Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bill Clinton, and Political Prostitution

By Randall A. Terry

Arnold Schwarzenegger's maltreatment of women has been so common, that his Hollywood friends who witnessed it laughed -- rather than confront him. These six women are the tip of the iceberg. For those of us with wives and daughters, such "flirting" is reprehensible, not laughable.

You may be wondering if the Republicans who endorsed him will come to their senses, dump Schwarzenegger, and stand by Tom McClintock.

Alas, only men and women of principle and conviction would do that. And those who endorsed Arnold prior to these reports proved that they had neither principle nor conviction.

They know Arnold is an ideological barbarian (Conan style). They know he believes in killing babies; that he will trash the Second Amendment; he supports "homosexual marriage" under the euphemism of "domestic partnerships." In many ways, he is a Bill Clinton with an (R) after his name instead of a (D). And yet they support him, because they are not people of conviction.

Worse yet, the Republican elite view us who hold to "principle" and "convictions" like call girls -- we are to be prostituted when possible, and then hidden away to avoid embarrassment.

In primaries, in fundraising letters and events, in "private meetings," GOP elites tell us how "pro-life" they are. They swear allegiance to the Second Amendment; they decry "homosexual marriage." And of course, their pimps in "conservative media" swear it's all true. And of course, it's all a sham. (This is part of why so many people are registering Independent.)

In reality, GOP elites and conservative media treat the "principled right" the way Arnold treats women. Any analogy comparing those of us who are principled conservatives to prostitutes doesn't really work. We don't get paid. We pay them. We get used, then abused, then mocked, and then abandoned in the political night.

They seduce us with smooth words and smiles into giving them our time, our money, our physical energies, and finally, in that private climatic moment, our votes. And then once their need of us is done, they turn their backs on us - and our principles and convictions -- explaining to us (like a womanizer explains to his abandoned conquest) that they really want to take us home to Mom and marry us, but they just can't do it yet, because Mom (the public) just isn't ready.

My fellow Republicans, I issue this challenge: Be consistent in the way you treat Arnold with the way you treated Bill Clinton for his dishonorable character and morally bankrupt policies. Or tell us plainly that Clinton's policies and treatment of women really didn't bother you all along; he was just on the wrong team. Tell us who withstood Clinton that we were your political bimbos.

To the GOP elite in California and DC; to Carl Rove and all the insiders; to Pat Robertson, and Sean Hannity, and every conservative host or religious right leader that has turned their backs on principle and Tom McClintock... admit that you were wrong, and do the right thing. Honor your stated principles; take Tom McClintock home to Mom.


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