[media id=5781] [media id=5782] (h/t Heather) I don't think this is what John McCain meant by being on the Straight Talk Express. California Govern
July 13, 2008

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I don't think this is what John McCain meant by being on the Straight Talk Express. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger -- who has endorsed John McCain -- admits that even though McCain is running on a Bush third term, agreeing with him on Iraq, economic policies, tax cuts, health care and free trade, we shouldn't take his words seriously...his actions show him to be far more moderate guy, willing to work and compromise with the Democrats in Congress. He's just saying what he has to during the campaign, see? He doesn't really mean it.

Well, let me tell you something. What is being said on those presidential campaigns is one thing, but what people have done in the past is something else. So you judge people on what have they done.

Yeah, let's look at his record...does this look moderate to you?

Transcripts below the fold

STEPHANOPOULOS: You talk about what's being done here in California, but the housing legislation in Washington is stuck.

SCHWARZENEGGER: Well, I mean, I'm not speaking so much for Washington, because remember that we have a big problem in Washington and it's so polarized. People cannot get together. And I think it has a lot to do with, also, with the way the district lines are drawn.

As you know, the last district lines have been drawn by politicians, and they've kind of rigged the districts in such a way that they are kind of locked in and kind of easily win again, and that does not give people a choice.

STEPHANOPOULOS: Doesn't that pose a particular problem for your presidential candidate, John McCain?

Even if he wins this year, even if he becomes president, he's almost certain to face a Democratic House, a Democratic Senate. How does he get anything done in that environment?

SCHWARZENEGGER: Well, this is why I love this guy, because he has over and over shown that he can reach across the aisle.

See, that is the important thing. John McCain, every time I talk to him, he's never stuck on just "I am a Republican and I am going to force Republican ideas."

He wants to get things done, and I have seen him do it. He doesn't just talk about it. He does it.

STEPHANOPOULOS: Senator McCain is saying that he wants to extend President Bush's economic policies, extend his tax cuts, expand his positions on health care, extend free trade. Democrats are in a very different position on those issues.

SCHWARZENEGGER: Well, let me tell you something. What is being said on those presidential campaigns is one thing, but what people have done in the past is something else. So you judge people on what have they done.

Senator McCain has been in that office for a long enough time that we look at his record, and I think that his record shows that he maybe has his ideas, but he sees, also, the Democrats have their ideas. And he's interested in molding his ideas together with the Democratic ideas in order to come up with a compromise.

STEPHANOPOULOS: It sounds like you're saying, "don't listen too much to what he says on the campaign trail."

SCHWARZENEGGER: No. What I'm saying is, in general, you have to judge people more by what they have done in the past. And I always say that well done is better than well said.

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