Allegations of womanizing didn't affect Schwarzenegger's support

[cally]

Eda Zahl said she was concerned about the allegations of Arnold Schwarzenegger's groping, unwanted sexual advances and lewd comments toward women.

On Election Day, it didn't matter. She voted to recall Gov. Gray Davis and replace him with the superstar actor.

"If he is elected, I would like him to talk about it and address it -- if not to me, then to his wife," Zahl said after voting in Hollywood.

The last-minute allegations of sexual misconduct that roiled the Schwarzenegger campaign registered little with women voters in Tuesday's historic election, according to results of an exit poll conducted for The Associated Press and other news organizations

[Democrats unite]

1. And they will get excatley what they voted for.

eom

[diplomats]

3. Yes

And we'll see if they ultimately regret it.

[diplomats]

2. This race was a referendum on a horribly unpopular governor

NOT a referendum on Arnold. That's why these revelations didn't make a dent. In fact, they may have backfired.

[Cha]

4. arnie may be in but the allegations are true and thus it

won't just stop now that he's the "hands on govenor"..

arnie had his own private propoganda machineS in cnn, and fauxsux, and I'm sure msgop, too. blech!

[Gin]

5. The allegaitons are out there...hopefully the women will press

charges...maybe it will happen the day * is coming for a photo op.

Please universe..let it happen.

Two puppets and a subpeona.!

[NewYorkerfromMass]

6. no but I'll bet it grew some opposition

and this woman is an idiotic moron. "...would like him to talk about it." :eyes:

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

7. I strongly doubt...

That we have heard the last of these allegations or the litigation resulting from them. I am sure there is no end to the able lawyers salivating over the endless possibilities for litigatory mayhem and face time on the telly.

What is remarkable is the "butter won't melt in their mouths" outrage and hurt being expressed by the right, over the allegations. Crocadile tears abound.

[bluedeminredstate]

8. It's not womanizing!!

It's abuse, humiliation, assault or whatever word you want to give it that conveys the UNWANTED and humiliating nature of the acts. Someone I talked to compared him to Bill Clinton yesterday. Do people not know the meaning of CONSENT????
A consensual sexual relationship - in this case with Monica Lew3insky - is not the same thing as grabbing, groping, lunging, and making lewd comments to women who didn't ASK for him to touch them.
Is that so hard to understand?

I can't believe this headline. Is this from the AP?

[cally]

10. It's from SF Chronicle...nt

.

[Mari333]

11. the sad thing is that abusing and assaulting women

is still considered okie dokie by a lot of men, even liberal men...they still consider women property they can abuse whenever they feel like it..
I remember being assaulted as a young woman walking down the street, just coming home from work..some guy just walks up and grabs my breasts ...I chased him and cursed , couldnt catch him, I was going to kill him, Im not kidding..
Made me go home and vomit...back then, cops did nothing about such things..
also remember being dragged into an alley one night with a knife at my throat..I was lucky that my room mate woke up to me screaming, and she came out and the guy ran away..
Cops were called and said "why dont you move out of this neighborhood?"
Assholes..this was the 70s and I was marching for womens rights back then..
any man (or woman) who thinks its "womanizing" is in denial that its assault..pure and simple, its a crime.

[Sideways]

15. In 1990 a guy shoved his hand up my skirt at 7th & Market

In San Francisco while I was waiting for my bus home. I had a full can of soda in my hand at the time and launched it at his head while he was running away. Shitfire I conked him on his noggin. DIRECT HIT. The dude came charging back at me but Bruce the driver of my #45 to Petaluma got out of the bus and told him to fucking back off.

I mean really folks standing on the street waiting for a bus and it is okie dokie for some putz to shove his hand up my skirt? Yuck.

The fool was quite stunned that I hammered him with a "Rocket" hardball. But that isn't the point the point is that many men treat women like trash. And what is being done?

Nothing. And who is standing up for them? Nobody.

[cally]

16. I'm glad you hit him

and it sounds like your bus driver stood up for you which is what all of us have to do to keep a sane society.

[glitch]

20. Awesome! nt

[noonwitch]

9. It never affected Clinton either

I think Clinton was a great President. To be honest, I'm glad I don't live in California, but who knows, maybe Arnold will not be so bad. I don't have a problem with moderate republicans, they are not the danger to causes I hold as important.

[ColumbusGirl]

13. The key is Moderate

I'm not sure I'm a fan of Arnold...in fact, I'm quite sure I'm not a fan of him, but Moderate is a good thing.

The last thing we need are more Orrin Hatch's or budding future John Ashcrofts.

It's a lot easier to find common ground with someone who isn't pushing a radical agenda that is diametrically opposed to what I believe in.

[cap]

14. oh yeah, moderate... kinda like you know who...

wasn't GW a "compassionate conservative"????

Arnold has to go easy on gays etc 'cause he's in CA. You noticed he back tracked a bit on gays to satisfy his base.

Moderate... just a little mask to fool people, that's all.

[Flubadubya]

25. Moderate?

How moderate is this? I certainly don't like Arnold's treatment of women, no sir! However, when he states that one of his ultimate goals in life is to have "poleeteekal powah ovah people", that is some scary damned shit.

Somehow I just don't see that as coming from someone who is a natural "moderate". This kind of power lust is nothing short of Hitlerian.

[Ramsey]

24. But it's off the table now

Right? Womanizing, even nonconsensual, is off the table now as a point of criticism by the conservatives, even if a Democrat engages in it?

Well, it should be, but as is often observed, Repugs aren't known for their consistency or logic.

[The White Rose]

12. Probably shored up his support with white males.

Dispicable. I still can't understand how ANY woman could have voted for him; I even heard one say on tv before the election, "well, what's a grope to one woman is a cuddle to another"!!! And these were the exact same people who crucified Clinton for CONSENSUAL adultery! Can't help but agree with my wife's assessment: "if she ever has to undergo the humiliation of a harrassment case I hope they play the tape in court". Sickening...

[MaryBear]

17. Timing was the problem here.

Names of the women were not released to my knowledge. Not that they should be, but I think that made it easier for some to view the behavior as "youthful indiscretions," and to not take seriously the more recent alleged gropes. If this is real, time will tell, and it will be seriously addressed in next campaign if not soooner.

For me, that 15 women came forward, and that as recently as 3 years ago this behavior is alleged, was enough. But then I wouldn't vote for him anyway. I had no reason to give him the benefit of doubt.

[cally]

18. In the initial story, 4 of the women chose to

remain anonymous. The later stories all had allegations from women who were not anonymous. I think the total was 15 or 16, so most gave their name.

Hi, sorry you weren't able to make it Tuesday night.

[MaryBear]

21. Me, too, cally.

Next time... Nov. 2?

Still, I do think that with more time the credibility of the allegations would have been more obvious and had more impact. Instead of recall, we need to focus on bringing the cases to trial.

[Jack Rabbit]

26. Joe Conason agrees with you on this

He believes that voters as a rule are wise to be skeptical of serious charges that emerge the weekend before an election. I think he's right about that, even though there's more than enough out there to give these particular reports credibility.

These charges would have had more effect if they had come out sooner.

[young_at_heart]

19. Republicans are major hypocrites!

Clinton's critics were non-stop and relentless, but Orrin Hatch (Mr. Sanctimonious) would like to see Arnold run for president. I wonder if any of the Clinton-bashers will be critical of Arnold's behavior? I wouldn't waste a bet on it!

[David__77]

22. It would be helpful if all women involved came forward.

And stated their experiences. Not *of course* at the encouragement of any Democratic operatives--no, never. However, if this were to occur, it would certainly dim any "luster" that may be present, especially if any legal fights could ensue.

[atreides1]

23. It's Official...

....the voters of California have decided that it's okay to assault women, and get rewarded for it.

I know that this sounds mean and evil, but I truly hope that the women who voted for Arnold get groped themselves.

Okay not all the voters of California decided this, just the majority.

[henslee]

27. A reporter just reminded Arnie he promised to address groping quest.

It was at a televised press conference....Arnie blew off the question. He walked off the stage, blurting, "That's old news."
He is an asshole.

[cliss]

28. You know who the big loser is?

Good old, loyal Maria. If Arnie had gotten in trouble for his disgusting behavior, it might have made an impression on the thick-skulled bone head, maybe make him repentant and all that stuff.

But instead, he got rewarded for being a Macho Dude. We'll see how far it gets him at a desk-bound job, signing papers all day long.

[Matilda]

29. How genuine are Arnie's pro-choice, pro-gay liberal attitudes?

I mean, has he just said this, or has he done anything to show that he's sincere? Because these attitudes just don't gel with his extremely macho, contemptuous attitudes to women, and the bigoted, racist remarks he's so often reported as making. People who are
totally intolerant in one sphere are generally intolerant right down the line, and I suspect he's just trying to get on-side with liberal voters. I suspect he's a fascist through and through.