Posted on 10/11/2006 3:50:07 PM PDT by calcowgirl
Gov. Schwarzenegger today insisted that he has kept a 2003 campaign promise not to be beholden to special interests, saying he is above the pay-to-play politics of his predecessor.
In an interview with the Chronicle editorial board this morning, Schwarzenegger said he has never pledged to shun money from special interest groups, but rather promised that donors could not buy favors from his office with donations.
"I never said I would not accept money, that special interests are no good and would not be part of the mix," he said. "I said we have to stop the money from going in and the favors from going out. ... I cannot be bought by anyone, and anyone who gives me money buys into that philosophy."
Shortly after announcing his candidacy . . . Schwarzenegger was quoted as saying: "The biggest problem we have is that California is being run by special interests. ... I will go to Sacramento and clean house.
"As you know, I don't need to take any money from anybody. I have plenty of money myself. I will make the decisions for the people," he said at the time.
Today, he simply said, "No one gives me money and gets political favors back."
(snip)
Answering questions, the governor -- who vetoed a gay marriage bill last year -- refused to say whether he would support overturning Proposition 22, the California law that defines marriage as a union between one man and one woman.
"I will get back to you on that," he said, after hesitating.
He also wouldn't say whether he would sign a gay marriage bill in the event Prop. 22 is overturned by voters.
"I have so many things to think about every day, I am not thinking at all about those hypotheticals," he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
..."I will get back to you on that," [after the election]
.
Schwarzenegger has no more or no less ethics than any individual that seeks high public office.
Introducing personal wealth into the campaign debate was myopic and foolish. Today he probably regrets the tactic but has to live with the consequences.
California politics is play for pay and Schwarzenegger does it with the best of them.
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