News

Log Cabin Republicans Defend Governor Schwarzenegger

California Governor One of the Most Inclusive Governors in the Nation

July 19, 2004

(Washington, DC) – The Log Cabin Republicans defend California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger against the partisan attacks that have been levied against him as a result of a harmless comment made at an event in Ontario, California. "The attacks from the left claiming that Governor Schwarzenegger is a homophobe are patently outrageous. There are real issues for the gay and lesbian community, and the Governor has been on the front line of those issues standing with us," said Patrick Guerriero, Executive Director of the Log Cabin Republicans. Log Cabin California was the only gay and lesbian organization to endorse Governor Schwarzenegger's candidacy last year.

Governor Schwarzenegger, at a rally in Ontario, California over the weekend, derided California Democrats for delaying the California budget and pandering to special interests. The Governor, in a self-deprecating reference to a Saturday Night Live skit said, "[i]f they don't have the guts to come up here in front of you and say, 'I don't want to represent you, I want to represent those special interests, the unions, the trial lawyers' ... if they don't have the guts, I call them girlie men."

The partisan attacks from the left were almost immediate. Some, including a California State Senator, referred to it as "blatant homophobia."

"What is blatant here, is the blatant partisan political hay that some on the left are trying to make out of this comment. It is outrageous that anyone would accuse Governor Schwarzenegger of being anti-gay. The Governor is one of the most inclusive Governors in the nation regardless of party affiliation. This is a time when the gay and lesbian community should be uniting to fight anti-gay legislation and reaching out to our allies in both parties. This is not the time for baseless partisan attacks and mind-numbing political correctness," concluded Guerriero.