Schwarzenegger Shrugs Off Santa Monica College Protest

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Thursday dismissed the jeers and catcalls directed at him during a college commencement speech earlier this week, saying the protesters were inspired by unions who oppose his November special election.

Schwarzenegger said he thought most of the 600 graduates at Santa Monica College were attentive and respectful Tuesday.

"So these were all union people that were organizing this demonstration," he said on Fox's "The O'Reilly Factor." "It was not the students that were protesting. The students had great respect and they enjoyed my speech."

From an EARLIER version of that AP story:

Governor dismisses protest at Santa Monica college
- By The Associated Press
Thursday, June 16, 2005

(06-16) 18:58 PDT SACRAMENTO, (AP) --

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, responding publicly for the first time to the protesters who heckled him at a commencement speech, said he believes most students were attentive and appreciated his words.

Schwarzenegger dismissed the jeers and catcalls he endured during his speech Tuesday to about 600 graduates at Santa Monica College, telling Fox News Channel's Bill O'Reilly that the protesters were inspired by unions who oppose his November special election.

"It was very clear that there was a difference between the students who very much appreciated my speech, and they were sitting there and giving me a standing ovation, and then 100 people in the background, all the way up to the right of the bleachers. They were organized by the public employees' union," Schwarzenegger said Thursday on O'Reilly's show.

And I bet that he felt good about the support demonstration organized by the SMC Republicans and Freepers, even if he didn't specifically mentioned it.
From the after-action report...

...courtesy of David Forbes.

Less than HALF of the folks from the rally were able to attend this post-FReep gathering, though...
...as there was a competing meeting scheduled (without my prior knowledge) at the same time, in a different city. :(

And, from another previous thread:

To: All

Here's some more video footage of the graduation. Note the individual with blond hair and a blue cutoff shirt who's chanting and giving the thumbs down. That's Jeffery Higley, managing editor of the Corsair.

click here for video

If you don't have media player, click on update preferences and you can switch to Realplayer or quicktime, as well as adjust the bandwidth.

114 posted on 06/16/2005 3:27:24 PM PDT by Straysinger

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