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Top contributors to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger have been rewarded with a private telephone number that gives them access to his closest advisers and even the Governor himself.

The Los Angeles Times reports that major donors are invited twice a month to join in conference calls that feature information about the governor's campaign strategy.

In turn, donors who dial in can give the governor advice.

The Times was given access to one of the conference calls Thursday by an unidentified participant.

In the half-hour call, the Times said Schwarzenegger media strategist Don Sipple outlined a plan to create a "phenomenon of anger" to turn voters against public employee unions.
The unions have been some of the governor's harshest critics.

The process is like peeling an onion," Sipple said in the call, describing a strategy for persuading voters that the unions are "motivated by economic self-interest" instead of "doing the best job for the state."

The Thursday discussion, involving multiple contributors and top Schwarzenegger strategists, offered a rare glimpse inside the governor's political circle. Participants in the call included representatives from the American Electronics Association, Associated Builders and Contractors Inc. and Wells Fargo, the Times said.

The call also offered a window on the governor's strategy ahead of an expected Nov. 8 special election.

Global Arnold Staff

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