Posted on 08/07/2003 11:29:21 PM PDT by Keyes2000mt
Reverend Lou Sheldon sent out the following press release:
Rev. Louis P. Sheldon, chairman of the Traditional Values Coalition, said today Arnold Schwarzenegger would create a "moral vacuum" in Sacramento if he became California's governor.
"As Governor, Mr. Schwarzenegger would be a darker villain than any he has faced in his movies. And when it comes to the moral issues that Californians really care about - he gives us inaction not action....
"It is hard to imagine a worse governor than Gray Davis but Mr. Schwarzenegger would be it. California has enough problems without adding a Governor Schwarzenegger to the mix."
First, would Arnold create a moral vacuum in Sacramento? No, you can't create what's already there. Between Gray Davis and the California legislature, they've done nearly everything for the abortionists, for the Gay Rights movement, and for the transgender movement that can conceivably done, aside from legalizing gay marriage which was banned by Proposition 22.
Yes, Arnold will fail to address moral issues, but given the make-up of the legislature, so will most other candidates. No one has abortion or stopping the gay agenda at the top of their agenda. The best candidate in the race (Senator McClintock) is a pro-life conservative, but will be fully focused on economic issues if elected.
Will Arnold be worse than Gray Davis? Absolutely not. Parris Glendenning was not worse than Gray Davis. Hardly any governor in American history who has not been convicted of a crime of corruption would be worse than Davis. To allege that Arnold would be worst is absurd. He may be as bad in many ways, but overall he'll be better, but not by much.
The question for us to ask is who should Conservatives vote for? From a National perspective, as an out of state party leader (Secretary of a County GOP), it does not matter. If Arnold wins or if a conservative such as McClintock or Simon win. I'll be no safer, no better off, or worse off depending on the outcome. If a Republican wins, California is put into play in 2004 for Bush, Big Mo' slips away from the Democrats, and things are looking pretty for 2004. Even if Davis is recalled and Bustamante elected, a Democratic governor will have been recalled and his Democratic successor elected with around 23% of the vote. Either way, it's a win-win situation. It's as if Clinton were impeached and Gore became president. The stench of disgrace would carry over. So as long as Davis is recalled, it does not matter who wins.
If I lived in California, I'd have a different perspective. If you've never worked your tail off to get signatures, you won't understand. But if I had thrown myself into this recall effort, there is no way on Earth I'd back the Terminator. If they knew that their efforts would do nothing more than lead to the election of a RINO of the first degree, how many recall backers would have bothered to go out at all?
Where was Arnold during the Winter and Spring, as activists he disdains labored to end the corrupt reign of Grey Davis? Where was his support prior to the recall's certification becoming a certainty? This sunshine friend of the recall movement, this political opportunist will be its beneficiary. I would not stand for it.
I would not be lead astray by the establishment arguments, the standard calls to surrender to the establishment candidate in the name of winning. I would instead look at reality:
Liberals and Moderates are divided between Arnold, Bustamante, Larry Flynt, Arianna Huffington, and John Garamendi.
Conservatives are Divided between Arnold, Tom McClintock (and maybe Bill Simon).
If Conservatives would decide to support a candidate who actually believes in the Republican platform, then he could win. Lest we forget, Bill Simon was almost elected governor in 2002. If conservatives don't back McClintock, they'll get a Governor with an "R" by his name who who hates their guts, and does not respect their values or beliefs. Of course, many claim that "later" they'll elect a conservative, but will they really? Will California's conservatives ever have to the guts to vote for one of their own or will they constantly back the RINOs who despise them and view them as the problem with this Party. What we know of human nature, tells us that when we start making decisions based not on what we love, but what we fear, it will never stop. The idea that not voting for Arnold will defeat the recall is absurd. Davis will be recalled, no matter who wins the ballot for his replacement. Davis is toast. If Arnold's going to win, it will be with the votes of moderates, independents, and first time voters. Conservatives support shouldn't be necessary.
Of course, I don't live in California. The issue remains in the hands of Californians whether to stand up for what they believe or capitulate to a man who views them as a shameful embarrassment.
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