Rohrabacher: Schwarzenegger Is the Republican Hope

NewsMax.com ^ | 9/11/03 | Dave Eberhart

[kattracks]

In a candid talk with NewsMax.com, U.S. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Calif., Arnold Schwarzenegger’s longtime friend, emphasizes what he perceives as the real significance of the unique recall race in that embattled, cash-strapped state:

“The liberal Democrats here represent a real Tammany Hall,” he grieves. “Davis and Bustamante are the puppeteers of the liberal left machine.”

Rohrabacher goes on to explain to NewsMax that he and his fellow Republican U.S. House members in California are by circumstance “immersed” in California politics:

“We know that we must find a way to grow the party in California. Arnold is opening up the dialogue. He is showing a lot of folks that’s its cool to be a Republican in the state. He’s attractive to young Hispanics.”

When asked by NewsMax if his touted 20-year friendship wasn’t coloring his enthusiasm, he admits: “I would call it an acquaintance relationship rather than friendship. I would not really be comfortable in calling him up socially.”

“We’ve talked more on substantive issues rather than personal matters,” Rohrabacher adds. “He has been to my house in Washington for dinner; we’ve had breakfast together in California. He’s been out to my district. I was on the movie set with him – ‘Terminator II.’”

Rohrabacher admits that his affinity for Arnold comes not so much from long acquaintance but rather “from my calculation of what’s good for California.”

“Arnold’s not perfect, but he’s our best choice as a governor with a good conservative philosophy. I agree with him 75 to 80 percent of the time,” he adds.

So why not support steadfast Republican state senator Tom McClintock, Schwarzenegger’s competitor in the race?

Backing the Front-Runner

“I agree with Tom’s viewpoints 100 percent – whereas I disagree with Arnold, as I say, about 25 percent of the time on issues. However, a vote for McClintock will only result in the Davis regime in California continuing.”

You’ve been accused of being an apologist for Mr. Schwarzenegger on your various appearances on Fox and CNN. For instance, you explained Arnold’s reticence to debate to Fox recently:

“By going on talk radio shows and by going out and meeting the people, he actually gets more of a dialogue, and people get to know what he feels more than he does by lining up with six or seven other people.

“When he came to my city in Huntington Beach, for example, he met with about 20 different businessmen just there for an hour, listening to their points of view and having a back-and-forth. That’s much more valuable time than, for example, lining up with these eight other candidates.”

How do you feel about this apologist label?

“I accept that; there’s a good reason for that,” the congressman replies. Rohrabacher goes on to talk about Warren Buffett’s “stupid” comments on California’s Proposition 13 (that puts a ceiling on property taxes), from which he quickly advised the star to distance himself.

“Arnold has substantial convictions,” Rohrabacher continues. “It’s not gotten a lot of play in the press, but about four years ago he agreed to back my school voucher initiative. Now, granted, his support has now gone to more a choice among public schools …

“With Arnold it’s all about his good gut instincts. I know Arnold; he’s not about finding new ways to tax citizens.”

How about other Republican members of the U.S. House from California?

“Don’t know of anyone that has endorsed McClintock. Everyone I know is behind Arnold.”

Disavowing any polls that indicate that the momentum for the recall itself is waning, Rohrabacher steadfastly maintains it’s still at about 60 percent in favor. “The recall will win handily,” he notes with conviction.

As to Arnold’s personal momentum: “One-third of Californians support him right off.” The challenge is to “go higher” by attracting the McClintock supporters, for instance. “They have to come on.”

Arnold’s appeal is not coming from the details but from his basic approach, Rohrabacher instructs. “He’s clearly not a big-government man. He’s unabashedly pro-business, a low-tax guy. As to the details, they will get worked out as things go along – after he is in the governor’s mansion.”

Meanwhile, Rohrabacher, the self-admitted apologist, says he hasn’t bothered to defend Arnold about the current crop of womanizing charges: “No one cares about his formerly wild personal life before getting married.”

Editor's Note:
Do you support Arnold Schwarzenegger? Vote in online poll – Click Here Now

Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics:
California Governor's Race

[Tamzee]

A gift to show no hard feelings for your pretense that Arnold is a liberal :-)

Arnold with the bronze bust of Reagan he had commissioned and then donated to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. March 2002

[MaryFromMichigan]

Right now we should be looking at long-term goals.
Arnold Schwarzenegger will win and with his wife Maria (A Kennedy) campaigning for him, many democrats will be pulled into voting and remaining in the Republican party.
The Republican party has a large stake in this election.
The big picture is the 2004 presidential election.
A Republican Governor will be an asset.

[EllaMinnow]

I've been looking at the demographic breakdowns from the latest SURVEY USA poll. I just don't see any possible way that McClintock can pull even a plurality together.

REPUBLICANS
AS %56
TM 25

CONSERVATIVES
AS %51
TM 24

MODERATES
AS %39
TM 13


http://www.surveyusa.com/2003_Elections/CA030909RecallReplace.pdf

[RS]

"You are misinformed. Arnie has NO CHANCE of picking up the GOP base. Tom M. does"

If Tom DOES NOT HAVE the GOP base right now - and "conservatives" make up 80% of the GOP - just who the heck DOES he have ???

When your "base" is over on someone else's bandwagon you better rethink who your "base" is !

[AD from SpringBay]

Schwarzenegger is who Conservatives vote for when they are running out of hope (socially liberal, fiscally middle of the road, yet with an R, after his name).

[RS]

"Schwarzenegger is who Conservatives vote for when they are running out of hope (socially liberal, fiscally middle of the road, yet with an R, after his name)."

Sounds good to me - C'Mon over - you can even still have some voice in what happens under Gov. Arnold -

[Tamzee]

Ueberroth 43% vs Bustamante 43%

Schwarzenegger 49% vs Bustamante 42%

McClintock 41% vs Bustamante 47%

[deport]

“Don’t know of anyone that has endorsed McClintock. Everyone I know is behind Arnold.”

---

A few of the CA legislators that have endorsed Schwarzenegger.......

Congresswoman Mary Bono, Congressman Ken Calvert, Congressman Chris Cox, Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham, Congressman David Dreier, Congressman Jerry Lewis, Congressman Howard "Buck" McKeon, Congressman Doug Ose, Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, Congressman Ed Royce

State Senator Roy Ashburn, State Senator Jim Battin, State Senator Jeff Denham, State Senator Ross Johnson, State Senator Bruce McPherson

Assemblyman Greg Aghazarian,Assemblywoman Patricia Bates, Assemblyman John Benoit, Assemblyman Russ Bogh, Assemblyman John Campbell, Assemblywoman Lynn Daucher, Assemblywoman Bonnie Garcia, Assemblyman Tom Harman, Assemblywoman Shirley Horton, Assemblyman Guy Houston, Assemblyman Doug LaMalfa, Assemblyman Tim Leslie, Assemblyman Abel Maldonado, Assemblyman Kevin McCarthy, Assemblyman Robert Pacheco, Assemblyman George Plescia, Assemblyman Keith Richman, Assemblyman Todd Spitzer, Assemblyman Mark Wyland,

[BunnySlippers]

I've been looking at the demographic breakdowns from the latest SURVEY USA poll. I just don't see any possible way that McClintock can pull even a plurality together.

You're absolutely right. Sadly, the McClintock people are dreaming ... while they are dreaming, Bustamante may become the next governor.

[NormsRevenge]

Why should Arnold debate?

He has all the "expert" practitioners of appeasement on his side including the media and high mucky muck politicos and there is no shortage of willing volunteers here who do the attacking of Tom and conservatives, in general.

They will deny it, of course, becuz we must win, at all costs. What a joke.

Quite a few of them post here everyday, and sadly, many of them are old-timers who have been sucked in by hysteria and who now wrap the shroud of their own misplaced righteousness around their cliques.

They openly call Tom and his supporters crazy, and impugn character as if they never heard of the words , fair play.

I, for one, feel for Jim Robinson as I don't think he would have ever imagined that this forum would be used as a tool of the left and moderates to support the RINOization of America. Isn't the job of Presidnet Bush difficult enough without this charade being played out? The true colors of many is coming thru and it ain't pretty.

They will, of course, claim they have never been so insulted before, but I for one, could care less about their feeeelings or for having anything to do with their headlong march over the cliff in the name of "winning". Many don't pay taxes here to begin with, but that doesn't stop them from bringing their weapons of persuasion into battle, and battle is what this is, after all.

Conservatism is on life support, imo... and their feet are standing on the oxygen hose.

What better day to fight for FReedom and Liberty in California than on 9-11.

(adjusts the flame shields).

Bring It On!

[BunnySlippers]

“Don’t know of anyone that has endorsed McClintock. Everyone I know is behind Arnold.”

McClintock people: Maybe you can fill in who is endorsing him.

[AD from SpringBay]

Sounds good to me - C'Mon over

Must confess - that would mean I'd have to move to California, so I don't really get a vote for him anyway. Think I'll pass this time - but keep my options open here in sunny Illinois (we're about 10 years behind California in terms of liberalism and state government direction).

[eureka!]

Speaking of numbers, interesting registration numbers from Dan Weintraub's blog today:

"The numbers say that since May, California’s voter rolls have expanded by a net of about 194,000. Of those, more than half, or about 94,000, have been either minor party or decline-to-state registrations. About 80,000 have registered Republican, while 20,000 have registered as Democrats. The separate categories are net figures and thus could also reflect changes in registration of those who were already on the rolls. The numbers for August were even more striking, according to this analysis. There were 72,000 new voters in that month alone. The change in party registration, meanwhile, breaks down this way: 39,000, or 55 percent, were third party or independent registrations. About 23,000, or 32 percent, were Republicans. And 9,000, or 13 percent, were Democrats. "

We are definitely in for some ride in the coming weeks--and who knows where we will end up....

[EllaMinnow]

4 to 1 Reublican registration to Democrat registration ratio. In California. Wow!

[RS]

"(we're about 10 years behind California in terms of liberalism and state government direction)."

If you're starting to lose elections, you may want to realize that the guys you are putting up have a message that the people don't want -

In Caleefornia, the FCRINOs are digging in their heels and having NO effect rather then bending a bit and working to move things back smoother when the cycle reverses.

[b9]

Thank you for this most welcome *ping*.

I love FreeRepublic for so many reasons, not the least of which is to differentiate the effective conservatives
Reagan cherished from the blindered "crazies."

Am glad to know Arnold supported school vouchers at one time... as his educational focus evolves, I hope he will again.

[EggsAckley]

Wow!

[A2J]

He'd freeze up like a deer in headlights.

Yummy. Good 'ol GOP venison, destined for the freezer.

Should Ahnuld win, the Democratic Party will be feasting for years to come on the carcass of the once principled party that has become nothing more than "Democratic Lite."

[A2J]

If (R)nuld is the "hope" for the California GOP, then I'd suggest that they start sucking on the business end of a .357 because they're deluding themselves to think (R)nuld will be much, if any, different than the Democrats.

[Tamzee]

Most welcome, and that is one of the reasons I love FR, too. So many incredible people in one incredible place :-)

Regarding vouchers, I am hoping right along with you!