Hidden expletive in Arnold's veto message?

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 28 (UPI) -- Staffers for California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger say there was no intent to send a coded expletive to a political rival in a veto message.

A vertical read of the far-left-hand letters of the eight lines of Schwarzenegger's message of why he was vetoing a bill sponsored by San Francisco state assemblyman Tom Ammiano spells out "I f--- you," the Bay Guardian newspaper noticed Tuesday.

The veto of the bill dealing with financing for the Port of San Francisco came after Ammiano heckled Schwarzenegger when the governor unexpectedly appeared at an Oct. 7 Democratic Party dinner in the city, during which Ammiano shouted to the governor, "Kiss my gay ass."

Schwarzenegger's press secretary, Aaron McLear, told the San Francisco Chronicle that the veto wording was simply a "weird coincidence. Something like this was bound to happen."

But Ammiano, who is a professional comic by trade, told the newspaper: "They probably think they are even now. I think it was very creative, and it's time to bury the hatchet. I'm not interested in prolonging it."