Schwarzenegger's liberal views leave GOP flummoxed; pro-choice, pro-gun control and pro-gay rights

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 08-14-03

[Brian S]

Washington -- As Arnold Schwarzenegger explodes onto the national political scene as California's great Republican hope, conservatives are increasingly voicing concern over his lack of right-wing credentials.

From talk radio to the pages of conservative journals, Republicans are openly struggling over whether to rally around a man who may break the Democratic lock on state government, or keep their distance from a candidate who appears to be at odds with their core ideology.

[goldstategop]

My opinion is let's work on getting rid of The Doofus first. We can fight for Arnold's soul AFTER the election. There my flummox has been reconciled.

[sarasota]

I agree. And consider his Hollyweird influence as well as his Dem wife. I'm not sure where his GOP tendencies lie.

[Mr. Bird]

An Arnold Administration is win/win for conservatives and the GOP. California is broken. The odds are against a dramatic turnaround, but baby-steps to recovery are necessary. If Arnold is remotely successful, the GOP can take credit for one of their own. If he fails miserably, they are already at a safe distance ideologically.

Arnold spells one thing for Democrats: doom. They may be in the wilderness for several years after the Davis debacle (statewide office, not locally). I certainly hope so.

[azhenfud]

It would prove to be most embarassing to the Republican party if Davis is found to be more conservative than Shortsneaker. But that's Califoreignia.

[OldFriend]

It's only the media that's FLUMMOXED.

It's a joy to behold!

[BenLurkin]

"Ha! Ha! Look Ma-ria, derz one bust I wond grahb!"...

[Walkin Man]

Lets face it, Arnold is a leftist democrat running as a Republican who will raise taxes and cut nothing.

But the Republican party and its conservative mouthpieces like Rush in their lust for power will back him if they think he has a chance to win.

So much for morals and principles. What exactly is the difference between demorats and republicans? Each party seems willing to throw out all standards to win an election.

[goldstategop]

I'm will to run with the wind to advance our agenda. I love it when the Democrats get worried they're going to lose their precious power!

[OESY]

As Arnold Schwarzenegger explodes onto the national political scene as California's great Republican hope, conservatives are increasingly voicing concern over his lack of right-wing credentials.

Looks to me that the greater electoral concern is being voiced by Democrats. Arnie has a commanding lead, commitment, charisma, smarts, an increasingly impressive array of advisors, and is poised to announce his program. Democrats are all too known to voters, but none have stepped forward with a plan for saving California. Meanwhile, of the 135 candidates running, 50 are Democrats, 42 Republican, 32 Independent, and 11 Granolas (assorted flakes, fruits and nuts). Thus, Bustamante has a sorry record and much competition -- info the media prefers not to share.

[warchild9]

The GOP establishment has finally learned (from Clinton) that television is all that counts. Gain the support of tv, and win; lose the support of tv, and you're as good as Bush Sr. Principle certainly doesn't matter any more...

[Trueblackman]

100% RINO too.

[Rome2000]

What we have to deal with here is what we can get."

LOL!!

I can't wait until the night of October 7th.

Tossing a Democrat socialist moron out of the Governors chair and replacing him with a Republican, RINO or not, is not good for the Democrats.

[goldstategop]

Exactly. I prefer to advance conservatism with a nice smile and lots of honey to make it easier for the sheeple to back us. It helps too when the Democrats can't paint us as "extreme" because they think we've surrendered our principles. LOL! Sun Tsu wrote two millenia ago deception is part of the Art Of War. If I may say so myself, we're catching on fast.

[wayoverontheright]

Agreed.

"If Schwarzenegger comes out with a real brave plan to take on fiscal problems and take on the regulatory state in California, then he deserves some conservative sympathy," Lowry explained.

I was totally for Arnold until he hired Warren Buffet yesterday as economic advisor. Buffet is a guilt ridden, tax and spend liberal, for MORE tax rate progressivity, for the death tax. He will no doubt recommend a tax increase which in my opinion will cause more business exodus.

A true conservative plan would include an attempt to raise revenues by eliminating the tax and regulatory hostility to business, becoming more attractive to business and industry, while at the same time rooting out fraud, and yes, having the balls to cut programs. Buffet will not like any of the above.

[carmody]

It's going to be very difficult for the main-stream media to paint Republicans as the party of "the homophobic, anti-immigrant, anti-woman, uptight, sex-obsessed Ken Starr, Jerry Falwell, and Pat Robertson" because Arnold is now the most visible and well known Republican in the land.

If Arnold does nothing else... he makes the media look silly when they try to paint that image.

[Austin Willard Wright]

Read the article. He has refused to rule out taxes. While you are fighting a futile battle to win Arnold's "soul," he will be doing something Davis could never do: raise taxes.

[goldstategop]

Yes and the fact social conservatives want to have nothing to do with him... well it makes the Democrats' charges of an "extreme right wing" agenda look like something dragged out of the X-Files!

[Austin Willard Wright]

Arnold refusing to rule out raising raising taxes (something Davis hasn't been able to do) is a "joy" to you? To each his own.

[goldstategop]

He hasn't lied to us. I call that keeping all options open. Its what I would do if I were a smart politician. And any way, the last thing I'd do is have the Rats tie me down on how I would clean up Sacramento. Keep em guessing!