# And now the lies start with Arnold **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 23, 2003, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-the-lies-start-with-arnold/197063 "2003-08-23T01:26:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Muldoon\_s\_Squishiness](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/13edae/32.png) [@Muldoon\_s\_Squishiness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muldoon_s_Squishiness)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2003, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-the-lies-start-with-arnold/197063/1 "2003-08-23T01:26:31Z")
Schwarzeneggar was asked how he came to register/be a Republican and he answered that he came to the decision after watching the Nixon/McGovern debates in 1972. That’s really great except for one teeny, tiny little problem. There were no Presidential debates in 1972. Granted it’s not quite up there with President Reagan’s lying about a Congressional Medal of Honor winner, but it’s on the list. ---
**Author:** ![Atreyu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@Atreyu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atreyu)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2003, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-the-lies-start-with-arnold/197063/2 "2003-08-23T01:35:21Z")
Do you have a cite for Schwarzenegger’s error? ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2003, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-the-lies-start-with-arnold/197063/3 "2003-08-23T01:40:24Z")
😕 Nixon was re-elected in 1972 running against McGovern. How could there not have been debates that year? ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2003, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-the-lies-start-with-arnold/197063/4 "2003-08-23T01:41:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Atreyu \* > \*\*Do you have a cite for Schwarzenegger’s error? \*\* > [@](#): > > In 1970, Congress passed a comprehensive campaign reform bill, including a repeal of Section 315 of the Communications Act, the equal time provision. Nixon vetoed the bill. In 1972, the House opposed the Senate’s attempt to repeal the equal time provision because it would have included congressional campaigns (which meant House members would no longer have an excuse to avoid debating their challengers). So Nixon and McGovern did not debate in the 1972 campaign. [http://cgi.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1996/debates/history/](http://cgi.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1996/debates/history/) ---
**Author:** ![Atreyu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@Atreyu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atreyu)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2003, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-the-lies-start-with-arnold/197063/5 "2003-08-23T01:44:02Z")
::reads **Reeder** ’s cite:: Ah. Allow me to clarify my prior request for a cite. I wasn’t asking for a cite regarding the absence of debates in the 1972 Presidential elections (although that was nice of you to do that, **Reeder** ), but for a cite of Schwarzenegger committing this error. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2003, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-the-lies-start-with-arnold/197063/6 "2003-08-23T01:45:03Z")
When NPR ran the report this morning it was about the Nixon/_Humphrey_ debate as I recall. ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2003, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-the-lies-start-with-arnold/197063/7 "2003-08-23T01:55:19Z")
Apparently it was Humphrey… [http://ktla.trb.com/news/local/la-me-notebook20aug20,0,5608433.story?coll=ktla-home-1](http://ktla.trb.com/news/local/la-me-notebook20aug20,0,5608433.story?coll=ktla-home-1) > [@](#): > > Fresh from Austria, a socialist country, Arnold Schwarzenegger decided to become a Republican after listening to “the debates of Hubert Humphrey and Richard Nixon when they were debating for the presidential race,” or so he told television talk show host Bill O’Reilly in May 2001. ---
**Author:** ![fruitbat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/58f4c7/32.png) [@fruitbat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fruitbat)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2003, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-the-lies-start-with-arnold/197063/8 "2003-08-23T02:11:21Z")
I would be hesitant to call this a ‘lie’. What do you suppose Arnold has to gain from his poor recollection? We all mix things up at times. I am a true Liberal and I have trouble stretching my cynicism that far. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2003, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-the-lies-start-with-arnold/197063/9 "2003-08-23T02:39:04Z")
Where’s the cite for Arnold saying it was McGovern? ---
**Author:** ![Spavined\_Gelding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@Spavined\_Gelding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spavined_Gelding)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2003, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-the-lies-start-with-arnold/197063/10 "2003-08-23T02:57:24Z")
Austria is a socialist country? By California standards, maybe. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2003, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-the-lies-start-with-arnold/197063/11 "2003-08-23T03:27:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\*Fruitbat: \*\*What do you suppose Arnold has to gain from his poor recollection? If I were feeling uncharitable, I’d venture to say that such an assertion might go some ways to establishing an image of someone who’s been paying close attention to American politics for more than thirty years, which may not be the impression a member of the voting public is likely to receive based on a casual screening of _Hercules in New York_. That being said, I can’t remember a time when I _didn’t_ think of Arnie as a no-necked, reactionary, _republican_ stooge, so I think it’s only fair to extend the benefit of the doubt to him here. ---
**Author:** ![Tars\_Tarkas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tars\_Tarkas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tars_Tarkas)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2003, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-the-lies-start-with-arnold/197063/12 "2003-08-23T03:41:18Z")
Geez, if your going to attack Schwartzenegger, at least have the decency to attack his voting record, or his stand on prop 187 (especially since he is an immigrant), or his lack of leadership roles in public life. This is just plain stupid. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2003, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-the-lies-start-with-arnold/197063/13 "2003-08-23T10:31:08Z")
No, it’s a valid critique if, in the opinion of the listener, he was using the quote to establish his bona fides in the political arena. But if he just misspoke then you’re right, it’s time to move on. ---
**Author:** ![Beryl\_Mooncalf\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9f8e36/32.png) [@Beryl\_Mooncalf\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beryl_Mooncalf_1)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2003, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-the-lies-start-with-arnold/197063/14 "2003-08-23T11:24:42Z")
Please, please don’t pick on Arnie, we need him, anybody, even Jeffery Dahlmer. YOU HEAR THIS GOV DAVIS!!! OJ could beat you!! Ivna the Terrible could beat you. You are a brainless dolt. My vehicle registration fees went from **135** per year to **418** per year thanks to Gov Davis. How bright is that when you are facing a recall? Not too very… ::Thank you, I’m composing myself now:: Okay, It has nothing to do with voting for anyone, seriously, it is all about voting against someone. We are so tired of seeing this wanna-be-male governor telling us he is a “Tiger” on television. \<\\> Please leave Arnold alone, We need him, we need anyone. Anybody with an intellect driven by more than his single brain cell. ::Sorry, did it again, it is really hard to remain rational in this:: Arnold, lie all you want to, we can’t understand a word you say anyway. Just come be our governor, and while your at it, Gray Davis said you’re a wuss, and that you were too much of a pansy to do anything about it? Is that true? ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2003, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-the-lies-start-with-arnold/197063/15 "2003-08-23T12:04:45Z")
From Arnie’s own [website:](http://www.schwarzenegger.com/en/life/hiswords/words_en_sac_perspectives.asp?sec=life&subsec=hiswords) > [@](#): > > My first exposure to American politics was the presidential campaign of 1968. I’d just arrived here. I was 21 years old. I knew very little English - so a friend had to translate what Nixon and Humphrey were saying. > > But this much I learned: > > Humphrey talked about protectionism, more government planning, and a lot of liberal solutions. It sounded like the socialism in Austria. > > The Republican - Nixon - talked about less government, lower taxes, the free market, international trade, and a stronger military. > > After the translator finished, I realized: Yes! I’m a Republican! **BogieBlanca** should pony up cite if he/she/it will be accusing Arnold of lying. ---
**Author:** ![corndog\_man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea666f/32.png) [@corndog\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corndog_man)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2003, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-the-lies-start-with-arnold/197063/16 "2003-08-23T12:13:36Z")
Presidential debates started in 1960, but for some reason, there were no more debates until 1976. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2003, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-the-lies-start-with-arnold/197063/17 "2003-08-23T12:26:51Z")
Well, then. He couldn’t have been listening, could he? ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2003, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-the-lies-start-with-arnold/197063/18 "2003-08-23T13:01:30Z")
Although, from **Brutus** ’s cite, Arnie didn’t claim he learned that stuff from listening to the presidential debate, just from listening to the presidential campaign. So, he could be talking about the things the candidates said over the course of it. ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2003, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-the-lies-start-with-arnold/197063/19 "2003-08-23T19:57:56Z")
Just goes to show how far some politically insecure people will go to score some cheap points for their side. What’s next… Arnie says he had bacon and eggs for breakfast, and ya scream and rant when it turns out that he, in fact, had _sausage_ and eggs? ---
**Author:** ![SuaSponte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/67e7ee/32.png) [@SuaSponte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuaSponte)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2003, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-the-lies-start-with-arnold/197063/20 "2003-08-23T20:20:35Z")
All in favor of turning this into a **bogieblanca** -bashing thread, say “aye.” This thread, from the get-go, was absurd. Even if Ahnold had said was **bogie** claimed he said, which apparently he didn’t, so fucking what? He would have made an error in his recollection of an event **35** years ago, proper recollection of which would have no bearing on his campaign nor his qualifications (or lack thereof) to be governor. Fer chrissakes, **bogie,** if you are going to take a page from Rush, Ollie, and their ilk, at least make a baseless attack on your ideological enemy that actually has some meat on it. This was just pathetic. Sua [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-the-lies-start-with-arnold/197063.md?page=2)