The Governator Gets Constitutional
Arnold sure talks my kinda talk:
During an interview with ABC's George Stephanopoulos, California's Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger acknowledged his Catholic beliefs, but said they would not and should not control his political actions.In his Feb. 27 "This Week" segment, Stephanopolous prodded the action-movie mega-star-turned-governor on a host of national and California issues, such as the state's fiscal situation, President Bush's proposed overhaul of Social Security and the governor's support of gay rights.
Schwarzenegger revealed in several responses positions that differ sharply from those of far-right social conservatives who appear to hold sway in Congress.
The ABC anchor then moved to religion noting that Schwarzenegger is a Catholic and asking, "How do you reconcile your political positions on abortion, on gay rights, on the death penalty? They're opposed to the positions of the Catholic Church, the pronouncements of the pope. How do you reconcile that?"
Schwarzenegger said it was "easy" and that he never experienced a "sleepless night" over supposed conflicts between religious dogma he professes to and his political actions.
"I'm representing the people of California," Schwarzenegger explained. "The people of California, all of them are not Catholics so, therefore, I do not bring in my religion into this whole thing. As a matter of fact, religion should have no effect on politics."
No effect at all, Stephanopoulos asked.
"I think it should not," the governor continued. "I mean, if you make a decision, it should not be based on your religious beliefs. It should be based on what is it how can you represent the people of California the best possible way? And we have a combination. We have Jews, we have Christians and we have Hindus. We have Buddhists. We have all kinds of different religions here and there's 140 some religions in this state."
Seemingly surprised or somewhat dubious, Stephanopoulos continued, "So your faith plays no role in the forming of your political philosophy?"
"Not for me," Schwarzenegger said.
Moreover, the governor proclaimed that he was a staunch supporter of the First Amendment principle of keeping church and government separate.
"Absolutely," the governor declared. "I'm a big believer in separation of church and state, and I think that's what also, you know, the law is. It's what we all ought to do."
Hi -
Arnie was raised in Europe and his views on the separation of church and state are widely held here. (smile) In Portugal, Malta, Poland and Ireland, however, religion plays a larger part in "politics" than in, say, France. As many Europeans do, Arnie feels that religion is a private matter and has little to do with the body politic. No surprise on that score.
L'Amerloque
L'Amerloque at March 12, 2005 11:47 AM
"there's 140 some religions in this state."
Gotta love those storefront houses of worship on Rodeo Drive! Halston. Gucci. Fiorucci!
Lena-doodle-doo at March 12, 2005 9:11 PM
Sounds like Arnold understands the concept of "representation".
Deirdre B. at March 13, 2005 8:58 AM
Representation, that he does. He cracked me up a few times when he was on Larry King, most especially when a caller from Vancouver complained that a change he had passed to tax law was hurting Vancouver's ability to take films from LA.
'I do not cayar about Vancoova. I'm not the guvunor of Vancoova, I represent the peeple of Kalyfoarnya and we will take all the moovies that we can'
Little ted at March 13, 2005 9:52 AM
The Big Guv has always seemed to me a democrat without any place in the Democratic Party. He knows not to ignore the fans, yet not patronize them, either. He knows how to get away with a feel here and there, but stay away from the affair-of-the-month pit. He's willing to spend money on industries that will create more money and jobs, but keep a lid on throwing tax dollars down rat holes. Stem cell funding versus sweetheart deals with the Enron crowd comes to mind. I don't luv the guv, but I'll vote for him every time I get a chance. Hope he wants to do the senator thing after he's termed out. And get a seat right next to Uncle Teddy. Lace 'em up.
allan at March 13, 2005 9:55 AM
Glad somebody does, Deirdre!
Amy Alkon at March 13, 2005 9:59 AM
Arnold may have some left of center environmental views and many libertarian views, but he certainly doesn't seem like any more like a democrat than a republican.
I guess Arnold's the last scion of an unfortunately disenfranchised Libertarian wing of the Republican party whose live and let live social policy, limited government, and pro-business-growth economic agenda have no place in a party that denies a right to privacy, never stops giving lipservice to religious agendas that don't exist on any page in the bible, bloats itself more than under Democrats (unbelievably), and thinks it's good for the economy to give money to rich people's brat kids who then spend it on cocaine, which isn't a US product.
I really do want the Constitution amended to get this guy for eight years.
Little ted at March 13, 2005 10:29 AM
Hi !
In Graz (Austria), there's a move to un-name the stadium which currently sports (couldn't resist, sorry) his name. The (current) Austrians are not big fans of capital punishment and Arnie recently "allowed" an execution to go on as planned in Kalyfoarnya. There is even a move afoot to strip him of his Austrian citizenship. There is apparently a clause in Austria's nationality law stipulating that citizenship can be revoked if an Austrian "in the service of another country substantially damages the interests or reputation of the republic by his or her behavior."
L'Amerloque
L'Amerloque at March 13, 2005 10:30 AM
This sounds like a very Libertarian perspective, actually. Am I incorrect in thinking so?
M at March 13, 2005 12:41 PM
If that is directed at me, I'd definitely say I lean that way.
Little ted at March 13, 2005 10:40 PM
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