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.”
That aside (I’m not arguing or disagreeing on that point): he is putting country over party which is something very, very few Republicans are capable of doing and even fewer are actually doing. On that alone, I can throw him some respect.
And he is speaking language that will make voting for Harris more palatable to at least some Republicans
This is the biggest thing. If he were to actually tell the full truth here, he’d be less successful in getting his message across to the people who listen to him. Full truth is the ultimate goal, but we’re so far from it that for half the country it’s an impossibly huge leap to go from where they are now to the truth in one bound.
This is a very good point. That line of my post above was a visceral reaction to the whole both-sides are the same argument he’s using, but as you say, whatever it takes to get people to feel okay about vote=ing for Harris is worth it.
He also stood up during the insurrection and was very vocal against it
You are absolutely correct here.
Polarized / partisan voting is not just a GOP thing.
I didn’t see anyone claiming otherwise. Still, I would bet money that polarized/partisan voting is a much bigger issue with Republican voters.
He very specifically mentioned this to be a Republican trait. Also, this is about politicians, not voters.