Some people are puzzled when I mention that Arnold Schwarzenegger is a Kennedy. After all, there isn't much people would find in common between the former Mr. Universe, physical fitness guru, Terminator-turned-Governator and the sometimes intoxicated, occasional suspected murderer and not-quite-physically-fit senior Senator from Massachusetts except for their funny accents.
On the other hand, Schwarzenegger, once known as the "Austrian Oak" is married to Maria Shriver, who is the daughter of Sargent Shriver and Eunice Kennedy Shriver. You might recognize the names of Eunice's brothers, John (JFK), Robert (RFK) and Theodore (Ted). While Ms. Shriver made a name for herself as a television journalist, she has largely stayed away from the cameras except in her role as First Lady of California, and certainly has kept her political opinions to herself lest they impact on her Republican husband. She is certainly no Mary Matalin to his James Carville.
So, when I saw the L.A. Times reporting that Ms. Shriver had appeared with Oprah Winfrey at an Obama rally to formally endorse him, I was a bit...shocked, in a good way. Obviously, due to her husband's recent endorsement of Senator John McCain, this could not have been an easy thing to do. From the L.A. Times blog:
With the California race a statistical tie and Al Gore, Chris Dodd and Bill Richardson cowardly sitting on their hands for fear of backing the loser (remember, Gore endorsed Dean in 2004, so once bitten twice shy), it couldn't come at a better time.The Huffington Post has video here.
On the other hand, Schwarzenegger, once known as the "Austrian Oak" is married to Maria Shriver, who is the daughter of Sargent Shriver and Eunice Kennedy Shriver. You might recognize the names of Eunice's brothers, John (JFK), Robert (RFK) and Theodore (Ted). While Ms. Shriver made a name for herself as a television journalist, she has largely stayed away from the cameras except in her role as First Lady of California, and certainly has kept her political opinions to herself lest they impact on her Republican husband. She is certainly no Mary Matalin to his James Carville.
So, when I saw the L.A. Times reporting that Ms. Shriver had appeared with Oprah Winfrey at an Obama rally to formally endorse him, I was a bit...shocked, in a good way. Obviously, due to her husband's recent endorsement of Senator John McCain, this could not have been an easy thing to do. From the L.A. Times blog:
More details will be posted shortly and in tomorrow's print edition, but Shriver reportedly was waiting backstage wavering over whether she should make her support public, and then finally strode out on stage. Her husband, Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, earlier this week announced his endorsement for Sen. John McCain.Apparently this really was a tough decision on her part.
Shriver told the crowded gym that she had not intended to be at the rally, and had come straight over after going horse riding with her daughter. She joked about her appearance -- riding clothes, sans makeup and without having her hair done -- as she added her pitch for Obama.
"If Barack Obama was a state he'd be California," Shriver said, drawing roars from the crowd. "I mean think about it: diverse, open, smart, independent, oppose tradition, innovative, inspiring, dreamer, leader."The Times goes on to report that she made the decision this morning, further quoting her as saying "I wasn't on the schedule," she said, "and I thought to myself when I woke up this morning, I thought, there's no other place I should be than right here."
With the California race a statistical tie and Al Gore, Chris Dodd and Bill Richardson cowardly sitting on their hands for fear of backing the loser (remember, Gore endorsed Dean in 2004, so once bitten twice shy), it couldn't come at a better time.The Huffington Post has video here.
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