Speilberg, Hollywood Bigs Back Schwarznegger

Newsmax
Aug. 06, 2006

It's good to have friends in high places. Just ask Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The California governor, a Republican, has been endorsed in his re-election bid by three of Hollywood's biggest political forces -- all of whom are noted for their big-wallet donations to the Democratic Party.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Schwarzeneger has received the backing of Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg and media mogul Haim Saban. Such party defections will hurt Schwarzenegger's opponent, state Treasurer Phil Angelides.

"It starts with a personal relationship. They are friends," Andy Spahn, a spokesman for both Spielberg and Katzenberg, told the Times.

According to the Times, the two men also like Schwarzenegger's plans to tackle global warming and fund schools. But further, Spahn said, "they are receptive to the governor's taking a less partisan approach to the job and a more inclusive approach to government."

Perhaps the deepest pockets among those embracing Schwarzenegger belong to the Egyptian-born Saban, who produced the "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers" and eventually created a media empire.

Saban, who is trying to acquire the Spanish-language network Univision with other investors, is a former trustee of the Democratic National Committee and one of its biggest donors. He spent $200,000 fighting the 2003 recall election that brought Schwarzenegger to power.

Other Hollywood Democrats on the list of Schwarzenegger supporters include Jerry Zucker of "Airplane!" fame, movie producer Jonathan Sheinberg and Bud Yorkin, a longtime TV director and producer.

"I can't run away from the fact that I am a friend of Arnold. But if I disagreed with him, I wouldn't have voted for him," Yorkin said Friday. "People think Hollywood is one giant liberal. That's not the truth."












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