uhmm, Arnie got elected by trashing "special interest contributions" and now he has become the king of taking special interest money. Let the RATS have this state back, Arnie is a Kennedy shill and is going to do more harm to the GOP than you can imagine.
A politician is successful at raising money. So what?
Arnie has caved in on every promise he made in his campaign so far except for the car tax. Chalk up another one. By adding more debt he has assured of an even bigger tax hike to pay for the bonds. Don't you find it strange that Bush hasn't come near this clown since he got elected ?
I think ahnold may be unduly influenced by his ne'er do well inlaws.
GOP gets control of legislatures in lots of states and Arnie wants a "national solution" to drawing district lines. duh!
I found that to be very, very strange. Maybe Uncle Ted and his Greenpeace bodyguards are leaning on him.
So what??? Look how that makes those feel who can't raise as much. It's unfair, that's what!
William, Arnies plan is working, I won't vote for a RINO ever again in my life even if they do have an R in front of their name.
He has very few republicans working for him. You can tell by the results of what he has done so far. He has everyone against him now. Hopefully a message is being sent to the GOP. A third party in California would be great if they campaigned on common sense.
I have found common sense to be uncommon in California..
I'm glad he's doing it since he is spending it against the dirty unions and is not only raising funds against the unions, but he is also making them go broke defending against him.
Great moves, can't wait for the initiatives.
Just read a Register article, another one on how Arnie is being hoodwinked into throwing out Campbells plan for the other one. Guy in the article says the new plan is no plan and if they put it on the ballot it will be all smokescreen.
First they have to cut the phone links to Hyenasport..
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