Arnold Schwarzenegger is standing by his Republican identity, even as he questions the party’s direction. The former California governor and actor shared his views during an appearance with Jimmy Kimmel. Their conversation covered the party’s history, changing values and need for cooperation. Schwarzenegger also pushed back when Kimmel raised the Affordable Care Act.
Arnold Schwarzenegger explains his Republican loyalty and disputes Kimmel’s healthcare argument
Schwarzenegger spoke on Wednesday’s episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live. Asked if he still considers himself a Republican, the 79-year-old said, “Yeah, I’m a Republican, absolutely.” He defined a traditional Republican as someone who respects the party for freeing enslaved people and giving them citizenship and voting rights. When Kimmel said the party no longer gets credit for that history, Schwarzenegger replied, “This is what I’m about.”
Kimmel suggested those values seem far from what the Republican Party represents today. Schwarzenegger agreed the party has changed but said, “It doesn’t mean I have to change my philosophy.” He pointed to Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon as Republicans who supported environmental action. Schwarzenegger credited Reagan with creating the California Air Resources Board and Nixon with establishing the Environmental Protection Agency.
He called them Republicans who worked with Democrats to get things done. Kimmel wondered if Schwarzenegger belonged to a shrinking group, but the actor replied, “I don’t think I’m the only one left.” He said shifts between Democratic and Republican majorities have failed to solve issues such as immigration, national debt and healthcare. Schwarzenegger argued that neither party has delivered lasting answers for the people they represent.
The discussion turned to the Affordable Care Act. After Kimmel said, “One of them tried,” Schwarzenegger called the law “so bogus,” but also described it as “a good attempt.” When Kimmel pressed him, Schwarzenegger pointed to rising healthcare costs and called the law “a failed kind of… It was a good attempt.” “You have to get together and accomplish and be a public servant, rather than a party servant,” he said.
