Gov. Ah-nold's critics should chill out

By JOHN BAER
KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS
Hear me now and believe me later, "The Governator" should get a slide.
I mean, really.
Democratic weenies in California are all hepped up over remarks last weekend by Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who called some state lawmakers "girly men."
First of all, as someone who's met lots of state lawmakers over the years, I can attest to the accuracy of the governor's characterization.
The Pennsylvania Girlyman Assembly, for example, just adopted the nation's largest expansion of gambling -- a dubious venture under the best of management -- to fund things for which it doesn't have the guts to raise taxes or cut spending.
I can't imagine the stock changes much from state to state.
Second, the governor's comments are more fun than foul. The wrath of Ahnold was brought on by lawmakers he says are delaying his state budget. (Can you imagine a legislature delaying a budget?)
"If they don't have the guts to come up here in front of you and say, 'I don't want to represent you, I want to represent those special interests, the unions, the trial lawyers' ... if they don't have the guts, I call them girly men," the governor said.
(Can you imagine legislators catering to unions or trial lawyers?)
Predictably, a few of California's finest spewed politically correct nonsense. Democratic Los Angeles state Sen. Shelia Kuehl, a member of California's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Caucus (ya gotta love that state!), called the comments "blatant homophobia."
Caucus chairman, Democratic San Francisco Assemblyman Mark Leno, labeled them "anti-gay."
Puh-leeze.
Laugh-line
Politicians do and say anti-gay things. But "girly men" is a laugh-line from an old "Saturday Night Live" skit in which "cousins" of Ahnold named Hans and Franz speak with his accent, run a bodybuilding show, "Pumping Up with Hans & amp; Franz," and refer to anyone of less than superior "pumpitude" as "girly men."
Schwarzenegger, before he was governor, once appeared with the two, played by comedic actors Kevin Nealon and Dana Carvey, in a pump-up skit opening a "Saturday Night Live" broadcast.
In the skit, Arnold actually says "girly man," ironically, imitating actors who are imitating him. Now he's just recalling old roles and spouting old lines, not unlike a previous California governor.
But, look, the bit, the line, the whole routine has not one thing to do with gender preference. Not one thing. It's a sarcastic slam at Ahnold and others who worship development of their own bodies.
No one ever accused Hans and Franz of being homophobic or sexist or anything but funny. Same should apply here. Critics just need to chill.
Plus, Schwarzenegger gets generally good marks as governor. He gets his own postage stamp in his native Austria next week (his face, U.S. and Austrian flags). He speaks at the Republican National Convention in New York next month.
So, like him or not, girly man or not, just remember, he'll be "bahk."
X John Baer is a columnist for the Philadelphia Daily News. Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services.