Breaking News: Schwarzenegger Comes Out Against Clean Money Proposition 89—But May Not Even Know It

By Frank D. Russo

Arnold Schwarzenegger spoke to the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco this afternoon on international trade and then answered written questions that had been submitted to the organization from the audience. More on his speech later and other comments he had to make. There was one that struck me as unbelievable and caused a few folk in the audience to chuckle and shake their heads.

When asked about his position on Prop 89, the Clean Money initiative placed on the ballot by the California Nurses Association, he said “I have not really seen it. I usually do not comment on ballot propositions until closer to the election.” OK, I can quibble with that—call it a dodge of the questions—and wonder how the Governor hasn’t seen this much talked about measure that qualified for the ballot June 26, a little over three weeks ago.

But then, after a bit of a ramble about having to go directly to the people perhaps to have real reform, he said the following: “I am not in favor of public financing of elections.” He then said he’s seen it in Europe and it didn’t work there.

This leaves me with one of two conclusions: 1) He either doesn’t know that Prop 89, just like AB 583 by Assemblymember Loni Hancock (that has been around for one and a half years and that he never took a position on) is based on public financing and voluntary acceptance of spending limits, or 2) He is trying to be a bit clever by half too much and has inserted his foot in his mouth.

Comments

Posted by: Bill Hoppy Haupt at July 20, 2006 06:06 PM

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