Beatty Won't Rule Out Run for Calif. Gov.


Warren Beatty says he isn't ruling out running for governor of California, and
thinks he could do a better job than Arnold Schwarzenegger.

"I don't think anyone should ever rule public service out," Beatty said. "It's a
way of saying, 'Take me out of the mix and don't listen to me any more.'"

The actor made the remark after giving a commencement address to
graduates of University of California Berkeley's Goldman School of Public
Policy. Beatty, who has been involved in politics for years, played a senator in
the 1998 movie "Bulworth" and entertained the idea of running for the
presidency six years ago.

Beatty, 68, said he has "a real soft spot for actors, even if they are
right-wing," and has always liked Schwarzenegger. But the former action star
is a politician who should "rise to the higher level of that calling," Beatty said,
and not denigrate fellow politicians by mocking them as "girlie men," as the
governor did of Democratic lawmakers last summer.

"Can't we accept that devotion to the building of the body politic is more
complex and a little more sensitive than devotion to body building?" Beatty
asked.

Schwarzenegger deputy press secretary Vince Sollitto said of the criticism:
"I'm sure it's nothing personal. Warren's just mad at Republicans because
he's afraid they're cutting off his Social Security."




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