NEW YORK — The Republican National Convention turned on Tuesday from accenting strength to emphasizing opportunity and compassion, as Arnold Schwarzenegger presented his improbable life story -- the rise from immigrant bodybuilder to movie star to California governor -- as an embodiment of the GOP and its ideals.
In an evening featuring a parade of minority speakers, as well as First Lady Laura Bush, it was the Austrian-born Schwarzenegger who offered one of the most crowd-pleasing testimonials to President Bush.
Borrowing the laconic tagline of the Terminator, perhaps his most famous cinematic character, Schwarzenegger declared: "America is back."
"Back from the attack on our homeland, back from the attack on our economy, and back from the attack on our way of life," Schwarzenegger said, standing before the image of a giant, billowing American flag.
"We are back because of the perseverance, character and leadership of the 43rd president of the United States, George W. Bush."
The two men have not had the closest political relationship. Schwarzenegger has criticized Bush as not paying enough attention to Democratic-leaning California and has kept a studied distance from his reelection effort.
But that was not easy to tell Tuesday night as Schwarzenegger, making his national political debut, warmly praised the president. The closest he came to acknowledging their difference on touchy issues such as legalized abortion and gay rights -- both of which the governor supports -- was a passage observing that not everyone in the party agrees on everything.
"I believe that's not only OK, that's what's great about this country," Schwarzenegger said. "Here we can respectfully disagree and still be patriotic, still be American and still be good Republicans."
Schwarzenegger's remarks offered more sweep than substance and little partisan bite for such a setting. In a 23-minute speech, he mentioned America 47 times, used the word Republican 15 times and referred to Bush by name six times.
He never directly criticized Sen. John F. Kerry, a personal friend and the Democratic presidential nominee. But he took a few humorous jabs.
"To those critics who are so pessimistic about our economy, I say: Don't be economic girlie men," Schwarzenegger quipped, drawing a roar with a line from a "Saturday Night Live" spoof that he directed against Democratic state legislators last month.
