Posted on 12/21/2004 1:41:36 AM PST by JohnHuang2
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger doesn't understand the Republican Party if he thinks it can shift to the left on social issues without damaging its base, a traditional-family lobby group says.
"Schwarzenegger's statements that the GOP party would not lose its base if it embraces gay marriage and abortion rights show extreme arrogance and total ignorance concerning the values and dedication of the party's core constituents," said Karen England of the Sacramento-based Capitol Resource Institute. "Schwarzenegger has spent too much time in Hollywood. He needs to start mingling more with mainstream Californians."
Schwarzenegger's remarks were published over the weekend in the German daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung.
"I would like the Republican Party to cross this line, move a little further left and place more weight on the center," Schwarzenegger told the paper. "This would immediately give the party 5 percent more votes without it losing anything elsewhere."
England said Schwarzenegger is "misspeaking" for millions of Republicans who believe abortion is murder and the life of a child should come before the "mere convenience of a woman."
"We are outraged that Schwarzenegger would turn his back on two-thirds of Californians -- many Democrats included -- who voted just four short years ago to protect traditional marriage in this state," she said. "By embracing gay marriage, Schwarzenegger shows that he is not simply in the 'center' on this social issue -- he is, actually, far to the left."
England added, "If Schwarzenegger thinks that the majority of the GOP base will stick with the Republican Party on fiscal issues alone, then he has a lot to learn about the makeup of his own party."
In the interview, Schwarzenegger was guarded when asked if he had presidential ambitions.
The Austrian-born governor said the debate over whether foreign-born citizens can run is long "overdue," but he wouldn't want an amendment created specifically for him.
Schwarzenegger said, however, if such an amendment passed, he would consider running for president.
I'd never vote for him for President. Its bad enough he's a social liberal. We brought him in here to fix the budget. And I have news for Arnold: if you don't like the makeup of our party, feel free to become a Democrat.
Its not just Hollyweired, but Arnold's other universe is the Kennedy Klux Klan. No wonder he has such a distorted view,
(Arnold Schwarzenegger, responding to a question on the Sean Hanitty Show.)
And people say he doesn't have the keen, penetrating insight it takes to be POTUS.
Hmmph!
lol
heh, yep -- that one takes the cake...
As I understand it, your Governer is to the right of many Republicans in your state. That is a sad thought.
Don't be makin' fun of the Governator, now.
I kid. I kid 'cause I love...TO POOP!
LOL
lol!
Why don't Arnold just become a democrat. He is unwanted in this party if the tries to force the majority to suit his needs as a west coast liberal, hell his wife might even give him more sex if he switched parties....
LOL... yes Maria would warm to him more! ;-)
Let's face it, he's a RINO.
Needless to say, he is wrong, wrong, wrong. Wrong on the facts - many people who feel that "social issues" are important WOULD go elsewhere, or stay home, resulting in a net loss for the Republicans. and wrong on the issues, IMHO - we shouldn't sell out on abortion and "gay marriage" even if it did get us votes.
Didn't Arnold get the word? Bush won!
I'm glad he's trying to clean up the mess in California, but he's wrong on this one.
Looking at Maria, I'm not so sure that's a selling point. Woof!
What else is new, he ran as a RINO and the majority of folks on this site, (including Hannity, Rush and Fox News), swooned like moist school girls whenever he said "Kal-ee-forn-ya". All while repeatedly telling McClintock that he couldn't win and should drop out for the sake of the party. Well now you can all celebrate and have a RINO party with Ah-nold. May you reap what you have sewn.
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