US Fed News

SACRAMENTO, CA — The California Democratic Party issued the following press release:

According to the Associated Press today, one of the Governor’s campaign press assistants, Matt David, had the audacity to call Phil Angelides “hypocritical” when it comes to campaign finance reform.

While Mr. David may not have been around to watch his candidate in action in 2003, we were. And the Governor’s thirst for special interest cash after promising to “clean-up” Sacramento is the textbook definition of “hypocrisy.”

“When he announced his candidacy on the ‘Tonight Show’ with Jay Leno, Schwarzenegger said he did not ‘need to take money from anybody’ and vowed to come to Sacramento to rid it of special-interest politics. He only later said he would refuse to take money from state employee unions and Indian tribes, both of which negotiate directly with the governor.

“It was Schwarzenegger who made the promise he wouldn’t raise any outside money, and he has accepted millions of dollars from some of the biggest corporate interests in California,” [Schwarzenegger Running Mate Tom] McClintock said. (San Francisco Chronicle, September 19, 2003)

Since announcing his appearance on the Tonight Show, Arnold has raised $94,440,043 according to the Foundation for Taxpayers and Consumer Rights. He also promised campaign finance reform:

“Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, in the final weeks before the Oct. 7 recall election, pledged to introduce a “People’s Reform Plan” that would bar the governor and members of the Legislature from raising campaign donations while working on the state budget.

“But now, nearly a month after the new governor introduced his budget, he continues to jet around the state and the nation, seeking campaign donations of up to $500,000 apiece, becoming the most aggressive fund-raising governor in California’s history.” (San Francisco Chronicle, February 6th, 2004)

The Governor’s campaigners might want to review Arnold’s 2003 campaign statements before uttering the “H” word.