|
|
Posted on 09/30/2003 8:36:48 AM PDT by Sabertooth
There has been not a little controversy about an unguarded remark by Arnold Schwarzenegger, to the effect that some supporters of California's Proposition #54, the Racial Privacy Initiative, are "right wing crazies."
Schwarzenegger's comment was first reported in The National Review, not generally known as a left wing publication...
Schwarzenegger was questioned about Prop 54, the Ward Connerly-spearheaded measure that would make it illegal for governmental agencies to collect racial statistics on the population, with some prudent exceptions. This is the Racial Privacy Initiative.
Schwarzenegger said, "I'm against it. It looks good on the surface, but when you study it you see its true intentions. It was a no-brainer, once I looked at all the reading and all the materials. I do a lot of work with after-school programs, a lot of these kids are minorities, and we need to know how they're doing and bring them up to the starting line. It was a no-brainer. And if the right-wing crazies have a problem with that, so be it."
National Review Online - September 8th, 2003
Since Proposition 54 has been endorsed by the California Republican Party, and is the heir to 1996's Proposition 209, which banned affirmative action in California, some have regarded the "right wing crazies" comment as somewhat impolitic.
Proposition 209, like Proposition 54, was the brainchild of Ward Connerly, a black conservative activist. Prop 54 is actually intended to plug loopholes found in 209, by leftist bureaucrats with the intent of skirting the anti-affirmative action measure.
So, Schwarzenegger's reported insult of some who are supporting Connerly's latest ballot measure has riled more than a few California conservatives. Coming, as it did, in the midst of California's Gubernatorial Recall election, in a field of candidates that includes Schwarzenegger's fellow Republican, conservative Tom McClintock, the "right wing crazies" report has caused concern among members of the GOP here.
Schwarzenegger's appeal has been more to the moderate spectrum of the electorate, and his campaign has been attempting to make inroads with Republican conservatives, many of whom have been referred to as "right wing crazies" in the past by the Democrats and mainstream press, and whom have also been skeptical about Schwarzenegger's more liberal positions on a range of social issues.
Realizing the danger, Schwarzenegger campaign spokesman Sean Walsh attempted to put the "right wing crazies" matter to rest a few days after the initial report.
Here is a synopsis from the Ventura County Star, including the first hand account of Schwarzenegger's comment by Proposition 54 spokesman Justin Jones, followed by Walsh's statement:
Jones said Schwarzenegger explained that he had studied the measure and determined it was a "no-brainer" to oppose it. Schwarzenegger went on to say he believed it important that public schools be able to identify minority children to help "bring them up to the starting line. And if the right-wing crazies have a problem with that, so be it."
Sean Walsh, a spokesman for Schwarzenegger, said Tuesday that the exchange "never happened."
"Someone did ask him his position on Proposition 54, and he expressed his concerns about the health-care aspects and educational aspects," Walsh said. "With regard to any additional comments, they never happened."
< -snip- >
Walsh called the timing of the allegation suspicious, as it comes a few days before a statewide Republican convention in Los Angeles that opens Friday.
"Let's be candid," Walsh said. "We are going into a Republican convention and there are those who don't necessarily support Mr. Schwarzenegger who are trying to get attention."
Ventura County Star - September 10th, 2003
So, we have a first-hand account by a named source, Justin Jones, and a subsequent denial by Schwarzenegger spokesman Sean Walsh. It's not clear if Walsh was present for the alleged exchange.
So, this would appear to be a clear-cut case of "he said - someone's spokesman said."
While it would be preferable if Schwarzenegger had cleared the matter up himself, Walsh's denial of the "right wing crazies" remark on his behalf does give Schwarzenegger at least a measure of plausible deniability.
Unless, of course, some other account of Schwarzenegger's use of the offending phrase should surface...
Although his positions on such issues have nothing to do with ending the state's financial crisis, which Schwarzenegger has said would be his main concern as governor, they are important because they could help him gain support from the conservative wing of the state Republican Party."Even within the Republican base, if you are talking about a closed Republican primary... they are no more than 20 to 25 percent of the registered Republicans. There is a perception out there that all registered Republicans are right wing crazies -- that, in fact, is not true."
MSNBC - August 27th, 2003
This second and independent account of Schwarzenegger's use of the offending "right wing crazies" phrase comes from earlier in the Recall campaign, though not from the week of the State Republican Convention, to which Sean Walsh's denial-by-proxy appears to apply.
Here again, Schwarzenegger is using the term "right wing crazies" to refer to Republican conservatives, though he concedes that they make up no more than "20 to 25 percent of the registered Republicans."
Still, as we enter the final week of California's Gubernatorial Recall campaign, amid calls from state GOP leaders to unify the party behind Schwarzenegger, multiple questions have now arisen about Schwarzenegger's comments and attitudes toward the conservative wing of the party.
With two separate accounts of his use of "right wing crazies," Schwarzenegger needs to have Sean Walsh step away from the microphone, and address the issue himself, in his own words.
>>>Asked and answred many times in the past few weeks.
Not to my knowlwdge and not on FreeRepublic. You made the claim and I guess you meant the Bush family. Now I'd like to see what you have, please supply the links. And don't assume everyone subscribes to Lexus-Nexus. Thanks again.
|
|
Hey, that almost sounded like an Arnold-type soundbite. Scary. Have you started talking with an Austrian accent yet?
Arnold's statements and you also help confirm that conservatives really dont have anything to win by supporting moderates. There are no compromises or alliances being offered. The position of the moderates is to marginalize the conservatives as much as possible.
I would vote for those that truly support and represent me rather than those who tell me lies and call me names.
But then you dont need those right wing crazies so you have nothing to expect or complain about.
The main issue is that Arnold has nothing to offer conservatives. The remarks prove his intentions. I'm not offended that Arnold doesnt like conservatives but I wouldnt vote for him over a conservative either.
*This* is a vampire cat:
not on FreeRepublic. ... Really?
You made ...you meant ...you have ... Issues and ideas rather than pronouns
And don't (you) assume everyone subscribes to Lexus-Nexus....Yes there is a subscription fee, but it's worth it.
You mean he can't offer YOU all you want as in ALL OR NOTHING!
Let me be very blunt... you are either ignorant or really don't know squat about conservtive positions.
Here is a short, quick, non-all-inclusive list of things that he can and will offer conservatives:
o Lower taxes
o Less regulations
o Lower workmens comp premiums
o Parental notification of abortions
o Eliminating fraud and waste
You're a liar. So be it.
Conservatism has to have a standard of working from the constitution and the rule of law. You can break conservatism down into positions but that doesnt mean they can stand alone. A few "conservative" positions is completely meaningless. Clinton could offer a few conservative positions and still be well on his way to corrupting and selling out the country.
If conservatism were as repairing the ship, then mending the sails and repairing the hull could be the positions for that purpose. But an offer to mend the sails in return for chopping up the hull for firewood is not an offer to repair the ship.
Arnold will not do what it takes to deal with illegal immigration. Arnold will not do what it takes to protect the 2nd amendment because he is in favor of gun control. He will not lower taxes. He is pro abortion. etc...
Republicans who support or turn the other way to illegal immigration or who dont support the 2nd amendment, have moved so far away from the constitution that they cannot be considered conservative no matter how many other positions they hold. They have undermined the whole.
If Arnold cannot support the very basics then he has nothing to offer.
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.