I'm Afraid Arnold Will Do A "Walmart-Rollback" Of Gay and Lesbian Advances

[arwalden]

... of equality in California.

Unless someone knows differently, it's my understanding that NEITHER Arnold himself nor his top advisers and anticipated policy advisers are very gay friendly.

I've heard/read a couple of non-committal, neutral, and lukewarm comments from Arnold regarding his stance on gay and lesbian equality and civil unions... but I think he was merely avoiding controversy by dodging the question.

I'm betting that Arnold will be a puppet governor for the conservative activists and Christian fundamentalists to manipulate at will.

-- Allen

[Classical_Liberal]

1. Arnold ran on being a social liberal

has no interest in converting gays to being heterosexuals and is against discrimination against them, He ran in opposition to the traditional conservative McClintock, so that is very very unlikely.

[Scairp]

15. I agree

I don't think the gays and lesbians of California have anything to fear from Arnold. His only redeeming quality is that he is a social liberal.

[truthseeker1]

2. If Congressional Repugs get their way

they'll pass a Constitutional Amendment outlawing gay marriage and that'll be the end of it. No states rights. Arnold won't have to worry about taking a stand either way.

[ikojo]

3. I thought that I read somewhere on DU that Ahnold wanted

to look into the Domestic Partner benefits offered by the State of California. I don't know if it's law that Cali companies offer DP benefits but I think he wants to do away with them.

This sets up the pugs for their national campaign in 2004. They want to run as the family party against gay rights and in support of the PATRIOT Act.

Yes, gay people do have a lot to worry about with Ahnold as the governator. With a compliant media and a Democratic party wanting to put aside the nastiness of a recall campaign it is hard telling what he is likely to get by with.

[Classical_Liberal]

5. Arnold said he was in favor of domestic partner rights

though opposed to gay marriage. There won't be any advancement, but unless arnold lied about being a social liberal there won't be any rollback.

[Dogmudgeon]

4. Arnie vis-a-vis gays

He's strongly pro and the Rectal Right hates him for it.

He's nominally against gay marriage, but that's likely to change, especially after the "Christian" Right shows him some of that down-home country lovin' for which they are so well known (and to the continuing shame of the Christians who actually take the Gospels seriously).

Arnie is a short-term problem for us, and a long-term problem for the GOP.

--bkl

[Carl21014]

6. Californians deserve whatever they get!

They want to be Republican, so damn them to hell! I hope they lower minimum wage, or ban the minimum wage entirely, so all those stupid ass poor people who voted for the Terminator fucking starve.

Then maybe(just maybe) they will pull their head out of there ass!

[Classical_Liberal]

7. He is a problem for poor people there is not doubt about it

.

[truthseeker1]

10. Nice, real nice

are you sure you're not a rethug? you sound hateful enough to be one

[foreigncorrespondent]

13. Oh that is very...

...REPUBLICAN of you.

Sheesh man, no point in blaming every single person in CA for the mess. Some of the people actually voted NO for the recall and YES for Bustamante.

[bearfartinthewoods]

8. unless any of the advances cost money, i think you are safe.

[0007]

9. I think your right on,

.......and I don't think Arnold will be showing the common folks how he can get a dime out of a quart milk bottle with his tongue anytime to soon.

Washington will slowly move in on California. Beware!!

[rads]

11. I wouldn't worry

Some of the exit poll questions seemed to imply that there was fairly strong support for gay rights in CA. Personally, I don't think that he'd risk it.

[Mairead]

12. Back when Arnold was a pro body-builder, he was asked about

how he felt about being a sex symbol for gay men. I thought he answered rather well. He said it was no different than being a woman who's a sex symbol for straight men; that it's a compliment of sorts, and he took it that way. (it *is* different, of course, since no gay man in his right mind would pester Arnold trying to hit on him, but that's a difference few men would appreciate)

[foreigncorrespondent]

14. I have to agree with you, my friend.

Sapphocrat and I were just talking about this last night. She had mentioned to me about Arnold wanting to overturn the recent domestic partner benefit scheme.

I fear right along with you that gay rights in the fine state of California are going to go to hell in a hand basket.

[Classical_Liberal]

16. He said he was in favor of domestic partner rights

. Unless he breaks that promise it is doubtful.

[La_Serpiente]

17. I don't think Ahhnold is going to touch it

However, I don't think he would publicy protect gays against the KNight amendment. That State Senator Knight, who by the way has a gay son who graduated from the Air Force Academy in Colorado, is pushing an intiative to stop the newly passed domestic partnership benefits. HIs son hasn't talked to him for a very long time because his father , Senator Knight, hates him. However, if he promotes the amendment, and I was his wife, i would divorce him because he's a damn liar.

[bearfartinthewoods]

18. that's what i meant about costing money

if they can save money by cancelling partner bennies like health care for state employees, they might go for it under the hardtimes umbrella.