Feeling Gray

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger heavily criticized then-Gov. Gray Davis during the 2003 recall election campaign for his fundraising. Davis was a prolific fundraiser who claimed he enjoyed the very sport of soliciting donations from the state’s various interests. But now the Schwarzenegger himself is raising money by the bucket-load, and drawing derisive calls from critics that his earlier comments were disingenuous. In fact, Schwarzenegger had previously proposed that there be a “black-out” period on fundraising at the end of the legislative session when a flurry of bills will require a gubernatorial signature—or a veto. But now the Governor is about to embark on a 17-event fundraising tour taking him from California to Boston—where lucky supporters can watch the Rolling Stones with the Kindergarten Cop—for the low low price of $100,000 each. The L.A. Times reports that one of the Governor’s political aides Marty Wilson said, "We're in the middle of a campaign and we have to raise money." I guess the shoe is officially on the other foot.