Schwarzenegger Calls Dems 'Girlie Men'

Yahoo/Associated Press ^ | 7/18/2004 | TIM MOLLOY

[John Lenin]

By TIM MOLLOY, Associated Press Writer

LOS ANGELES - A spokesman for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (news - web sites) said Sunday that the governor would not apologize for calling lawmakers "girlie men," despite criticisms from Democrats that the remark was sexist and homophobic.

Schwarzenegger dished out the insult at a rally Saturday as he claimed Democrats were delaying the budget by catering to special interests.

"If they don't have the guts to come up here in front of you and say, 'I don't want to represent you, I want to represent those special interests, the unions, the trial lawyers ... if they don't have the guts, I call them girlie men," Schwarzenegger said to the cheering crowd at a mall food court in Ontario.

The governor lifted the term from a long-running "Saturday Night Live" skit in which two pompous, Schwarzenegger-worshipping weightlifters repeatedly use it to mock those who don't meet their standards of physical perfection.

Democrats said Schwarzenegger's remarks were insulting to women and gays and distracted from budget negotiations. State Sen. Sheila Kuehl said the governor had resorted to "blatant homophobia."

"It uses an image that is associated with gay men in an insulting way, and it was supposed to be an insult. That's very troubling that he would use such a homophobic way of trying to put down legislative leadership," said Kuehl, one of five members of the Legislature's five-member Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Caucus.

"It's ironic that the governor would try to find a metaphor for weakness when his real problem is that we're being too strong," she added.

Schwarzenegger's criticism of Democrats stems in part from their support of one bill prohibiting schools from contracting services with private companies, and another giving workers authority to sue their employers to enforce labor laws. Each side accuses the other of caving in to special interests.

At a rally Sunday in Stockton, the governor gave a speech almost identical to the one he delivered in Ontario but without the "girlie men" remark. Spokesman Rob Stutzman said the line was dropped because Schwarzenegger had already sent the message he wanted to send, not because he regretted his remarks.

"It's a forceful way of making the point to regular Californians that legislators are wimps when they let special interests push them around," Stutzman said. "If they complain too much about this, I guess they're making the governor's point."

Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, a Democrat, said that while he wasn't upset by the remark, his 13-year-old daughter was.

"She's a young girl who knows the governor and really likes him a lot and didn't find the term to be a positive term, and finds it to be derogatory," Nunez said. "It was no question a very, very insensitive comment to make. I personally am not intimidated or threatened by it, but I think it really is beneath Gov. Schwarzenegger."

[Michael.SF.]

The governor lifted the term from a long-running "Saturday Night Live" skit

Of course, we all recall the outrage created when Dana Carvey helped to create this bit, and made it a staple on SNL........................don't we?

[null and void]

Not a Californian, and had no good opinion of Arnold really. But this makes me think a little better of him. What Californians need most is to be shaken out of their oversensitivity to everything. That fear of offending keeps California stagnant.

Well said. You are more perceptive than most of my fellow Caleeefornyans,

[Syncro]

With a couple of exceptions...:>)

See See See, Mel dropped by on Tuesday...developing.

:>)

[weegee]

It's okay to fabricate a hate phrase for a portrayal of a suspected hater...

Just more cheese and whine from the peanut gallery, that's all.

[henderson field]

Governor Schwarzenegger is only seeking precision in word use when he describes the Democrats as girlie-men. That's what they are. Why should an apology of any kind be considered? And as to their taking offense at the term, that was the intent. If they were not offended, the Governor would have considered this precision in word use a failure.
Let's all say it now: Girlie-men, girlie-men; girlie- girlie-girlie-men!

[Gigantor]

Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, a Democrat, said that while he wasn't upset by the remark, his 13-year-old daughter was.

"She's a young girl who knows the governor and really likes him a lot and didn't find the term to be a positive term, and finds it to be derogatory," Nunez said.

Laughable comment of the day...

[Kirkwood]

Not a peep of criticism about "girlie men" when used on SNL. But have a Republican use it and suddenly it becomes one of the greatest homophobic events of the 21st century. The hypocrisy never ends.

[John Lenin]

Girlie Men should know better than to tug on Supermans cape.

[FITZ]

if they don't have the guts, I call them girlie men,

What is possibly wrong with saying that? Especially about the democrats who prefer girlie men --- they adored Bill Clinton crying in public and the worst insult they think they can come up with is to call a man a cowboy type --- which implies to them a more masculine type of man --- like Reagan or Bush.

[CounterCounterCulture]

Mel who? Gibson?

[Eagle Eye]

"Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, a Democrat, said that while he wasn't upset by the remark, his 13-year-old daughter was. "

Hiding behind a little girl is almsot the ultimate in being a Girlie Man. Sheesh!

[GeronL]

HAHAHAHA HAHAHAAHHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHA

Thats a great soundbite I bet

[Nick Danger]

Thought what he said yesterday was silly . . .until I heard the democrat party hacks complaining!

Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good. Schwarzenegger stumbled into this because he remembered it from an old SNL skit. And maybe he's the only guy who could pull it off with just the right touch. But like you, the minute I saw the Democrats' replies, I thought, "What a gold mine! Yes! Let us have Democrats and Press Weenies crabbing about being called 'girlie men' from sea to shining sea!"

"It's homophobic."

"It's sexist."

"My 13-year-old daughter thought was derogatory."

Deeaaarrr Frrriennnds! Yes! It has never been easier!

Are you tired of hearing that everything you think or say or do is sexist and homophobic and wrong? Well, Dear Friends... you can now vote against it!

Are you tired of Prissy People^TM setting all the rules on who can say what? Well, Dear Friends... you can now vote against it!

Yes, Dear Friends... the Party of the Prissy People, the Party that wants you to shut up while 300-pound guys in pink tutus prance down the hallways... not in the Community Theater, but in a steel mill! And if anybody says squat about it they'll be fired! And yes, Dear Friends... here is your chance to vote against that.

I think all the pubbies gotta do is figure out how to work the term "girlie man" into Schwarzeggers's speech at the convention. Leave the rest to the Freepers and the ProtestWarriors for later.

[Syncro]

Noooo.... LOL

I'll ping you to the thread when I post it...

[xm177e2]

"We're not girly men, and we're offended that you would say that!"

[Syncro]

And didn't Coulter call someone a "girlie boy"?

You nailed it, Nick.

Now if the Johns Squared and the metrosexual Demos don't fit that, who could?

[valkyrieanne]

What the governor had in mind, no doubt.

[Southack]

Arnold calls them girlie men and then the Dems respond by sending out first a woman to complain and then a rep with his 13 year old daughter.

Which is to say, they acted like girlie men hiding behind women.

10 Legislative Days Left Until The AWB Expires

[TheCrusader]

"It uses an image that is associated with gay men in an insulting way, and it was supposed to be an insult."

Sounds like this hag is pulling the old "hate crimes" trick out of her bag. This is right where the perverted population wants the rest of us, afraid to speak our minds for fear of the thought police showing up with an arrest warrant. Kudos to Arnold for speaking his mind and putting the perverts in their place.

[FITZ]

And look how Al Gore had to hire a feminist to help him shape an "alpha-male" image --- what could be more "girlie-man" than doing something like that? Except for Kerry using up his wife's wealth from her previous husband --- that's very a very girlie-man thing to do.