Schawarzenegger on Chris Matthew's Hardball

[Millard Baker]

'Hardball with Chris Matthews' for March 14, 2005

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/7189448

MATTHEWS: We‘re back with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The front page of “USA Today” and the big story in Washington, where I work regularly, is the baseball teams. And the U.S. Congress has asked them to testify, seven players or so. A number of players say they are going to testify about what they‘ve seen. Do you think that‘s appropriate in terms of drug use?

SCHWARZENEGGER: I think that we have to do something about the drug use in sports. And I think it does send the wrong message to our children that admire all the athletes and all this. And this is—even in our own sport, in bodybuilding, we‘ve been fighting about this situation for years.

And the trick always is, is, it is easier said than done.

MATTHEWS: Yes.

SCHWARZENEGGER: Because, for every test that you do, the drug companies come up with another product that you can‘t detect.

MATTHEWS: Yes.

SCHWARZENEGGER: So you have to get around all this. But we do random rests.

(CROSSTALK)

MATTHEWS: We do saliva tests on horses before and after the race, because there‘s money on it.

SCHWARZENEGGER: But the horses don‘t—are not into kind of tricking the drug companies or the tests.

(LAUGHTER)

(APPLAUSE)

SCHWARZENEGGER: They just stand there.

(CROSSTALK)

MATTHEWS: ... trainers are.

SCHWARZENEGGER: They just stand there, you see. You have to understand.

MATTHEWS: OK.

SCHWARZENEGGER: So, you can‘t—you can‘t compare those athletes with horses. Everyone is trying to beat the system. And the drug companies try to beat the system.

So—but I think that it is good to get into that and to talk about it and to raise the awareness that there‘s a problem there. And the more you work together on trying to get rid of it, rather than pointing fingers...

MATTHEWS: Right.

SCHWARZENEGGER: The worst thing is if you point fingers and if you start blaming everyone. Let‘s get together, all the sports, the various different sports, and come up with ways of how to test and how to also get rid of it in the schools.

MATTHEWS: Do you think it‘s fair for a guy to have a big number in the history books for hitting so many home runs, when he did it because he was on steroids?

SCHWARZENEGGER: Well, I think it has nothing to do with that, because I think that, if you take the steroids away, you will still have the same winners. If you take it away from everybody, you still have the same winners. It makes a difference. The same was in bodybuilding. All it does is for everyone to reduce the performance...

(CROSSTALK)

MATTHEWS: No, but, historically, if you take away the steroids, sure the guy will hit the ball to the warning track. It is not going over the wall every time. This is about strength, isn‘t it?

SCHWARZENEGGER: Let me ask you—well, but let me ask you something.

If you have, in the old days, a pole vaulter that has had a regular wooden pole.

MATTHEWS: Yes. Sure.

SCHWARZENEGGER: And now they have the most sophisticated poles that bent all the way around.

(CROSSTALK)

SCHWARZENEGGER: That spring the athlete over that and flip it over that high point, is that fair?

(CROSSTALK)

SCHWARZENEGGER: In the old days, they didn‘t have spikes on their shoes to run and now they have spikes.

MATTHEWS: What about the player that went out there in the field and didn‘t use them?

SCHWARZENEGGER: Look, it doesn‘t matter. The reality of it is, is there will always be new technology and new ways and you will be outdoing the old performance and all this.

MATTHEWS: Are steroids bad for you?

SCHWARZENEGGER: What?

MATTHEWS: Are they bad for you?

SCHWARZENEGGER: Steroids can have side effects, if people don‘t do it under supervision with a doctor. I‘ve seen people in our own sports that have died because of it.

MATTHEWS: Yes.

SCHWARZENEGGER: That have had side effects, health side effects.

MATTHEWS: Right.

SCHWARZENEGGER: So I think that we should let the kids know.

When my son comes to me and says I want to be a football player or a bodybuilder or lifter, whatever, wrestler, I would say to him, I would say, do whatever you can. Train hard. Do the five hours a day. Have the discipline. Do everything you can, but don‘t take drugs because they‘re illegal and they‘re not to be taken and they have side effects.

MATTHEWS: OK, thank you, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, for this whole hour.

[J DUB]

Well, I liked him asking whether new technologies such as fiberglass pole vaults were cheating, but then he did a 180 and says don't take steroids because they are illegal. It is a shame that a person with his power will not take a stand, because he could really make a difference.

[RobbieH02879]

You could tell that he wanted to just come out and support steroids,e specially the part Jdub mentioned...just isn't in his best interests to do so right now.

[macgyver_48]

Originally Posted by J DUB

Well, I liked him asking whether new technologies such as fiberglass pole vaults were cheating, but then he did a 180 and says don't take steroids because they are illegal. It is a shame that a person with his power will not take a stand, because he could really make a difference.

where's the 180? the man's in a tricky spot right now and he's playing the politics game the best way he can. let's review:

1)SCHWARZENEGGER: Look, it doesn‘t matter. The reality of it is, is there will always be new technology and new ways and you will be outdoing the old performance and all this.

read: Steroids are NOT CHEATING

2)SCHWARZENEGGER: Steroids can have side effects, if people don‘t do it under supervision with a doctor. I‘ve seen people in our own sports that have died because of it.

This is just stating the facts. If you think steroids are harmless, you're naive.

3)SCHWARZENNEGGER: Do everything you can, but don‘t take drugs because they‘re illegal and they‘re not to be taken and they have side effects.

Illegal does not equal immoral or unethical. He's just playing within the rules. Did you expect him to sit up there and flaunt the law? Or maybe launch into a tirade about how steroids should be legalized? Besides for that being outside of the issue at discussion, it would be career suicide.

And yes, kids should be warned about the dangers of steroids. And alcohol. And a whole gang of other substances that otherwise might not prove as dangerous as the general public or Congress would make them out to be. The fact is that teenagers will place themselves at a higher risk for side effects with any of these substances because they don't have the JUDGEMENT to use in MODERATION. They don't have the foresight to think down the road, and they are too young to make decisions that will affect them for the rest of their lives. So regardless of the legality of steroids, kids ABSOLUTELY should be cautioned from them.

So in conclusion, don't bust Arnie's balls. He openly admits his usage, but he's walking a real thin line here. I for one think he's doing a pretty damn good job.

[Grizzly]

Who gives a fuck if it's career suicide? Saving your career is only important for people who aren't the 5th richest man in the US with enough money in interest on his priciple to live off of a few million dollars a year sitting on his ass drinking mai tais and groping the waitresses.

Damn straight he should go on a tirade! What does he have to lose? Not a fucking thing. Oh no, so he won't get re-elected. Big deal. Who cares? It's not like he needs the money.

[Millard Baker]

Originally Posted by macgyver_48

Or maybe launch into a tirade about how steroids should be legalized? Besides for that being outside of the issue at discussion, it would be career suicide.

...So in conclusion, don't bust Arnie's balls. He openly admits his usage, but he's walking a real thin line here. I for one think he's doing a pretty damn good job.

Very passionate defense of a politician being a politician - trying to please everyone, contradicting himself along the way. The goal of a politician is to try to convince the voter that he is on his/her side. If both pro-AAS and anti-AAS hear what they want to hear, then Schwarzenegger has succeed.

And I agree he has done a good job.

The anti-AAS crowd believes he is anti-AAS.

The pro-AAS crowd believes he supports individual AAS use and AAS in sports. (And I know this to be true because I've received several emails to this effect.)

Good politics. Good politician.

But some of us like people who have true convictions and stand up for them regardless of the popularity of those convictions or the consequences for their political career.

[CyniQ]

Originally Posted by administrator

SCHWARZENEGGER: They just stand there, you see. You have to understand.

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That was a hilarious interchange. "But the horses. They just stand there! You don't understand!" "GETT OWOOTT DERRS A BUM IN DEY-ERR! GRAB MY AND! AAHHEEEYAAHHEEEYAAAH!!!"


You can only expect so much from the guy. He is a Governer. And if he makes himself a spectacle or a laughing stock (so to speak), he's not doing anyone any good.

[novicebb]

Originally Posted by J DUB

Well, I liked him asking whether new technologies such as fiberglass pole vaults were cheating, but then he did a 180 and says don't take steroids because they are illegal. It is a shame that a person with his power will not take a stand, because he could really make a difference.

I don't believe any politician can make a difference if he is in support of steriod usage. It is just too political hot right now and no matter side you are politically, the right thing to say is "you are against steriod usage" in the general public eyes.

I mean the problem is that for every politican, athlete and doctor that says steriod usage can be positive and is no more cheating than incoporating other technological advances, you will have 10 that will say it is cheating and that you will die from its usage.

[Grizzly]

...and...

[macgyver_48]

Originally Posted by administrator

Very passionate defense of a politician being a politician - trying to please everyone, contradicting himself along the way. The goal of a politician is to try to convince the voter that he is on his/her side. If both pro-AAS and anti-AAS hear what they want to hear, then Schwarzenegger has succeed.

And I agree he has done a good job.

The anti-AAS crowd believes he is anti-AAS.

The pro-AAS crowd believes he supports individual AAS use and AAS in sports. (And I know this to be true because I've received several emails to this effect.)

Good politics. Good politician.

But some of us like people who have true convictions and stand up for them regardless of the popularity of those convictions or the consequences for their political career.

unfortunately, that type of person doesn't last very long in politics. sucks but that's the way it is.

[macgyver_48]

Originally Posted by Grizzly

Who gives a fuck if it's career suicide? Saving your career is only important for people who aren't the 5th richest man in the US with enough money in interest on his priciple to live off of a few million dollars a year sitting on his ass drinking mai tais and groping the waitresses.

Damn straight he should go on a tirade! What does he have to lose? Not a fucking thing. Oh no, so he won't get re-elected. Big deal. Who cares? It's not like he needs the money.

i don't think it's about money for him, i mean he turns down his pay as governor. i'm sure he's looking long-term and career suicide would still mean a loss of POWER for him, current and potential.

[Grizzly]

Good point. Unfortunately, it makes me dislike him even more. I believe the sentence from "The Fountainhead" goes, "and those who seek power are the worst secondhanders of all."

[Millard Baker]

Originally Posted by novicebb

I don't believe any politician can make a difference if he is in support of steriod usage. It is just too political hot right now and no matter side you are politically, the right thing to say is "you are against steriod usage" in the general public eyes.

I mean the problem is that for every politican, athlete and doctor that says steriod usage can be positive and is no more cheating than incoporating other technological advances, you will have 10 that will say it is cheating and that you will die from its usage.

Originally Posted by Grizzly

...and...

So what are you saying?

It sounds an awful lot like learned helplessness - it doesn't matter what we do, so let's do nothing.

Depressing.

[Millard Baker]

Originally Posted by macgyver_48

unfortunately, that type of person doesn't last very long in politics. sucks but that's the way it is.

Originally Posted by macgyver_48

i don't think it's about money for him, i mean he turns down his pay as governor. i'm sure he's looking long-term and career suicide would still mean a loss of POWER for him, current and potential.

That's the way it is, period.

I hope you guys are in your 80s or 90s and have just given up.

The lack of passion for beliefs/convicitons here is disconcerting.

It sounds like you're just along for the ride wherever it may take you.

Surely, you admire people who take a strong stand for something that they believe is right/just in spite of daunting opposition/disagreement? Or does the end justify the relativity of the means when it comes to the acquisition of POWER.

[J DUB]

The lack of passion for beliefs/convicitons here is disconcerting.

Yes, this is a problem for America in general. People here often do not know what they really stand for, and if they do know this, are often unwilling to stand up for it. A large part of this problem is the fact that most Americans have not received a good college education, and thus have not been exposed to different philosophies, etc. High schools tend to encourage conformity, college tends to encourage dissent.