Looking at the Bottom Line

The Pro-Tourism Terminator speaks on gay marriage:

Think Progress: Schwarzenegger: Gay marriage may boost California’s economy.: Speaking in San Francisco yesterday, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) said he hopes that the state Supreme Court’s recent ruling allowing gay marriage will lead more couples to come to the state to be wed:

You know, I’m wishing everyone good luck with their marriages and I hope that California’s economy is booming because everyone is going to come here and get married.

The San Francisco Convention and Visitors Bureau also expects a tourism boom this summer, and its website now “promotes a gay travel section” and “explains that same-sex couples are ‘officially allowed to marry in the state of California.’” Schwarzenegger has promised to oppose any amendments banning gay marriage.

Comments

[RedCharlie]

Oh, wow.
The Governator extends an official welcome to girly men. This is truly the end of the GOP. Not a moment too soon either.

[RW]

Or perhaps the Gropenfürer has a posterior motive?

No matter: confusion to the GOP; a pox on 'em!

[jerry]

I suspect Arnold is indeed worried about the bottom line, but I also suspect that Arnold, coming through professional body building and Hollywood has a large collection of out, gay, friends.

For all his faults, I know of no reason to think that Arnold would not be friendly to gays.

[Scott Martens]

I think Jerry basically has it right. Homophobia is an ill-advised prejudice if you want to work in modern Hollywood. There can't be many Republican celebrities under 70 who'll stand foursquare against gay marriage. If endorsing the homophobic presidential candidate actually meant you had a hard time finidng work with gay producers, directors and co-stars, well, then I suspect there wouldn't be any celebrity support for McCain at all.

[SvN]

Just for the record, the Montreal Tourist Bureau (www.tourisme-montreal.org) has been pitching the Gay/Lesbian tourism angle for a while, aided by the fact that gay marriages have been legal here for several years.

[SqueakyRat]

So why did Arnold veto bills to permit same-sex marriage?