Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Inside McClintock’s Head - What Could Have Been
National Review ^ | September 29, 2003 | Arnold Steinberg

Posted on 09/29/2003 9:06:32 AM PDT by Recourse

September 29, 2003, 10:07 a.m.

Inside McClintock’s Head What could have been.

By Arnold Steinberg

LOS ANGELES — Republican candidate for California governor Tom McClintock is honorable and principled, intelligent and serious. He can be plainspoken in his eloquence. Now, with the election barely a week away, some may ask plainly: Why is he still running?

McClintock's critics say he is not a team player. But McClintock supporters reply that the Republican team was AWOL last year. That's when McClintock barely lost in the state controller's race to a Democrat who outspent him 5-to-1. Republican kingmakers, according to McClintock partisans, instead funded likely losers.

Was it a chicken-and-egg situation? McClintock is more solitary than collegial. As politicians go, he is a loner. For many conservatives, he is right on the issues. But he also is not a coalition builder, even in his own party. To be more precise, early last decade, McClintock opposed then-Gov. Pete Wilson's tax hike. And neither Wilson nor McClintock have forgiven each other. McClintock acted the role of spoiler last week, when he attacked Wilson as "California's worst governor."

Given McClintock's mastery of the state's budgetary process, this election, at the outset, was his time. But was it? As soon as Arnold Schwarzenegger announced, Republican Congressman David Dreier began to lead a growing coalition of relatively conservative defectors. Were they pragmatic or prescient — or sellouts?

Was McClintock done in by his fellow travelers? Barely a third into this brief campaign, conservative talk-show hosts tilted Schwarzenegger. There were the obligatory kind words for McClintock. But with friends like Sean Hannity...

McClintock became increasingly impatient with talk-show types repeatedly asking when he would quit the race. But didn't McClintock's campaign encourage such questions by its passive retreat? McClintock did not publicly challenge the vulnerable Schwarzenegger on his inconsistencies and flip-flops.

Conservative icon Bruce Herschensohn now has an independent-expenditure radio spot for McClintock. It's funded modestly by the California Republican Assembly (CRA). In it, Herschensohn says that McClintock would be elected, if only true believers voted their conscience. That message comes too late.

McClintock's critics feel he wants revenge on "country-club Republicans." While McClintock is more comfortable with fiscal issues, he sees the Republican party as more than bookkeepers. But even on tax-and-spend matters, he often has differed with major corporations. There is a populist bent to McClintock. That may be another reason why the California Chamber of Commerce took sides, standing with Arnold.

But would McClintock knowingly sabotage the stronger Republican candidate, Arnold Schwarzenegger? This theory supposed that McClintock would draw enough Republican votes so that Democrat Cruz Bustamante would win. After all this recall fuss, we would end up, if that were possible, with someone worse than Davis. And Davis indeed may be California's worst governor.

But, if Gray Davis is recalled, Schwarzenegger could win, even with McClintock in the race. Arnold seemingly maneuvered McClintock to quit; consequently, he looked less like a leader. In private polling, Arnold currently runs about seven points ahead of Bustamante. Democrat strategists have all but given up on the Cruzer. Their only hope is to defeat the recall. They want a final week of epic negativism, sufficient to drive risk-averse voters back to the devil they know. But they should have opened up on Arnold much earlier.

The simple explanation for Arnold's current lead is not Arnold and his campaign. Despite his near-total name recognition, overwhelming media coverage, and massive ad campaign, Schwarzenegger had stalled until the last few days. But Schwarzenegger has lucked out on many counts, including the failure of Democrats to define him early. Also, Cruz Bustamante's inept campaign has focused solely on nonwhite Democrats. His TV commercials show reaction shots only of ethnics. Not very smart, when the governor just signed controversial legislation giving driver's licenses to illegal aliens. And Bustamante's profound campaign theme runs something like this, "I know it will be hard to find my name on the ballot."

And, ironically, Tom McClintock's campaign has pretty much let Arnold off the hook. Schwarzenegger's high profile was an early gift to McClintock, but his campaign didn't know what to do. If the state senator had confronted Arnold daily, a dozen cameras would have covered him. Here was the perfect storm for an indigent candidate like McClintock who could barely afford paid media: unlimited free media.

Perhaps the turning point was the Great Debate last week. This was McClintock's final opportunity to turn the corner. For reasons that only he knows, Tom McClintock did not engage Arnold Schwarzenegger.

— Arnold Steinberg is a California-based political strategist.


TOPICS: Editorial; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: California
KEYWORDS: mcclintock; mcwampum; recall; schwarzenegger; shitforbrains
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-60 last
To: rftc
So Arnold is an 'awful candidate' beating 4 opponents singlehandedly right now

He's a successful action-hero who can afford to be an awful candidate.

41 posted on 09/29/2003 10:22:09 AM PDT by skeeter (Fac ut vivas)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 40 | View Replies]

To: BunnySlippers
What kind of job will Tom have now that he's leaving politics?


42 posted on 09/29/2003 10:23:43 AM PDT by CheneyChick (www.JoinArnold.com - "Let's Bring Kah-lee-fohr-nya Back")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: rftc
Actually Arnold is beating 167 candidates. Not too bad for a ne'er-do-well.
43 posted on 09/29/2003 10:24:38 AM PDT by Hillary's Lovely Legs (There is no shame in being poor, just dressing poorly)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 40 | View Replies]

To: Spiff
Let the DEM's TRY to SLIME. They could throw ANYTHING at Mr. Schwarznegger. People will be so turned off by it, they will come out in droves to vote against Davis and MEChABustamante. Already they have underestimated the will of Californians in the recall alone.. so bring it on!!

As to Tom McClintock, he has slapped his own party in the face with his remarks about the county GOP chairs being "cocktail sipping country club elitists" (not an exact quote, but you know which one I'm talking about)..and now in his last attempt of desperation slamming Mr. Schwarzenegger. Arnold has had nothing but good things to say about McClintock.

I guess we all know by now who is above the fray and who isn't. IMO, we have made the right choice for Governor.

McClintocks future in the GOP is over unless he unites behind the leading candidate. He is a poor loser. People are shocked at his ego in this. It is pathological.
44 posted on 09/29/2003 10:33:13 AM PDT by Vets_Husband_and_Wife (CNN: Where " WE report what WE decide!!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Recourse
For reasons that only he knows, Tom McClintock did not engage Arnold Schwarzenegger.

He's conceding without conceding. He wants to be on the ballot in case a miracle happens, but he wants to be able to pick up the pieces later in case Shwartznegger wins. And if Bustamante wins, he's hoping the fact that he wasnt too "devisive", will allow him to keep his cushy job in State Government. ..Pretty complicated.

45 posted on 09/29/2003 10:37:30 AM PDT by Nonstatist
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Nonstatist
I wish Steve Forbes had adopted the same stance towards Pres. Bush in the primaries. He might be Treasury secretary today instead of persona non grata at the White House.
46 posted on 09/29/2003 10:49:46 AM PDT by SupplySider
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 45 | View Replies]

To: Vets_Husband_and_Wife
A fabulous and well stated post.
47 posted on 09/29/2003 10:51:32 AM PDT by onyx (Vote Arnold Schwarzenegger for Governor of Calley-for-nee-a)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 44 | View Replies]

To: Spiff
Tom needs to stay in and be ready to pick up the frontrunner spot as the slime on Arnold gets released this week.

With the increased anger of California voters after the three judges had the audacity to stall the election against state constitution (support for recall increased), and because the population is so familiar with Davis' tactics which are so much a part of the furry of the voters with regard to Davis, I think late slime is going to backfire big time. I believe it will motivate voters to vote in support of the recall and could likely get AS the sympahty vote. It would certainly encourage me that way. And I'm a CA voter.

48 posted on 09/29/2003 11:16:01 AM PDT by hotpotato
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Vets_Husband_and_Wife
Let the DEM's TRY to SLIME. They could throw ANYTHING at Mr. Schwarznegger. People will be so turned off by it, they will come out in droves to vote against Davis and MEChABustamante. Already they have underestimated the will of Californians in the recall alone.. so bring it on!!

I think you are right. The recall was losing momentum until the three federal judges attempted to interfere with the proces and ignore state constitution by ruling in favor of delaying the recall. They actually encouraged more support for the recall with this tactic. People of this state are angry and fed up. Even a good percentage of democrats are fed up with their own party. I really do agree if they attempt to drop a last-minute bomb on AS, it will have the same reaction (maybe more so) that the three judges had on the population with regard to the recall. btw, anyone notice how Clinton stomping for Gray did not seem to bring more support against the recall. Don't know whether it was the debate last week, the three judges, or Clinton that did the most damage to Gray.

49 posted on 09/29/2003 11:22:34 AM PDT by hotpotato
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 44 | View Replies]

To: hotpotato; onyx
Let's just hope, when we count the absentee votes that the McClintock votes didn't lose us the State. It really "could" be that close.

It never serves us well to "bad mouth" a fellow Republican who is a front runner like he has done Mr. Schwarzenegger lately.

I called Mr. McClintocks campaign office Friday and "respectfully" asked that he "please step down for the sake of California, that he set aside his own ego, and step aside". "I BEGGED him to do so" and stated again .. "That I did so WITH ALL DUE RESPECT".

We must always be that way. I truly believe that. But I honestly believe this is political suicide that McClintock is committing.. right before our eyes, unless he puts the State and his party before himself. I honestly don't feel you will see the GOP backing him for ANY office if he doesn't do the right thing..and soon! Californians sure won't!!

FRegards
50 posted on 09/29/2003 11:40:42 AM PDT by Vets_Husband_and_Wife (CNN: Where " WE report what WE decide!!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 49 | View Replies]

To: Vets_Husband_and_Wife
all absolutely correct...
expect to be accused of slandering St. Tom.
51 posted on 09/29/2003 11:44:54 AM PDT by Robert_Paulson2 (robert... the rino...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 44 | View Replies]

To: BunnySlippers
we have one vote for weiner dogs counter person
one for maytag repair man, or accountant.
I vote for him working at kinney's shoe store for children... where his supporters feel more comfortable.
52 posted on 09/29/2003 11:46:01 AM PDT by Robert_Paulson2 (robert... the rino...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: onyx
no kidding...
spot on.
53 posted on 09/29/2003 11:46:20 AM PDT by Robert_Paulson2 (robert... the rino...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 47 | View Replies]

To: christynsoldier
Maybe you should get the hell out of the kitchen if you can't take the heat! You McClinton zealots have been spewing your hate-filled rhetoric for months. If you want to dish it out, you'd better be able to take it also.
54 posted on 09/29/2003 11:48:26 AM PDT by Redleg Duke (Stir the pot...don't let anything settle to the bottom where the lawyers can feed off of it!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: Vets_Husband_and_Wife
I have mixed feelings about McClintock stepping down. If he does step down and AS wins (which I believe would happen), TM supporters will never be satisfied and Gray's supporters will always refer to AS inability to win blah blah blah.

It would be nice for AS to win with near 50% of the vote but I'd rather him win with TM in the race. I think he can. TM has pretty much lost my support by showing a side of him I didn't know existed and frankly, worries me. CA doesn't need another administration that can't get anything done because people can't or won't "follow the leader." TM doesn't seem to understand that it takes cooperation to get the job done.
55 posted on 09/29/2003 12:11:49 PM PDT by hotpotato
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 50 | View Replies]

To: Recourse
Tom's going down with the ship.

More like he's trying to torpedo it.

56 posted on 09/29/2003 12:17:22 PM PDT by EveningStar
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Tom/Cruz may have to take up teepee living.
57 posted on 09/29/2003 12:21:47 PM PDT by Consort
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 51 | View Replies]

To: Robert_Paulson2
I vote for elevator operator.
58 posted on 09/29/2003 12:24:30 PM PDT by BunnySlippers (I'm voting for Arnold. McClintock doesn't deserve my vote!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 52 | View Replies]

To: Redleg Duke
why thank you, always nice to hear from another of Arnie's Dale Carnegie grads! and be sure and have a nice day...

;^)
59 posted on 09/29/2003 5:04:12 PM PDT by christynsoldier (remember, a vote for Bubbanegger is a vote for the Kennedy clan...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 54 | View Replies]

To: hotpotato
What would be sickening is if TM caused us to lose by exactly the amount of absentee ballots or percentage of votes in the upcoming election that he drew away from Arnold Schwarzenegger.

If that happened I wouldn't want to be McClintock. He would probably want to consider moving. JMHO

Oh, and Maria Sanchez (D) on Hannity and Colmes tonight gave Tom McClintock a rave review. She said he is the best Conservative candidate out there, and that Conservative voters should be voting for him!! UNBELIEVABLE!!

I can't believe McClintock can't see how the Democrats are using him to DEFEAT a Republican win. God willing it won't work. But why can't McClintock see this? Why can everyone else..and not him?
60 posted on 09/29/2003 6:56:10 PM PDT by Vets_Husband_and_Wife (CNN: Where " WE report what WE decide!!")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 55 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-60 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson