Schwarzenegger appeals to left and right in re-election bid

ap on Riverside Press Enterprise ^ | 9/28/06 | Michael R. Blood - ap

[NormsRevenge]

LOS ANGELES

In celebrity-studded events this week, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger conspicuously advertised his moderate Republican credentials, signing Democratic bills to combat global warming and withdraw state investments from companies in war-torn Sudan.

"Democrats and Republicans can work together," the governor told an audience in Malibu, trumpeting a central plank of his re-election drive.

But a less-visible promotion was taking place, almost simultaneously.

In a Republican-sponsored advertisement being distributed by telephone, Schwarzenegger is portrayed as tough and resolute on illegal immigration an issue with potent appeal among Republican conservatives. His Democratic opponent, Phil Angelides, is depicted as a softy.

"It is critical that we protect our borders, which is why Gov. Schwarzenegger vetoed a bill that would have given drivers licenses to illegal immigrants," a narrator says in an urgent voice in the brief, recorded spot.

"Gov. Schwarzenegger sent over 1,000 National Guard troops to protect our border, but Phil Angelides says he will pull those troops off the border," the ad says.

The ad never mentions the governor was initially hesitant to deploy the troops, or that he later rejected a Bush administration request to send 1,500 more to the border.

The ad underscores a political reality for the actor-governor as he seeks a second term in a state with a Democratic tilt, he is trying to appeal to independents and Democrats at the same time he needs to motivate Republicans and other conservative-leaning voters.

Angelides consultant Bill Carrick accused the governor of "pandering to his political base with targeted phone calls while he is masquerading as almost pretending to be a Democrat."

"He's continually changing his positions," Carrick said.

But Schwarzenegger's campaign manager, Steve Schmidt, said the calls use facts to point out the "tremendous differences between Phil Angelides and Gov. Schwarzenegger."

"We will continue to communicate to voters, through television advertising, volunteer phone calls ... all the way through Nov. 7," Schmidt said.

The state Republican Party ads, which end with a pitch to mail in a ballot for Schwarzenegger, are part of a major, election-turnout drive being run by the governor's campaign and the state GOP.

Campaign and party officials use computerized data to identify receptive voters, who then receive carefully crafted ad pitches, much the way retail firms identify and market goods to consumers.

Party officials confirmed the content of the recorded call on immigration, but would not say how many calls were made or to what areas. The calls are directed at voters believed to be supportive, or leaning toward, the governor.

Schwarzenegger's very public move to the middle has paid dividends. After a spat of dealmaking with Democrats this year on issues from climate change to boosting the minimum wage, he holds a double-digit edge in independents polls over Angelides.

The governor has long faulted the federal government for the nation's porous borders. On June 1, he agreed to send the state National Guard to the border but called it a flawed approach, saying a comprehensive solution is needed that would include a temporary worker program along with tougher border security.

Angelides, who opposed sending troops to the border, has said that if elected he will pressure President Bush to recall members of California's National Guard from Iraq.

Tracking such calls is something of a trade secret in California, where statewide candidates are not required to disclose detailed information about them or who's being contacted.

Angelides' campaign is running a recorded telephone call featuring former President Clinton. "He's on your side," Clinton says.

John Pitney, a professor at Claremont McKenna College in California who once worked as an analyst for congressional Republicans, said carefully crafted phone messages can be effective galvanizing voters.

Compared to political TV ads, "it's the difference between fishing with a net and fishing with a spear gun," Pitney said.

[NormsRevenge]

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger speaks during a news conference held along the U.S.-Mexico border fence near the San Ysidro Port of Entry in San Diego, June 21, 2006. In a Republican-sponsored advertisement being distributed by telephone, Schwarzenegger is portrayed as tough and resolute on illegal immigration, an issue with potent appeal among Republican conservatives. In events this week, Schwarzenegger conspicuously advertised his moderate Republican credentials, signing Democratic bills to combat global warming and withdraw state investments from companies in war-torn Sudan. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy, File)

[NormsRevenge]

In a Republican-sponsored advertisement being distributed by telephone, Schwarzenegger is portrayed as tough and resolute on illegal immigration, an issue with potent appeal among Republican conservatives. In events this week, Schwarzenegger conspicuously advertised his moderate Republican credentials, signing Democratic bills to combat global warming and withdraw state investments from companies in war-torn Sudan. .

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I should have put a spew alert up, sorry.

[goldstategop]

You want to know why Angelides is finished? Bill Clinton is doing voice overs for him. Every Democrat Clinton has endorsed has lost. But they still think he's a vote-getter for them. ROFLMAO!

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus

[NormsRevenge]

speaking of Sudan..

Warren Buffett, Schwarzenegger and Sudan LA Times Blog: Political Muscle

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed legislation Monday requiring California to shed its pension investments with companies that do business with the murderous regime in Sudan, where genocide has claimed as many as 400,000 lives.

"We cannot watch from the sideline," he said, "and be content to mourn this atrocity as it passes into history. We must act, and we must act now.... It is an action that says we will not cooperate with them, with the horrors of Darfur."

Just a few hours before the choreographed event, Schwarzenegger attended a fund-raiser with his friend and economic advisor, Warren Buffett. The breakfast fund-raiser took place at the lavish Fairmont Hotel atop Nob Hill in San Francisco, at a cost of $25,000 a person.

What Schwarzenegger didn't mention was this: Buffett is the largest individual U.S. investor in a Chinese oil conglomerate that does business with the regime in Khartoum. Buffett's company, Berkshire Hathaway, holds 2.3 billion shares of PetroChina, or 1.3% of the foreign ownership of the oil company.

Anti-genocide activists who stood with Schwarzenegger on Monday were well aware of the unspoken connection, and the contradictions inherent in the governor's day.

--snip--

"It goes along with the action Arnold made at the press conference Monday that he should encourage his friend to take similar action," said Sterling, who appeared with the governor at the ceremony.

This week, Sterling said, he his stepping up his campaign to pressure Buffett to change his relationship with PetroChina. The campaign can be followed on this link. Sterling said he did not mention the Buffett-Sudan relationship to Schwarzenegger on Monday, out of respect for his signing the landmark divestment legislation.

[NormsRevenge]

Actor George Clooney, at podium, and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, right, address a news conference before Schwarzenegger signed state bills prohibiting the state's pension funds from investing in companies with active business in Sudan and indemnifies the University of California from liability that might result from its divestment in Sudan, Monday, Sept. 25, 2006, in Burbank, Calif. Alice Huffman, California NAACP president, stands behind Schwarzenegger. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

[goldstategop]

Liberals support U.S intervention in Darfur and oppose it in Iraq. Why? I hazard a guess one has nothing to do with our national security and the other conflict does.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus

[NormsRevenge]

Microsoft's Bill Gates (C) sits with his wife Melinda (L) and investor Warren Buffett (R) at the Clinton Global Initiative, in New York, September 20, 2006. REUTERS/Chip East

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Berkshire Hathaway's Warren Buffett, right, watches some of the girls from Girls Inc., climb on his 2001 Lincoln Town Car, Aug. 21, 2006 after donating the car to the group to sell at auction on eBay. An eBay bidder bought the Lincoln Town Car for $73,200 Friday, Sept. 22, 2006. (AP Photo/Dave Weaver)

[DManA]

No conflict of interest there.

friend and economic adviser, Warren Buffett.

Nothing suspicious here citizens, move on.

[goldstategop]

Billionaires For Climate Change. It has a catchy ring to it - but not so good of the rest of us who don't have billions in our bank accounts.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus

[NormsRevenge]

A Coalition of the Willing.. or the Damned?

>

assorted ap and reuters off of yahoo photos.. from the recent Clinton Global Initiative and AB 32 Climate Change bill signings held in San FRancisco and Malibu. in California

[calcowgirl]

Campaign and party officials use computerized data to identify receptive voters, who then receive carefully crafted ad pitches, much the way retail firms identify and market goods to consumers.

ROFL! I got this phone call. Their database is obviously wrong. The first part of the message was cut off, but I caught the part about an $18 billion transportation bond I was supposed to vote for (WRONG!) and something about Arnie being tough on illegal immigration (which day of the week is that?).

[goldstategop]

Its pure political theater. Every one wants to feel good about saving the environment. Whether they will actually accept the costs of protecting it is going to be interesting to see in the years ahead.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus

[Amerigomag]

I hear you and yes, the horse is already out of the barn.

The solution was infanticide. The CaGOP opted for a live birth. This Democrat anchor baby is now a teenager and few can predict what he will do when he gets his driver's license in November.

I was fearful of a monarch if he switched party registration but he's a fast learner and has realized that switching is not necessary. All he needed was a bogeyman and the CaDEM produced a winner.

[osideplanner]

For the first time since I first voted in 1968, I'm voting for a Libertarian for governor.

[SmithL]

We need McClintock Ping!

[calcowgirl]

We need McClintock Bump!

[SierraWasp]

Actually it's billionaires for bool chit, senor!!!