Pop the bubbly! I call for a celebration of the democratic process. More than four million registered voters, the return of ‘butterfly’ ballots, 135 candidates, including filmmakers and porn stars, the potential recall of a governor, more than 14,000 people running the polls, more than 50 pounds of election materials, four helicopter routes patrolling the area and a media frenzy. Forget about touring stars’ homes; recall maps were designed to direct people to the 1,786 polling places, including some Churches utilized due to lack of space. Let’s wheel in the hot dog vendors already because the circus we know as the California recall is in full gear. I’m writing this just four hours before the polls close in the California recall election. I join Republican Arnold Schwarzenneger in saying ‘Hasta la vista Gray Davis’ and anticipate Arnold’s flight into the governorship.
‘Arnold?’ you say. Many have criticized him for his actor status and lack of political experience. News analyst Bill O’Reilly recently said California voters must choose to vote for ‘a flawed main contender'(Arnold) or ‘an incompetent party apparatus’ (Davis).
Recently, the Los Angeles Times dealt a blow to Arnold’s campaign when it chose to publish a story it had been investigating for over a month just a few days before the recall. The Times’ report accused Arnold of sexually harassing six women but only identified two. Arnold immediately fessed up to both incidents and apologized to the public. What turned out to be a somewhat corrupt last-minute attack on Arnold by the LA Times, labeled by many as pro-Davis, did not yield the results Davis supporters may have hoped.
To start, the incidents happened more than twenty years ago and Arnold was never charged with a crime nor has a civil suit been filed by either of the women. The scandalous news surfaced just in time for Arnold to demonstrate his strength of character. He apologized immediately, showing the public he is an open candidate and willing to admit his mistakes (not try to cover them up like a former infamous president). In addition, after apologizing, Arnold turned a negative into a positive by inviting hundreds of women on stage at one of his campaign rallies and launched a campaign platform that focuses on addressing the trials of working moms and women in the community.
Arnold’s character is reminiscent of Franklin Roosevelt’s during the New Deal period. California’s economy is in many ways analogous to the Great Depression and Arnold is the right man to help motivate the people of California at the right time. FDR was able to reach out and gain public trust as well as energize a disillusioned public. By lending every man a feeling of importance and sense of purpose, FDR summoned public cooperation. Many of his bills passed because he approached legislators with the goal of helping the people and not with an underlying self-serving politically bipartisan agenda. Arnold too has made it clear he ‘wants to be the people’s governor.’ He has adopted a Jeffersonian approach, allying himself with the public and against the government. His motives are suspect because he has nothing to lose by losing the election aside from losing the election. Arnold has power, fame and wealth. By running, it is clear he is out to help the people.
Arnold has widespread appeal amongst children (he has motivated and aided thousands of children through physical fitness programs), immigrants, celebrities and the working class. Like FDR, Arnold is a self-made man and his embodiment of the American Dream is not only reminiscent of Camelot, but he has a Kennedy on his arm to reinforce his well-earned image. He also has the politically savvy Kennedy clan behind him.
By preaching fiscal responsibility, Arnold has communicated he has a firm Republican agenda and will work to balance the budget in the midst of this treacherous economic downturn. However, Arnold is also well-networked, a people person and is balanced by the Democratic values of his wife. Eleanor Roosevelt once said, ‘Behind every great man there is a great woman.’ Arnold’s wife, Maria Shriver, is also a member of the media.
Arnold may not have a lot of political experience like Gray Davis, who had three decades of political experience and still failed the people of California during the energy crisis (and now in the current budget crisis), but Arnold is a natural leader. He has proved in a different medium the entertainment field that he can set goals and achieve them. There is power in public appeal and Arnold can certainly hold the attention of a crowd. He knows how to use the press to reach out to people and inspire them. As we all know there is a lot of power in patriotism. Tomorrow, when this column is printed, I hope Arnold will be excitedly awaiting his installation and look forward to seeing how he will tackle the enormous problems Gray Davis has failed to prevent and in some instances caused for the people of California.
Amy Horowitz, a senior in the College of Communication and the College of Arts and Sciences, is weekly columnist for The Daily Free Press.