McClintock: Schwarzenegger Has No Qualifications; won’t budge on plans to complete the race for gov

Newsmax ^ | 09-02-03

[Brian S]

Christopher Ruddy & James Hirsen Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2003

State Senator Tom McClintock tells NewsMax he won’t budge on plans to complete the race for governor, and says he’s the only conservative Republican running for the special election set for Oct. 7.

In a wide ranging interview with NewsMax’s Christopher Ruddy and James Hirsen late last week, McClintock made a point of differentiating himself from Arnold Schwarzenegger.

McClintock also denied he had been pressured to drop out of the race.

“I keep reading about it but I haven't had any party leaders call suggesting it,” McClintock said.

It is difficult to believe that McClintock would ever leave the race to Schwarzenegger.

McClintock believes the Terminator holds no qualification to run California, let alone to deal with the state’s worst fiscal crisis ever.

“I readily admit there's a great deal Arnold Schwarzenegger could teach me about making movies,” McClintock said in a mocking tone.

He added, “There's a great deal I could teach him about the fiscal reforms needed to save our state. Unfortunately there's no time for training. The next governor will take office the moment the last vote is counted.”

McClintock also warned Republicans that Schwarzenegger is a Trojan Horse who has surrounded himself with liberals.

Schwarzenegger’s campaign is being run by former Gov. Pete Wilson’s “team that proposed the biggest tax increase by any state, here in California in 1991,” McClintock said.

With no political experience, Schwarzenegger will have to rely completely on advisors.

McClintock said he was “very concerned” about Schwarzenegger’s top economic advisor, Warren Buffett. Bufffett, according to McClintock, is “the most outspoken advocate of higher taxes in the country.”

McClintock: ‘I Can Win’

McClintock said he will raise $4 million for his race. More than $500,000 has poured into his campaign coffers through his web site www.tommcclintock.com.

His campaign is being advised by Lyn Nofziger, a former senior aide to Ronald Reagan.

McClintock says his poll numbers have been bubbling up, as Schwarzenegger’s trends down.

“Clearly the momentum is on my side,” he said. “I began this campaign three weeks ago as an asterisk and have now moved into double digits, according to major polling.”

He scoffs at the notion a Reagan Republican can’t win in California.

Facing similar hurdles, McClintock almost won his race for state controller, losing the race by a half of percent.

“Of course I can win,” McClinton said. “I was outspent 5 to 1 in the election for state controller last year and ended up the top Republican vote getter in this state.”

A Plan from Day One

McClintock also argues that he is, in fact, the most experienced and qualified person running to deal with the state’s fiscal crisis.

He has a plan. Here it is:

• “Well, within moments of taking the oath of office I'll sign an executive order to rescind the governor's tripling of our car tax.

• ”I'll then void the $42 billion of outrageously overpriced electricity contracts that Davis locked us into.

• ”Then I'll call a special session of the state legislature to replace California's workers compensation law with Arizona's and bring our workers comp costs down by two-thirds.”

  “All of those things can be done before lunch on the first day of the administration,” he said.

  How will Republican McClintock deal with a hostile, overwhelmingly Democrat legislature?

  “Bear in mind there's a great deal the governor can do quite independently of the legislature, including the rescinding of the car tax, voiding of the electricity contracts,” he said.

  For other issues, he says he plans on falling the example of California’s reformist governor, Hiram Johnson, who was elected Governor of California in 1910.

  “He appealed directly to the people and ushered in a period of political - breathtaking political - reforms that the state still enjoys today,” McClintock said.

  Where Does McClintock Stand?

  NewsMax asked McClintock were he stood on the issues, including ones addressed by Arnold Scharzenegger by talk radio host Sean Hannity.

  Here’s the run down. Schwarzenegger’s positions are in brackets:

  Abortion:

  I'm pro-life.

  [A.S.: pro-choice]

  Parental notification:

  I very strongly support parental notification.

  [A.S.: favors]

  Domestic partnership:

  I'm very much opposed to domestic partnership.

  [A.S.: favors domestic partnerships]

  Gay marriage:

  Opposed

  [A.S.: opposed]

  The Brady Bill:

  Opposed

  [A.S.: favors]

  Assault Weapons Ban:

  Opposed, in fact I led the opposition in the assembly many years ago.

  [A.S.: favors]

  Overall on the issue of gun control:

  I believe people have a fundamental natural right to self-defense, a right to .... the Second Amendment of the Constitution.

  [A.S.: favors]

  Affirmative action:

  Opposed

  [A.S.: hasn’t decided yet]

  Driver's licenses for illegal aliens:

  I led the opposition in the Senate.

  [A.S.: opposes]

  General services for illegal aliens:

  Very much opposed ... Proposition 187, in fact, ran radio ads for it in 1994.

  [A.S.: No current position]

  Drug legalization:

  Opposed

  [A.S.: opposed]

  Medical Marijuana

  The people of California have spoken on that; I do believe the governor has a responsibility to uphold that measure.

  [A.S.: favors]

  School vouchers:

  Very strongly support

  [A.S.: opposes]

  Prayer in school:

  Support it.

  [A.S.: supports]

  Offshore oil drilling:

  I don't believe that there is an excuse for drilling off California when we can develop Alaskan oil fields first.

  [A.S.: opposes]

  Supporting President Bush in 2004:

  Support.

  [A.S.: supports]

  Bush's war on terrorism:

  Support

  [A.S.: supports]

  Proposition 13:

  I strongly support.

  [A.S.: supports]

  Any tax increases planned as governor:

  Absolutely not!

  [A.S. no, but adds, “Never say never.”]

  McClintock summed up his interview with NewsMax by saying:

  “To the people of California, I would say the tragedy that has befallen California is not because of any act of God, it's because of acts of government. We can change that.”

[sruleoflaw]

Sorry -- a vote for a Reagan Republican is NEVER A WASTED VOTE. Goldwater was slaughtered in '64 and out of those ashes came Reagan in '66 and Reagan in '80.

[Jeff Gordon]

RINOism probably is an insult

Do you really believe that you can win people's hearts and minds with insults?

[A CA Guy]

I don't question if Tom is electable at all. That was answered long ago with a big NO. You can move those pieces all along the board any way you wish and it is still NO!

I knew the race was going to the Dems before Arnold entered.

Arnold entering was the Republican's only chance.

He is against illegal drivers licenses. Against late term abortions. Says marriage is between a man and a woman. Pro 187, 13 and for cutting spending versus raising taxes.
He can't rule out raising taxes because an emergency could come along like 9-11, but he wants to make cuts and restrict growth.

Arnold could isn't the worst at all and he is electable! Something McClintock was never going to be in this race.

[sruleoflaw]

Wow, I love that. From the time I saw the first posts on this subject I've seen dozens and dozens of insults from Arnold supporters -- and you've given some yourself. I'm tired of the insults, so though I don't ordinarily do so, I am happy in this case to give them back. For an Arnold supporter to express concern about insults or suggestions -- after all I've seen -- is pretty funny to me.

[fabian]

Almost everyone has done some pretty bad things in the past. Arnold's already said how idiotic and crazy that was and is obviously not proud of it.

[A CA Guy]

Well McClintock isn't going anywhere and either is Uberoff, so what bit of magic were you planning?

It was always going to be either Bustamante of Arnold. It's Arnold pretty hands down, except for the fact that McNader could cut this close enough to elect Bustamante.

[sruleoflaw]

You've been fair in your posts, but you're glossing over Arnold's record.

Here's another view: supports abortion, will not take a no tax hike pledge, will not identify a single program he'll cut, says it's OK for illegals to remain here.

WATCH AND SEE IF HE DOESN'T RAISE TAXES. Sleazy Pete Wilson did the same trick in '91. You all have been warned. I write op-ed columns for two newspapers in San Joaquin County in Northern California -- and when Arnold pulls his weasel stunt (raising taxes), I plan to shred him as best I can. I can see unprincipled politicians a mile away.

Watch and see. Within 6-12 months after being in office (if people are foolish enough to vote for him), the tax hikes will be here, courtesy of the Kennedy liberal.

[Jeff Gordon]

I've seen dozens and dozens of insults from Arnold supporters

Two wrongs do not make a right.

If I have thrown personal insults at you or any other Freeper, I apologize. I try not make a habit of it.

[sruleoflaw]

Yes he did. And then the next day, he lied and said he had no memory of those articles from 20-30 years ago. Why didn't he take responsibility? Why didn't he tell the truth? No wonder, Arnold was so furious about the GOP impeaching Clinton and said he'd never forgive them. Arnold is already Clinton lite. The man can't tell the truth.

[Yaelle]

If he [Arnold] drops out McClintock wins.

You kidding? Arnold could drop out today and McClintock cannot win. Hellooo, Cruzie.

[Yaelle]

...[Arnold] will not take a no tax hike pledge..."

Wrong. He said on Hannity (heard it twice now) that he absolutely pledges NOT TO RAISE TAXES unless CA has some kind of emergency like an earthquake or terrorist attack, G-d forbid.

[fabian]

Is it possible that he really has no memory of the specific articles? He must have done so many interviews through the years; isn't admitting and being ashamed of his past failures good enough? I do agree with you that he was wrong not to want Clinton impeached, but has alot more character than Clinton.

[185JHP]

Enough pain can distort judgment. And there's serious pain in Cali. I just spent four months there. An enormity of historical proportions exists there. The problem for me is twofold: 1. The CA governorship is only a step away from you-know-where. 2. To what degree is Arnold really an Arlen Specter, only better looking and with more talent?. How much damage could a Specter do at 1600 PA?

[A CA Guy]

He doesn't support late term abortion, so he is help there.
Abortion wasn't going to be won anytime soon because the stubborn and religious people refuse to go for the winnable argument that there should be NO ABORTION except for RAPE, INCEST, CHILD PREGNANCY or LIFE AND DEATH HEALTH OF THE MOTHER.
It's a lost cause so far because the pro life crowd went for all or nothing instead of the winnable version above and frankly their stubbornness has caused the death of millions of innocent babies that could have been saved.

He is against illegals getting drivers licenses and was pro 187, 13.

I don't know if he would raise taxes since his goal seems to be to stop over spending and making this state business friendly. I would think he would have to modify the state tax code to bring businesses back and to perhaps go after some tort reform and lawsuit limitations as well.

He also mentioned needing to correct the workman's compensation issue.

He is also the only electable Republican in this race which is a big consideration unless you want to elect the militant liberal Bustamante.

[So Cal Rocket]

According to Arnold at the Hannity interview, he is against vouchers.

Schwarzenegger sounded cool to the idea of school vouchers, explaining, "I think it is very important that we work with the current system."

But he added, "As you know, with the No Child Left Behind Act that President Bush has put forward, you have a chance that if your school has failed, that you can take your child to another school."