Girlie men.
If it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck.
Posted on 07/19/2004 5:28:53 AM PDT by presidio9
LOS ANGELES - Democrats aren't amused by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (news - web sites)'s use of the mocking term "girlie men" to describe some lawmakers, although a spokesman for the governor said no apology would be forthcoming.
Schwarzenegger dished out the insult at a rally Saturday as he claimed Democrats were delaying the budget by catering to special interests. Democrats protested that the remark was sexist and homophobic.
"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.
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."
Assemblyman Mark Leno, a San Francisco Democrat who is chairman of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Caucus, said he was glad Schwarzenegger didn't repeat the "girlie men" remark Sunday, saying it was "as misogynist as it is anti-gay."
"To disparage a group of law abiding tax paying citizens is just wrong," Leno said.
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."
Have these people never seen SNL?
Oh yeah. That'll get some traction. LOL. Anyone with even 1/4 of a brain can figure out Arnie is playing on his movie star persona/sat night live hans and frans image, having a little fun with it. To carp about it just proves his point, anyway.
The Liberals are down on the mat. It's no time to go back to our corner and give them time to recover.
Kick the h*ll out of them Arnold!
This charge is ALWAYS being made. I think the proper response to it is to ask -- Just how is it sexist and homophobic? I would like to hear an answer other than just the normal hysterical ranting and raving that is usually forthcoming.
buncah sissies can't take a joke...
Lord knows I was not for Scharwzenegger (was for McClintock), but I'll be darned, the guy has redeemed himself somewhat in my book. Good for him.
"We're here to PUMP YOU UP!"
"girlie-men", cowards, irresponsible, derelict, take your pick.
One thing is for sure: The democrat politicians are a bunch of political whores.
Only Democrats would complain about the political incorrectness of Arnold's remark. They don't even go into what "girlie men" actually means. They have just been defined by a fabulous governor whose approval ratings are in the stratosphere.
Meanwhile, they call Bush "Hitler" and a Nazi constantly, yet are never asked to apologize.
Girly men fits the lib male and manly girl fits the lib female.
I guess they prefer shoes that aren't comfortable.
Love it. One of my favorite descriptives. Now it can be a mainstream word, freely used.
Doesnt this mean that Dana Carvey and Kevin Nealon are homophobes too?
The Dems are embarrassing themselves with their pettiness.
Kerry reminds me of a girlie man as well. I'm guessing that al Qaeda will roll right over him. A couple of roadside bombs, and Kerry will undo impending victory in Iraq by withdrawing US troops.
Having already helped lose the War in Vietnam, he will lose the war in Iraq, and then by appeasement lose the Korean War, as well. It may be a little more difficult for him to lose WWII, but I am sure he will try.
Ja, girlie-maenner.
It is not the Govenators fault that the rats are a bunch of gutless sissy boys.
Way to go Arnold, What they really don't like is the call out that they are representing trial lawyers and unions more than the people.
We had camp staff who used the term "girly men" and it was not racist or homophobic, it was a fun tease and was always taken that way. These legislators, (particularly the women) should "Get Over It".
Girlie men.
If it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck.
Probably racist too. Guess they'll have to burn him at the stake.
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