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Arnold's Friends

Some of Arnold's Republican Cronies

This is a guest post from Erik Love, a contributor to the Courage Campaign's blog. He recently attended an immigation forum sponsored by the California Republican Assembly Caucus in Tustin for us. Video of the event will be posted in the future. For now, here is his story from that event: (also cross-posted at Courage Campaign.)

I went to a Republican hate-fest yesterday.  I was there as the California State Assembly Republican Caucus "Task Force" on Illegal Immigration met at Tustin City Hall.  The election-year idea behind this "hearing" was obvious: it gave Republicans running for re-election an opportunity to stir up fear and hate.  They wanted to tell rabid, right-wing voters that the Republican Party hears their calls for a crackdown on immigration.  Arnold Schwarzenegger - the Governor who called out "Close the border!" and offered praise for the Minutemen -- would have been at this meeting if he weren't too busy masquerading as a moderate.  Still, Arnold's true feelings on immigration shine through even when he's got his best moderate mask on, however.  Rather than saying that all cultures and communities are an important part of the diverse American landscape, last week Arnold had this to say: "What I'm saying to the Mexicans is you've got to go and immerse yourself and assimilate into the American culture."

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Where's Tom?

You know he's there, he's running for Lt. Governor. He was going to be Arnold's "running mate". What happened? Well, he's still there, and he still represents Arnold's base. The far right-wing of the California Republican Party loves Tom, and they love Arnold too.

The thing about Arnol is we really have no idea of what he will be on the day after the election. Sure he's running as a Democrat in order to get elected, but what happens after that? Well, all you really need to do is look at the company he keeps.

Arnold's Friends: Alex Spanos

We will be highlighting some of Arnold's friends, fundraisers, and supporters that he might not be that proud of. We'll try to bring you several episodes of this series before the election. In our first installment, we bring you, (drum roll please), Alex Spanos!

Alex Spanos owns the NFL's San Diego Chargers. He made much of his money through the AGSpanos Group, a large development corporation. He was a large fundraiser for George W. Bush in both 2000 and 2004, earning "Pioneer" and "Ranger" status. Spanos also gives money to several 527 groups, including "Progress for America." Enjoy the video:

You see Arnold's friends aren't all the nice warm cuddly sort. Some of them are hard right wingers, many of them helped fund Arnold's failed 2005 Special election agenda. People like Steve Poizner, who is running for Insurance Commissioner, and Claude Parrish, who is running for Treasurer. These comrades in arms of Arnold are fighting to bring the state into Republican hands. They are fighting hard against choice, in the form of Proposition 85, and to debilitate the government by pushing the hard-right Prop 90. Arnold's friends know what they are paying for. Do you?