Posted on 03/25/2006 12:29:28 PM PST by NormsRevenge
The facts are not in dispute: At the same time Rob Reiner, the chairman of the state's First 5 Commission, was pushing to qualify his “preschool for all” initiative for the June ballot, the commission spent $23 million on a “preschool for all” ad campaign.
Whether or not it was criminal, this use of taxpayer money for Reiner's private political crusade is outrageous and grossly unethical.
Yet Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger told The Fresno Bee that he will stand by his “friend” because he is “innocent until proven guilty” and questioned whether there was indeed evidence of wrongdoing. He rejected a call to replace Reiner on the commission, even though Reiner's term is up.
Have the governor's reading comprehension skills suddenly faltered? There is a plain paper trail documenting how public funds were used in service of Reiner's private agenda. Replacing Reiner on the First 5 Commission is the least that should be done.
Whether Schwarzenegger is motivated by loyalty to a friend or by the growing evidence that at least three of his former or present advisers were complicit in Reiner's scheme doesn't matter. What matters is the public interest – and California taxpayers need reassurance that their dollars are going for the general good, not political machinations.
Instead of providing such reassurance, however, the governor blithely asks us to join him in ignoring the facts of the scandal.
Sorry, Arnold, but no thanks. Keep the blinders to yourself.
This deal stinks.
Gail: I have a question about Preschool. Rob Reiner has taken a leave of absence from the First5 Commission after reports of some questionable spending under his tenure. Do you have any intention of removing him as chairman of the California Children and Families Commission in light of that controversy?Schwarzenegger: Well, again, um, it gave the appearance that, uhhh, there was something done wrong, but he wasn't convicted of anything. So, I think that, you know, when people say well 'Why don't you get rid of him?' and, uhhh, 'What are you waiting for?' and all of this - you know - Why would you get rid of someone when, when, they have not been convicted of anything? It's just that people say there was something wrong but let's now look into it. There's no [word unintelligible]. Let them do the audit, let them go and investigate. Let them check it out and if someone comes forward and says yeah, I think it's very clear - originally Perata said 'This was wrong.' You know that - it was - Then we can address the issue. But I think, before that, I don't want to jump to conclusions on that. Plus, Rob is a, uh, Rob is a friend of ours and so I wouldn't do that to him - for no reason - when maybe in the end it comes out that he didn't do anything wrong. So, I think we have to just make sure you give someone a chance here. Innocent until proven guilty.
I said it before....CA Freepers should do a citizen's arrest of Reiner.
23 million in ad money sure would have gone a long way to fund more pubic school supplies!
CA Freepers should do a citizen's arrest of the Austrian.
CA Freepers should do an exorcism of Pete Wilson.
Democrats don't care about ethics - they are humanists. Arnold is a humanist (that is what makes him a RINO) and to a humanist the ends justify the means. Arnie must want what his stinky, commie pal wants so breaking the law to get it is fine. Just like revising the constitution to get what you want is fine.
On what charge? I ain't kidding send lawyers and guns!! We are so upside down.
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