Posted on 11/12/2005 5:00:40 PM PST by blam
Beatty claims credit for poll pounding of 'the Governator'
By Catherine Elsworth in Los Angeles
(Filed: 13/11/2005)
Warren Beatty, the veteran Hollywood actor who helped to deliver the first big blow to Arnold Schwarzenegger's political career, said last night that the Terminator star had got his come-uppance for fooling voters.
Four days after California voters rejected a series of reforms put forward by the Republican governor, Beatty boasted that his own high-profile eve-of-poll campaigning had helped to save America from the ripple effect of Mr Schwarzenegger's "reactionary measures".
Warren Beatty: 'Actors do not necessarily make good politicians'
The 68-year-old, a long-time political activist who has campaigned for every Democratic presidential candidate since Robert Kennedy's nomination bid in 1968, told the Sunday Telegraph that the moderate image Mr Schwarzenegger had once projected was "an illusion". His proposals were rejected, Beatty claimed, because "California is not a Right-wing state".
As the governor prepared for a trade mission to China tomorrow, Beatty said he did not know what tack the former Mr Universe would adopt following his pounding at the polls. "He seems to be saying he was doing the right thing but was doing it too quickly," he said. "I disagree. I think he was doing the wrong thing. But I don't know where he will want to go now."
Beatty, who played a wayward Democratic senator in the 1998 film, Bulworth, and in 2000 sparked rumours that he might run for president, refused to rule out standing against Mr Schwarzenegger in next year's California gubernatorial race, although he said it was "not something that I want to do".
Beatty said he thought actors did not "necessarily make good politicians", adding: "Ronald Reagan, who was a friend of mine with whom I disagreed strongly on many things, once said to me, 'I don't see how in today's world a person can be a politician without being an actor'."
Mr Schwarzenegger was gambling on winning popular backing in last Tuesday's special election - in effect, referendums on four separate proposed new laws - to override opposition from the Democrat-dominated legislature, which has blocked measures he said were crucial to reducing California's debts and reforming its grid-locked political system.
The unpopular election, the sixth state-wide ballot to be held in four years, became instead a referendum on Mr Schwarzenegger's performance. He described it as his "judgment day" and a sequel to the 2003 election that swept him to power. But instead of the expected endorsement, the self-styled "people's governor" was slapped down and all four measures were defeated.
Arnold Schwarzenegger: 'I should have listened to my wife'
The setback came after Mr Schwarzenegger took on the might of the powerful labour unions and Democratic Party, which poured more than $100 million (£57 million) into an assault on measures that would have curbed state spending, changed teacher employment rules and limited the ability of unions to raise money for political purposes. A fourth proposal would have handed power for drawing political boundaries to an appointed panel of retired judges.
Beatty has been vocal in his criticism of Mr Schwarzenegger over the past year and at a Californian Nurses Association convention in September accused the Austrian-born former actor of governing "by show, by spin, by cosmetics and photo ops". Last weekend he boarded a "Truth Squad" campaign bus and attempted to gatecrash one of the governor's rallies, in San Diego, only to be turned away, much to the media's delight.
"I thought these were all reactionary measures that needed to be stopped and I thought I could help," Beatty said of his involvement. "I expected to be turned away [from the rally] because all of his gatherings have been completely controlled and closed." Beatty appeared alongside Annette Bening, his Hollywood actress wife, in contrast to Mr Schwarzenegger, whose wife, Maria Shriver, a Democrat, was criticised for keeping a low profile throughout her husband's campaign.
In a conciliatory speech on Thursday, the 58-year-old governor promised to work closely with Democrats to solve California's problems and said of the election: "I should have also listened to my wife, who said 'don't do this'."
Beatty refused to talk about Ms Shriver, saying: "She is an old friend of mine. It's awkward." He said Mr Schwarzenegger faced an uphill battle to convince voters of his bipartisan appeal while accepting funds from the "hard right".
But he admitted that the election result still might not prevent "the Governator", as Mr Schwarzenegger is known, from winning a second term next year.
Beatty refused specifically to endorse Hillary Clinton as a 2008 Democrat presidential candidate, instead describing the former First Lady as "one of several very capable people". He said he had adopted a low profile during last year's presidential race because "the Bush administration very successfully demonised the entertainment field in the last election".
Beatty Who ?
what the liberals are doing to Ca is very very sad. I think Arnold is trying his best but his base has obviously left him - or left the state.
Yeah, right Beatty. You movies stunk back then and you stink now.
Let him run for Governor and you will see a true idjet on camera. Please let him run.
Warren Beatty is an idiot. He had nothing to do with the results last Tuesday...stupid, stupid, stupid egotistical sob.
Yeah Warren, and they're doing so great because of it ain't they?
He was in a movie?
Hey Beatty...I know you think the song was about you...and it was, but the vote...it wasn't about you. You're just a useful idiot, but there is a long line of useful idiots in CA, you're not special.
Carley Simon?
My state is beyond screwed. We may be worse than Massachusetts.
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"Warren Beatty ... hell, I CRAP bigger than Warren Beatty!" |
LOL
It's beyond crazy. I miss it, but I am glad we left when we did.
Get ready to start working for your next governor -- Lynn Swann. He is as good a man as he was an athlete.
yeah!!!
I will do my best. I miss my Calif freeper friends though - havent had time since moving here to do anything much.
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