WE'RE OFF TO SEE THE WIZARD

Schwarzenegger Tries to Add Some Substance to Celebrity (CHARLIE LeDUFF and JOHN M. BRODER, 8/20/03, NY Times)

Arnold Schwarzenegger came out from behind the curtain today to put some muscle in a campaign that until now was based on sheer celebrity, calling for a constitutional cap on state spending and making clear his distaste for new taxes.

Facing a horde of cameras and reporters from as far away as China, Mr. Schwarzenegger, 56, was flanked by his advisers, Warren Buffett, the billionaire investor, and George P. Shultz, former secretary of state. Using humor and a few specifics, the former Mr. Olympia tried to dispel any perception that he is a movie star on a vanity project.

Mr. Schwarzenegger, a Republican candidate, said one of his priorities, should he be elected to replace Gov. Gray Davis, would be to rein in state spending. He said he would appoint an outside auditor, John Cogan, the economist and Mr. Shultz's colleague, to look at state finances.

"We must have a constitutional spending cap and must immediately attack operating deficits head on," Mr. Schwarzenegger told a ballroom packed with reporters at the Westin Hotel near Los Angeles International Airport.

"Does that mean we are going to make cuts?" he said. "Yes. Does this mean education is on the table? No. Does this mean I am willing to raise taxes? No. Additional taxes are the last burden we need to put on the backs of the citizens and businesses of California." [...]

"I feel the people of California have been punished enough," Mr. Schwarzenegger said. "From the time they get up in the morning and flush the toilet, they're taxed. When they go get a coffee, they're taxed. When they get in their car, they're taxed. When they go to the gas station, they're taxed. When they go to lunch, they're taxed. This goes on all day long. Tax. Tax. Tax. Tax. Tax."

One of the more laughable themes of the campaign coverage so far has been political reporters assuring us that, while Arnold was used to handling entertainment press sycophants, now he'd be up against the battle-hardened journalistic corps that covers real news. Yeah, right. It was almost embarrassing watching a neophyte dominate them utterly. Posted by Orrin Judd at August 20, 2003 11:12 PM