From Pumping Iron to Pushing Political Ideas (Schwarzenegger more conservative than people think)

Washington Post ^ | Sept. 28, 2003 | Sharon Waxman

[FairOpinion]

Dubbed a "rock-ribbed conservative Republican" in the 1970s, he opposed gun control, believed in up-by-the-bootstraps economics and thought women belonged in the kitchen, or the bedroom. But over time, Schwarzenegger, 56, evolved into a political moderate: Though he angered some Latino voters here with his support of a referendum a decade ago to ban government services for illegal immigrants, he backs what he calls "sensible" gun control and abortion rights and led a voter initiative last year to provide after-school care for poor families.

Schwarzenegger's political evolution from being "to the right of Genghis Khan," as "Pumping Iron" producer George Butler put it recently, started well after he became a celebrity.

[FairOpinion]

A few interesting tid-bits. I guess Arnold is a lot more conservative, than people think.

[FairOpinion]

ping

[Southack]

[tallhappy]

Pro abortion Catholics are, to put it nicely, strange ducks.

I figure if one is Catholic, be Catholic. If one is pro-abortion, be pro-abortion.

The mix is strange.

Realize you are voting for the influence of the Kennedy clan if you vote for Schwarzenegger.

You are voting for someone to the left of Bustamante in terms of environmental issues. California has been hurt by environmental laws as much if not more than any other.

Yet Schwarznegger promises to enact even more anti-business envirnoment laws with Robert F. Kennedy Jr as his main advisor.

His promises and policies do not coincide with his sound bite pro-business claims.

[FairOpinion]

ping -- a definitely worthwhile article to read.

PS. I try to not ping too much, but please let me know if you want off (or on) my Schwarzenegger ping list.

[Lancey Howard]

I guess Arnold was a lot more conservative, than people think.

[tallhappy]

I guess Arnold was a lot more conservative, than people think

Emphasis on was.

Earlier I felt he was getting a bad rap. He did after all campaign for George Bush. I remember that. He did have the guts to say he was a Republican and act on it publicly.

Yet, he certainly did not live a conservative life. Still doesn't, really.

That's OK. One can live how they like. I, though, don't have to buy the Hollywood make believe.

[PRND21]

His promises and policies do not coincide with his sound bite pro-business claims.

What promises?
And what policies? He hasn't won, yet.

[FairOpinion]

"I guess Arnold was a lot more conservative, than people think. "

---

I think he still is, he just learned to keep his mouth shut more -- he spent a lot of time in Hollywood.

Here is another quote from a recent article:

"He's now willing to acknowledge that "government has a responsibility...to provide things for the underdog."

But the only "underdogs" he cites as worthy of government assistance are people in wheelchairs--no mention of the government's obligation to help those who are poor, homeless, jobless and/or the victims of discrimination--and he's quick to say that he's still "a very strong Republican."

http://www.cigaraficionado.com/Cigar/CA_Profiles/People_Profile/0,2540,25,00.html

[My2Cents]

This is not going to sit well with "real conservatives."

[tallhappy]

What do you think of he and Maria choosing her cousin RFK Jr as their environmental advisor?

He is very extremist. His decision to "run green" does not coincide with his supposed pro-business stance.

[ambrose]

"Tom? Arnold? Cruz? What about me?!"

[nickcarraway]

I don't unserstand how this headline reflects this article's content.

[halfdome]

Shouldn't a candidate state their policies before they are elected?

[FairOpinion]

If the "conservatives" were sincere, they should welcome this information and would be much happier to vote for Schwarzenegger, not just to defeat Bustamante, but to actually get a GOOD Republican governor in CA.

[My2Cents]

Those who say that Arnold isn't a conservative haven't recognized that his key economic team members are thinkers at the Hoover Institution; didn't read his op-ed piece in the Wall Street Journal this past week; didn't hear his comments at the state GOP convention a couple of weeks ago; and don't consider conservative his comments that Californians are overtaxed, that the fiscal problem is that the state spends too much money rather than takes in too little revenue, and that anti-business legislation needs to be opposed in order to improve the state's economic climate.

[nickcarraway]

How does this square with his statement when he announced his candidacy that, ``everything should be provided to the people.''