Posted on 01/18/2004 11:04:56 AM PST by John Jorsett
Attorney General Bill Lockyer, the only top Democrat to admit he voted for Arnold Schwarzenegger in the recall election, felt the wrath of party members this weekend at its state convention -- and it just might dim his hopes of becoming California's next governor.
Lockyer, once seen as a top prospect for 2006, was booed at more than one appearance at the convention because of his admission he voted for a Republican and his dismissal of the groping charges against Schwarzenegger as simple "frat-boy" antics.
He particularly angered the women's caucus Friday night when, after getting a hostile reaction from some in the crowd, he referred to them as "cranky" -- a term seen as sexist.
"That absolutely set off a mob anger," said Roberta Lewis, a member of the state party's executive board from Woodland Hills. "Women see that word as derogatory. It's not a word that you would use to a men's group. You use that to a baby -- a child is cranky."
She and some other grass-roots activists -- both men and women -- interviewed at the convention said they previously had a good impression of Lockyer but after hearing he voted for Schwarzenegger are far less likely to support him if he runs for governor in 2006.
Although no Democrats have officially declared their candidacies for governor, Lockyer was the most obvious of those positioning themselves for a run, by distributing for the first time memorabilia at the convention that read "Lockyer for governor of California."
Other Democrats eyeing that race include Treasurer Phil Angelides, Controller Steve Westly and Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi. All of them maintained a relatively high profile during the convention, with activities that included parties and speeches to the convention floor, booths and memorabilia promoting unspecified 2006 campaigns.
Lockyer's comment came as he was addressing about 400 people in the women's caucus, the party's largest. He had requested to speak to them last week after receiving a letter from caucus chair Lyn Hilfenhaus expressing "extreme displeasure" with his comments defending Schwarzenegger's alleged groping and harassing of women.
When he spoke to the caucus, he tried to explain the comments and his vote for Schwarzenegger, but the response from some of the women present grew more hostile.
"There were a few jeers, a few boos, some grumblings and he said something to the effect of 'You have a right to be cranky,"' Hilfenhaus said. "It was a rather insulting term."
Many women, she said, saw the comment as a reference to premenstrual syndrome.
At that point, several members of the audience stood up and turned their backs to him, even as he continued speaking.
She added that Lockyer's apology for his comment about frat-boy behavior "might have been too late to win back some of his friends."
Several women present later described Lockyer's attitude as "condescending" and "patronizing" despite his apology for the frat-boy comment.
Lockyer said in a later interview that when he used the word cranky, he wasn't referring specifically to the women in the room but to people in general who are upset with him over that issue.
"I can understand why people would be cranky," Lockyer said. "What they don't understand is that's the word I use for every upset, whether it's my baby, me (or others). It's not the right word with some."
Lockyer explained he voted for Schwarzenegger instead of Cruz Bustamante because he felt the Democratic lieutenant governor had broken ranks with other prominent Democrats who promised not to run in order to support former Gov. Gray Davis.
"I, like the other statewide Democrats, promised not to run -- that we were going to focus solely on the vote no on the recall effort. I kept my word. Cruz didn't."
He picked Schwarzenegger even though he didn't agree with all of his policies, he said, because the actor was moderate on social issues and seemed interested in working on problems in a bipartisan fashion.
As Lockyer was explaining himself on the convention concourse, a woman approached him and said: "I'm very disappointed in you." She then walked away. He shrugged.
By contrast, Angelides and Westly received warm receptions.
Angelides has positioned himself in the last two months as the extreme anti-Schwarzenegger, opposing the governor's proposed $15 billion bond measure and criticizing most of his policies.
Westly, by contrast, is co-chairing the campaign committee to pass the bond.
Many Democratic delegates at the convention said they don't mind Westly cooperating with Schwarzenegger because the state needs the bond to help its finances.
But Angelides took a subtle swipe at Westly, not mentioning him by name, but criticizing any Democrat who has allied himself with the Republican governor.
"The election of an attractive, seemingly popular Hollywood star has already sent some Democrats scurrying for cover, bending to the politics of the moment rather than doing what is right for California," Angelides said.
Angelides also joked that he took issue with those who called him the anti-Schwarzenegger, saying he has a few things in common with the Republican governor.
"We have both found ourselves looking at a sitting governor and saying to ourselves, Hey, I could do a better job than that guy."
At that point, several members of the audience stood up and turned their backs to him, even as he continued speaking.
Gee, they do sound pretty cranky.
They are cranky, but it's not really their fault. It's a hormonal thing :)
Gee, they do sound pretty cranky.
Must be that time of the month?
"Chick" is a derogatory term. Don't use it. Try "babe" or "gal" or "broad" instead. I'm so glad I'm not a Democrat. Pandering to feminists would be brutal.
If the shoe fits Roberta, wear it!
Skanky is what he said...
About 1/28 or 2/28 of the entire population of women in the audience, per chance?
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