How Arnold (and Pete Wilson) Will Do It

Fronpage Magazine ^ | 8.13.2003 | David Horowitz

[DoctorZIn]

How Arnold (and Pete Wilson) Will Do It
By David Horowitz
FrontPageMagazine.com | August 13, 2003

A key to Arnold Schwarzenegger's prospects in the coming recall election is one that few have taken notice of: His campaign is being run by the most brilliant California Republican campaigner since Ronald Reagan. Former governor Pete Wilson, who is chairman of the Schwarzenegger campaign, shares Arnold's centrist brand of Republican politics, which is the only kind of Republican politics that can win at the state level. Even Ronald Reagan left issues like abortion on the back burner when he led California Republicans to victory. This is a state, it should never be forgotten, that has a million more registered Democrats than it does Republicans.

Pete Wilson figured out how to solve this problem. In his last successful gubernatorial run in 1994, he crushed the scion of California's most powerful modern political dynasty, Kathleen Brown. The secret of his success was his willingness to seize two political issues that appealed to a winning majority but also fired up the conservative Republican base and put it solidly behind his campaign.

These issues were his opposition to illegal immigration (Prop 187) and to racial preferences (Prop 209). Interestingly, Ward Connerly, the sponsor of Prop 209 has another anti-racial division measure (Prop 54) on the recall ballot.

What was particularly impressive about Wilson's support for these propositions was how unapologetically and forcefully he got behind them. Unlike other centrist Republican politicians Wilson understood and articulated the moral imperatives of what had been considered (erroneously as it turned out) solely conservative issues. Because of his own conviction and political courage Wilson was able to turn around a race that he was losing by a wide margin and surge to a landslide victory.

Most observers of the current race have missed the significance of the fact that the first gauntlet the Schwarzenegger camp has chosen to throw down is the revelation that Arnold voted for Prop 187 when it was on the ballot in 1994. Liberal Democrats have already seized on this (and on the fact that Arnold is on the board of US English) as though it were an Achilles heel that will trip him up as the campaign proceeds. This conclusion is wrong and comes from reading too much of their own press. In fact, the opposite is more likely.

Liberals who think Prop 187 is a political albatross for Arnold are in deep denial and should think again. While it is true the liberal establishment and media denounced Proposition 187 as xenophobic and worse, a landslide majority of Californians -- including more than 40 percent of Hispanics -- embraced 187 and turned it into law. They will do so (symbolically) again. Who better than a grateful American immigrant like Arnold Schwarzenegger to point out to obtuse liberals the difference between legal immigration and illegal entry – and the crippling consequences of not making the distinction?

Of course once Prop 187 was passed, the liberals immediately set out to overturn the people’s vote. They took it to their friends in the judiciary who scuttled it. Californians have been forced to live with the destructive consequences of illegal immigration ever since. But that only makes Prop 187 an even more volatile memory now.

Two events that have taken place since Wilson's victory have actually increased the likelihood that Californians will embrace Arnold's position and reject the Democrats' prejudice again. The first of these is the 9/11 attacks, which have made the importance of secure borders an even more pressing issue than before. Particularly since Governor Davis and the Democrats have now seen fit to provide drivers' licenses to illegals. This is a typical Democratic scheme to gain new constituencies for the party, in effect granting illegals the right to vote (a driver's license and address are all the identity credentials needed). But the Democrats' scheme also allows terrorists to establish themselves as citizens of the country they plan to attack. Californian voters will not appreciate this.

The second event is the impending bankruptcy of the state's finances. Illegal immigration is a significant component of this problem, which liberals don’t like to discuss. As a result of the judicial scuttling of Prop 187, big-ticket items like education, health-care and welfare are still available to anyone crossing the border, whether he crosses legally or not. The costs of this generosity to aliens who are here illegally amounts to billions of dollars every year in addition to unpaid taxes which are estimated at $7 billion dollars annually, i.e., almost 20 percent of the budget deficit.

If Arnold Schwarzenegger takes a leaf from the book of his chairman’s campaigns and champions these issues, he will put together a coalition that will stretch from the electoral center which he already dominates all the way over to the Bill Simon -- Tom McClintock right. That is the formula for a win.

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David Horowitz is the author of numerous books including an autobiography, Radical Son, which has been described as “the first great autobiography of his generation,” and which chronicles his odyssey from radical activism to the current positions he holds. Among his other books are The Politics of Bad Faith and The Art of Political War. The Art of Political War was described by White House political strategist Karl Rove as “the perfect guide to winning on the political battlefield.” Horowitz’s latest book, Uncivil Wars, was published in January this year, and chronicles his crusade against intolerance and racial McCarthyism on college campuses last spring. Click here to read more about David

[DoctorZIn]

Join Us at the:

[Joe Hadenuf]

I think it's already posted Doc.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/963485/posts

[DoctorZIn]

It wasn't posted at that link.

[EternalVigilance]

Former governor Pete Wilson, who is chairman of the Schwarzenegger campaign, shares Arnold's centrist brand of Republican politics

Ah, Pete Wilson, the 'centrist'.

Horowitz is losing it. He sounds just like the leftist media.

[DoctorZIn]

...Most observers of the current race have missed the significance of the fact that the first gauntlet the Schwarzenegger camp has chosen to throw down is the revelation that Arnold voted for Prop 187 when it was on the ballot in 1994...

Intersting point.

What will his campaign drop on us next?
It seems a lot of the conservative talk radio hosts seem to think he is going to slowly reveal his conservative positions. Do they know something we don't?

[FairOpinion]

Another excellent analysis by Horowitz.

Arnold recognizes that the two major problems California has is that businesses are leaving, due to high taxes and overregulation and the illegal immigrant problem. He already said he wants to make CA business friendly. By having Wilson as his campaign manager, Arnold strongly endorses Prop 187 again.

[FairOpinion]

"It seems a lot of the conservative talk radio hosts seem to think he is going to slowly reveal his conservative positions. Do they know something we don't? "

---

I think Arnold is a fiscal conservative, something our good friends who are so busy chanting "RINO, RINO", don't want us to find out. As someone posted this quote from Arnold on another thread:


"I came from Austria, a socialistic country where government controlled the economy. A place where you can hear 18-year-old kids talking about their pensions. I wanted more. I wanted to be the best. I had to come to America. I had no money in my pocket, but here I had the freedom to get it. I have been able to parlay my muscles into a big movie career.

"Okay, so there I was, waiting for Maria to get ready for a game of mixed doubles tennis. I started flipping the television dial. I caught a glimpse of Nobel Prize winning economist Milton Friedman whom I recognized from my studies in economics. I didn't know I was watching Free to Choose. It knocked me out. Dr. Friedman validated everything I ever thought about the way the economy works.

"I became a big pain in the neck about Free to Choose. All my friends and acquaintances got tapes as well as books for Christmas after Christmas. If I had come up with Free to Choose, maybe I wouldn't have got into body building."

--Arnold Schwarzenegger

[DoctorZIn]

Interesting quote!
Thanks.

[EternalVigilance]

Is that why he picked the socialist Democrat Warren Buffett to head up his economic team?

You're California dreamin'.

[Stallone]

Having met Arnold, I've been a witness to a very amazing event.

When only a handful of people were looking, in the first person I saw him personally confront a group of sour Russian diplomats who were being quite critical of America.

I saw the blood in his face rise in anger, and then I watched him disarm these Commies handily with wit, intelligence and well-reasoned debate. I saw the live response and impact of those persons in attendance, who erupted in spontaneous applause and wild cheering in support, admiration and some shock at his bold and brilliant repartee. It was a formidable performance - he would have made any American proud.

Before this event, he had already won the easy admiration of most likely the more shallow among us who are simply in thrall to his celebrity and image. Afterwards, he had won over each and every one of us, from doctor, lawyer, engineer to business entrepreneur.

His courage was infectious, and everyone felt that day they had witnessed a milestone event. We knew with certainty that this man would one day be a political force to be reckoned with.

I've watched his career ever since in the knowledge and perspective of that day, and I have observed a careful, deliberate craftsman laying solid building blocks for a future political career. His diverse investment savvy and service with Conservative administrations including the President's Council on Physical Fitness under George H.W., his successful work on specialty California propositions, all these have been no random events or accidents.

I can conclude that Arnold is the most likely to succeed in the current stable of Republican hopefuls, is the most likely to astonish even the most cynical of Republican, and is by far the most likely to grow rapidly and positively in political power like the Austrian Oak he is.

Support Arnold, vote for him, and nurture this rising GOP star. He will simply not let you down.

[Gracey]

GREAT find. Thanks for sharing. As a former Californian, (and my heart is still there plus most of my relatives) the State is fortunate to have someone of Arnold's stature running for Governor. Personally, Simon and McClintock are closer to my personal views, but they are not winnable candidates at this time. IMO, a "liberal" type Republican can encourage people to come back to the party, so that in time they will feel more comfortable voting R. I call it... one step at a time.

Thanks again.

[My2Cents]

Great quote. (As I read it, I kept hearing the "Ah'll be bach" accent.)

This morning on KSFO in San Francisco, the top radio program in the Bay Area during the morning drive, with Lee Rodgers and Melanie Morgan, Lee started to get pragmatic saying, "We're all looking at the polls, and frankly, whomever wins would do very well to have Tom McClintock near at had in dealing with the budget mess," or words to that effect. They are big promoters of McClintock, but I think the reality is setting in that it will take a miracle for him to win, and that "whomever" will probably be Arnold, and that he'd do well to make McC his Director of Finance.

[Princeliberty]

Never really cared for Horowitz.
Oh course I one those Christians he thinks
Sodomy is a sin, so I know Horowitz
is more upset with me than with Socialists.

Also, he forgot to mention Wilson left the party
in ruins.

[Gracey]

Yes Buffett is a Democrat. However, in reality he's a big Capitalist. He just doesn't understand that he belongs with the Republicans from an economy point of view. The guy is not too swift, politically speaking.... just as many Jews.... who tend to vote D, even though the D's use them.

It's lack of political education that makes these people vote D, no different than many Blacks, IMO

[My2Cents]

Where has anyone said that Buffett is going to "head up" Arnold's economic team? I'd heard he was going to be part of the team, and we can all assume that "part" will not be a full-time position, but an advisory capacity, with a lot of other viewpoints. Reagan did much the same. Have a divergence of opinion, let advisors debate out all sides of an issue, and then he, Reagan, would make the final decision. The most important thing in this race will be to hear the instinctive thinking or convictions from the candidates. If Arnold's instincts were formed by "Free To Choose," that's a good start.

[EternalVigilance]

Yep.

[EternalVigilance]

Wow.

[VOA]

bump

[Joe Hadenuf]

Whoops, your right. It was posted at this link.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/963457/posts

[Joe Hadenuf]

Liberals who think Prop 187 is a political albatross for Arnold are in deep denial and should think again. While it is true the liberal establishment and media denounced Proposition 187 as xenophobic and worse, a landslide majority of Californians -- including more than 40 percent of Hispanics -- embraced 187 and turned it into law.

In any event, this speak volumes......