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Arnold Schwarznegger:  "outspoken admirer of Hitler"

   SCHWARZENEGGER: THE HIT PARADE

ABC's Douglass: "ABC News obtained a copy of an unpublished book proposal with quotes from what it calls a verbatim transcript of an interview" actor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) "gave in 1975 while making the film 'Pumping Iron.' Asked who his heroes are, he is quoted as saying

'I admire Hitler for instance, because he came from being a little man with almost no formal education up to power. And I admire him for being such a good public speaker and for what he did with it.'

Schwarzenegger is quoted as saying he wishes he could experience like quote ' like Hitler in the Nuremberg stadium. And have all those people scream at you and just being in total agreement whatever you say.' The author of the book proposal, 'Pumping Iron''s director George Butler, told ABC News today that the quotes needed to be seen in the context of Schwarzenegger's admiration of powerful men and he said that Schwarzenegger never said anything anti-Semitic."

Schwarzenegger, in an on-camera interview: "I cannot remember any this. All I can tell you is that I despise anything Hitler stood for" ("World News Tonight," 10/2).

New York Times adds context -- Schwarzenegger, when asked about his heroes said: "It depends for what. I admired Hitler, for instance, because..."

Yet the proposal also shows Butler "considered" Schwarzenegger a "flagrant, outspoken admirer of Hitler" who played "Nazi marching songs from long-playing records in his collection at home." Butler also said Schwarzenegger "frequently clicked his heels and pretended to be an SS officer."

Schwarzenegger responded to the charges 10/2: "Let you tell you something: it's one of those things that if you come from that background, you get accused a lot of times of being that, of being a Nazi. So you know, I despise anything that Hitler stands for, anything he has done, hated the Nazism, hated what was done during the Second World War." (Nagourney/Kirkpatrick, New York Times, 10/3).

San Francisco Chronicle's Taylor reports, these allegations "have been circulating" since Schwarzenegger announced his candidacy, and Butler "denied the story last month when contacted" by the Chronicle. ABC News also reported that the interview was conducted with director Peter Davis, who "has been hired as a consultant" on "Pumping Iron." Davis told the Chronicle on 8/4 that he "distinctly remembered Schwarzenegger's talking about Hitler during the interview." Davis: "I asked him, 'Who was your first hero?' And he said, 'Hitler.'" But Davis said Schwarzenegger "then added that when he 'woke up' to the world of politics, he realized that his true hero" was JFK.

Under the header "Allegations rock campaign like a Hollywood stunt / Actor's sendoff marred by Hitler, groping charges," San Francisco Chronicle's Marinucci notes that Schwarzenegger spokesperson Sean Walsh "vehemently denied" the quotes, saying: "He has promoted tolerance his entire life. The history of this man, if anything is to fight anti-Semitism. To us, this is the worst kind of political smear" (10/3).

New York Daily News header: "He's tied to pro-Hitler comments" (10/3).

NBC's Brown, on "Pumping Iron" dir. George Butler's Hitler accusations: "He is backtracking a little bit and now saying that what was in the book proposal may not be entirely accurate. That said, when I spoke with him almost a week ago, he denied that he had ever written the book proposal. So, Mr. Butler has yet to fully explain himself and why he is releasing this, or trying to explain himself publicly now" ("Today," 10/3).

Rep. David Dreier (R-CA), on the Hitler allegations: "I met Arnold Schwarzenegger nearly 15 years ago. I sat next to him at a dinner just a few blocks from where I am right now at the Simon Wiesenthal Center's Museum of Tolerance, where he has participated and actively worked on behalf of the Museum of Tolerance. He's been very involved in the Jewish community. And it is outrageous to claim that somehow he is supportive of what Adolf Hitler did" ("On the Record," FNC, 10/2).

The CA Dem Party will hold a presser at 11:00 a.m. on 10/3 with Rep. Brad Sherman (D), ex-Rep. Mel Levine (D), Rabbi Allen Freehling, Chaplain Shirley Friedman and Dems For Israel Chair Howard Welinksy to "discuss recent news stories stating" that Schwarzenegger "admired Hitler" (release 10/3).

THIS ONE GOES OUT TO ALL THE LADIES

San Diego Union-Tribune's LaVelle reports, "In a stunning admission designed to douse a fast-moving political firestorm," Schwarzenegger "launched his statewide tour," the "California Comeback Express," in San Diego "with an apology for having 'behaved badly sometimes' toward women." Schwarzenegger spoke before "hundreds of supporters and journalists" at the San Diego Convention Center and in response to a Los Angeles Times story "that reported allegations by six women who said [he] had groped them" told the crowd that "things he had once thought 'playful' he now realized had offended people." Schwarzenegger: "So I want to say to you, yes, that I have behaved badly sometimes. ... To those people that I have offended, I wanted to say to them that I am deeply sorry about that and I apologize." Interviewed in San Diego, Schwarzenegger wife Maria Shriver replied: "It takes great courage to stand and apologize" (10/3).

Schwarzenegger, on the allegations: "I know that the people of California can see through these trash politics. Yes. And let me tell you something -- a lot of those, what you see in the stories is not true. But at the same time, I have to tell you, I always say wherever there is smoke, there is fire. That is true. And so what I wanna say to you is, is that yes, that I have behaved badly sometimes. Yes, it is true that I was on rowdy movie sets, and I have done things that were not right, which I thought then was playful. But now I recognize that I have offended people. And to those people that I have offended, I want to say to them I am deeply sorry about that, and I apologize, because this is not what I tried to do. When I am governor, I want to prove to the women that I will be a champion for the women, a champion of the women. And I hope that you will give me the chance to prove that. Now let's go from the dirty politics back -- to the future of California" (Los Angeles Times, 10/2).

When Schwarzenegger "finished speaking, the blue curtains behind him parted to reveal the bus that will take him" north to Sacramento. Schwarzenegger "climbed up the steps and as the bus drove around the Convention Center perimeter, he leaned out the door, beaming and giving a thumbs-up."

CNN later asked Schwarzenegger "about the specific incidents," to which he said: "I don't remember so many of the things that I was accused of having done." Schwarzenegger, "pressed further": "I would say most of it is not true." Schwarzenegger also "sought to shift blame to his opponents," saying: "It's very interesting that since I'm ahead in the campaign all the things are coming out. I'm very pro-woman. I'm very much into equality. Those things are not coming out" (Nicholas/Hall/Finnegan, Los Angeles Times, 10/3). Later on 10/2, Schwarzenegger "attacked the story" itself, saying: "They are, of course, striking out and tying to derail the campaign. I'm not going to let them" (Li, New York Post, 10/3).

Schwarzenegger, on the timing of the story: "One interesting thing, at the beginning of this week a lot of political leaders came up to me during the campaign and said 'Arnold, beware because this is the week where they're going to unload everything on you. They're going to have so much stuff out there ... because this is what happens to every politician. This is trash politics and you will experience the same thing.' This is what I'm experiencing right now. ... And the key thing is to stay focused."

Schwarzenegger, asked if he thought Dems where behind the story: "It makes sense to me that look at the timing of this, that now they are unloading all this stuff. ... People know this is trash politics. This is why so many people don't go into politics and they look beyond this" ("Hardball," MSNBC, 10/2).

Schwarzenegger, in a taped interview with CNN: "I don't remember so many of the things that I was accused of having done. Okay? So, because of that, I just want to say that, if I've done anything wrong, where I thought that I'm playful and just have fun, maybe I have offended someone. So, again, I feel bad about that. But the reality is that it's very interesting that all of a sudden now, since I'm ahead in the campaign, and since we are now literally five days away from election, all of a sudden all of those things are coming out, and all of those things to the negative. In fact, you know, I'm very pro-women and I'm very much into equality. And those sides are not coming out, which is very interesting. And that I always support women. And when I become governor, I will be a champion for women. I will be fighting for women's rights and all those things" ("AC 360," CNN, 10/2).

ARE WE DONE YET?

Schwarzenegger spokesperson Todd Harris, on future comments about the story: "We're done with it. Arnold insisted that the issue be dealt with forthrightly, honestly and immediately" (LaVelle, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10/2).

Schwarzenegger media consultant Mike Murphy said the apology "was Arnold's idea": "He wanted to do it. He said, 'I want to clear this up." Other GOPers "said they believed Schwarzenegger decided after talking it over" with Shriver, who "knows about dealing with personal allegations" (Orin, New York Post, 10/3).

FNC's Garrett: "GOP sources tell Fox, the Schwarzenegger team decided its blanket denials wouldn't hold up and trying to ignore the story would only fan the flames. In the end, top advisers settled on an apology, laced with venom for unnamed political enemies. ... Several Democratic strategists said rumors of Schwarzenegger's roguish past made the story less sensational and limited its bombshell effect. Most said the revelations could lead some voters back to Davis as the lesser of two evils" ("Special Report," 10/2).

CNN's Crowley: "I want to give you the big picture first, and that is that the show goes on, that despite these morning allegations from the women in the Los Angeles Times, that this campaign is moving on. Nonetheless, it is populated by people who have been around the block before. And they knew that before they started this day they really had to tackle the Los Angeles Times story. And so at his very first stop in his very first speech, that's what Arnold Schwarzenegger tried to do" ("IP," 10/2).

CRUZ -- Almost CALLS FOR CHARGES

LG Cruz Bustamante (D) on 10/2 "indicated he believes the accusations of 'sexual battery and harassment' may have been a criminal violation." He "issued a statement" saying: "THese actions are more than just offensive. The California Penal Code says: 'Any person who touches an intimate part of another person against the will of the person touched ... is guilty of misdemeanor sexual battery."

MCCLINTOCK -- DON'T GIVE ME THIS

State Sen. Tom McClintock (R) "avoided the chance to attack" Schwarzenegger, saying: "I'm frankly somewhat skeptical of last-minute charges of this nature just a few days before a campaign. ... I believe this election is about the future of California and the direction each candidate would lead it. Last-minute character assassinations like this I just tend to be somewhat skeptical."

DAVIS -- I DIDN'T DO IT

Gov. Gray Davis' (D) camp "quickly emphasized that it had nothing to do with the Times story. But even supporters conceded denials would ring hollow, given Mr. Davis' reputation for negative campaigning" (Sheppard/Orlov, Los Angeles Daily News, 10/2). Davis, on the allegations: "There's a newspaper article. Voters will determine what significance to attach to that. And they'll determine what impact that'll have on the decision facing them next Tuesday" (Riggs, KCRA, 10/2).

CAVALCADE OF SENTENCE FRAGMENTS

Local headlines from 10/3: o Los Angeles Daily News -- "Arnold's Apology" o Los Angeles Times -- "Schwarzenegger Tells Backers He 'Behaved Badly' o Sacramento Bee -- "Schwarzenegger admits he 'behaved badly'" o San Diego Union-Tribune -- "Schwarzenegger acts quickly to defuse crisis in the making" o San Jose Mercury News -- "Arnold acknowledges 'offensive' behavior" National headlines from 10/3: o Baltimore Sun -- "Schwarzenegger apologizes for mistreatment of women" o Chicago Tribune -- "Schwarzenegger says he's sorry" o New York Daily News -- "Squeeze play" o New York Post -- Arnie Apologizes For Groping Gals o Philadelphia Inquirer -- "Schwarzenegger repents" o Toledo Blade -- "Schwarzenegger offers apology for 'bad behavior' toward women" o USA Today -- "Scharzenegger 'deeply sorry' / Days before recall, new sex charges o Wall Street Journal -- "Schwarzenegger Apologizes For Behavior Toward Women" o Washington Times -- "Schwarzenegger says he used to be a cad"

EVERYBODY HAS ONE ... SOME HAVE MORE

CA GOP consultant Sal Russo: "I don't think it's going to have an effect. People have just gotten so cynical of the last-minute smears."

Dem consultant Kam Kuwata, on the current allegations: "That's already out there. If you're offended by this, I think you were offended already" (Calmes, Wall Street Journal, 10/3).

The Times story caused an internat'l "sensation and dominated the recall campaign" 10/2. But the impact it will have 10/7 "is uncertain." USC prof Sherry Bebitch Jeffe said Schwarzenegger was "wise to address the issue quickly": "He needed to get out, and he needed to get out personally." How bad it will hurt will "become clear 'after the first news cycle.'" She added: "This is a state that loves Bill Clinton -- still -- and he had his troubles with women."

CSU-Sacramento prof Barbara O'Connor: "The Times story is very graphic, very specific and well-documented. ... Anyone who reads it will have severe reservations about Mr. Schwarzenegger's treatment of women, as recently as two years ago ... I think it does hurt him. When you're running on a platform of moral superiority ... anything that goes to your character can be damning" (LaVelle, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10/2). More O'Connor: "I think the gender gap is back. And if women [protesters] appear at every bus stop on the campaign trail this weekend, it's going to make for great television" (Sheppard/Orlov, Los Angeles Daily News, 10/2).

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), on the LA Times story: "I think it's a bomb. ... The LA Times said earlier that this did not come from a campaign. ... I think it does strike at an individual's character. He has apologized, therefore admitting it is correct. I think that individual voters in California are going to have to evaluate it for itself" ("Hardball," MSNBC, 10/2).

Feinstein, on the Hitler allegations: "Obviously, I would be particularly concerned with what he wrote about Adolf Hitler. Even as a young man, to have somebody that really put that into print at that time is appalling." Feinstein, on if the timing of the allegations "smacks of dirty politics": "Well, I don't think, I, uh, I've read what I could get my hands on, particularly the New York Times this morning. With respect to the Hitler writings, I gather, these scripts were very closely held. I gather that somebody sent these scripts in and it was not a political campaign" ("Today," NBC, 10/3).

Ex-LA Mayor Dick Riordan (R), on the Los Angeles Times story: "Well, I think it is typical of the Los Angeles Times. They obviously had some of this material weeks before this, and if it was news, they should have put it in the newspaper when they first had it. I went through this when I ran for mayor. They accused me of a variety of things. I think the people of California are going to ignore it. I think the voters are going to look to say, who do we want to govern this state in the years ahead? We have had a failure in education, in transportation, and particularly fiscal matters, and I think they will vote for Arnold because they will believe that Arnold is the leader that can govern our state the best in the years ahead" ("Your World," FNC, 10/2).

Ex-Dukakis manager Susan Estrich, on the Times' story: "So what does the Los Angeles Times do on the Thursday before the Tuesday? They come out apparently after a seven-week investigation. They wait until Thursday, and they come up with an article that quotes anonymously four women and names two women" ("Hannity & Colmes," FNC, 10/2).

MSNBC's Matthews: "It was so un-Clintonian. It was surprising. I don't know what the reverberations will be for a few days. ... You have to be skeptical about the LA Times. They dropped this bomb on him ... right before the election. This fits completely with the pattern in California politics. ... It's always last-minute stuff out here and this fits the pattern" ("Countdown," 10/2).

FNC's Barnes, on the potential fallout: "I don't think it's going to have much effect. I think people sort of assumed this. ... I think he was right to apologize. Actually, some of the conduct in there, if it's true, was extremely crude ... There is something suspicious about this Times story coming out now. I suspect they could have had this story. I have no proof of this. They could have put it out a while ago and they waited until they think Arnold might win" ("Special Report," 10/2).

CNN's Greenfield, on if Arnold is given more of a pass because he's an actor: "I think you're exactly right and I think that's why Arnold said in the apology. ... If people begin to look at this closely they're going to find a couple of things that might unsettle them if they were leaning towards Schwarzenegger. First, this is not consensual sex. This is not an issue of whether it's okay with Maria Shriver then it's okay with me. The women who have come forward, and at least two of them were on the local news tonight, these are not anonymous charges anymore. ... And so, if they begin to look at it that way and you remember that Senator Robert Packwood of Oregon was basically kicked out of the Senate for less egregious but, you know, examples of kind of making passes at people, so that is part of it. But I do think it is true that an actor is expected to behave almost in ways that more 'respectable professionals' don't" ("NewsNight," 10/2).

Los Angeles Times' McManus, on the reaction from the campaign about the story: "Well, the initial contact was on Tuesday evening. It was about 36 hours before the story ran in the paper. So they were given a lot of time to react. They didn't seem surprised. There had been a lot of rumors around in California. ... When three investigative reporters are looking for something, it kicks up a little dirt. But their initial formal reaction the night before the story ran was to say it simply wasn't true. I don't think that's the same thing Arnold Schwarzenegger said today" ("PZ, Now," CNN, 10/2).

Washington Post's Connolly: "Assuming that it is as credible as it looks to be, it is not just crude behavior or rowdy behavior, some of that is sexual harassment and sexual battery" ("Special Report," FNC, 10/2).

Newsweek's Breslau, on how she interpreted Schwarzenegger's response: "Well, I think they're trying to have it both ways. Until today, they were saying these allegations are false and baseless. And then today, I think particularly with the Times story, there was just a critical mass that they could no longer ignore or deny. And so they came out with this very carefully and craftily worded statement that ... essentially was trying to pass off what had been described in the Times as abusive behavior as sort of -- as something that a prankster would do" ("PZ, Now," CNN, 10/2).

Fortune's Birnbaum: "These are serious allegations. And they're almost sure to hurt Schwarzenegger with the one group of voters that he feared, or his people fear that he needed most help with, which are women voters, and probably some independent voters who are on the fence may not go towards him. It's certainly, at the very least, froze this race" ("Special Report," FNC, 10/2).

CBS' Kauffman: "Just as Arnold Schwarzenegger was kicking off his bus tour, the bombshells hit like a one two punch. First that he'd groped women and next that he'd once expressed admiration for Adolph Hitler, something he strongly denied. ... Just as these press buses follow Schwarzenegger on his tour the allegations of sexual misconduct are following him as well. At his next stop, supporters tangled with a handful of protestors, including one woman who claimed Schwarzenegger threatened her some twenty years ago... an unsubstantiated claim immediately denounced by the campaign as dirty tricks orchestrated by Gray Davis. ... In all a rough start to what was supposed to be victorious road trip to the State Capitol" ("Early Show," 10/3).

THIS PRETTY MUCH UNDOES THE WHOLE OPRAH THING

NBC's Lewis: "Experts say it's too early to gauge the affect of the allegations on the women's vote" ("Nightly News," 10/2).

CNN's Feldman: "Arnold Schwarzenegger's attitude toward women has been a hot topic of discussion for weeks. But the publication of a seven-week investigation by the Los Angeles Times has sent shockwaves through the Schwarzenegger campaign" ("AC 360," 10/2).

Time's Klein, on if this type of behavior should be tolerated from someone running for office: "The question is, how does it play with women voters? And Schwarzenegger wasn't doing too well with women voters before this. The question is whether women in California take the appropriate measure when a guy does something as obnoxious as what he is alleged to have done. And that is, slap him in the face" ("PZ, Now," CNN, 10/2).

YOU AIN'T SEEN NOTHING YET

CA Women's Law Center Exec. Dir. Marjorie Sims, CWLC atty Marci Fukuroda and Gail Escobar, "who says Schwarzenegger threatened to rape her when she was 16 years old" will hold a presser at 7:15 a.m. 10/3 to call on LA DA Steve Cooley and Police Chief William Bratton "to investigate allegations brought by several women that Schwarzenegger sexually battered them." Sims: "It the investigation reveals that other women have been battered more recently -- within the statute of limitations -- then the DA must consider bringing criminal charges" (release, 10/2).

Syndicated radio show host Dr. Joy Browne on 10/2 "publicly described" on her show "being groped and propositioned" by Schwarzenegger "more than 20 years ago, when she was starting in the business and he was promoting his film 'Pumping Iron.'" Browne said "during an interview" with Schwarzenegger he "fondled her legs under the table" and then when he "left his Gold American Express card in the studio" he "insisted that Browne personally return it to his hotel room." Browne "took her young daughter along to return the card," and Schwarzenegger "answered the door in tight pants, wearing no shirt" and holding "champagne." He "asked if her daughter could 'take a walk for awhile?'"

Browne said she "thought Schwarzenegger's advances 'were a lot about power, not about sex for him." She also "said she had never before talked publicly about the incident," saying that the term "'sexual harassment' was not used at the time": "I was a very young broadcaster. If this had happened even a year later I would have said, 'Cut that out, what are you doing?'"

Stutzman said 10/2 that Schwarzenegger "had no recollection of the alleged incident."

Alleged groping victim E. Laine Stockton said 10/2 that Schwarzenegger should "apologize personally to each of the women": "He didn't do it to us as a group. He did it to us in public places. As far as I'm concerned, I want a face-to-face apology." Another alleged victim said she was "upset that Schwarzenegger had coupled his apology with an attack on 'trash politics'": "It kind of discounts the apology a little bit and puts the shame on the person it happened to. The wording seemed to suggest that what happened to me is part of some larger political scheme that's in the gutter, even though it's not something I did. It's the truth about something he did" (Nicholas/Hall/Finnegan, Los Angeles Times, 10/3).

San Francisco Chronicle's Hua reports, the Schwarzenegger "allegations, and his subsequent admission of bad behavior," place him "squarely in the lurid footsteps of such high-profile figures" as SCOTUS Justice Clarence Thomas, ex-Sen. Bob Packwood (R-OR) and ex-Pres. Clinton (10/3).

CA NOW spokesperson Helen Grieco said she "believes male voters will be turned off" by the stories: "It will be difficult for them to vote and look their wife in the eye, their daughter in the eye, their co-worker in the eye. We think he will lose votes over this."

CA Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D): "The behavior described here is battery under California law. I think it ought to be a wake-up call to the people of California" (LaVelle, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10/2).

DON'T PUT THIS ON US, THANK YOU VERY MUCH

Los Angeles Times' Goldstein and Horn report, Schwarzenegger's explanation of being on "rowdy movie sets ... set off a furor in Hollywood" on 10/2, "where a wide variety of filmmakers, executives and crew members disputed his implication that this sort of behavior is common."

Paramount Pictures Chair Sherry Lansing: "Grabbing someone's boobs or pinching their ass is absolutely not the way people behave on a movie st. Women work alongside men and are treated with utmost respect. Moviemaking is a very gender-blind business. No one tolerates that kind of behavior."

Publicist Rob Harris: "Affairs happen all the time among the cast, among the crew and among the townspeople with the cast and crew, but it's always consensual. Stars often act playfully and often act petulantly, but when it comes to sexually groping, I've never, ever seen that."

Meanwhile, producer Gary Goetzman said that some stars "can be so pampered and coddled that they may seem out of touch with reality": "The problem with some stars is that they lose perspective about correct adult behavior. People laugh at everything they say and do. Nobody says, 'Chill out, man, that's out of line.' So it gets to the point where some think they can do anything. It's not an atmosphere that necessarily promotes self-control" (10/3).

HEY, DON'T LOOK AT US, EITHER

Los Angeles Times' Lopez writes, "Reports of Arnold Schwarzenegger's sexual mistreatment and humiliation of women drew outrage here" on 10/3 -- "Outrage at the Los Angeles Times, not at Arnold. I would have thought that at a gathering of conservatives, who rightfully vilified President Bill Clinton for his raunchy scandal and nationally televised lies, there'd at least be some finger-wagging at Arnold. Not a chance with the teflon Terminator."

Lopez on Schwarzenegger's admissions: "Yeah, I may be a creep, he was saying, but my accusers are bigger creeps. ... [A] reporter asked me if I knew why Arnold would confess just five days before the election, and I think I do. It's a way of coming clean while simultaneously unifying support by tossing grenades at the evil Fourth Estate. And more important, it keeps the focus off the bigger story, which is that Arnold hasn't begun to explain how he's going to fix the problems in Sacramento" (10/3).

ALL IN THE TIMING

Los Angeles Times' Sterngold reports that the Times editor John Carroll "rejected criticisms Thursday that an article detailing six instances of sexual harassment by Arnold Schwarzenegger." The newspaper "had collected even more examples" but didn't print them because it "had not had the time to corroborate them." Stutzman: "The timing of this article is 'gotcha' journalism. If there were facts to report, why wait until five days before the election to publish it?" Carroll "flatly" denied the claims saying that the publication "was a result not of maneuvering but of the stunted time frame for the unusual recall election" (10/3).

GET ON THE BUS

Sacramento Bee's Weintraub writes at California Insider, "The Schwarzenegger caravan is, of course, an extravaganza. More than 200 members of the media on four buses are trailing two buses carrying the candidate and his staff ... The trip was preceded by vague promises that reporters might be rotated into the lead bus for time with Schwarzenegger, but I am not sure if that is happening. I spent the first leg from San Diego to Orange County on Predator 3, as it was named, with about 44 other media types and three Schwarzenegger staffers. Almost all of those on my bus were television and radio reporters, and the scene quickly became an orgy of reporters interviewing reporters" (10/2).

THE POLITICS OF AUTOMOBILE DESTRUCTION

At a morning rally at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa, Schwarzenegger "vowed to 'destroy the car tax,'" telling the crowd: "In the movies, when I played a character and I didn't like someone, you know what I did? I destroyed it. I'll show you exactly what we're going to do to the car tax." Then "a crane dropped a giant weight onto an Oldsmobile Cutlass, crushing the vehicle." As the "rock anthem 'We're Not Gonna Take It' blasted through loudspeakers," Schwarzenegger said: "Hasta la vista, car tax" (Nicholas/Hall/Finnegan, Los Angeles Times, 10/3).

BUSTAMANTE JUDGE TAKES IT EASY ON ARNOLD

Superior Court Judge Loren McMaster "denied a temporary restraining order" that sought to keep Schwarzenegger from using $4.5M "in bank loans to finance the final days of his campaign." Plaintiff/Sacramento Central Labor Council Exec. Sec. Bill Camp can still "pursue his suit after the election." Schwarzenegger's attys contend the suit "was politically motivated" and have "countersued to seek sanctions against" Camp.

Camp "accuses Schwarzenegger of violating contributions limits," as Prop. 34 "restricts" to $100K "the size of loans that candidates may give their own campaigns," but it "allows bank loans of unlimited size if the terms and rates are available to the general public."

City National Bank of Beverly Hills lent Schwarzenegger the money, and Schwarzenegger atty Charles Bell "provided the judge with an affidavit from City National saying that the candidate is paying the prime interest rate -- 4% -- which is reserved for the bank's best customers." The affidavit "describes Schwarzenegger as a long-term client, and says the terms 'are available to any member of the general public who applies for such a line of credit and who is able to meet the bank's lending requirements" (Recall Notebook, Los Angeles Times, 10/3).

SO MUCH FOR THE GREEN VOTE...

Schwarzenegger's suggestion that "he would consider eliminating" the CA EPA "to cut government waste ... cemented what has emerged as a near-universal distrust" of his candidacy among enviros. Schwarzenegger aides "quickly sought to clarify the remark," pointing out that he "only wanted to cut the functions that repeated things other agencies already did. And though he "made a concerted play for the environmental vote" by tapping Shriver cousin RFK, Jr. to "help fashion his platform," he has "failed to sway a single major" enviro org ti his side. Sierra Club regional dir. Carl Zichella: "He simply cannot be trusted to resist special-interest influence of the appeals of the Bush administration to weaken California environmental policies." But the ex-CA EPA Sec. James Strock, the first under the dept. created by ex-Gov. Pete Wilson (R) "said Schwarzenegger's advisers had consulted him to learn more about" the agency, and "he is convinced that the candidate is committed to maintaining the state's strong environmental protections": "Arnold Schwarzenegger has a detailed environmental proposal, and he has made clear that he supports continuing detailed state functions, especially on air pollution" (Bustillo/Cone, Los Angeles Times, 10/3).

...OR THE BLACK VOTE

San Francisco Chronicle's Coile reports that the CA Pres. of the NAACP Alice Huffman is "under fire for a speech she gave" in SF accusing of "having racist views." Huffman: "There are a few people in this world that still believe that white men born in America are superior. If you want a live example...all you have to do is tune into the recall election and you will hear Arnold Schwarzenegger. Despite his effort to move beyond his training, the roots and training of his father may still be creeping out." The speech was made "before ABC News aired a story" with comments Schwarzenegger "reportedly" made that he "admired Hitler." Dean and founder of the Simon Wiesenthal Center Rabbi Marvin Hier on Schwarzenegger: "In the almost twenty years that I've known him, he hasn't shown the slightest hint of being a racist against Jews or against African Americans or against any group." Huffman joked in her speech that "the last part of [Schwarzenegger's] name doesn't register well with me" referring "to the 'negger' portion of Schwarzenegger." Huffman defended her comments, "I believe that despite his effort to mask a lot of his racism that he has racism there."

UC Regent and sponsor of Prop. 54 Ward Connerly: "I find it rather ironic that a woman who heads an organization which professes to believe in tolerance and nonracist behavior would make such a racist statement."

BUT HEY -- HE'S GOT ALMOST AS MANY SENATE ENDORSEMENTS AS MCCAIN HAD IN '00!

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) endorsed Schwarzenegger 10/2, saying in a statement: "I have spent much of my career fighting against the corrupting influence of special interest money in politics. When Arnold becomes governor I hope to have a powerful ally in that fight" (AP, 10/2).

ROMNEY CAUSING A FAMILY FEUD?

MA Gov. Mitt Romney (R), who heads to CA this weekend to stump for Schwarzenegger, said Schwarzenegger "did the right thing by apologizing." But Romney spokesperson Shawn Feddeman also "aired rumors of similar claims about" Schwarzenegger uncle-in-law MA Sen. Ted Kennedy (D), saying: "The governor heard rumors similar to these about his opponent during his first campaign and he never once thought to make an issue out of them. He thinks the focus of the campaign should be about real issues like jobs and reform."

MA Dem Chair/Kennedy friend Phil Johnston: "I just find it unbelievable that the governor would support that kind of statement about Sen. Kennedy. It's reprehensible behavior and both [Romney] and Shawn Feddeman should apologize to the senator and disown the statement."

Kennedy "declined to comment but a source close to him said Romney has some explaining to do." Another source "doubted the incident would lead to a long term rift" (Guarino/Marantz, Boston Herald, 10/3). More Johnston: "It is appalling and outrageous that Romney's staff would try to turn Schwarzenegger's admission into an attack on Ted Kennedy. We in Massachusetts can only be shocked that Mitt Romney is traveling across the country to support the campaign of a man who has admitted to having sexually harassed women for decades" (Phillips, Boston Globe, 10/3)

HOPING A LITTLE OF THAT RUDY MAGIC RUBS OFF

Los Angeles Times' Mathews reports, a new 15-second TV ad begins airing today featuring ex-NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) speaking "directly to the camera." Full transcript:GIULIANI: "Sometimes history thrusts upon people roles they never thought they would have. I have known Arnold Schwarzenegger for many years. He is determined and decisive. In times of challenge, strong leadership makes the difference. I hope California will seize the moment and make Arnold governor." Writes Mathews on the ad's accuracy: "The claims are so broad that it is hard to determine their accuracy. Schwarzenegger and Giuliani do know each other. They are both Republicans." The ad "seeks to capitalize on Giuliani's popularity with the American public because of his response" to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. His "comment that 'sometimes history thrusts upon people roles they never thought they would have' is an unmistakable reference to Giuliani's role as a national spokesman in the days after the attacks." Giuliani is a friend of ex-candidate Bill Simon Jr. (R), and as Simon endorsed Schwarzenegger last week, "this ad probably reflects Simon's connection" (10/3).

VOTE FOR ARNOLD BECAUSE WE CAN'T

Washington Times endorses Schwarzenegger, writing: "As Arnold Schwarzenegger is poised to be elected the next governor of California, we wish him well. He has, in the matter of a mere month, made the difficult and rarely successful transition from well-intentioned private citizen to shrewdly competent candidate for high office." Though the Times was "skeptical of his ability to convert mere movie-star glamor to the more demanding requirements of political leadership," he has "unambiguously ... demonstrated that he possesses that rare gift of intuitive, humane leadership. And, rarely has an incoming governor needed superb leadership skills more than the winner of next week's elections will" (10/3).

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