October 2, 2003
(updated Oct 3 to add corroboration of the Hitler accusations)

Some of the questions I asked in my earlier article (below) have been answered. The LA Times reports and Schwarzenegger himself partially confirms a series of events which certainly make Arnold Schwarzenegger appear to be guilty of serial harassment and sexual battery. These events are alleged to have happened at movie sets, restaurants, even right on a public street. These stories consistently show a pattern of Schwarzenegger in a position of power attacking women who are powerless to stop him. They appear to be consistent with the stories of harassment of blacks and Jews told by Rick Wayne and Robby Robinson.

ABC News and the New York Times report that Schwarzenegger had praised Hitler. The NY Times quotes George Butler as saying Schwarzenegger was a "flagrant, outspoken admirer of Hitler." While the wording of the praise is different, this corroborates Robby Robinson's claim. The NY Times also describes Schwarzenegger doing an impression of an SS Oficer, fitting in with the claim by Rick Wayne that Schwarzenegger immitated Hitler.

Some have questioned the timing of these accusations. The recent wave of accusations first started appearing about 6 weeks ago (e.g., San Jose Mercury News with the Rick Wayne story on August 24 or the Oui interview which became major news starting on August 27). Other similar accusations have appeared over the years (e.g., Premiere magazine in 2000). The LA Times and most other major media were very slow to pick up on what was clearly an important story. The Times says they investigated for 7 weeks before releasing this story. Perhaps the question is not why they are releasing it at a time that hurts Schwarzenegger badly but why they held back from making it news over all of the past month.

The LA Times was careful to print only stories from women that did not contact the paper and whose stories could be corroborated by others who had heard the stories long before this election campaign began, eliminating questions of bias by the women. They also did not receive any tips on this story from any of the other campaigns. I imagine they delayed running the story until they had such a strong set of facts that conservative forces at the paper could no longer hold it back.

The Schwarzenegger camp has responded that this is merely "dirty politics." How insulting to the women who say they were attacked! "It kind of discounts the apology a little bit and puts the shame on the person it happened to," alleged victim E. Laine Stockton is quoted by the LA Times as saying. "The wording seemed to suggest that what happened to me is part of some larger political scheme that's in the gutter, even though it's not something I did. It's the truth about something he did."

It is very scary that this could be our new Governor.

Richard M. Mathews

More of Richard's Reflections

September 10, 2003
(updated Sep 15 to add mention of the use of the "N" word)

Mr. Schwarzenegger has some explaining to do. Here are some questions I would like to see him answer. Based on articles such as this one, there is reason to believe that all of these can be answered, "yes". I don't know any of these answers, but I do feel that we deserve a response from the candidate.

Have you ever defended Apartheid? Did you say anything to black bodybuilder Rick Wayne or anyone else like "If you gave these blacks a country [like South Africa] to run, they would run it down the tubes." Did you ever believe that blacks could not run a country?

Have you ever tormented Joe Weider or any other Jew with Jewish jokes? Have you harassed others for their race, sex, religion, etc? Have you attacked women by fondling them? Have you ever used slurs such as "fag"? And "nigger"? (It bothers me to even use these words in the questions, but it is important to be precise.)

Have you ever been jailed for being AWOL from the army?

Have you ever used hashish? Pot? (If so, when was the last time?) Have you used steroids?

Have you cheated on your wife?

Since the beginning of this campaign, have you lied to the public? Do you not remember saying things that you do remember were lies? Were you lying then or now? Have you ever lied to help promote yourself? If so, can we presume that we should not trust you now?

Richard M. Mathews

More of Richard's Reflections