Washington, May 7 (ANI): Former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has said he can't imagine himself being anything else but a Republican.
The ex-movie star, who marked his 44th year as Republican, said he is still troubled by the kind of 'ideological rigidity' that recently caused two Republicans to leave the party to become Independents.
"I am so bothered by the party's recent loss of two up-and-coming Republicans: San Diego mayoral candidate Nathan Fletcher, currently a state assemblyman, and former assemblyman and current Congressional candidate Anthony Adams, both of whom left the party to become Independents. On the one hand, I respect their standing up for principle. On the other, I hate to see them go," The Politico quoted Schwarzenegger, as writing.
He claimed of being sure that the two members would have preferred to remain Republicans, but 'in the current climate, the Republican Party is targeting anyone who doesn't meet its strict criteria'.
He said that the party's 'new and narrow litmus test for party membership doesn't allow compromise'.e also admitted to have faced the same rigidity many a times, when he was took office as Governor.
"Not surprisingly, the party wasn't always too happy with me. But I had taken an oath to serve the people, not my party. Some advisors whose opinions I respect urged me to consider leaving the party and instead identify myself as a "decline to state" voter. But I'm too stubborn to leave a party I believe in," he said.
The desperation and dysfunction of the California GOP seemed highlighted, which had previously embraced Schwarzenegger when he switched from movies to politics nearly a decade ago, and eventually was forced to leave office with almost no support within his party. (ANI)
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