California Recall: Schwarzenegger in Pleasanton

Schwarzenegger and Bush (2006 photo)

Following up a bit on the report in the previous post, I found this Oakland Tribune account of Arnold's Saturday rally in Pleasanton. It doesn't mention the Georgy Russell incident. But the article describes it as a "raring, sometimes fractious crowd of about 4,000." The event was a rally at the Alameda County Fairgrounds, which is publicly owned:

Hundreds of Bay Area residents clamored around that platform, most of them decked out in buttons, hats, T-shirts and signs distributed by representatives from the "Join Arnold" campaign.

Admittance to the park was free, and those who were emblazoned with such items had no problem gaining access, once they passed through the metal detectors.

But outside the main gate, the crowd's political spectrum was as colorful as the recall race itself - and some of the pigments clashed.

And it does sounds like something strange was going on. "Security guards confiscated items that read 'Vote No on Recall' and told some anti-Schwarzenegger supporters, including a large group from the National Organization for Women, that they couldn't come in at all." Since someone could be against the recall and still favor Arnold as the replacement candidate, that seems pretty weird that they would confiscate "No on Recall" material.

They even tried to block a Pleasanton City Councilwoman and the wife of the mayor from going to the rally, because they had "No on Recall" paraphrenalia. They were eventually admitted. The councilwoman, Jennifer Hosterman, said:

"This is public property. I have as much right to hold up my sign that says 'Vote No on Recall.' This is a public place. If they had wanted a private affair, they should have rented private property," Hosterman fumed. ...

"This is my city, this is my back yard ... I was given special treatment because I'm a councilwoman, but all those other people weren't," Hosterman added.

This certainly seems to be odd conduct for a free public rally on public property. Because a public rally is, well, public, which means that you may have someone next to you who doesn't agree with you on everything. And may even say so out loud!

Tags: authoritarianism, california politics, georgy russell, recall campaign, republican party, schwarzenegger