Schwarzenegger's liberal views leave GOP flummoxed; pro-choice, pro-gun control and pro-gay rights

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 08-14-03

[Brian S]

Washington -- As Arnold Schwarzenegger explodes onto the national political scene as California's great Republican hope, conservatives are increasingly voicing concern over his lack of right-wing credentials.

From talk radio to the pages of conservative journals, Republicans are openly struggling over whether to rally around a man who may break the Democratic lock on state government, or keep their distance from a candidate who appears to be at odds with their core ideology.

[Moby Grape]

You are DEAD wrong about it being okay either way....First, when the 6th largest economy in the world goes down, it will HURT this nation...it will hurt ALL OF US, not just the deserving fuit cakes in California. Secondly, like Hoover in the 30's, the GOP will GET THE BLAME, which is also bad for the country.

[Barry Goldwater]

Fiscally conservative somewhat, socially liberal - almost libertarian.

[goldstategop]

I'd agree with you if people here would wake up and start demanding changes. I mean something has to give. Its either the American Dream or its the Government. We could keep putting it off but its finally crunch time. And Californians have to bear the blame by putting socialists in office who brought them to the point where its beginning to dawn on them you can't have something for nothing.

[wayoverontheright]

What do you want to bet he's on staff to find ways to raise the junk bond ratings of California's bonds so that debt financing costs can be reduced. He may also be on staff so Arnold can twist his arm about Workmens Comp to lead him to find that was a bad idea for a time like this when California was deep in debt.

This is possible. One can hope. But Buffet has been hired as "Chief Economic Advisor", and if he has influence over ALL economic policy, then higher taxes and more business exodus are certainly in the offing. We all have to guess, because Arnold has made no statement of a concrete fiscal plan, unlike McClintock and Simon. I have to judge him by his actions.

[goldstategop]

Exactly. We conservatives judge people by their deeds. Liberals judge people by what they've said.

[Iscool]

This article is from the SFChronicle. It's a divide and conquer piece of reporting making an attempt to make a win by Arnold seem like a blow to Republicans.

It is a blow to Republicans...At least a blow to Conservatives...Arnold could just as easily run as a Democrat and win...This way however, Arnie will get the Dem vote as well as the Republican vote...

Arnie's not a Republican...He's the god of the new party...The Centrist Party...He appeals to everyone...How're you going to explain it when you find out your far left liberal neighbor voted for the same candidate you voted for???

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

"they think we've surrendered our principles"

The problem with that attitude is that your friends aren't sure you haven't surrendered your principles either. I'm not going to vote for liars and cheats. Say what you mean and mean what you say (and DO IT).

[Walkin Man]

If Arnold was running as a democrat would half of all freepers still be supporting him? On the issues Arnold is a democrat!

Some people who call themselves republicans would vote for Hillary Clinton if she changed parties and nothing else!

To happily pull the voting lever for a baby-killer / gay-rights activist / tax-raising / big government leftist just because he calls himself a "Republican" is wrong. To me that is immoral. To each his own.

[JustAnAmerican]

"The destruction is already well underway as evidenced by otherwise clear-thinking FReepers being not merely willing but breathlessly excited to abandon all conservative principles for the sake of short term political expediencey.

One thing I have learned over the past few years, too many so called clear thinking people consider looks and charisma as a prerequisite for a candidate. As an example when I asked a few Female friends I know that voted for Clinton then Gore, why they voted this way, in a nutshell it was because he "Looks good".

And I am afraid this is why some of the folks want Arnold in office.The fact that he is a Socialist Lib in Republican clothing will never change these folks minds. The fact that he just hired a Dim with known socialist views as his economic advisor also says he is a socialist in monetary matters. But try to tell any of the "Arnold is the best we have" crowd this, and you are given all sorts of asinine reasons as to why you are wrong.

[Bob]

From the article:

"I don't think, at this stage, that most conservatives require a 100 percent litmus test,"...

100 percent might be a bit much to ask but shouldn't we be able to do a little better than 10 percent.

OK, I'll admit that I'm giving him the 10 for the (R) after his name. Beyond that, I don't see much else.

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

I am begining to think it may be better for Gray Davis to stay in. Better to let him go down with the ship instead of a liberal Republican. Then they will blame Republicans for the problems. I don't think a conservative Republican can solve California's problems with a Democrat legislature.

[Zack Nguyen]

We can fight for Arnold's soul AFTER the election.

I strongly suspect that you will lose that fight. Hopeful California conservatives are speaking as if liberal Republicans can be counted on to back conservative policy when elected. In practice this rarely if ever happens. Liberal Republicans pursue liberal policies, period. Alan Specter, Jim Jeffords, Susan Collins, Olympia Snowe, etc. Personnel is policy.

Vote for Arnold if you want, but understand that he will not be interrested in the views of what he regards as the fringe right. He will take the California Republican Party and mold it into his own image - fiscally leftist, socially leftist. That is what chief executives do. It is inevitable. And it will effect the rest of the country, because all the country club GOP moderates will flock to California and proclaim that "moderation" is the way to win elections. Pro-life, pro-family conservatives - get to the back of the bus.

If you can live with that, put him in office.

[Eva]

The problem is that the labels are all meaningless. The Democrat party has been taken over by the socialists and is no longer a comfortable home for the liberals. The liberals have moved over to the Republican party under the Neo-con label and the social conservatives who have been the mainstay of the Republicans for quite a while are being squeezed and pressured to shut up.

The wisest thing for the social conservatives to do would be to talk with the neo-con candidates and try to work out some kind of compromise on agenda. The neo-cons don't want to drive away the conservatives because they need their votes, and the social conservatives need the cross-over appeal of the neo-cons in heavily leftist territory. (I really like the cons part of that label, its so apropos)

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

The wisest thing for the social conservatives to do would be to talk with the neo-con candidates and try to work out some kind of compromise on agenda. The neo-cons don't want to drive away the conservatives because they need their votes, and the social conservatives need the cross-over appeal of the neo-cons in heavily leftist territory. (I really like the cons part of that label, its so apropos)

If it keeps up and the Democrats are less than 33% of congress, then it might be a good idea if a third party spins out of the Republican party.

[Babu]

Yeah, Ah-nold is a Liberal. And (seemingly the best-kept secret), so is George Bush . . .

[Moby Grape]

Amen....California is exhibit "A" in what happens when liberal democrats are allowed to run a state and take their ideas to full implementation...however, the public will remember who was at the wheel when the ship goes down...even if they only got command of the ship 5 minutes ago.

[Afronaut]

SHRIVER A KEY PLAYER

---

MARIA SHRIVER
Helps push gov bid.

August 14, 2003 -- WASHINGTON - Arnold Schwarzenegger's Kennedy-kin wife, Maria Shriver, is now emerging as a key partner and player in the action hero's bid to become California's new Republican governor.

" She is a partner with her husband," said campaign spokesman Sean Walsh. "They have been partners for their entire marriage. She is very, very bright and she knows her way around the media world. That's very valuable to him and to the campaign."

Insiders confirmed that Shriver, on leave as an NBC reporter, was upset at how her husband came off on early-morning TV interviews right after he had jumped into the race and let everyone know that she didn't consider it a great idea.

Deborah Orin

NY Post

---

Bill & Hil double trouble for state GOP

By JOEL SIEGEL
DAILY NEWS SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT

When Bill Clinton became President, America got two for the price of one: a chief executive and his policy-wonk wife. Now that Hillary Clinton is a U.S. senator, New York has the package deal.
As the gubernatorial race showed this week, the couple from Chappaqua via the White House has assumed a powerful and unprecedented role in the state's Democratic Party.

Both Democratic candidates desperately sought their support - Andrew Cuomo as a loyal Clinton administration cabinet member and Carl McCall as the state's preeminent black Democrat, a core group for the Clintons.

Hillary Clinton allowed one of her fund-raisers to work for McCall, and she marched with the state controller in a high-profile parade Monday. But the Clintons remained publicly neutral.

Bill Clinton played a key role in Cuomo's surrender to McCall, averting a potentially bloody and divisive end to the Democratic primary.

Now the Clintons are preparing to boost the visibility and the campaign bankroll of McCall in his battle against Gov. Pataki.

"This is what we warned would happen," bemoaned one state Republican, referring to the danger of Hillary Clinton winning a Senate seat and bringing her husband with her.

The Clintons are not traditional powerbrokers; they have no interest in controlling the state's Democratic Party and playing kingmakers in the way that former Sen. Alfonse D'Amato once ran the New York GOP, aides to the couple said yesterday.

Daily news

[Bernard Marx]

Embracing this deceiver and giving him the keys to the most powerful and influential office in the most powerful state in the nation will give him freedom and opportunity to work greater destruction on the soul of the Republican Party than any of our clearly marked liberal enemies that we hold at arm's length could ever hope to accomplish.

I beginning to think you're right. Every time I see Maria Schriver's beaming face as she hangs on to Arnold's arm at campaign appearances, I think of the private counsels that must go on between them and their Kennedy kin. I fear there's a great deal more to this bid of Arnold's than meets the eye. As of now I'm a McClintock supporter. I want to see a debate between Arnold, Simon and McClintock so as to sort the fly specks from the pepper.

[Walkin Man]

Hey maybe the Kennedy family has figured out a way to get back into the White House with the help of the Republican party and the VRWC!

First Arnie captures the California governers office, then the White House!

Who woulda thunk it?!