(Schwarzenegger) Donations show liberal family ties

LA Daily News ^ | August 13, 2003 - 8:37:28 PM PST | Lisa Friedman

[ElkGroveDan]

By Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON -- Arnold Schwarzenegger has given Democrats thousands of dollars in political donations over the past two decades, including $1,000 to Massachusetts senator and liberal lightning rod Ted Kennedy.

At the same time, campaign reports show, the GOP actor and gubernatorial hopeful has been a lukewarm financial supporter of Republican candidates.

Ultimately, say political observers, Schwarzenegger's history of political giving indicates little beyond what already is known -- that he is a moderate Republican who married into the Democratic Kennedy clan via NBC news correspondent Maria Shriver.

But conservative activists argue the pattern underscores a questionable political allegiance.

"Certainly, he has not proven to be a dedicated Republican. Where is his loyalty going to be?" asked Celeste Greig, a longtime Republican activist from Northridge who is supporting Schwarzenegger's rival, Bill Simon.

According to Federal Election Commission reports, Schwarzenegger gave $7,500 to Democrats since 1980 -- all of them Kennedys -- and $12,500 to Republicans and GOP committees.

Schwarzenegger aides and supporters called the donations to Democrats a non-issue.

"It's blood. It's family. He wasn't supporting Democrats, he was supporting family," said Rep. David Dreier, R-Glendora.

"The fact that Arnold Schwarzenegger passionately embraces Republican views on fiscal responsibility and economic growth is enough for me and enough for most Republicans," Dreier said.

Schwarzenegger spokesman Rob Stutzman called criticizing the actor for his Kennedy donations "foolish."

"It's just silly to suggest that Arnold Schwarzenegger can't be a good Republican while still supporting his family by marriage," he said.

Even some Democrats said they don't read much into the Kennedy donations. "He wants to stay married," said Rep. Brad Sherman, D-Sherman Oaks.

But Sherman also slammed the campaign contributions as "thoughtless."

"I don't think he's thought about anything in politics," Sherman said. "These political contributions are thoughtless gestures because he doesn't vote."

Sherman was referring to a published report that Schwarzenegger may not have voted in as many as five of the last 11 statewide elections, although the candidate's staff questioned whether all of his absentee ballots were counted.

In addition to Ted Kennedy, Schwarzenegger gave about $3,500 over the years to his wife's cousins, former Massachusetts congressman Joe Kennedy and Maryland Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend; and $2,000 to his brother-in-law, Mark Shriver, who last year ran a losing congressional race.

Among Republicans, Schwarzenegger gave $1,000 to losing Senate candidate Bruce Herschensohn in 1992; $1,000 to former Gov. Pete Wilson; and $1,000 to also-ran Senate candidate Ed Zschau. The rest of his GOP giving went to either state or national party committees.

Maria Shriver, meanwhile, has donated $2,000 to Mark Shriver; $4,000 to her cousin, Rhode Island Rep. Patrick Kennedy; $2,500 to Joe Kennedy; $1,000 to Townsend; and $3,000 to Ted Kennedy over the past two decades.

Schwarzenegger also has given a total of $3,000 in local races to Democratic Mayor James Hahn and City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo.

In addition, he gave Republican Richard Riordan $50,000 to help the former Los Angeles mayor in his run for governor last year. Riordan himself ran into trouble during that race for having donated to Democrats like Sen. Dianne Feinstein and even Gov. Gray Davis.

California political analysts said they doubt Schwarzenegger will face the same problem.

For one thing, analysts said, Republican anger over bipartisan campaign donations would be more likely to boil over in a closed party primary. For another, they said, Republicans who are bothered by Schwarzenegger's Kennedy ties will probably vote for conservatives like Simon or state Sen. Tom McClintock, R-Thousand Oaks, anyway out of ideological reasons.

Said Dan Schnur, a longtime California campaign strategist now working for Schwarzenegger rival Peter Ueberroth, "Dick Riordan hadn't married into Gray Davis' family. I think Republican voters will see the difference."

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Lisa Friedman can be reached at (202) 662-8731 and lisa.friedman@langnews.com.

[biblewonk]

Those are pretty small numbers compared to what he's worth. He seems not to be very involved in politics at all.

[lilylangtree]

With Schwarzenegger, CA remains in RAT hands. He gives to RATS because they're family--Gee, I just enjoy the way the Arnauldcrats smooth over this one. He surrounds himself with avowd RATS like Buffet. His H'weirdo ties know that he is a RAT and even stated that on national tv. Why he even has a well-known Kennedy family RAT wife. Yet, the Arnauldcrats still insist that he's a pubby even though he didn't vote in the last elections. He went so far as to say how ashamed he was of calling himself a "pub". And the Arnauldcrats still cling to wanting to believe that he is a pub. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

[nyconse]

Allow me to point out the most important difference to Repbulicans like myself.

Busmante (D)

Shwartzenegger (R)

Damn, I got to learn to spell Arnold's
name if he is going to be a governor.

[nyconse]

He is married to a Kennedy-sure he's giving them money-but not much given his deep pockets. As for Buffet, they are personal friends. The guy may be a Dem, and he attacks Bush for this reason, but he is considered brilliant even by Repubs. Arnolds taking a crash course in economics...I think.

[nyconse]

Your guy is at 4%-do California citizens a favor and have him step down....he can't win and will only be a spoiler.

[nyconse]

Arnold is a registered member of the Republican Party;therefore, he is a Republican.

[Hildy]

So what, he gave contributions to his family. Unless I read this wrong, he ONLY gave money to Democrats who are his family.

[TexasNative2000]

I'm beginning to understand why California is so firmly in the hands of the Democrats. . . . . . .

[nyconse]

Yep-the snatch defeat from the jaws of victory California Republican Party is alive and well.....to bad.

[JohnnyZ]

but what is the sense of supporting a candidate who will undoubtedly lose

If people vote on principle McClintock would have the votes to win; thus he is electable. If people who would otherwise vote McClintock instead vote for someone they consider more electable McClintock won't have the votes to win, thus making him unelectable in a self-fulfilling prophecy.

It's like contributors deciding they won't give to a candidate because he can't raise funds. Well of course he can't if the contributors won't give to him! Whether the "prophecy" will come to pass depends how many folks it is pulling the rug out from under a candidate.

[lilylangtree]

Only in your eyes.

[nyconse]

Back in 1992, when I was a deluded Dem (although I had already moderated my views somewhat)I decided that the new Democrat was the answer to my prayers-yep Bill Clinton. My dear husband- a rock solid Repub-who keeps a signed picture of Reagan on his night stand supported Bush 1. However, I insisted that we contribute to Clinton's campaign. My husband didn't want to, but he did it anyway-for love (or perhaps lust). He also sent Bush 1 a check. So, I have no problems with Arnold giving money to Democrats who are family. Heck, Bill Clinton evev wasn't related to me. LOL

[nyconse]

To all McClintock supporters;

I would have thought the Simon defeat would have taught you all something....those who do not understand history doomed to repeat it over and over again.....

[kellynla]

Nonsense. McClintock received more votes than any other statewide candidate in November. I personally don't have the time or the inclination to educate you on CA.

[upcountryhorseman]

It's the total democrat control of California that got
us into this mess. Buffet doesn't exactly provide a
conservative solution to this problem.

[nyconse]

He is at 4%-according to the polls.

[Cyber Liberty]

Re-elect Davis. Good point.

[nyconse]

Also, we are talking about the present election-not the last one. Given the circumstances in this recall, McClintock can not win-especially with Simon running. Why is Simon running? The guy ran a terrible campaign and lost.... he should step down for the good of the party.

[BlackElk]

I don't give money to Ted Kennedy. Tom McClintock does not give money to Ted Kennedy. You probably don't give money to Ted Kennedy. AND if giving money to RINO Riordan is counted as a GOP contribution.....?????? Yeah lukewarm is a compliment. How about raging brainless RINO droid? If they ever remake the Wizard of Oz, Ahhhhnold gets to play the Scarecrow and sing: "If I only had a brain..."

[nyconse]

He gave money to the Republican Party also, He and Riordin are personal friends.