Posted on 12/18/2004 12:56:18 PM PST by yonif
California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger suggested in a German newspaper interview, that the US Republican Party should move "a little to the left", a shift that he said would allow it to pick up new voters.
Schwarzenegger, a Republican, has taken an unorthodox approach since winning office last year - standing by a promise to toe a conservative line on fiscal matters while veering leftward on social issues such as gay rights and the environment.
In an interview with Germany's Sueddeutsche Zeitung daily, Schwarzenegger said: "The Republican Party currently covers only the spectrum from the right wing to the middle, and the Democratic Party covers the spectrum from the left to the middle."
"I would like the Republican Party to cross this line, move a little further left and place more weight on the centre," he was quoted as saying.
"This would immediately give the party 5 per cent more votes without it losing anything elsewhere."
Schwarzenegger was guarded on suggestions that he harbours presidential ambitions, saying only that a debate on whether the constitution should be amended to allow foreign-born citizens to run was "overdue".
Schwarzenegger became an American citizen in 1983, 15 years after he emigrated from Austria.
He has said he'd consider running for president if such an amendment passed, but has also taken pains to say it shouldn't be created specifically for him.
"I would like people to remember me as someone who raised standards, wherever I got involved," he was quoted as saying.
"I brought bodybuilding from nothing, I made the action film a genre, and the same goes for politics - I want to do things that no one believed possible. I would like to bring people together as governor."
Uh, Arnie. We love you but rightwing's what we elected. We voted for rightwing and we got rightwing. Rightwing's a winner. Put that in your cigar and smoke it.
And some people are so stupid as to want to change the Constitution for this guy's sake.
When a RINO tells the GOP to go left be very careful.
If the left/center-left people would move a little to the right we could pick up voters too. Why should I be the one to change? Arnie needs to change with a move to the right.
remember he's related to Ted Kennedy now!
I'm afraid you are wrong. George Bush has expanded the domestic size of government faster than any president since LBJ. He signed (using strong arm methods to get congressional support) the massive boondogle known as Medicare "reform." To call such a man "right wing," does not correspond with the facts.
I think I'm going to barf!
Arnold never would have been governor if he had had to run in a primary election like any normal candidate. He was installed by Rove and Parsky, after they failed to install Richard Riordan a few years earlier.
Big mistake. Now we're stuck with another Pete Wilson type party splitter who will constantly be telling us we need a bigger tent so we can bring in all the abortionists and the stem cell researchers and give the finger to the people who just elected George Bush. Great plan.
If you voted for George "massively increased welfare state" Bush, you already have "changed."
RINO's only know how to make left hand turns. LMAO
He is already losing the elsewhere.
"This would immediately give the party 5 per cent more votes without it losing anything elsewhere."
What of the pro-life voting blocs? I doubt that they would go quietly into the night and vote for a pro-abort.
I think he's just playing 'the diplomat'. At least he better be playing! We don't need another Arlen Specter.
Yes, and notice how vague he is too. What he really means is not move to "the center." He really means we should embrace abortion and gay marriage just like he has. Never as long as I live will I do that. If the Republicans do that then they will gain some and lose more. We will never out liberal the liberals. Republicans need to continue offering a choice to the American people. If we start sounding just like the Democrats, both parties will lose votes. What will be the point?
This should put to rest any doubts that remain in the minds of some people, that Schwarzy is a political liberal and proud of it too.
Dear Arnie,
No thanks.
RINOld is giving himself way too much credit, a lot of people were not voting for RINOld but against Davis and the RAT party.
George Bush has expanded the domestic size of government faster than any president since LBJ.
Is that for real?
You call liberalizing the Republican Party and Electing a foreign born citizen for president raising standards?
I can understand your perspective, Arny, if you really think you have raised the standard for acting.
Otherwise, this post has me ROTFLMAO! :^)
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