Arnold's memory problem

One of the questions that San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom's action has provoked is this: What rules--California law or the California Constitution? It's a key distinction. The mayor says he is bound by the Constitution to give gays equal rights, even if that is contrary to any given law.

Law. Constitution. You'd think the governor would choose his words carefully when drafting a statement on this issue. So it caught my eye when I read that California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said this in an official prepared statement, in response to the gay-marriage issue: ""I will abide by the oath I took when I was sworn in to uphold California's laws."

Hmm...actually, as I remember it, Arnold swore to uphold the Constitution of California. In fact, that's how Arnold remembered it, too, just minutes after he swore the oath. Let's go to the tape:

GOV. ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER (INAUG. SPEECH): ...Today I ask all of you to join me in a new partnership for California.

One that is civil and respectful of our diverse population.

One that challenges each and every one of us to serve our state in a joyful, productive and creative way.

Ladies and gentlemen, I have an immigrant's optimism that what I have learned in citizenship class is true: The system does work.

And I believe that with all of my heart.

I have big hopes for California. President Reagan spoke of America as "the shining city on the hill." I see California as the golden dream by the sea.

Perhaps some think this is fanciful or poetic, but to an immigrant like me, who, as a boy, saw Soviet tanks rolling through the streets of Austria, to someone like me who came here with absolutely nothing and gained absolutely everything, it is not fanciful to see this state as a golden dream.

For millions of people around the world, California has always glimmered with hope and glowed with opportunity. Millions of people around the world send their dreams to California with the hope their lives will follow.

My fellow citizens.

I have taken the oath to uphold the Constitution of California. Now, with your help and God's, I will also uphold the dream that is California.

Thank you very much.

God bless you, and may God bless California.

Thank you, thank you.

Well, he can't remember any of his other promises, so why should this one be any different?

(If you can bear it, listen to the audio.)