Schwarzenegger: McClintock a Pawn of Pro-Bustamante Indians

NewsMax ^ | Spet. 19, 2003 | Carl Limbacher

[FairOpinion]

American Indians who are supporting Democrat front-runner Cruz Bustamante in California are also promoting Republican state Sen. Tom McClintock, and GOP front-runner Arnold Schwarzenegger is furious.

"I think that as far as Tom McClintock is concerned, I think the question I have for him is, what side is he on?" Schwarzenegger said Thursday. "Is he on the side of the Republicans? Does he represent the Republicans, or does he represent Bustamante?"

Schwarzenegger suggested that the tribes were abetting Bustamante by trying to split the Republican vote.

"They are financing his commercials and TV spots and all that," said Schwarzenegger, who doesn't take money from Indian tribes. "He knows they're financing him not because they want him to be governor. They just want to interfere with the process so that Bustamante wins. He has to decide which side is he on, the Republicans' or Bustamante's."

McClintock called Schwarzenegger's comments "a ridiculous statement by a man who obviously hasn't paid much attention to California public affairs. ... For 20 years, I have fought to protect sovereignty on reservation lands, well before there was gaming.

"If they wanted to hurt Schwarzenegger, they would be making an independent expenditure to hurt Schwarzenegger, and Lord knows there's plenty they could hurt him with."

Assemblyman John Benoit, R-Palm Desert, a Schwarzenegger supporter, told the Riverside Press-Enterprise: "I think the idea of divide and conquer is a tried and true tactic. I can't speak for the Indians, but if there was somebody looking to help Bustamante, this would be the way to do it."

[Long Cut]

"Polls show that if the race was between McClintock and Bustamante McClintock wins. Help me out here!"

Absolutely no scientific, reliable polls show this. The fact is that McLintock could get ALL the conservative votes in California, and STILL lose. Without crossover votes, which Scwarzenegger can get and McLintock cannot, a Republican cannot win in CA.

The Simon fiasco of last year showed this well; sadly, some conservatives either cling to the fantasy that someone can win with far right support alone, or to the other fantasy that if he doesn't, "those evil RINOs" sabotaged him.

We cannot win if we keep chasing dreams. Winners in elections do NOT nominate candidates based on narrow, even if intense, emotion.

[Long Cut]

Allow me to clarify:

About 1/3 of California voters are Right-wing. Another 1/3 are solidly Leftist/Dem, and we know already who they're going to vote for...Davis, with Busta as a backup. The final 1/3 are what we would call "undecideds", "moderates", or "middle-of-the-road". It is among these voters that a winning candidate will find his margin of victory.

With this group, it is VITAL that a candidate not do anything which could drive away their votes. They are as leery of the Right as of the Left; a candidate MUST make them comfortable with himself.

Arnold Schwarzenegger's "moderate" stands on some social issues put them at ease...they want the state's problems solved; they do not want it done by someone they feel is too "far out".

Facts are stubborn things, it is said. Among this group of vital votes, it is stubborn fact that few are gunowners who know what an "assault" weapon is, and are nervous about folks that want them. Besides, they are already banned in CA.

It is stubborn fact that while some may be uncomfortable with abortion, they are similarly uncomfortable with a total ban on it.

It is stubborn fact that they may feel uncomfortable with illegal immigration, but they do not wish to be tarred with the "racist" brush, and accept it because, hey, who's going to mow the lawn and clean the house?

To sum it up, this middle ground of nonetheless vital voters is perfectly happy with the status quo, at least on social issues. What they want is a fiscal solution to the state's fiscal and budget problems which doesn't clobber them too much.

It should be obvious now why Mr. Schwarzenegger appeals to this group. Couple that with his built-in name recognition and inherent popularity, and his relentlessly positive, optimistic attitude, and you have a recipe for a win.

It is also obvious that Tom McLintock, as much as we conservatives here agree with him (I personally like his stance on guns, for instance, not that he can do sod-all about it), will scare those voters right back to their ultimate status quo...Davistamante.

These people like stability; to get them to even consider a change at all is an accomplishment. Too radical a change will have them saying "NO!"

[BibChr]

See above. I'm still waiting, too. Since I've already done my part, it's your turn.

[Long Cut]

Here's another one you can use. Credit to BlueNgold for the 1/3-1/3-1/3 numbers.

[Long Cut]

Re: #483...The breakdown of Right-vs.-Left-vs.-Middle WILL change for other states. As we all know, some states are more conservative than others.

As for the country as a whole, for whom it may concern: The breakdown is more like 40% Right, 40% left, 20% Middle, at least in the most recent numbers I've seen.

[Long Cut]

"The only difference, I see, between Schwarzenegger and Bustamante is that Schwarzenegger is a little harder on illegal immigration. So, if Bustamante wins you basically have the same policies implemented in CA"

There ARE other differences, which sometimes get obscured in the wild rhetoric. BTW, you seem to be a bit more open-minded than that, thank you.

Schwarzenegger, while not stepping on the "NO tax increases, EVER!" landmine, nonetheless has stated repeatedly that Californians and California businesses are taxed WAY too much, and he would not raise taxes, save for extreme emergencies (earthquakes, for example, or other disasters). Bustamante has already promised to RAISE taxes by $8 billion. Schwarzenegger also has promised to try to reduce regulatory red tape and fight for tort reform, as well as to try to solve the state's workman's comp mess. He has stated that he wishes to audit the state's books to find and eliminate waste and duplicate or overlapping programs. Further, don't forget that he will wield a veto pen, thus enabling curbs on some of the more outrageous spending and social legislation that Bustamante would rubber-stamp.

Finally, as a fiscally-responsible Republican, Schwarzenegger would at least be approachable to appeals from the Right, which Bustamante would laugh out of his office.

Solving the state's problems will require a pro-growth, pro-business approach, I.E., Fiscal Republican. The Dems are solidly anti-business socialists.

Again, once one looks past the "RINO" and "Not A Dime's Worth Of Difference!" rhetoric, the differences become clearer.

Just think about it for a moment...if Schwarzenegger really WAS as much of a Leftist as some here claim, why would he not simply declare as a Democrat (which would gain him the acclaim and $$$ of most of his own Hollywood colleagues) and run as such? Certainly, in CA it might give him an advantage.

[EternalVigilance]

See what above? I don't see a post from you that addresses my question to you in any fashion.

I'm waiting for you to present your clear, concise presentation for how someone who calls himself a biblical Christian can justify supporting a candidate who is a pro-abort and supports the radical gay agenda.

If you've given it, give me the post number so I can read it.

But if you think that another poster twisting and lying and changing the clear meanings of words somehow justifies you, you are an utter fraud and are not familiar with the Truth at all.

[BobS]

I had basic training at Lackland AFB in Texas during August of all months:) One of those "creative" guys I served in Europe with turned into an engineer too, so I have a connection for a job around Richardson. Certainly I expect Texas gals to be better "behaved" too! LOL I don't know if you've "mingled" with CA ones lately, but MAN, you better sleep with one eye open! I don't need anymore wacko surprises!

[EternalVigilance]

LOL...Texas gals are the best. Or so I've been told... ;-)

[Sabertooth]

The only difference, I see, between Schwarzenegger and Bustamante is that Schwarzenegger is a little harder on illegal immigration.

In what way?

[BobS]

I don't think you get the kook test! If McC is the last one standing, the RATs + kooks + wackos will mobilize to support Bustymountass. We are outnumbered. You should read 'The Art of War' by Sun Tzu. There are ways to win and ways to lose.

[sruleoflaw]

Thank you so much for holding Dan (the Biblical Christian) accountable. His support for Arnold does not reflect positively on a man who claims to follow God. His name tag (Jeremiah 8:9) about rejecting the word of the Lord is really about him. I want our buddy Dan to check out Jeremiah 1:5, about knowing unborn children in the womb. BibChr is a massive offense to me as a Christian.

People shouldn't claim the name, if they can't follow principle.

[sruleoflaw]

God bless you. You're right. Arnold is stuck...and let's see what happens Wednesday. I pray for Arnold -- the pro-abortion man -- to drop like a rock.

[sruleoflaw]

Please spare me the God bless America in your post name as you support a man who supports abortion (which God hates)and homosexual domestic partnerships and talks about preferring the pump to coming on national television. Personally, I think Arnold makes a righteous God sad.

[sruleoflaw]

And BobS what will you do if McClintock is the last one in the race?

Will you fight for Tom or roll over like the other Arnold RINOS on this website? What have you done in this race to help defeat Cruz? I have given big money (for me) to Tom, I've written an op-ed, I do a radio show each week. AS YOU PROCLAIM THAT TOM CAN'T WIN, which is a boatload of manure, please describe what you're doing to help us defeat Cruz?

[Kevin Curry]

It's amazing how readily and zestily Schwarzenegger FReepers have jettisoned some of their most ardently-held principles--abortion, gun rights, small government etc--in their blind rush to support him.

If he asked them to crawl and lick the floor clean that he walks on, I believe they would fight each other to be first in line.

[Long Cut]

Oh, and something else has occurred to me...it has to do with the "fog of vitriol" floating about.

If Schwarzenegger dropped out of the race, his supporters have almost universally said that their votes would go to McLintock. McLintock's supporters, on the other hand, swear they'd vote for a brick first, were the situation reversed.

So, who really wants to win?

[sruleoflaw]

Amen, you are absolutely right. I fear for my country when I see the people on this website who will surrender any principle -- abortion, the institution of marriage, no tax hikes under any circumstances, limited government, racial privacy, illegal immigration -- to get a Republican into power.

Arnold S. strikes me as one of the biggest political slot machines I've ever seen. He has a low moral character and is really a socialist. Every time he says he is a conservative, the Arnold masses bow and worship. The way Arnold's left-wing, socialist views are defended on this website are pathetic.

Let see: The man's one attempt for public policy is a $445 million government baby-sitting program. WHAT MESSAGE DOES THAT SEND? This Arnold is a liberal Democrat at the best and a socialist at the worst.