Just when you think it can’t get any more ludicrous, it does. Reactions to allegations that Arnold Schwarzenegger has groped women throughout his career include the following:
1. Gray Davis says he thinks Schwarzenegger’s behavior is disgusting, and swears that he, Davis, has never even touched a woman’s breasts, a claim which was corroborated by his wife of 32 years.- Blue Davis The embattled governor also again denied rumors that he is in reality - Mr. Rogers. At a press conference with former President Bill Clinton standing uncomfortably by his side, Davis said that any man who abuses women in this manner is clearly not qualified for public office. Mr. Clinton was observed biting his lower lip as the Governor spoke.
2. Correspondent Eleanor Clift was outraged at Schwarzenegger’s behavior, saying that no man had ever grabbed her breasts. Clift, attired in a revealing low-cut dinner gown, requested a one on one interview with the movie star in private to confront him on the issue.
3. Hillary Clinton said she was dismayed by the reaction of Arnold’s wife, Maria Shriver. Clinton said women can put an end to oppression by men only when wives whose husbands misbehave have the courage to stand up in public and condemn the misconduct.
4. The most peculiar reaction to the scandal comes from the voters of Calif. Opinion polls show that support for Arnold has mysteriously increased among single women, and among likely male voters in all demographic categories. While the majority of male voters agree with the statement that anyone who would grab a woman’s breasts in public without her consent is a self-centered, immature jackass, 70% of men said that, nevertheless, they would be more likely to vote for Arnold even now that they know what kind of a jerk he is. The explanation most frequently offered for this apparently contradictory view is that men are hopeful that if Arnold is elected governor it will lead to the repeal of obsolete laws making it illegal to grab women’s breast.
5. The L.A. Times denied charges that the hit piece against Schwarzenegger in the final days of the campaign was a case of biased reporting. “We’re not biased against Arnold” The Times said. “We’re equally willing to dig up dirt against any Republican candidate.”
6. Rush Limbaugh said that if Schwarzenegger wins election despite the scandal it could put a nail in the coffin of militant feminism, and even lead to the repeal of the 19th amendment, the provision giving women the right to vote. But Patricia Ireland, President of NOW retorted that, if anything, the revelations about Schwarzenegger demonstrate that it is men who should not be allowed to vote. Ireland said: “It’s not just Arnold. They all go to his stupid movies, where all he does is beat people up and kill them. It’s all of them. They’re all obsessed with tits and ass and beating people up, and therefore clearly lack the requisite maturity for choosing their own leaders.”
That’s the first sensible thing Patricia Ireland has ever said.
Jim Greenfield
Serving all of humanity, but mainly serving myself, this is JIM GREENFIELD.