Cross-posted from “Arnold Schwarzenegger endorses Kamala Harris: ‘I will always be an American before I am a Republican’” by @Powderhorn@beehaw.org in !politics@beehaw.org
“I will always be an American before I am a Republican,” he wrote. “That’s why, this week, I am voting for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz. I’m sharing it with all of you because I think there are a lot of you who feel like I do. You don’t recognise our country. And you are right to be furious.”
He writes and speaks about how he’s still proud to be Republican.
He provides cover.
Yeah but it’s one thing to be a fiscally conservative Republican who believes with all of his heart that his hard work got him everything he has because he worked hard and just fails to see his luck. It’s another to be a cult of personality republican, Donald Trump worshipping fascist.
I guess it’s easier for me to relate to those folks because I came from their world. I (a dirt poor nobody exploited by my wealthy family since I was old enough to talk) have seen what these people believe. They aren’t bad people, they’ve just been very lucky and they don’t get it.
My millionaire uncle for example; If I were to call him right now and tell him I was desperate, he’d do whatever I asked. He’d want me to do some kind of work for it because that is virtue to him. He isn’t a bad guy, he just has a system of values that don’t align with mine. That’s fine. It’s all well and good.
There is a difference between lucky rich kid republicans and Christo-fascist Donald Trump worshipping republicans.
I forget who said it, but there was once a Republican who was concerned with preachers taking over the party. Well. That happened. The god they worship and preach on behalf of is Trump. Allah bless the ones who aren’t like that and are willing to go against beliefs they hold close to their hearts in opposition to fascism. Seriously.
Barry Goldwater, back in the 80s, I believe.
But that’s also not Arnold - he’s publicly said that he arrived with like $20 in his pocket but he is not a self made man, he’s a community made man. He’s not a “bootstrap” believer, he’s very vocally against that mentality too.
He’s true old school Republican, where they have some misguided beliefs about national debt but aren’t absolute loons.
E: quick Google gives this https://youtu.be/DOldEbWxgdQ?si=uJ8_CsHzoUBHTbH4
Theres better vids of it, but still - Arnold has been pretty consistently a level headed guy politically, even if he’s not right all the time.
https://www.marketplace.org/2017/05/12/schwarzenegger-self-made-man-myth/
Arnold isn’t completely delusional on a social level, but he does believe in austerity politics. Pretty standard law and order neoliberal/con tbh.
A difference in what, how they were created? Who manipulated them and told them the lies that they believe?
There isn’t a single part of fiscal conservatism that is not based on a total lie. What they all share in common is that their unlimited gullibility is a threat to national security.