Posted on 09/10/2003 2:26:57 PM PDT by calcowgirl
Prop. 54 backer: Schwarzenegger gave him an earful - Candidate's camp denies reported 'crazies' remark
By Timm Herdt, herdt@insidevc.com September 10, 2003
SACRAMENTO -- A worker for the Proposition 54 campaign who attended a weekend campaign event for Arnold Schwarzenegger said the actor explained his opposition to the controversial initiative and then characterized its supporters as "right-wing crazies."
Proposition 54, which will be on the Oct. 7 recall election ballot, would prohibit state and local governments from asking individuals questions about their racial and ethnic backgrounds, with certain limited exceptions. The measure is sponsored by Ward Connerly, a Sacramento businessman best known for leading the campaign for Proposition 209, which banned affirmative action in California.
Justin Jones, a spokesman for the campaign, said he attended an invitation-only event for Schwarzenegger on Saturday at a Sacramento hotel. As the actor was moving through the room shaking hands, Jones said, he approached him in an attempt to make a short pitch for Proposition 54, but was interrupted before he could identify himself or say what side of the issue he was on.
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."
Proposition 54 is opposed by Gov. Gray Davis, Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante and all the other major replacement candidates for governor except Sen. Tom McClintock, R-Thousand Oaks. Major health-care groups, including the California Medical Association and the state Association of Health Plans, oppose the measure, saying it will impair their ability to provide disease-prevention programs to racial and ethnic groups that have genetic predispositions to certain health problems.
The California Republican Party has endorsed the proposition.
The alleged "right-wing crazies" remark was first reported over the weekend in the online edition of the National Review. Writer John Miller cited an e-mail from Connerly as its source.
On Monday, Simi Valley conservative activist Stephen Frank provided a more detailed account in an e-mail newsletter he says is distributed to 100,000 conservatives in California.
Contacted by The Star on Tuesday, Jones reiterated his account of the conversation.
Jones said he was taken aback at the comment.
"I feel a little insulted at the characterization and I wonder whether Mr. Schwarzenegger believes Hubert Humphrey and the people who passed the Civil Rights Act were 'right-wing crazies.' "
Connerly did not return a phone call from The Star, but in remarks posted on the Proposition 54 Web site, he pointedly criticized Schwarz-enegger for his decision to oppose the initiative.
"I despair that California is confronted with such a paucity of leadership choices," Connerly wrote. "But, even greater than my despair is my disgust. ...
"I am disgusted that a Republican candidate for governor who wants to wear the crown of Ronald Reagan and considers himself a disciple of Milton Friedman would support government intrusion into private lives by categorizing human beings on the basis of skin color. ... One can only assume that such a candidate would also have opposed Proposition 209 and would seek to overturn it."
Frank, who was deputy political director for Republican Bill Simon's 2002 gubernatorial campaign, said Schwarzenegger's alleged remark would hurt him among the conservative voters he is trying to woo.
"It tells you where his heart is," said Frank, who has not endorsed any candidate in the recall election.
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. Schwarz-enegger who are trying to get attention."
Either Schwarzenegger's opinion appears to change with the audience and the messenger, or his advisors are unware of his opinions.
According to Pete Wilson yesterday in an interview on a conservative radio show (and I haven't heard of any retraction yet), Schwarzenegger supports Prop 54. In Schwarzenegger's own comments to a Spanish-language TV reporter a few days ago, according to Fox, and from news reports like this one where he shows his disdain for conservatives, he opposes Prop 54.
Until he actually says he voted for or against Prop 54 (on election day, presumably), I cannot be sure what his opinion is or whether it is sincerely held.
"Right wing" and "left wing" are dependant on where you stand along the right/left scale. To some, even Clinton would be 'right wing' and anything much to the right of him would qualify as a "crazie". The Terminator seems to be defining, slowly but somewhat vaguely, where he stands on the scale.
Well, the answer is obvious.
SOMEBODY'S lying.
At this rate, I'd want to see the ballot.
Yet according to many reports, he himself says he opposes it. This guy is going to do nothing for conservatives.
Talking point alert. Prop 54 has a specific exemption for health care.
Similarly, he also wants to close the "gun show loophole" as part of sensible gun control. California doesn't have one to close. It's just a Handgun Control talking point that doesn't apply here.
It is clear that Arnold did not think this through when he decided to announce. I guess he figured he could get away and rely solely on name recognition. It may still turn out that way.
Sean Walsh, a spokesman for Schwarzenegger, said Tuesday that the exchange "never happened."
*brushes hands together*
He's on both sides of the issue. What he says depends on the audience.
Supposedly he's go a "town hall meeting" this Friday in San Diego. But, here's the catch: Unlike Davis' or Bustamante's "town hall meetings" which were open to all people and all questions, even though a large union presence ensured applause and cheers at just the right times, Schwarzenegger's is far more restrictive and requires tickets which were already given out only to pre-screened people. Perhaps the questions are pre-scripted, too. It's impossible to get a straight answer from AS.
Sounds like a rally for Hillary Clinton. Boy, I could imagine the support she'd receive from FR if she only had and 'R' after her name.
The alleged "right-wing crazies" remark was first reported over the weekend in the online edition of the National Review. Writer John Miller cited an e-mail from Connerly as its source.The Star article isn't the first, and the "right-wing crazies" comment was on FR a few days ago. It appears that the Star was confirming the NR article by asking the witness for details.
On Monday, Simi Valley conservative activist Stephen Frank provided a more detailed account in an e-mail newsletter he says is distributed to 100,000 conservatives in California.
Contacted by The Star on Tuesday, Jones reiterated his account of the conversation.
Pete Wilson was on the Roger Hedgecock radio show a couple of days ago.Roger asked him, and Wilson said that to his knowledge Arnold had not taken a position. Wilson made it obvious that he, himself, supported the prop. He then went on to say something that made it sound like he and Arnold were of different opinions.
I'm referring to yesterday's Pete Wilson interview. Since Roger was out of town (off air for a few days' vacation) until this week, I doubt there were for two Wilson interviews in the last two days. I believe your account is inaccurate.
Wilson said Schwarzenegger supports Prop 54, in direct contradiction to Schwarzenegger's own statements several days ago. If you can listen to Real Audio, start in the 3rd hour of this link, since the interview was sometime around 5:10-5:25PM yesterday. I can't get the link to work.
http://rmarchive.rogerhedgecock.com/09_09_2003.ram
When Roger tried to get Wilson to be more specific, Wilson said that it was up to Arnold to announce his position on the Prop. Roger checked out Arnold's web site. At that time, there was no mention of the prop. on his site.
I agree with this part of your recollection.
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