Dean Lambastes Governor
State Democrats take their gloves off against
Arnold at annual convention
By Beth Fouhy
Associated Press
Sunday, April 17, 2005 - California
Democrats were in a fighting mood Saturday, using their annual convention to
lash out at Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger with an intensity usually reserved for
President George W. Bush.
The Republican governor, whose campaign for a controversial set of government
reform proposals has enraged labor unions and other traditionally Democratic
constituencies, came under withering attack in a series of speeches by
congressional leaders, state legislators and party activists.
The crowd grew feistier still during a dinner speech by Democratic National
Committee chairman Howard Dean, who echoed an angry complaint by the state's
teachers that Schwarzenegger had reneged on a promise to deliver $2 billion in
unanticipated funds to public schools.
"We will say no to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's attempt to take $2 billion
out of the education budget," Dean said to cheers. "Governor, keep your promise
to the children of California and fund public schools. We don't need any more
corrupt Republicans in office in this country."
While many Democrats heaped praise and plaudits on Schwarzenegger as recently
as a few months ago, they vowed Saturday to stay united in their efforts to
block his agenda.
"The governor has declared war on the state of California," proclaimed
Assemblywoman Judy Chu, D-Monterey Park. "He declared war on us, and I declare
war on him."
It was an extraordinary reversal of good will toward the celebrity governor,
a self-described GOP moderate who until recently was deemed by many observers to
be politically indestructible.
Signs of Democratic animus toward Schwarzenegger abounded throughout the
cavernous convention hall -- from omnipresent red and white posters declaring
"Stop Arnold's Arrogance!" to bobblehead dolls depicting the governor in a pink
dress clutching an automatic rifle.
A slickly produced videotape mocking Schwarzenegger's campaign fundraising
and fondness for cigars was played to laughs.
"Voters gave Arnold Schwarzenegger a chance when he became governor -- they
gave him high ratings and listened to what he had to say," said House Minority
Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco. "Now they see that what they thought they
were getting is something quite different."
Meanwhile, two of the Democrats angling to oust Schwarzenegger in 2006 --
Treasurer Phil Angelides and Controller Steve Westly -- took indirect swipes at
one another over who has the message and credibility to make the best run.
Angelides repeatedly reminded delegates that he had been one of the earliest
and most outspoken Schwarzenegger antagonists. It was a gentle but intentional
dig at Westly, who campaigned actively at Schwarzenegger's side last year to
pass a $15 billion debt reduction bond measure.
"It's wrong for Democrats to go along for the sake of getting along,"
Angelides said at a budget "town hall meeting" as Westly sat listening nearby.
"It is wrong for us to wring our hands and say, 'hey, the governor's popular,
he's a big celebrity, maybe we're the ones who ought to change our ways."'
For his part, Westly took aim at Angelides' endorsement of tax increases and
suggested that Democrats must fashion a more positive message to attract
disenchanted voters.
"We must do more than bash Arnold if we want to win," Westly said. "We've got
to get smart about branding -- we are the party of innovation, we are the party
of accountability, and we are the party of investing in this state's future."
A former eBay executive with a multimillion dollar personal fortune, Westly's
entry in the race this week has already shifted the dynamic among the
candidates. As Angelides showcased several high-profile supporters, including
Sen. Barbara Boxer and Pelosi, Westly spoke of "thinking outside the box" and
stressed the need for the party to modernize.
"We have to be the party of jobs, not the party of taxes," Westly told the
crowd.
A third gubernatorial hopeful, Attorney General Bill Lockyer, was scheduled
to speak at the convention today.
Dick Rosengarten, an analyst and author of the California Political Week
newsletter, referred to the convention as "Arnold Bashing 24-7" and said the
jousting between Westly and Angelides was surprisingly mild.
"I don't think I've ever seen the Democrats so unified," Rosengarten said.
"Usually they're at each other's throats."
Republican Party spokeswoman Karen Hanretty said the convention proved that
Democrats are more interested in gloating over Schwarzenegger's recent political
setbacks than they are in fixing the state's problems.
"The real arrogance lies within the Democratic leadership that refuses to
acknowledge the fiscal and budget crisis in California, and the out-of-control
spending spree this state has been on for over a decade," she said. "For all
their bashing, they offer no solutions."
The convention marked one of the first major public appearances for Dean
since taking the helm at the DNC in February. The former Vermont governor and
2004 presidential candidate urged Democrats to retool their message and
recognize the anxieties and insecurity that had driven many voters to the
Republican party.
"It's not that Americans don't share our values; our problem is that we don't
communicate what those values are," Dean said. "At the other end of all their
anxiety about economics is a profound anxiety about their kids. What they're
worried about more than anything is their kids and their families."
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