WASHINGTON (CNN) -- California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger implored Washington politicians to act more like those from his home state, during a speech that stressed bipartisanship at the National Press Club Monday.

"Division is what Washington has come to represent," he said. "For too long this town has been about divide and conquer. Find an issue that splits our country in half, then crack it just enough so you can come out ahead."

Schwarzenegger also suggested Democrats and Republicans in Washington spend more time socializing with each other.

"I asked myself the question, how come Republicans and Democrats out here don't schmooze with each other?" he said. "You can't catch a socially transmitted disease by sitting down with people who hold ideas that are different from yours."

The former actor even suggested President Bush should get himself a "smoking tent" where members from both parties can meet.

"I have a politically incorrect smoking tent -- I don't know if you have heard about that one," Schwarzenegger said. "People come in there, Democrats and Republicans, and they take off their jackets and rip off their ties and they sit down and they smoke a stogy and they talk and they schmooze."