Posted on 09/30/2005 8:42:07 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Actor-director Rob Reiner campaigned Thursday against Proposition 75, a ballot initiative pushed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger that would require public employee unions to get permission to use members' dues for political purposes.
Reiner, a Democrat and longtime political activist often mentioned as a potential challenger to Schwarzenegger, told an audience that Prop. 75, known as "paycheck protection" by its supporters, was designed purely to stifle political speech.
"The things I care about - education, health care, energy, environment - I need, we all need, to have everybody's voice heard," Reiner told a small audience of teachers, nurses and other activists. "If a democracy is to work properly, we must not, we dare not, have any voice suppressed."
Supporters of Prop. 75 complain that the state's major government unions - especially the powerful California Teachers Association - wield too much influence over the Democrat-controlled Legislature.
Eric Beach, a spokesman for the Prop. 75 campaign, said if Reiner were concerned about the "voices" of working people, he would want them to be able to choose whether to give their money to political causes.
"Why would Mr. Reiner or any of his union friends not want to give everyday workers a voice?" Beach said. "Paycheck protection is a simple concept - give workers a right to choose how their political dues are spent, and stop taking money from members without asking permission."
Unions have spent nearly $50 million so far to kill Prop. 75 and several other "year of reform" initiatives Schwarzenegger has placed on a special election ballot Nov. 8.
Several audience members spoke, including one woman who beseeched Reiner to challenge Schwarzenegger next year.
"People want movie stars and television stars and however good (state Treasurer) Phil Angelides and (state Controller) Steve Westly are, the way to beat Arnold is with Rob Reiner and Warren Beatty," she said.
Reiner laughed but said nothing. Neither he nor fellow actor-director Beatty, who has become a vocal Schwarzenegger critic, have ruled out challenging the Republican governor, but neither is expected to run.
Aides say Reiner is focusing his political energies next year on passing a ballot measure to provide preschool to every California child.
Reiner starred as "Method" Mike Satiric in the 1970s television series "All in the Family." He went on to be an accomplished director of films including "When Harry Met Sally" and "A Few Good Men." His latest movie, "Rumor Has It," starring Jennifer Anniston, is coming out later this year.
This writes its own parody. The very IDEA of needing your permission to spend your money on something you oppose! The horror!
"Unions have spent nearly $50 million so far to kill Prop. 75"
I know how the MSM is, but even still you think they'd call these clown out on stuff like this. To stand there and claim that a union member should even have the right to say if his money should go to this type of thing or not - and to do it using terms like "all voice need to be heard"...
Unreal.
I believe Reiner has a foundation dedicating to teaching mothers that it is a good idea to hug their children.
"God don't make no mistakes. That's how He got to be God.
But youse `r still a meathead, Meathead."
And Meathead, not Method.
If we are talking about things YOU care about, Ronboy, we should also be talking about YOU paying for them.
And yet, so obvious it's a wonder everyone doesn't see it.
It sounds typically elitist for some limousine liberal to inform the poor, benighted middle and lower class mothers of the desirability to hug their kids. No doubt these do-gooders also encourage regular tooth brushing and annual medical checkups, not to mention washing hands after going to the bathroom. Leave it to liberals to believe that nagging and nanny state measures are better than common sense and instinct.
Meathead Reiner and Pretty Boy Beatty don't have a clue. They are just like Ketchupboy. They have never worked real jobs in their lives and wouldn't know how to run a state, let alone a country. Empty talking heads!
Why in the world would any reasonable person be against this?
If one was a rich partisan nutcase who wanted someone else to pay for his political speech, you can bet he'd do it.
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