gov groper raking in the bribes (donations)

and this is the guy who's trying to sell the proposition that unions should not be able to make political contributions. the guy who campaigned on a platform of eliminating the influence of "special interests"...


Governor cashing in on Rolling Stones
For $100,000, you can watch concert with Schwarzenegger

Carla Marinucci, Chronicle Political Writer
Thursday, August 11, 2005

Here's the ticket: a private evening rockin' the night away with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger during the kickoff of the Rolling Stones' "A Bigger Bang'' U.S. tour on Aug. 21 at Boston's Fenway Park.

Here's the bottom line: $10,000 a pop to get in on a private preconcert reception and front-and-center seats to watch the show -- or $100,000 to sit with the governor in his luxury box.

The eyebrow-raising event is one of a cluster of glitzy fundraisers the star-power governor will headline in the next few weeks as he seeks to arm his campaign fund with $50 million in preparation for the Nov. 8 special election -- which will determine the fate of his political agenda and, observers say, his chances for re-election in 2006.

Marty Wilson, the governor's chief fundraiser, said Wednesday that Schwarzenegger has planned about half a dozen state events and other fundraisers coast to coast this month and next.

"We have a very ambitious finance plan that will go a long way to helping us meet our overall fundraising goals -- and be in a position to fund our television campaign this fall,'' Wilson said Wednesday.

The Rolling Stones benefit, limited to 40 lucky fans, comes thanks to a donation of a rare block of center-stage seats and a luxury box to the group's 2005 tour kickoff -- courtesy of mortgage lender and mega-political donor Ameriquest. The company, based in Orange, is the lead sponsor of the Stones' 2005 tour and has written $1.5 million in checks to Republican Schwarzenegger's campaign coffers to date.
...

The governor and committees backing his ballot measures had spent more than $23 million during the first six months of the year, according to the most recent disclosure statements released last month. Groups opposing the governor's measures that would change teacher tenure and the state budget process had spent slightly more than $10 million.

Schwarzenegger and first lady Maria Shriver liked the idea of sponsoring a Rolling Stones fundraiser because "he's apparently a big Stones fan,'' Massachusetts GOP activist Melissa Lucas told the Boston Herald.

The event was arranged after Ameriquest offered the governor more than three dozen center stage and luxury box seats for the Stones' first 2005 U.S. concert -- seats currently going for $1,600 each on ticket brokers' Web sites.
...

"Schwarzenegger ... has appeal in numerous parts of the country, and he's leveraging that to raise money in places far away from California,'' said Weiss of the Center for Responsible Politics. "The interesting question is why are the donors in, say, Boston, contributing to him? What is their interest in policies in California -- and how do those interests serve the voters?''

5 days in August

Some of the governor's scheduled fundraisers:

Aug. 17: A $500-per-person event at the National Orange Show in San Bernardino.

Aug. 18: A "private dinner" at the Sutter Club in Sacramento, where $100, 000 buys six VIP table tickets -- two tickets at the head table with the governor -- and three photos with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Aug. 19: A Lake Tahoe "evening of casual elegance" at Shakespeare Ranch in Glenbrook, Nev., sponsored by Nevada Gov. Kenny Guinn and other Nevada politicians. The $25,000-per-couple "Platinum" tickets buy a host reception, cocktail reception, photo with Schwarzenegger and seats at his table.

Aug. 20: A $25,000-per-person fundraising barbecue dinner in New Jersey with GOP gubernatorial candidate Doug Forrester.

Aug. 21: An evening at a Rolling Stones concert in Boston.

Chronicle political writer John Wildermuth contributed to this report.E-mail Carla Marinucci at cmarinucci@sfchronicle.com.