09/21/2005
AD: Arnold, "be a hero"
30-second ad to air in California ahead of Schwarzenegger veto that will compare his veto of the gay marriage bill there to the segregationist policies of former Alabama Governor George Wallace, urging Arnold to "be a hero."
As noted by Scott in the comments, Equality California is raising funds to get the ad on TV. View it here.
Posted 12:15 PM EST by Andy Towle in Gay Marriage | Permalink
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Yes, Arnold the "Last Action Hero!"
Posted by: Rob (lrdarystar) | Sep 21, 2005 12:46:55 PM
Whenever I hear him speak, I get two impressions: the first is that he likes to hear himself speak (evidenced by his "supreme-commander-like" posture and head movements--he seems to be literally basking in what he appears to think is his crowd's adoration for him) and the second is that he is not very intelligent (evidenced by the utterly stoopid things he says and does). Those are just my impressions, however.
Posted by: Michael W. | Sep 21, 2005 1:24:32 PM
An ad "...urging Arnold to "be a hero.""?
That might be asking for the impossible.
Steroid use does shrivel your you-know-whats!
Posted by: jessejames | Sep 21, 2005 2:07:22 PM
Andy,
you should mention that EQCA is trying to raise funds to get this commercial on the air.
Info here:
http://www.eqca.org
And you can watch the commercial here:
http://www.outofthecloset.tv/videostorage/marriagebill.mov
Posted by: Scott | Sep 21, 2005 3:23:58 PM
Just watched the ad and I think its a little soft. Although I am not a US / Californian resident - I think it lacks the punch that the message could have had. I'm afraid that Arnie lacks the balls to agree with its message though :(
Posted by: J.B. | Sep 21, 2005 4:37:08 PM
So there's some things I haven't heard in this, consider these talking points in the debate:
- Arnold campaigned on fixing the budget in California, and many articles have sugested allowing equal marriage rights would bring in millions upon millions of dollars in tourist money. Why does Arnold hurting the California economy to perpetuate homophobia?
- Arnold wants to leave has said this is a matter for the courts to decide. For those on the right: why does Arnold want to leave it up to activist judges to decide? and for the left: Arnold has demonstrated there is no such thing as an activist judge.
- Arnold has said this is up to the people to decide, but the legislature is made up of the people's representatives so giving equal marriage rights is the will of the people.
Posted by: Jamison | Sep 21, 2005 4:42:44 PM
Arnold also proposed full funding for AIDS Drug Assistance Programs despite the budget deficit... And opposed the FMA... And has signed legislation expanding domestic partnerships in CA. So comparing him to Wallace is a bit over the top.
Posted by: boifromtroy | Sep 21, 2005 5:45:52 PM
It might be useful to point out that Governor Wallace's comments were totally in keeping with the public sentiment of the majority of his constituents at that time. He was elected to represent those people, and he did so, even when he doubted the wisdom of their choices.
Governor Schwarzenegger supposedly represents the people of California. It appears he is making decisions contrary to the will of the people who elected him.
States don't have to function by Federal mandate. Local control gives the people power and choices and a voice that might not otherwise get national attention. It's the thing that makes this country work so well. That makes all the difference.
If Arnold won't give California what it wants, his absurd career as a faux politician is over.
Posted by: Jay Croce | Sep 21, 2005 10:24:03 PM
Hello - Arnold has pretty much said over and over that he supports us getting married. But there is one thing you arre all missing - one point that is not included in pretty much any thing I have read or heard in all the hoo haw about this. 2 years ago the MAJORITY of California voters voted in a LAW that prohibits same sex couples getting married. There is nothing that the California legislature can do - repeat - NOTHING that they can do that overrides the law of the land (i.e the will of the people). That is pretty much is what Arnold has said. More work has to be done to un-do the current law in effect. I don't like this any more thatn any of you, but I'm tired of the one-sided arguments that delete the facts just to make whover be the bad guy.
Posted by: dramamonkey | Sep 21, 2005 10:32:34 PM
Dramamonkey, your arguments are completely wrong. Prop. 22 wasn't passed two years ago it was five. Also, Prop. 22 was not about in-state marriages it was about not recognizing out of State marriages, i.e. DOMA (which is probably unconstitutional anyway). Thirdly, public opinion has changed in California, fully 65% now believe that discriminating against gays is wrong, it's split 50% to 50% on the marriage issue, leaning in our favor. Fourth, Massachusetts' experience with Gay Marriage has definitively proven that this whole controversy is a lot of bluster about nothing. Both Republicans and Democrats alike in the State Legislature refused to re-authorize the State Constitutional Amendment banning Gay Marriage which the year before they had passed 105 to 40. This year the amendment only got 30 votes, which has not gone unnoticed around the country. This change in legislator’s opinions alone, more than anything else, has taken much of the wind out of the sails of the Christian Hate Mongers apoplectic crusade against us. Fifth, the recognition of civil rights should never be put to a popular vote. That's called "the tyranny of the majority," which in completely out of step with our form of Constitutional Democracy which protects the rights of the minority, even if not always in a timely manner.
Posted by: Robert In WeHo | Sep 22, 2005 8:32:41 AM
Hi Andy-
I've sent this out far and wide - I know you have a wider audience, if you feel like posting it on your site. I'm not sure, however, if you can call more than once and have it counted. We've been calling for the past hour here at work.
I’m passing this along to you. Feel free to act if you feel moved to do so. If not, there’s a lovely “delete” button. Obviously, this issue is vitally important to me and when I found out that I could show my support in this easy, less-than-a-minute way, I wanted to pass it along to others who might be looking for ways to show their support.
Greg
The Governor will veto AB 849, the
gender neutral marriage bill (Gay marriage) unless he is persuaded by enough Californians to change his mind. Letters, faxes, and calls are
critical.
This is the easiest thing you can do to help - it serriously takes about 20 seconds.
~~~ Call the Governor's office....
It's all automated, you don't have to talk to anyone, just follow these directions!!
Please call Gov. Schwarzenegger (916) 445-2841 (main directory)
Push..2, ( to state an opinion on legislature/bills)
Push..1, (for gay marriage section )
Finally, push..1 (to support gay marriage )
It's that simple!
Posted by: Gorgeous | Sep 22, 2005 11:59:46 AM
Thanks Gorgeous for posting the info... I just called Governor Spineless' office and expressed my opinion in favor of the legislation. Hope it helps change his mind, for everyone's sake.
Posted by: Robert In WeHo | Sep 22, 2005 12:40:51 PM