LA Times letter to the editor
Schwarzenegger Woos the Special Interests
November 7, 2003
When I read "1st Benefit Is Set for New Gov." (Nov. 4) I was appalled by the spin and outright lies put forward by Gov.-elect Arnold Schwarzenegger and his spokesman, Rob Stutzman. First the candidate lied by stating he would take no special-interest money, then he did exactly that. Now Stutzman tells us that "voters know they have sent a man to Sacramento who cannot be bought" while that man is busy selling access for dollars to repay the $4.5 million in low-interest loans he used to bombard us with television advertising.
If the independently wealthy, well-funded and famous Schwarzenegger has to borrow millions to run for governor, what chance does an ordinary, idealistic candidate have? Some call it fund-raising, but I call it bribery on layaway. We need public financing of elections, as in Maine and Arizona, which has increased voter participation and candidate diversity in state elections. Clean-money candidates don't owe anyone except voters and the thousands of people who gave $5 to get their candidate qualified for public financing. Do you think Schwarzenegger feels he owes favors to those who give him $21,200 a pop? You bet!
Nick Gleiter
Sherman Oaks
