Jim Brulte Backs Schwarzenegger

Jim Brulte | 9-23 | Jim Brulte

[ambrose]

Tuesday, September 23, 2003

This morning I am announcing my endorsement of Arnold Schwarzenegger for Governor of California.

I am endorsing Arnold for a number of reasons.

First, Arnold Schwarzenegger is a strong leader who understands the problems facing California and can bring people together to help solve them.

Second, Arnold Schwarzenneger will be the check we so desperately need in California government today. No matter what the outcome of the recall election, the legislature will continue to be controlled by liberals who over-spend, over-regulate and over-tax. California needs a Republican governor who can check the excesses of that legislature.

Third, Arnold Schwarzenegger is the only Republican that can beat Cruz Bustamante and ensure that, if the voters recall Gray Davis, he is replaced with a Governor who wants to take the state in a different direction.

In making this endorsement, however, I want to make it clear that I have the greatest respect for my Senate colleague Tom McClintock. I have known and worked with Tom for a number of years.

In fact, in 2002 I served as Co-Chairman of Tom's campaign for State Controller. In this volunteer capacity I helped raise more money for his campaign than anyone other than Tom himself. I look forward to helping elect Tom to statewide office in the future.

But at this time, in this election, I believe for Tom the governorship is simply a bridge too far. This eight-week recall campaign is three-fourths complete and Tom continues to be the third place candidate.

I also believe that his candidacy puts at risk not only the election of a Republican governor, but the recall itself.

I was not one of the earliest supporters of the recall. I was concerned that the California Democratic Party would be able to unite behind one candidate while Republicans would view the recall in the context of a primary election.

Unfortunately, my concerns have proven to be true. And while two very strong Republican candidates have withdrawn from the race, we still have two very strong and capable Republican candidates who are spitting the anti Davis-Bustamante vote.

And in a replay of what we experienced in the Denham/Arieas senate race last year, some supporters of Cruz Bustamante are conducting independent expenditures on behalf of Tom to ensure that the anti Davis-Bustamante vote continues to be split.

In the last two weeks I have talked with countless voters who would like to vote for the recall, but are hesitant because they fear the election of Cruz Bustamante. They would like to recall Governor Davis but are unwilling to go from bad to worse.

But California doesn't have to go from bad to worse. We have a better choice: a fresh face and new leader who has been successful in business, in the arts, in philanthropic activities, and in public service. That fresh face and new leader is Arnold Schwarzenegger

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

Is Issa going to announce his support for Arnold today?

[MeekOneGOP]

"Hasta La Vista, Baby !!"
(Click here or on the pics !)

[DoctorZIn]

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[Robert_Paulson2]

So the Senate republican LEADER... Tom's Boss on the Floor of the Senate... says YES to ARnold, NO to Tom?

bout time.

[Robert_Paulson2]

He probably did just that, as did a number of these "pro tom" true believers...

most of them had other screen names at the time...
These folks would prefer pat to W, or even allan keyes.

We will win california without them.
Many of them will threaten to leave the party over their "poor treatement" aka "i did not get my way, again"... but sadly most of them will stay to bash President Bush next fall... for not being a "real conservative" like ????

[alwaysconservative]

Thanks so much for the ping, and thanks for posting the article! Brulte is a solid conservative who took a big risk with the tribes on this endorsement.

[alwaysconservative]

He told the gang at Fox and Friends that he is declaring tomorrow, and Simon and Ueberroth would be soon, but made it pretty clear that HIS support was going to Arnold. All his favorable quotes were Arnold's, all his discussion was about Arnold's ideas. He mentioned Tom in passing, in a nice way, but it was evident which candidate he supports. He has such a pleasant and likeable persona.

[PhilDragoo]

Simon enorsed Arnold on Hannity today.

[South40]

Simon enorsed Arnold on Hannity today.

Another freakin' RINO.

/sarcasm

[Tamzee]

Thanks for the smiles again... great pics :-)

[Tamzee]

Yes... and with him making such an enormous personal sacrifice to do the right thing, you KNOW it's the right thing :-)

[alwaysconservative]

It has to be a body blow for Tom to have Brulte "defect" also, but I figure these guys know more about the inside Tom than we do, and they have their reasons. We see some bloody battles or flame wars here on FR on this issue, and I hope that the Republicans really CAN team up for a united front. Usually, I can be an optimist about these things, but it seems that we've had such a strong dose of "Tom or ELSE" that I despair of seeing Republican unity in time for President Bush's reelection, when we need it.

[hoosiermama]

ALl of the uniting behind one candidate is encouraging. I think AS may be underestimated. Instead of debating he was talking to young people, energizing them to go out, get people registered to vote etc. They are the hope of the Republican party in CA (and our nation).

Remember the difference the GOldwater crew or Reagan's workers made on the party as an entirty. We are still benefiting from that shot in the arm. AS will make a difference in bringing people into the Republican party in CA. TC was relying on people who where already involved in politics. Nothing beats the new converts for enthusiam!

[Tamzee]

They are the hope of the Republican party in CA (and our nation).

I agree entirely! A large number of new GOP voters from the left and mushy middle... many potential future GOP party members... and out of those, more potential converts to solid conservatism!

There is hope for tomorrow :-)