“He’s no girlie-man!”
So, McCain picked up Schwarzenegger’s endorsement today. Not at all a surprise, when you think about it, but important anyway.
Schwarzenegger’s politics are…odd. He’s a Republican - but not exactly a conventional one. He’s got some very typically Republican views. He considers himself a fiscal conservative, wants to strengthen the military and has said he’s a Republican because he wants, “the government off our backs.”
Oh, and he thinks it’s okay to call people he doesn’t like, “girlie-men,” while claiming that he’s got nothing against women or gays…
Yet, at the same time, some of his views infuriate traditional Republicans. He’s pro-choice, has repeatedly funded stem-cell research, and has cooperated several times with Democratic legislators - especially over the environment. Arnie is, if you didn’t know, nuts over green issues. Quite how he manages to square that with his Hummer, I don’t know…
He’s also gone on record calling marijuana a, “leaf.” This is not typically Republican.
So, in conclusion: he’s a fiscally conservative, socially moderate figure who’s willing to work with Democrats when he needs to, and is concerned about the environment. And very blunt.
Rather like McCain then.
To my mind, this reinforces McCain’s cross-party credentials, such as they are. Arnie won’t lose him many Republican votes he hasn’t lost already - but can win independents. Schwarzenegger has twice won a traditionally Democratic state as a Republican. That’s no mean achievement, and requires the same cross-partisan appeal that the media (somehow) is talking McCain up to have.
This only reinforces McCain’s disguise, and will stand him good stead in California - and later on, if he needs it.
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