Schwarzenegger vs. Michigan GOP: 'Try Harder Next Time, and Don't Mislead'

Pick the right facts before picking a public fight. If that's not a state Republican Party social media guideline, it should be.

One of its social media producers got sloppy Monday afternoon and downloaded an old map of irregularly shaped congressional districts in Los Angeles County. It's tweeted in an effort to deride pushes in Michigan and elsewhere to redraw districts as a way to combat gerrymandering (politically manipulated boundaries).

The party tweet below reacts to an endorsement of Michigan redistricting advocates earlier in the day by Arnold Schwarzenegger, former Republican governor of California (2003-11).

Very interesting, @Schwarzenegger, @ChadLivengood, @NotPoliticians. This is what the so-called 'Independent Commission' came up with in the Los Angeles area congressional districts. #Justsaying pic.twitter.com/r6EUMZgVo0
— Michigan GOP (@MIGOP) July 2, 2018

The poke from party headquaters in Lansing tags the ex-governor, a Crain's Detroit Business reporter who tweeted about his endorsement and the Voters Not Politicians group that gathered enough voter signatures for a November referendum in Michigan.

That first tag backfires in less than 50 minutes:

In case you guys need help, this is the map you meant to use. I found this on my machine in about 30 seconds. Try harder next time, and don’t mislead people. pic.twitter.com/vfWYWbThMI
— Arnold (@Schwarzenegger) July 2, 2018

The actor-turned-politician also pokes Michigan Republicans on Facebook: "Parties will do everything to maintain the status quo of gerrymandering. Except use Google, apparently."

Turns out the map posted by a party functionary is from a 2011 proposal -- before an Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission was established.

It remains on Twitter a day later with more than fuve dozen comments, but no response to Schwarzenegger and other critics in an entertaining pile-on:

Actually... that’s the partisan map from 2002-2012. But hey, it makes a great case for getting rid of partisan gerrymandering! I’ll be voting yes (Michigan resident)

That isn't the CURRENT map, genius. That's the map that triggered the reform.

So, you pretty much just owned yourself and showed why reform in MI is needed.

*slow golf clap*
— Fel (@Sennadar_Fel) July 2, 2018

I'm sure the @MIGOP's social media person didn't wake up thinking they would get owned by the Terminator on Twitter today pic.twitter.com/1tazmCLzVx
— Susan J. Demas

Um, @MIGOP try Google the next time. That is not the proposal. Nice try, but no cigar from @Schwarzenegger I bet.
— YubaNet (@YubaNet) July 2, 2018

You should take down this very misleading post. This was taken from a proposal back in 2011. The current districts look nothing like this.https://t.co/89wcaQYFrd

Using unlabeled source meme to discredit a citizen lead movement makes you look weak.
— Toby Langworthy (@TobyLangworthy) July 2, 2018