Schwarzenegger Headlines Hollywood Think Tank Symposium
Arnold Schwarzenneger is back.
The former governor of California was at the University of Southern California Monday to host the inaugural USC Schwarzenegger Institute for State and Global Policy symposium.
"We are interested in making a difference in society, not just academic circles," said USC Sol Price Dean of Students Jack Knott. "We feel major contributions will help communicate our research to the comunity and the political progress."
The appearance marks a return to public spotlight for the actor-turned-politician.
"The power of films and television is enormous, I think it is much more powerful than politicians can ever be in telling you to vote for someone or to go a certain direction," said Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The first of two panels, Political Leaders’ Views on the Importance of Post-Partisanship was moderated by ABC political commentator Cokie Roberts and featured Schwarzenneger, Arizona Senator John McCain, Florida Governor Charlie Crist, former US Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, 30th governor of New Mexico Bill Richardson and 43rd governor of Pennsylvania Tom Ridge.
An area of discussion was the intersection of politics and television.
"We're no longer in the Cronkite era," Daschle said. "Now we have news channels that aren't observers but participants in partisanship."
For Schwarzenneger, the event kicks off a string of scheduled appearances. He's the focus of an upcoming CBS "60 minutes" interview, and is releasing a book next month.
