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Skriven 2005-11-06 07:05:00 av Jeff Binkley (1:226/600)
Ärende: Warren
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http://apnews.myway.com/article/20051106/D8DML86O9.html

Beatty Tries to Crash Schwarzenegger Rally
 

Nov 5, 7:53 PM (ET)

By MICHAEL R. BLOOD
 

SAN DIEGO (AP) - The state's special election verged on a celebrity 
showdown Saturday when Warren Beatty and his wife Annette Bening 
attempted to crash a campaign appearance by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The Hollywood couple strode side by side to the entrance of a cavernous 
airport hangar where the governor was about to address several hundred 
supporters. But they were blocked by a Schwarzenegger campaign aide, 
Darrel Ng, who told the "Bulworth" star he was not on the guest list and 
didn't have the appropriate wristband to get inside.

"You have to have a wristband to listen to the governor?" Bening asked. 
"He represents all of us, right?"

Beatty's appearance caused momentary confusion at the rally. Just before 
the governor took the stage, the hangar door was closed - literally in 
the face of Beatty and Bening. It was later reopened as Schwarzenegger 
began to speak.

Inside, Schwarzenegger told cheering supporters that his slate of four 
ballot proposals would "reform the broken system" in Sacramento.

In a later interview, he alluded to Beatty only indirectly.

"There's the main event, then there is the sideshow," the governor said. 
"I don't care about the sideshow."

Beatty drew the ire of some of the governor's supporters who called him 
a Hollywood liberal and a has-been actor.

"It's time for some people to retire," said former San Diego Mayor Roger 
Hedgecock, who hosts a popular radio talk show. "I'm trying to be gentle 
about it but it's clear that Warren is over the hill and desperately 
looking for something else to do."

 Beatty, a longtime Democratic activist, has criticized Schwarzenegger 
in recent months, fueling speculation that he might make a bid for 
governor next year.

Beatty, 68, planned to shadow Schwarzenegger throughout the day as the 
governor worked his way north to Los Angeles. Beatty urged people to 
vote against the Nov. 8 ballot measures supported by Schwarzenegger.

"The sun is hot, the agenda is clear, the task is at hand, so let's get 
out and do what we have to do," Beatty told the crowd. "Let's get out 
the vote."

Boarding a bus draped with a banner reading "Truth Squad," Beatty said, 
"We may just have some fun."

Asked in a brief interview if he hoped to speak with Schwarzenegger, 
Beatty said "that would be great."

Beatty told reporters he had no plans to run for public office, but 
didn't rule it out entirely. He also said he wasn't a gubernatorial 
candidate in next year's election.

"I don't want to run for governor," he told reporters. "I want to say 
what I think."

In Anaheim, Beatty told about 100 supporters outside a building where 
Schwarzenegger was speaking that he believed the issues on the ballot 
could have been resolved by the Legislature, but the governor forced 
them into a special election because he knew there would be low voter 
turnout and a higher chance of success.

"To my knowledge, I have not heard him debate a human, living person," 
Beatty said.

He did not attempt to enter where Schwarzenegger was speaking.


Beatty also told supporters, "My experience in politics goes way, way 
back, much further back than Arnold's. I don't drop the issues simply 
because I know someone socially."

Schwarzenegger is pushing several measures that would curb the power of 
the Democrat-controlled Legislature and the state's powerful public 
employee unions. Another measure with his backing would extend the trial 
period for teaches to get tenure.

Schwarzenegger took some time before his bus tour on Saturday for a call-
in news conference with Ohio reporters to give his qualified endorsement 
of a redistricting measure on the ballot there Tuesday.

The governor is backing Proposition 77 on California's ballot that would 
let a panel of retired judges draw legislative and congressional maps. 
The Ohio initiative would have maps judged by a bipartisan panel.

The proposals have drawn opposition from Democrats and Republicans, but 
Schwarzenegger said he would like to see similar efforts nationwide.

"Let's take the power away from the politicians and let's take away the 
gerrymandering and give the power back to the people," Schwarzenegger 
said.

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