As much as the California Republican Party has complained about the policies of Governor Schwarzenegger, the party better be extremely thankful to the Governor for the appointment of Senator Maldonado to Lieutenant Governor.
The Governor has, overnight, changed the face of the Republican Party in California. The party of old white men has an opportunity to show that it’s not afraid of diversity. Think about the alternatives. The Governor could have appointed a Democrat. The Governor could have appointed a “safe” (read: white conservative) Republican, who would have surely lost re-election next year. Instead, the Governor chose to ignore both the Democratic and Republican establishment, by appointing an eloquent, personable, pragmatic, and moderate Latino to the position.
As it can be expected, wingers (read: nuts) on both sides are crying foul. Democrats have already released their statement of regret over the appointment, and have publicly declared that they will fight tooth and nails against Maldonado’s confirmation. Republican purists (read: irrelevant) have publicly declared that this announcement is a travesty to the Conservative movement. The simple truth is that Democrats are scared of Maldonado and Republicans are pissed off because the Governor didn’t pick a purist. If we are to judge someone by his enemies, Maldonado seems to be the right candidate at the right time.
Abel has quite the story. From picking strawberry fields with his migrant parents, to bringing both parties to the middle during budget negotiations, he has shown a side of the Republican Party that a lot of Californians thought was forgotten. Ronald Reagan was a successful ruler by adding people to his coalition, not by subtracting from. If he were alive today he would be proud of a Republican Party with a prominent Latino in the Lt. Governor seat, even if he only agreed with him 70% of the time.
The Governor has given the GOP a soft pitch; it’s up to them to hit it out of the park. The Republican Party has a big choice to make now. They can either embrace this opportunity, and work with Maldonado in an effort to grow the party’s appeal to moderates and minorities; or they can admonish Maldonado for previous votes he’s taken, divide the Party even more, and setup a nasty primary fight for next year that will prove to Californians what they’ve suspected all along: that the California Republican Party has no room for moderates and minorities.
Either way, I guess we’ll find out soon enough. With that, I’ll leave you with the video from the press conference. I dare anyone to argue that the image of Maldonado with his immigrant family in the background is a great representation of the modern GOP American family.
Maldonado – Lt. Gov. Press Conference
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Twitter: ragnardannesk
Says:
I couldn’t disagree more. I think it’s completely careless of Schwarzenegger. He’s left a Senate seat open that will likely be replaced by a liberal who’s not afraid to raise taxes, and ultimately bring us one step closer to having a 2/3 Democrat majority, giving them the ability to raise taxes whenever they please. If a Democrat replaces Maldonado, they’re only one vote short of a 2/3 majority. We’re screwed!
Ragnar, if you’re so sure that the seat will be filled by a liberal Democrat, then why wait until Abel is termed out? On the other hand, if Abel is confirmed the GOP will have 3 statewide elected officials, which is more than we have had THIS ENTIRE DECADE!
I see your point but I don’t see how that has anything to do with the appointment. SD15 is a moderate district and that’s probably why Abel has had to take some of the votes that he has taken. If the GOP is going to lose that seat, better now than later so we can adjust to the change and at least have a statewide Republican to show for it.
Twitter: ragnardannesk
Says:
I think you’re right. I need to train my mind to remember that Maldonado votes like a Democrat anyway, and would throw taxpayers under the bus at the drop of a hat. There really is no difference except we now have a RINO appointed to statewide office. It’s the same as having a Dem there, and we might as well have had a Dem in the senate seat all along.
Don’t I wish the Party actually cared about things like diversity. The Governor appointed Maldonado because he’s a “Join Arnold” team player.
That said, it was a good choice.
Follow me on Twitter: @HOLOTTAollada