http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-donors5jun05,0,7671231.story?coll=la-home-headlines(Robert Salladay's the reporter on most of the Gropinator articles...this one is on the front page and although it highlights
the perks of his big donors with one or two monthly conference phone calls with Arnold, it's a one-sided piece quoting his people.
Let Robert we want Coingate covered too...as well as other state fundraising.
robert.salladay@latimes.com)
Candid Talk on the Party Line
Major donors are given an unfiltered channel to Schwarzenegger's office for strategy sessions.
By Robert Salladay
Times Staff Writer
June 5, 2005
SACRAMENTO — When wealthy contributors write checks to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, they often get a few canapes and a drink — and a secret telephone number that grants them access to his closest advisors and even the governor himself.
Twice a month, donors can become insiders' insiders — invited to participate in conference calls featuring information about Schwarzenegger campaign strategy that his political enemies would love to have. In turn, donors who dial in can give the governor advice.
In the latest such call, a few days ago, Schwarzenegger's media expert, Don Sipple, outlined a strategy "based on a lot of polling" to create a "phenomenon of anger" among voters toward public employee unions. Firefighters, police officers, teachers and other state-paid workers have become the governor's harshest critics this year.
"The process is like peeling an onion," Sipple said, describing a multi-step plan for persuading voters that public-worker unions are "motivated by economic self-interest" instead of "doing the best job for the state."
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