In his "State of the State" address last week, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger again tried to redefine the term "special interest". One dictionary defines special interest as "A person, group, or organization attempting to influence legislators in favor of one particular interest or issue." Schwarzenegger thinks that a special interest is anyone who opposes his agenda. It is a semantic trick that has been used for decades. But in the case of Schwarzenegger, it is especially potent since he casts himself as the ultimate outsider who is going to "blow up the boxes" of government as usual in California.
Schwarzenegger's targeted "Special Interests" include public sector unions (especially teachers), general trade unions, health professionals (especially nurses).
These groups, despite giving over $20 million to the Schwarzenegger campaign and having legislation before him, are not considered special interests by the Governor: Real estate development; Finance, accounting, Investing; Entertainment, media; High tech; Health care, pharmaceuticals; Agriculture; Insurance.
The San Francisco Chronicle
reports on Schwarzenegger's attempt to define "special interests" as all who oppose his programs---for example, nurses, the blind, and schoolkids. Indeed, from his record so far, the Governor has favored corporations over people, and it appears that special interests will soon be everyone in California. Only corporations will not be special interests. Perhaps we should call him the Governor of the Chamber of Commerce?
The Governor's application of the special interests term to his opponents is much more of a threat than when President Bush or Rep. Delay uses the terms. Schwarzenegger is playing the role of the outsider with more skill than he has displayed in any of his films. His framing of the issue as "the special interests are blocking reform" will be tough to fight, but not impossible.
Some excerpts from the article by Carla Marinucci, Chronicle Political Writer:
But it's no coincidence, critics said, that the loaded label of "special interests" has, in recent months, been aimed by the governor at an increasing number of opponents.
Just a month ago, he ridiculed a handful of California nurses who interrupted a speech in Long Beach, telling the audience to ignore them as "special interests'' and saying, "I kick their butt.'' Months before, it was the same label for students protesting his university fee increases at another speech.
In his State of the State speech, Schwarzenegger warned that special interests will soon "organize huge protests out in front of the Capitol'' and "call me cruel and heartless" for attempting to rein in the budget.
Doug Heller, a spokesman for the nonprofit Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights -- a watchdog group that runs a Web site called Arnoldwatch. org -- said he's concerned that the governor is using the dreaded "special interest" label to disarm legitimate critics and public protest of his policies.
"It used to be special interests were just lobbying interests, lawyers,'' corporations and big unions, Heller said. "The public never thought of special interests as the nurses and the blind and disabled. If it is, we might as well pack up and go home, because then government isn't about Californians anymore. ''
He said the governor's targeting of special interests may be a way to deflect attention from his own aggressive fund raising.
As he enters his second year, still riding high in popularity polls, Schwarzenegger has become a relentless fund-raiser, amassing an astounding $26. 6 million in his first year -- a haul that doubled the amount raised by his predecessor, Democratic Gov. Gray Davis.
---snip---
"From a communications standpoint, their big move is to attempt to define all the Democratic interests as 'special interests' and all the Republican interests as 'clarions of the people,' " said Phil Trounstine, who helped shape political messages as the former communications director for Davis. "Just look at who he's defined as special interests -- and it tells you all you need to know about who's getting special favors.''
---snip---
And Barbara O'Connor, professor of political communication at California State University Sacramento, said Schwarzenegger's critics better dig in for a long-term siege as they prepare to do battle with him over the budget and "special interests" this year.
That's because the State of the State speech showed his skills in salesmanship remain as strong in the Capitol as they do in the shopping malls, where he vows to take his campaigns again, she said.
"He's framing the issues in a way people can understand them," O'Connor said. "Special interests are anybody you're not supporting, in most people's point of view. But he has suspended that rule. People don't see him as the usual politician."
Top contributors by industry to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger
Real estate development $6.23 million
Finance, accounting, Investing $6.02
Entertainment, media $2.27
High tech $2.04
Health care, pharmaceuticals $1.68
Agriculture $1.44
Venture capital $1.17
Insurance $1.14
Car dealers, automotive $1.05.
(None have been identified by Gov. Schwarzenegger as "special interests")
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