Schwarzenegger would later use the term again at the 2004 Republican National Convention , where he implored the audience not to be pessimistic about the economy , saying " Do n't be economic girlie men . " Schwarzenegger was criticized by various gay rights and feminist groups . California State Senator Sheila Kuehl , who is a member of the legislature 's Lesbian , Gay , Bisexual and Transgender Caucus , claimed that the governor had resorted to " blatant homophobia " , stating that the phrase " uses an image that is associated with gay men in an insulting way , and it was supposed to be an insult . That 's very troubling that he would use such a homophobic way of trying to put down legislative leadership . " Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez , said he was n't upset by the remark but that his 13-year-old daughter was . " She 's a young girl who knows the governor and really likes him a lot and did n't find the term to be a positive term , and finds it to be derogatory , " Nunez said . " It was no question a very , very insensitive comment to make . I personally am not intimidated or threatened by it , but I think it really is beneath Gov. Schwarzenegger . " Jeff Bissiri , the Log Cabin Republicans ' California Director , defended Schwarzenegger , responding to Kuehl 's statements by stating that " the Governor 's use of the term ' girlie man ' was not a slur aimed at the gay and lesbian community and Senator Kuehl knows that ... Where was her outrage when the Bustamante campaign referred to candidate Schwarzenegger as a ' sissy ' for not agreeing to an endless series of debates ? " In an October 2018 interview with '' Men 's Health '' magazine , Schwarzenegger apologized for popularizing the phrase saying , At the time it felt like the right thing to do . It was in my gut . I improvised it . I called them girlie men because they were n't willing to take risks . They were afraid of everything . Politicians in general want to do little things so there 's no risk involved . But it was shortsighted . In the long term , it 's better to not say that , because you want to work with them . The term , popularized initially by the '' Saturday Night Live '' sketch , received new life following Schwarzenegger 's usage . '' New York Times '' opinion columnist Maureen Dowd quoted a Democratic insider who claimed that 2004 Presidential candidate John Kerry had " turned into a girlie man "
2004 Republican National Convention
2004 Republican National Convention
Girlie men