rockin'robin
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Former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown is lambasting what he calls "highly inappropriate" behavior by San Francisco Democrats Wednesday who greeted Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger with a hostile reception during a surprise drop-in at a San Francisco Democratic Party fund-raiser.
But outspoken State Assemblyman Tom Ammiano of San Francisco, who shouted "You lie!" to Schwarzenneger during the event at the Fairmont Hotel -- and didn't deny reports he walked out with a quip of "kiss my gay ass" -- said the GOP governor's "cheap publicity stunt" earned a very appropriate show of political theater, San Francisco-style.
Schwarzenegger, in a statement this morning, aimed to laugh it all off, saying of his SF Democratic reception that "compared to the reaction I got in Hyannis Port when I told the Kennedys I was marrying Maria, it was fantastic."
An entertaining eyewitness account comes from Brian Leubitz and his crew at Calitics, who were there to celebrate with the Dems -- and who had the fascinating blow by blow today, complete with cell phone photos.
Here's the back story from some of the insiders:
"Before (Schwarzenegger) showed up, people were talking about how unfortunate it was the Governor...was so missing in action on issues so important to San Francisco," Ammiano told us this morning. "Then I noticed the dye job out of the corner of my eye.''
Ouch.
Ammiano: "This isn't a chamber where someone suffers through. This is our house -- and it's like someone came in and took a big dump. He showed up; it was rude, he got up there and it felt to us that he was trivializing all the issues we care about. You have a few options, and along with the labor people, we walked out."
And that "kiss my gay ass" comment?
"That I don't really remember," laughed Ammiano, "but I've said that before...and if it was attributed to me..."
Still, the Assemblyman insists Schwarzenegger got what he deserved. "It was a cheap publicity stunt and I think this guy has a problem distinguishing between movies and reality," Ammiano said. "You don't come uninvited and you don't devalue what the Democratic Party stands for."
But Brown, who introduced Schwarzenegger to the crowd, told us he was angered at the behavior and that the governor didn't come uninvited.
He and former President Bill Clinton -- at the Fairmont for the President's Cup golf tournament -- were invited to attend the Democrats' event "by the hosts...the fundraiser organizers," Brown told us. Clinton declined the invite; Schwarzenegger accepted.
"Ammiano conducted himself somewhat similar to Joe Wilson,'' Brown said, referring to the GOP congressman who incurred Democratic wrath when he shouted "You lie" to President Obama during a speech to Congress.
"It was inappropriate to invite anyone in and shout at them, I don't care who it is. It could be George Bush," said Brown. "You don't do that. If you don't wish to be in their presence, then don't invite them."
When it was all over, Brown added, "I went out and found the governor in the bar area...and spent another 45 minutes with him. We didn't even talk about that nonsense in the other room. And all I could think about is (state Sen. Mark Leno's) bill for Harvey Milk Day. Why would you think you're impressing him into signing that bill by insulting him?"
"You're talking about utter stupidity," Brown said. "I would have been trying my best to try to figure out how to get him to sign it."
Leno, who was also in the room, said this morning, "I don't think (the governor) entered the room imagining it was not going to cause a dramatic stir. So he did it with his own full flair."
But on the issue of his bill to create an official state day of recognition for late San Francisco supervisor and gay rights leader, Leno said, "I would not disagree with Mayor Brown...which is why my mouth was closed when the governor entered and left the room."
He did speak out -- and forcefully, on the governor's cuts on Wednesday, saying the party activists' reaction "was not a personal slap at him. It was a visceral reaction to his budget actions...that are causing serious pain and are at the core of the response."
Looks like a good time was had by all.
SFGate: Politics Blog : Ammiano to Schwarzenegger: "Kiss my gay ass"
But outspoken State Assemblyman Tom Ammiano of San Francisco, who shouted "You lie!" to Schwarzenneger during the event at the Fairmont Hotel -- and didn't deny reports he walked out with a quip of "kiss my gay ass" -- said the GOP governor's "cheap publicity stunt" earned a very appropriate show of political theater, San Francisco-style.
Schwarzenegger, in a statement this morning, aimed to laugh it all off, saying of his SF Democratic reception that "compared to the reaction I got in Hyannis Port when I told the Kennedys I was marrying Maria, it was fantastic."
An entertaining eyewitness account comes from Brian Leubitz and his crew at Calitics, who were there to celebrate with the Dems -- and who had the fascinating blow by blow today, complete with cell phone photos.
Here's the back story from some of the insiders:
"Before (Schwarzenegger) showed up, people were talking about how unfortunate it was the Governor...was so missing in action on issues so important to San Francisco," Ammiano told us this morning. "Then I noticed the dye job out of the corner of my eye.''
Ouch.
Ammiano: "This isn't a chamber where someone suffers through. This is our house -- and it's like someone came in and took a big dump. He showed up; it was rude, he got up there and it felt to us that he was trivializing all the issues we care about. You have a few options, and along with the labor people, we walked out."
And that "kiss my gay ass" comment?
"That I don't really remember," laughed Ammiano, "but I've said that before...and if it was attributed to me..."
Still, the Assemblyman insists Schwarzenegger got what he deserved. "It was a cheap publicity stunt and I think this guy has a problem distinguishing between movies and reality," Ammiano said. "You don't come uninvited and you don't devalue what the Democratic Party stands for."
But Brown, who introduced Schwarzenegger to the crowd, told us he was angered at the behavior and that the governor didn't come uninvited.
He and former President Bill Clinton -- at the Fairmont for the President's Cup golf tournament -- were invited to attend the Democrats' event "by the hosts...the fundraiser organizers," Brown told us. Clinton declined the invite; Schwarzenegger accepted.
"Ammiano conducted himself somewhat similar to Joe Wilson,'' Brown said, referring to the GOP congressman who incurred Democratic wrath when he shouted "You lie" to President Obama during a speech to Congress.
"It was inappropriate to invite anyone in and shout at them, I don't care who it is. It could be George Bush," said Brown. "You don't do that. If you don't wish to be in their presence, then don't invite them."
When it was all over, Brown added, "I went out and found the governor in the bar area...and spent another 45 minutes with him. We didn't even talk about that nonsense in the other room. And all I could think about is (state Sen. Mark Leno's) bill for Harvey Milk Day. Why would you think you're impressing him into signing that bill by insulting him?"
"You're talking about utter stupidity," Brown said. "I would have been trying my best to try to figure out how to get him to sign it."
Leno, who was also in the room, said this morning, "I don't think (the governor) entered the room imagining it was not going to cause a dramatic stir. So he did it with his own full flair."
But on the issue of his bill to create an official state day of recognition for late San Francisco supervisor and gay rights leader, Leno said, "I would not disagree with Mayor Brown...which is why my mouth was closed when the governor entered and left the room."
He did speak out -- and forcefully, on the governor's cuts on Wednesday, saying the party activists' reaction "was not a personal slap at him. It was a visceral reaction to his budget actions...that are causing serious pain and are at the core of the response."
Looks like a good time was had by all.
SFGate: Politics Blog : Ammiano to Schwarzenegger: "Kiss my gay ass"
It's strange and childish response. Aha!