Schwarzenegger Appoints Anti-Gay To Head Transition

I feel sorry for the people of California. I understand their frustration and disappointment in the administration of Gray Davis, but on every single important issue that Arnold Schwarzenegger has been asked about, he has given no details on what he thinks, or how he's going to go about making policy changes.

Because of this, some of the gay population are even excited about having him as governor, even saying that Arnold is "pro-gay". California's statewide group of gay Republicans has endorsed him to replace Governor Gray Davis in the state's upcoming recall election. The Log Cabin Republicans of California (LCRC) said in a press release:

"We believe that Arnold Schwarzenegger will be a governor for all the people of California. He appeals across party lines and the ideological spectrum. His views on social issues put him squarely in the mainstream of California voters, and his tough fiscal policies are precisely what our state desperately needs."

Now, it's unclear if the domestic-partner legislation that Gray Davis signed will survive the new administration. Schwarzenegger has said that he would not have signed California’s Domestic Partner legislation that was recently signed into law by Governor Davis. Just because some guy groped some women and got away with it does not make him pro-gay. What are people thinking?

So now, I find it amusing that the same gay community are up in arms because Schwarzenegger has appointed conservative Republican Congressman David Dreier to head his transition team. So it begins (story)....

Dreier, who served as co-chair of the actor's gubernatorial campaign, has record in Congress of opposing gay rights initiatives.

In 1996 he voted for the Defense of Marriage Act which bans the federal government from recognizing same-sex couples. The legislation passed and was signed into law by then President Bill Clinton. In 1999 he voted to ban gay adoptions in the District of Columbia. That bill was narrowly defeated. He opposes granting gays and lesbians civil rights in the workplace, and is in favor of a constitutional amendment to bar gay marriage.

Dreier was named this year as a "True Blue" advocate by the Family Research Council - the preeminent anti-gay lobby organization. His appointment to head the transition team has raised flags among some gay activists.

David Smith, a spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign, the largest LGBT civil rights organization in the country, said that he is "cautiously optimistic" that Schwarzenegger will not abandon his stated course of being a social moderate.

You get what you pay for. In this case, the people of California elected a bad actor and a somewhat better politician, without knowing how he feels about anything. Will they be organizing a "Recall Arnold" campaign six months from now? I guess it's their money to spend.