Posted on 06/29/2006 9:31:34 AM PDT by calcowgirl
HOLLYWOOD (CNS) - Undaunted by charges that he's turning the GOP in California into "a gay marriage party," Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger plans to speak tonight at a fund-raiser for a group of gay and lesbian Republicans.
Schwarzenegger is expected to attend the Log Cabin Republicans event to raise money for the organization's West Coast chapters.
"When he took the oath of office he said he'd be governor for all the people and that's what he's doing," said event organizer Ted Jackson.
"He's coming to talk to us in an effort to reach out and be inclusive. He's got a strong record of signing civil rights legislation and an even stronger record of reaching out."
Schwarzenegger vetoed a same-sex marriage bill last fall but has said he supports domestic partnerships, and, since taking office in 2003, has signed two dozen bills in support of rights for the gay and lesbian communities.
"I think that you know the way I voted, and the bills that I have signed, and the bills that I have vetoed, and this is exactly where my position is," Schwarzenegger said at a news conference Tuesday in Oakland. "I believe in domestic partnerships and all of that."
Randy Thomasson, the founder and president of the group Campaign for Children and Families, said that by attending the event, Schwarzenegger is "flip-flopping" on his position.
"He's not appearing, he's fund-raising $300,000 to transform the California Republican Party into a gay marriage party, and marriage is for a man and a woman," Thomasson said.
Tickets for tonight's event in Hollywood cost between $250 and $10,000. About 350 people are expected to attend the dinner and silent auction.
"I accepted this particular invitation just like I accept any other invitation, because I am reaching out to all Californians," said Schwarzenegger, who will be the featured speaker.
"Everyone is part of California, everyone that lives here and works here is part of California. I respect everyone and everyone gets treated equally. So, if I can help them with their fundraising I am very happy to do so."
State Treasurer Phil Angelides, the Democratic gubernatorial nominee, has said he would support a same-sex marriage bill. That leaves voters with little choice between the two candidates, Thomasson said.
"What are the voters to think?" Thomasson said.
"On the one hand, Angelides is vowing to sign gay marriage into law and now Schwarzenegger is helping to raise $300,000 for people who want to do the same thing. This is not something that makes the average voter -- who believes marriage is for a man and a woman -- happy."
Is that your point?
Angelides calls himself a champion of "progressive values." As state treasurer, he has pushed public pension funds to dump tobacco stocks, invest in urban renewal projects and pressure corporations into cleaning up the environment. A close ally of labor, he also supports abortion rights, gay marriage, gun control and driver's licenses for illegal immigrants.
Of course this ignores Arnold VETOED the "gay marriage" law passed by the legislature.
I don't appreciate that you act as if he never tired to take on the difficult issues.
This election is a zero sum game: it's either Arnold or Angelides. Wishing for Angelides to win so a random "true blue conservative" can rise up and win in 2010 is FOOLISHNESS. If Angelides wins, he's in until 2014 unless he falls over dead or moves to the Senate or White House.
Um, no it doesn't. It's right there in black and white:
Schwarzenegger vetoed a same-sex marriage bill last fall but has said he supports domestic partnerships, and, since taking office in 2003, has signed two dozen bills in support of rights for the gay and lesbian communities
I don't appreciate that you act as if he never tired to take on the difficult issues.
--
I question who he deals with and why. You can accept it, others don't and speak out.
You can't even pretend that he has much support here as anything close to being a conservative after the way he has conducted himself in a "bipartisan" manner and ran the bar tab up when we needed to cut back... or is that also just another battle lost on a PR level?
We're screwed either way, I'll leave it at that.
Is that your point?
On an issue by issue basis, please differentiate Arnold from Phil Angelides.
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