Jesse Ventura criticized politics as usual and the news media in front of a flag-waving crowd at the 19th annual Bakersfield Business Conference. And he made sure the thousands of people under the big tent at the Borton, Petrini & Conron event knew he was no Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Ventura, former governor of Minnesota and pro wrestler, said there were extensive dissimilarities between Schwarzenegger’s campaign for governor and his own.

“If you look at the Republican platform, they are not pro-choice, they are not for gay rights, yet Schwarzenegger is,” Ventura said. “Arnold should have run as an independent. He didn’t need the Republicans, they needed him. Arnold could have won without them. Trust me, I did it.”

Ventura explained that the similarities between him and Schwarzenegger are limited to the fact that they both starred in the film “Predator” and they are not career politicians.

“All you simply did out here, now, is you went from a Democrat to a Republican. There isn’t really much difference, ladies and gentlemen, there truly isn’t,” he said.

Ventura said U.S. politics are twisted by the money and power of the Democrats and Republicans, and that he accepted no special interest money during his campaign, while Schwarzenegger “took a ton of it.” Ventura is an independent, and when he explained why he is not a Republican or Democrat, he said, “Because I can go home at night and look at myself in the mirror.”

“The two-party system is terrific,” Ventura said sarcastically. “It gives us one more choice than communist Russia does.”

But however much he dislikes the two-party system, it seems that Ventura believes the media is even worse.

“What I think is the most dangerous thing happening to our political system is the media,” he said. “The media today is not out to report the news to you – they are out to create the news. You may think that is not really a big thing, but I think it is exceptionally dangerous.”

He complained about the Minneapolis Star Tribune, which had reported that his 22-year-old-son was drinking in the governor’s residence.

“Every time the media slanders me and every time I have to go to them and get it corrected, I have to pay attorneys to do that,” he said. “Why should money have to come out of my pocket to clear my name when the media lies about me?”

In June 2002, the Star Tribune published a story about Ventura’s son, Tyrel, alleging that he threw numerous parties in the governor’s mansion. The story said that supplies of state-bought liquor disappeared and furniture was damaged. The day after publication, Ventura announced his decision not to seek re-election.

Ventura said he now boycotts the Minnesota media and he did not run for governor again because of personal reasons.

“Don’t be involved with the press where you live, they will make your life miserable. It’s best to avoid them,” he said. “Don’t talk to them, they’ll mess it up anyway.”

Even though he criticized the media, Ventura reminded everyone that his television show, “Jesse Ventura’s America,” airs at 4 p.m. Saturday on MSNBC.

“I feel the message that I’m bringing out about people involved in government, about these two parties, about the media, should be heard across the country, not just Minnesota,” Ventura said.

Near the end of his presentation, Ventura talked about taxes and how nearly everything in life is taxed in one way or another.

“The only thing I’ve come up with (that hasn’t been taxed) is your dreams. I have yet to figure out how they’ve intervened in that,” Ventura said.

Someone yelled out that beds are taxed and he responded, “Nice point, throw that one out the window, I guess.”