Democrats blast Schwarzenegger for mocking lawmakers Posted on 07/19/2004 11:26:06 AM PDT by traumer
Democrats blast Schwarzenegger for mocking lawmakers
Democrats aren’t amused by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s use of the mocking term “girlie men” to describe some lawmakers, although a spokesman for the governor said no apology would be forthcoming.
Schwarzenegger dished out the insult at a rally Saturday as he claimed Democrats were delaying the budget by catering to special interests. Democrats protested that the remark was sexist and homophobic.
“If they don’t have the guts to come up here in front of you and say, ’I don’t want to represent you, I want to represent those special interests, the unions, the trial lawyers ... if they don’t have the guts, I call them girlie men,” Schwarzenegger said to the cheering crowd at a mall food court in Ontario.
The governor lifted the term from a long-running “Saturday Night Live” skit in which two pompous, Schwarzenegger-worshipping weightlifters repeatedly use it to mock those who don’t meet their standards of physical perfection.
Democrats said Schwarzenegger’s remarks were insulting to women and gays and distracted from budget negotiations. State Sen. Sheila Kuehl said the governor had resorted to “blatant homophobia.”
Tune in to MSNBC for discussions on this question throughout the day and to hear some of your e-mails on air.
It uses an image that is associated with gay men in an insulting way, and it was supposed to be an insult. That’s very troubling that he would use such a homophobic way of trying to put down legislative leadership,” said Kuehl, one of five members of the Legislature’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Caucus.
Making a point? Schwarzenegger’s criticism of Democrats stems in part from their support of one bill prohibiting schools from contracting services with private companies, and another giving workers authority to sue their employers to enforce labor laws. Each side accuses the other of caving in to special interests.
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
Arnold had better be careful because those dems will hit him with their purses.
"sticks and stones" works but my kids used to chant "what you say is what you are" which works so well for me.
LOL!
Those damned MetroSexuals will be whining right along with the homos...
He should, of course, apologize to girlie men everywhere by comparing Democrat legislators to them.
"It's NOT a purse, it's a FANNY-PACK! IT'S NOT! IT'S NOT! IT'S NOT!..."
Good one!
NO...its time the PC crowd had their shins skinned.
The term didn't originate on SNL. The two comedians picked it up from bodybuilders, who have been using it for decades to describe men who don't work out. "Pencil necks" is another.
He called them girlie-men, cowards. Where did he say women and gays? They really need to get over themselves.
So what? It is friggin hilarious & I could not care less who said it first. Did you compete as a bodybuilder?
Arnold tried to deal with the Democrats--He bent over backwards for them to pass the budget and they shafted him. No wonder he's angry at this pack of rats. Maybe he's learning--you can't deal with em, you got to take em on in the court of public opinion. He's showing he can learn and hold them up for ridicule.
Arnold is much smarter than people give him credit for....he has always had a plan. Going from the #1 bodybuilder in the world to the #1 at the box office...taking that money & buying up tons of real estate....marrying into a politcal dynasty....and now governor. Arnold is shrewd & knows exactly how to get what he wants.
I think it's hilarious, too, and no, I have never competed as a bodybuilder. I got interested and lifted a lot of weight at one time. The original AP story ascribed the term to SNL; I just wanted to point out that that wasn't true.
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