Schwarzenegger Would "Do Damage" to Republican Party Suggests Political Analyst

LifeSite.net ^ | August 28, 2003

[miltonim]

Social conservatives have a viable candidate in McClintock

TORONTO, August 28, 2003 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Steve Jalsevac, a long-time political analyst with Campaign Life Coalition Canada suggests that were actor Arnold Schwarzenegger to capture the Republican Governorship of California it would mean political damage for the Republican Party. "A core constituency within the Republican Party is its social conservatives, most importantly those who are pro-life and pro-family. Schwarzenegger is so obviously a liberal on social issues, his running as a Republican reeks of opportunism and demeans the party's integrity," said Jalsevac.

Republicans have another capable candidate in the race who is considered authentically conservative. California State Sen. Tom McClintock, first elected to the State Assembly in 1982, is also running. McClintock ran for state controller last year and lost by a margin of 0.3% to a Democrat. In that race, McClintock captured more votes than any other Republican on the ballot. In an interview with Human Events released today, McClintock acknowledges that he is pro-life and pro-family and willing to act legislatively on those convictions.

"As we have seen so many times in Canadian politics, conservative parties are usually a delicate balance between fiscal and social conservatives, and where fiscal conservatives are so insensitive as to alienate social conservatives, the Party suffers debilitating division," Jalsevac told LifeSite News. "Arnold may well give the Republicans Governorship of another state, but his strong liberal stance on social issues will damage Party unity and weaken critical differences in policy between the two major parties."

On a radio talk show yesterday, Schwarzenegger attempted to appear less offensive to social conservatives saying that he is pro-choice, but against "partial-birth" abortion; that he supports current domestic-partnership law but not gay 'marriage'". However, Schwarzenegger's Republican strategist Allan Hoffenblum was candid about the actor's negligible chances of appealing to social conservatives. Speaking of "family-value types", Hoffenblum said, "that is the group that is least likely to vote for Arnold Schwarzenegger regardless."

[FormerLib]

Social conservatives are at the core of the Republican Party (although some bitter folks will try to deny that). The growth we've seen in the party comes in large part to social conservatives who found themselves forced out of the Democrat Party.

Ahnuld shows nothing but scorn for them. He will hurt the party.

[sruleoflaw]

That's a real good idea. Vote for the trash candidate -- hashish smoker, orgy participant. BUT AT LEAST YOU'RE IN POWER. THE ARNOLD SUPPORTERS ON THIS WEBSITE LIKE YOU TRULY MAKE ME ILL.

The Founders of this nation ALWAYS believed that the people elected to power would be the most moral, the most righteousness, the most honorable among us. That would mean no Bill Clintons and no Arnolds. YOU WANT POWER AT ANY COST. YOU WILL SACRIFICE ANY PRINCIPLE -- let them kill unborn children, let them take our guns, let them support gay domestic partners, and they will raise our taxes, too.

[sruleoflaw]

That's a real good idea. Vote for the trash candidate -- hashish smoker, orgy participant. BUT AT LEAST YOU'RE IN POWER. THE ARNOLD SUPPORTERS ON THIS WEBSITE LIKE YOU TRULY MAKE ME ILL.

The Founders of this nation ALWAYS believed that the people elected to power would be the most moral, the most righteousness, the most honorable among us. That would mean no Bill Clintons and no Arnolds. YOU WANT POWER AT ANY COST. YOU WILL SACRIFICE ANY PRINCIPLE -- let them kill unborn children, let them take our guns, let them support gay domestic partners, and they will raise our taxes, too.

[zook]

Sure. Just like Rudy ruined the Rep. party in NY. Not.

[OldFriend]

Once a democrat always a democrat. No matter what they call themselves they are always at heart dems. Can't get away from the union mentality.

[OldFriend]

Thank heaven reason prevailed in NYC and we got Rudy instead of another term of Dinkins.

Feel free to live anywhere you choose, we're here in the real world.

[Kevin Curry]

Schwarzepubbies are the west coast equivalent of the cheese-eating surrender monkey French. They cheerfully surrender, roll over, and die, because they not only believe but cheerfully accept the "reality" is that they are helpless to bring about any change.

I don't believe they want to bring about change. They're too lazy. Most of them haven't even bothered to familiarize themselves with the issues and the candidates' relative positions on those issues.

Thus they ensure a perfect fulfillment of their anti-Reagan defeatist philosophy.

I would rather die on my feet as the last free man standing firm against a tepid, cramped life of high-tax social liberal slavery than to meekly surrender to it.

[Cboldt]

Advocating separate federal and state powers; and advocating that powers not be used to promote social liberalism are not inconsistant stands.

Sometimes the federal government oversteps, sometimes the state oversteps (referring to the use of tax money for the promotion of social liberalism). THe fact that the federal bill of rights was designed to limit federal powers only does not create hypocracy.

[Kevin Curry]

Go away. Your abject laziness and spineless defeatism are comtemptible. We have nothing further to discuss.

May your chains rest lightly . . .

[liberallarry]

First. Posting the entire article in bold makes it hard to read.

Second. This "expert" adds nothing to the plate. We all know that political parties are made up of constituencies with different views and interests. What compromises have to or will be made in order to get a party candidate elected is always a contentious issue. The answer always depends on how the electorate views the candidate and how it balances the importanced of the issues. In this case how important is social vs. fiscal conservatism. If Arnold is fiscally conservative is that enough if McClintock is unelectable? Don't forget there are many people like Arnold (in both parties) who are fiscally but not socially conservative - significant in a very close race.

[sruleoflaw]

Thank you for your GREAT posts. I'm appreciative as a Californian and supporter of the Reagan Republican -- Tom McClintock.

The Rockefeller/leftist boys and girls are active in support of their little RINO.

[SteveH]

Then again, I'm not sure Arnold or McClintock can do much, either, since the state legislature is firmly in Rat hands and has been for awhile, and anything proposed by the Governor must go through it. But at least a new Governor can provide leadership.

On the contrary, a McClintock governorship would in essence (IMHO) break the current liberal media lock on the frame of reference by which the California government's fiscal and social agenda is described to voters. McClintock would have the bully pulpit and would also wield the veto and line item veto power with gusto.

[sd-joe]

LOL

[tpaine]

Kevin Curry:
"Social liberalism is incompatible with fiscal conservatism."


But California is already, and has been for decades, a social sewer, thanks to the then Governor Jerry Brown and the Democratic legislature enshrining perversions as rights within the California Constitution. An Arnold or a Tom or a Richard is not going to change that reality one bit. What we in California need right now is fiscal responsibility in Sacramento, not ideological purity.
6 CJ



Social liberty is compatible with fiscal conservatism.
But California is already, and has been for decades, a social sewer, thanks to the Republican [in name only] and Democratic legislators enshrining disrespect for our fundamental principles & rights within California law.

An Arnold or a Tom or a Richard is not going to change that reality one bit. What we in California need right now is fiscal responsibility in Sacramento, not ideological purity.

Throw the bums out, and shake up the system. Vote in a clown to rule over the circus.
Perhaps chaos will work where reason has failed.

[Walkin Man]

What we in California need right now is fiscal responsibility in Sacramento, not ideological purity.

So you want to elect a leftist-lib social program loving candidate??? That makes no logical sense.

How do you think Arnie is going to pay for all of his nanny-state programs?

[sruleoflaw]

Do you even like in California? Arnold is the establishment candidate -- dope smoker, orgy participant, as he is. It is McClintock who will shake up the system. HE WILL DRIVE THE LIBERALS CRAZY.

IF ARNOLD IS ELECTED, HE WILL RAISE TAXES, SO MUCH FOR HIS FISCAL CONSERVATISM.

[SteveH]

10 reasons not to vote for Arnold.

He is an opportunist.

He entered the race late.

He gets flustered easily on simple questions that he should have been prepared for.

He does not want to debate.

He does not want to sign a no-tax pledge.

He has out-of-state liberal advisors.

He is not a California native.

There is a better qualified alternative (McClintock).

RINOs tend to do the opposite of what they pledge to do in their election campaign.

If the Demos have a dirt bomb on him, they can drop it any time to defuse him, or use it as blackmail.

Here's a bonus reason:

I really don't need anyone to tell me how to vote anyway. I'll vote for the best candidate and if other's don't, that's their problem, not mine.

[Cultural Jihad]

As I understand it, Arnold wants to pay for programs by lowering taxes to grow the economy, much as Ronald Reagan did.

Cruz, on the other hand, has the idea that he can become a millionaire by selling used pizza boxes for a million dollars apiece. "Ah, but I only have to sell one!" ;-)

[sruleoflaw]

Do you even live in California?

YOUR VOTE IS A VOTE FOR A RINO. Have you ever read the GOP platform? Do you even know what a Republican is supposed to stand for?

I'd suggest you back and read my earlier posts. MARK MY WORDS, BUDDY, Pete Wilson wouldn't take the no taxes pledge and gave the state its largest tax hike in history. ARNOLD WILL DO THE SAME STUPID THING -- AND I plan to remember you to remind you how ignorant you were. You voted for the RINO -- and got your taxes raised too. I'll want to laugh because sell-outs almost always get what they deserve.