Arnold Flashback: 2003
[Guest Post by Lee Stranahan]
Sunday, October 5th 2003, 1:13AM
LOS ANGELES – Arnold Schwarzenegger went into attack mode yesterday against his foe Gov. Gray Davis – who responded by calling him a criminal.
And the campaign was rocked by ever more outrageous allegations.
Three more women – including an assistant director and a stand-in on his 1988 film “Twins” – came forward to tell the Los Angeles Times he molested them, even as a London tabloid bannered that a former stewardess on his private plane bore his love child.
The flight attendant strongly denied the story, but it offers yet another illustration of how California’s recall circus is spinning wildly out of control.
Schwarzenegger’s campaign charged Gov. Gray Davis and the Los Angeles Times were using “puke politics” to terminate his front-running bid for the governor’s mansion, even though the movie star apologized for “bad behavior” toward women.
“The last accusations that I read today are absolutely untrue,” Schwarzenegger said during a stop on his bus tour in California’s Central Valley. “They’re trying to torpedo my campaign. They’re trying to make me look bad out there.”
Maria stands by her man
His wife, Maria Shriver, made an unscheduled appearance to campaign with him – a clear sign the campaign is worried. She planted a kiss on his lips on stage and called him “The man I love, the man I believe in.”
Schwarzenegger spokesman Sean Walsh said, “We believe a smear campaign is being orchestrated by the Davis campaign.”
From the New York Daily News – Emphasis added.
But – it’s not the flight attendant…
A former flight attendant on Arnold Schwarzenegger’s private plane today denied she is the mother of his secret love child.
Tammy Baker Tousignant, a California blonde who was in her late 20s when she worked on his private plane, gave birth to a son after an alleged affair during the Nineties.
She was initially linked to the 63-year-old in 2003 by the actor’s biographer Wendy Leigh, who claimed Tousignant’s son Tanner had a ‘remarkable resemblance’ to the star.
But today her lawyer vehemently denied a romance and insisted that a DNA test had proved the actor is not the father of her child.
Read more here.
– Lee Stranahan
IIRC, many conservatives reacted to this by being angry at the LA Times for a last minute smear.
aphrael (e0cdc9) — 5/17/2011 @ 3:48 pmThe convervatives have dropped Arnold a long time ago. In trying to walk both sides of the issues, he lost any kind of credibility with the CA conservative. Incidentally, conservatives in CA are more libertarian than the social conservatives else where.
JoeKid2012 (1fdeca) — 5/17/2011 @ 4:02 pmAs well they should be. Posting unproven sexual stories against one party while guarding stories about Edwards or Clinton is a great thing to complain about.
However, shame on Arnold, of course, that there was truth to the idea he had a love child.
Dustin (c16eca) — 5/17/2011 @ 4:14 pmPerspective from a reporter who worked on the story back in 2003.
angeleno (ec0b60) — 5/17/2011 @ 4:27 pmArnold has disgraced himself, period…
That said, Dustin is 100% correct; there is no way that the L.A. Times would have run this story against a Democrat.Ever…
Not only did they do their best to protect Mr. Clinton and John Edwards (the white Obama), but they joined in the festival of openly “wondering” whether Lewinsky was a star-struck, sex-crazed, stalker.
But, you know, they weren’t accusing her or anything, no, they were just asking the question…
Instead of asking why POTUS would be diddling a 20-something intern. And then lie about to the point of parsing the meaning word “is”; a member of the bar, and as the AG’s boss, arguably the highest law enforcement official in the US. Parsing.What.The.Meaning.Of.”is”. is…
The staggering double standard is unforgivable, and in the same way Obama’s entire failed foreign policy isn’t “redeemed” by getting ObL, neither is the L.A.Times reputation redeemed by Ahhhhhnulds infidelity.
In my humble opinion.
Bob Reed (5f2db5) — 5/17/2011 @ 4:51 pmwhere kennedys go tawdry is always sure to follow
we can call it Americana if you want but mostly it’s just tacky
happyfeet (a55ba0) — 5/17/2011 @ 5:22 pmAnd we can’t forget where the idea that Monica Lewinsky was a stalker came from: the White House. From memory, Clinton told this to his Chief of Staff who dispersed it to the media (not knowing it wasn’t true himself).
And who can forget that in the run up to 2008 for a brief moment there were Obama mistress rumors. The media jumped on that. Away from that, on that what’s the difference.
East Bay Jay (19f566) — 5/17/2011 @ 6:28 pmAhnuld is a douche-bag on steroids. Screw him. Why not? He’s screwed everybody else.
DubiousD (732bfc) — 5/17/2011 @ 6:30 pmAn extremely powerful person tried to abuse his power to squash his intern he slept with (or whatever you believe Bill did). He broke the law in covering his tracks on a pretty solid record of abusing his power for sex.
I don’t see why anyone thinks this is a minor thing.
Dustin (c16eca) — 5/17/2011 @ 6:58 pmA Dem has an affair … John Edwards – he is washed up… finished – the worst person in the world.
A Republican does this… Newt Gingrich… and he get to run for president. Like Vitter, Ensign, Sanford, etc… who get elected and forgiven.
And now, Ben Stein – Republican creationist is defending the accused French rapist IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn in the American Spectator. He blames the victim saying that “maids are lunatics”. Republicans in a nutshell.
Women-abusing hypocrites. The GOP culture of hypocrisy treats women like trash.
Victory (8b3a2d) — 5/17/2011 @ 7:13 pm“victory” is a liar. And a serial troll.
JD (318f81) — 5/17/2011 @ 7:31 pmTed Kennedy was a Republican. Who knew?
kaf (4a1752) — 5/17/2011 @ 7:37 pmArnold was a Republican? Who knew?
JD (318f81) — 5/17/2011 @ 7:38 pmVictory,
You are intentionally very misleading in your comment at #10 regarding the lunatic maid. I’m sure it galls you as well as me to read quotes taken out of context, so here it is in full,
People accuse other people of crimes all of the time. What do we know about the complainant besides that she is a hotel maid? I love and admire hotel maids. They have incredibly hard jobs and they do them uncomplainingly. I am sure she is a fine woman. On the other hand, I have had hotel maids that were complete lunatics, stealing airline tickets from me, stealing money from me, throwing away important papers, stealing medications from me. How do we know that this woman’s word was good enough to put Mr. Strauss-Kahn straight into a horrific jail? Putting a man in Riker’s is serious business. Maybe more than a few minutes of investigation is merited before it’s done.
Dana (4eca6e) — 5/17/2011 @ 7:42 pmUm, Newt is a complete non factor. And everyone holds his affair against him, too. So what is your point? That he retained basic civil rights? Do you think Republicans shouldn’t be allowed to run for office if you detect hypocrisy?
Edwards is a failure with or without his affair, btw. It doesn’t make sense to compare him to men of accomplishment.
Dustin (c16eca) — 5/17/2011 @ 7:43 pmA Republican does this… Newt Gingrich… and he get to run for president.
Proving you are too stupid to dress yourself. You could “get” to run for President. It is an individual choice, and a foolish one on his part. Republicans did not let him. Encourage him. Allow him. He chose to.
JD (318f81) — 5/17/2011 @ 7:48 pmA Dem has an affair … John Edwards – he is washed up… finished – the worst person in the world.
A Republican does this… Newt Gingrich… and he get to run for president. Like Vitter, Ensign, Sanford, etc… who get elected and forgiven.
Women-abusing hypocrites. The GOP culture of hypocrisy treats women like trash.
If you note, anyone can run for president in spite of their womanizing behavior (see: Bill Clinton).
Vitter, Ensign and Sanford’s bad behavior caught up with them – as it always does. Everything is found out eventually.
I don’t see that there is a distinction between GOP and Democratic politicians mistreating women, the lack of self-control frequently crosses the aisle. Unfortunately, the politics of a person seem to be the deciding factor as to whether constituents judge the bad behavior accordingly or whether they give the pol a pass and write it off as “boys being boys” type behavior.
This lack of judgment and moral clarity is what begets us such buffoons in office, whether the local city council or the White House.
Dana (4eca6e) — 5/17/2011 @ 7:48 pmThe difference is … Vitter and Ensign run on family values and get reelected after admitting to affairs.
Newt went after Clinton while cheating on his wife.
Enough said.
Victory (8b3a2d) — 5/17/2011 @ 8:01 pmEnough said. You are a child, hilljack.
JD (318f81) — 5/17/2011 @ 8:11 pmSince he didn’t go after Clinton for adultery, or for anything sexual, how is that relevant? I barely recall any Republicans criticising Clinton’s sex life; it was Joe Lieberman and other Democrats who sternly wagged the finger at him, in a successful ploy to distract attention from the non-sexual nature of the actual charges against him.
Milhouse (ea66e3) — 5/17/2011 @ 9:09 pmAs an aside, we do have a woman outed as the paramour with her lawyer saying it ain’t so. Let’s assume that is true and step back and ponder the injustice to her and her family.
Arnold can rot in hell along with every other A-type who doesn’t think common decency applies to them.
Ag80 (867d1b) — 5/17/2011 @ 9:28 pm-Newt on the Lewinksy scandal.
Milhouse is exactly right.
It was amazing that our President would use his office to smear his intern, or lie under oath. It’s Clinton’s fault his crimes involved sex, not the GOP’s. Yes, Clinton committed a serious crime over something liberals claim is no big deal, and stupid to make big deal over.
The real shame in this case is that the Senate didn’t convict him
Dustin (c16eca) — 5/17/2011 @ 9:38 pmVictory has an interesting argument though: assholes in government are OK as long as assholery is not part of the party platform.
It’s an interesting argument, but stupid.
Ag80 (867d1b) — 5/17/2011 @ 9:46 pmAt the time I thought that if Clinton seriously wanted us to believe that perjury about sexual matters in a civil suit was no big deal, the least he could do was pardon all the people doing federal time for exactly that. So long as he kept them imprisoned under his authority, I didn’t understand how anybody could accept such a claim. Of course most of his supporters were impervious to reason.
Milhouse (ea66e3) — 5/17/2011 @ 9:49 pmThat really is one of the best ways I’ve ever seen this point articulated.
He sure took this sex scandal more seriously than his shills now claim it should be taken.
AG80, what I find amusing is how democrats will bible thump or define marriage or complain about values or sex in video games, and the left STILL acts as though conservatives are especially responsible for being morally perfect. It’s as though they know their politicians are lying about their morality.
Dustin (c16eca) — 5/17/2011 @ 9:57 pmHorn dog.
Mike Myers (0e06a9) — 5/17/2011 @ 10:04 pmDustin:
I think I tried to make that point before in another thread. Put simply, the left has somehow managed to shift moral arguments to their side simply because they have no morals in regards to societal norms.
So, if you have morals and someone on the right transcends those morals, then your position is moot.
That makes no sense.
Ag80 (867d1b) — 5/17/2011 @ 10:07 pmPolitically, this does no harm to Arnold, for his political career was over anyway.
AD-RtR/OS! (218d4c) — 5/17/2011 @ 11:37 pmBut, you’ve got to think the notoriety will only help to sell tickets for his next movie.
As George Raft famously said:
I don’t care what they say about me as long as they spell my name right!
____________________________________________
Women-abusing hypocrites. The GOP culture of hypocrisy treats women like trash.
In light of the history of one of the icons of the left and Democrat Party, referring to Bill meaning-of-is-is Clinton, your comment deserves nothing more than a “LOL.” As for hypocrisy, I’d say it’s quite amusing how liberal women in particular will be so touchy-feely about the idea of people being allowed to do their own thang — and expressing their free will to their heart’s content — yet become so irate when an “old-fashioned value” (ie, monogamy) isn’t observed by their husband or significant other.
I bet Maria Shriver buys into the blather about the niceness of, among other things, same-sex marriage and the wonderfulness of carefree (ie, dumbed-down) socio-cultural standards in general. But she’s such a damn prude when her old man had a chick on the side, and fathered a baby with the woman, no less. Well, Maria, this is the age of the new morality. Embrace it for all it’s worth. Give it a big hug and a wide smile.
Next step: Legalizing — or certainly normalizing the concept of — polygamy!!!
Mark (411533) — 5/17/2011 @ 11:58 pmBack during the recall push – before it was a done deal – I used to frequent Right Thinking From the Left Coast.
Arnold announced his run. We were all very stoked, but then the groping thing came out. I commented that the girl sounds very believable. Lee would have none of it, and we had a falling out, complete with FU emails.
Check this out.
Search of Right Thinking for Schwarzeneggar turns up nothing , nada, zero, to this day.
It’s too bad that the California Dems with the collusion of the LAT, and the other progressive medias, decided to roll it out on the last day before the election. If they had reported it as a story like any other, not holding it back for the maximum “gotcha” effect, we might have ended up with Governor McClintock, and California, and the world at large, would be in much better shape.
papertiger (e55ba0) — 5/18/2011 @ 3:37 am“IIRC, many conservatives reacted to this by being angry at the LA Times for a last minute smear.”
How did things go on this blog?
Bruuuce (e62f83) — 5/18/2011 @ 7:47 amneither party has a corner of treating others like crap. Ted Kennedy? Bill Clinton? Newt? etc. there is so much dirt in the air it’s hard to see.
quasimodo (4af144) — 5/18/2011 @ 7:54 amfrom News Bizarre
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JEQn6P3J1Ls/TdM4IlhcLWI/AAAAAAAAIZE/ALIGeRNP6-4/s200/mildred.jpg
Schotzi (0b8a2b) — 5/18/2011 @ 7:54 amPhoto of the mother/son @ 7:54. From News Bizarre
Vermont Neighbor (cae88c) — 5/18/2011 @ 8:00 amSo, they got the story wrong, on the particulars and they want to be credited with trying.
narciso (72470d) — 5/18/2011 @ 8:18 am____________________________________________
I notice the right-leaning Drudgereport.com has strangely downplayed or even ignored this story. Why? Some insider favoritism on the part of Matt Drudge or others affiliated with his site? If so, that really irritates me.
I’ve sometimes wondered if my resentment at bias in the media is because of the often left-schmoozing-left nature of most news outlets. But I find that even though Drudge and Schwarzenegger are of the right (or, when it comes to the latter, very, very squishy right), I’m still really annoyed at the idea of coverage being subverted due to a hidden agenda.
Mark (411533) — 5/18/2011 @ 4:52 pmI can’t speak for drudge, but the right-wing Arnold train left the station long before this claptrap.
Ag80 (867d1b) — 5/18/2011 @ 5:45 pmArnold was only briefly marginally barely somewhat conservative. If at all. The final gasp may have been when he opposed Ocare but later decided no problem. Then he angled for a position with the administration post-CA. That was just ahead of the annual RGA meeting, which seemed very weird (donor meet & greet).
re Drudge. Seems like he skipped 1 or 2 other stories which had the sleaze factor. Liberal. Can’t recall though. I think Arnold was mentioned when it first broke.
Vermont Neighbor (7c90f3) — 5/18/2011 @ 8:09 pmSad for the kids but hard to believe the missus knew nothing.
This reminds me of a little story way back when Ron Artest was with the Sac Kings.
He was detained by the law because his “live in girlfriend” had failed to feed the family dogs while Artest was on the road with the team.
It was later revealed that the “live in girlfriend” was actually Mrs. Ron Artest.
The Media was blissfully unaware that Ron was married.
The point and how it relates to this?
How refreshing that a celebrity didn’t feel the need to air his family life for the digestion and distillation of our media.
I love Ron for that, cause I don’t want to know the particulars of his lifestyle.
papertiger (e55ba0) — 5/18/2011 @ 8:19 pmI just want to watch him play basketball.
I thought if anyone could take on the unions with some success it would be Arnold. Who knows how badly his problems served as tools for blackmail. Despite Maria having a say in things, it looked like cleaning up the budget was a no-brainer… long overdue. I think that the Hollywood setting probably enables sex addiction whereas in politics it leads to exposure and compromise. It’s a safe bet we’ll never see Ben Affleck run for office. You have to bet that the graft and taxpayer deals keeping Barney Frank employed are beyond astronomical. Would love to see justice served on that guy.
Vermont Neighbor (17012e) — 5/19/2011 @ 5:35 amPlease know that all of CA wanted McClintock – and we still do!
Vermont Neighbor (17012e) — 5/19/2011 @ 5:39 amI’m thinking someone found out, and he was blackmailed for it, the degree that he sold out to the unions, and the climate change scam, point to this.
ian cormac (72470d) — 5/19/2011 @ 5:44 amHard to say. Was told by an insider that Maria was the brains in the deal. California is now a progressive dream. Anyone who wants to launch a business, good luck. Call Rick Perry.
Vermont Neighbor (cae88c) — 5/19/2011 @ 6:20 amHard to say. Was told by an insider that Maria was the brains to the deal. California is now a progressive dream. Anyone who wants to launch a business, good luck. Call Rick Perry.
Vermont Neighbor (cae88c) — 5/19/2011 @ 6:30 amall of CA wanted McClintock
Nonsense. I voted for McClintock in that election, but it’s a ridiculous stretch to say that “all of CA” wanted him. IIRC he came in third, behind Schwarzenegger and Bustamante. Furthermore, while he’s run for statewide office several times, he’s never won such an election.
aphrael (9802d6) — 5/19/2011 @ 8:44 amI thought of you when I posted that; no offense meant. Tom McClintock doesn’t need my postings to solidify the fact he’s one of conservative politics’ most valued legislators. The fact that he lost previous elections is a reflection of California’s ultra liberal politics, not of his capabilities. CA is a unique situation. I’m sure Obama will hold onto Cal, but we’ll probably see him lose in other purple red states. Depends on how far a billion goes these days.
And with numerous urban cities- as well as IL and CA- as fiscally damaged as they are, it’s no coincidence that liberal politics are the root & cause. You can’t tax the rich and expect job growth. Over-regulate industry and it leaves. Even Hollywood knows this. They vote one way and often film in tax-friendly locations. It hurts their own union members across several guilds. As a straight business decision, they’re doing what they can to turn a profit. I understand and support that. It’s why I vote conservative.
Vermont Neighbor (68ff46) — 5/19/2011 @ 9:31 amAn interesting theory, and amusing if so as it eventually just came out anyway. A truly egregious RINO is much more useful to the left than a progressive democrat, because the entire debate shifts to the left, instead of polarizing.
Dustin (c16eca) — 5/19/2011 @ 9:38 amVermont Neighbor – I have more respect for McClintock than I do for almost any other conservatives, and I’ve voted for him several times. (Particularly for Controller; I think he’d be incredible at that job).
I prefer him when he’s focused on fiscal conservatism, but you expected that from me.
aphrael (e0cdc9) — 5/19/2011 @ 4:30 pmYep, no one out there like him. We’ll have to see where that letter ends up, too. McClintock demanding accountability on Libya. He’s an asset as a politician … and how many elicit that particular truth!
Vermont Neighbor (ac417f) — 5/19/2011 @ 9:07 pmSo if it’s anyhow making the GOP look bad, no matter how silly and baseless, it’s worth talking about.
There’s Kman, making another weird criticism, entirely for silly points.
Oh, and lookee here, Kman bashed Chris Lee!
That’s literally one single minute of googling if Kman is a complete hypocrite to have a hissy fit that we’re talking about Weiner’s idiotic twitter sexting. He’s actually claiming the exact things he freaked out about in the past are completely irrelevant to the point of outrage, simply because it’s a democrat, and he’s a partisan hack.
Could there ever be someone more pathetic than Kman?
Dustin (c16eca) — 6/1/2011 @ 2:55 pmThat was intended for a different thread.
Dustin (c16eca) — 6/1/2011 @ 2:57 pm