CA-Gov: What The Voters COULD Be Focused On

You know, he-said she-said competing press releases about GOP computer incompetence are fun and all, but while this goes on, a huge political story has gone virtually unnoticed. What we have is a governor who is taking millions in donations from interests with business before the state.

As legislators were approving more than 1,000 bills in August, Schwarzenegger was crossing the state, and the country, soliciting campaign cash. Now, as he decides whether to sign those bills into law or nix them with a veto, he will be cashing checks from scores of contributors whose interests intersect with legislation.

Schwarzenegger is vastly out-raising his Democratic challenger, state Treasurer Phil Angelides. He has taken $26.4 million into his reelection account so far this year, compared with Angelides' $13.4 million, according to records filed with the Secretary of State's office.

Last week alone, the Republican governor held five fundraisers, including two on Friday in the Central Valley, two in Los Angeles and one in suburban Sacramento. He has scheduled at least 22 such events this month.

"This is exactly the kind of practice he said he was going to Sacramento to end," said Angelides consultant Bill Carrick.

The Times article rightly notes that as a candidate in 2003, the Governor called for a blackout period for fundraising during times when the legislative session was closing. Now that he has a chance to raise millions during that time, it's not such a big deal.

So we have a real choice here. Do you want a governor who consistently hides the truth, whether it's his massive fundraising, his contributors, his true principles, even down to his Internet team's incompetence, or do you want someone who's told the people of California exactly what he would do with the state if given the opportunity. That's the issue, when it comes right down to it.