Posted on 09/11/2003 1:09:52 AM PDT by 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.”
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California Governor's Race
And what a standard.
The GOP has settled for nothing more than candidates that they think can take votes from Democrats while never understanding (I assume) that they're fast becoming that which they have hated all along: Democrats.
Hear! Hear!
With every one allegedly clamoring over to (R)nuld's side of the boat, don't be surprised when it capsizes on top of you.
Hey, maybe (R)nuld's next movie could be titled:
"Poseidon II: The Sinking Of The GOP"
If Schwarzenegger is the Republican hope then the Republicans are in a lot more trouble than I thought. If Schwarzenegger get elected there will be a lot of supporters of Arnold be mighty disappointed when he serves his term. Another RINO liberal with the R after his name. Does Bloomberg ring a bell.
That's either a naive statement or a blatant falsehood. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt, though, and fill you in. Bloomberg was a Democrat and switched parties FOR his recent election. Arnold has been a dedicated Republican for longer than some Freepers.
In 1991, campaigning for Bush, Sr.
Thats a great photo! Thanks for sharing.
Go Arnold
1) can't do simple math, and
2) find it "principled" to lie and distort the information about the front-running Republican candidate, and
3) resort to vicious insults and bullying anyone who doesn't parrot the comical myth that Arnold and Cruz are the same.
Conservatives are ethical... you are NO conservative.
Get over yourself. As far as you thinking to educate me, I'll return the favor...
who is pro-abortion, pro-gun control, pro-gay rights -- and yet to identify a single cut he'd make in the state's deficit-ridden budget -- Schwarzenegger would put a new face on the Republican Party from coast to coast.
Here are some great quotes on his positions:
"I'm for choice," he said when asked about abortion on Fox TV's "The O'Reilly Factor" in May 2001. "The women should have the choice. The women should decide what they want to do with their bodies. I'm all for that."
On guns, he told a Berkeley-based youth radio station last year: "I don't run around every day with a gun in my hand. So I want kids to understand the difference; one is make believe, like we do in the movies. But in reality, I'm for gun control. I'm a peace-loving guy."
And on gay rights, he told Cosmopolitan magazine, "I have no sexual standards in my head that say 'this is good' or 'this is bad.' Homosexual -- that only means to me that he enjoys sex with a man and I enjoy sex with a woman. It's all legitimate to me."
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