Governor Schwarzenegger wrapped up his trip to Washington, DC today with a stop at the offices of U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, and a bit of levity about the difficult balancing act in trying to be a centrist in the world of partisan politics.

Schwarzenegger has been busy mending GOP fences of late, and defending himself against accusations that he’s either too much to the left (according to some Republicans), or too much to the right (according to some Democrats).

The transcript below was provided by David Drucker, a reporter for the Capitol Hill newspaper Roll Call, and a former statehouse reporter here in Sacramento. David is the reporter who asked the question:

Reporter: “You told Tim Russert [this past Sunday on Meet The Press] that you’re an Arnold Republican. Can you define an Arnold Republican for us?

Feinstein (turning to Schwarzenegger and smiling): “I’d like to hear this one, too.” (laughter in the room)

Schwarzenegger: “An Arnold Republican is someone that you cannot really put into a box. Because in politics people have this tendency of saying, ‘well, is he over here, or is he over here?’ You can’t do that with me. Because, you know, I didn’t grow up with that kind of politics. I did not work my way up to this position in the political arena. So I take things on what I think
is best for the state. I’m trying to represent everybody, Democrats and Republicans. So that’s what I’ve always said.

“I’m in the center, I think that’s where the action is. It’s just very difficult and challenging in
California when you do that — when you’re in the center. Because they can’t put you into that box, the right or to the left. That’s the way I am.”

Feinstein: “I could have told you that before the beginning of last year.” (more laughter)