Accusers Discuss Schwarzenegger Claims

abc ^ | 2/28/04

[knak]

Women Wonder if Accusing Schwarzenegger of Inappropriate Sexual Behavior Was Worthwhile

The Associated Press

SACRAMENTO, Calif. Feb. 28 — Some of the women who accused Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger of groping them are disappointed by the public's ho-hum response to the claims they made just before last year's recall election.

"I went through a lot of emotional upheaval, and it really just wasn't necessary," said Tamee Smith, who said Schwarzenegger grabbed her breast nearly two decades ago. "Nothing came of it. And I look at it now and I think, 'What was the point?'"

Linnea Harwell, who alleged that Schwarzenegger made unwanted sexual advances toward her in 1998, said the fact the groping allegations had little impact on the election was disheartening.

"Our society doesn't seem to care anymore," she told The Sacramento Bee. "Since about half the people in California happen to be women, and he has demonstrated a long history of demeaning women, one would think that would be important. Apparently, celebrity is more important."

Sixteen women accused Schwarzenegger of groping them during his campaign to replace Democratic Gov. Gray Davis. Schwarzenegger acknowledged he had "behaved badly sometimes" in the past and did some things that "were not right, which I thought were playful."

Eighty percent of Californians questioned in a Field Poll last week said they believed the groping allegations did not raise any concerns about Schwarzenegger's ability to govern. The poll interviewed 958 people by telephone between Feb. 18 and Feb. 22 and had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.3 percentage points.

Harwell said she does not regret coming forward but had hoped that discussing Schwarzenegger's behavior would trigger a public discussion about sexual harassment. Now she fears that is not happening.

Schwarzenegger said during the election he would deal with the allegations against him after the election, but later dismissed them as "old news" and announced he would not appoint an investigator to look into the claims

[My2Cents]

Ladies, welcome to post-Clinton America.

[goldstategop]

Grabbing a woman's breast is more traumatic than rape? C'mon! The incidents revealed in the media were NOT part of an on-going pattern of sexual harrassment. And as a man, I find it hard to have respect for a woman who is so fragile she can't stand up to a man and say she doesn't want him to make an unwelcome sexual advance upon her person.

[writer33]

I guess you just have to have the knack for posting these things. Ha!

I can feel her tears all over this article. The groping must end.

[Paul Atreides]

"Nothing came of it. And I look at it now and I think, 'What was the point?'"

Gee, I bet that's never been uttered before! /sarcasm

[Peach]

It depends on the meaning of the word "grope."

[hellinahandcart]

"I went through a lot of emotional upheaval, and it really just wasn't necessary," said Tamee Smith, who said Schwarzenegger grabbed her breast nearly two decades ago.

Good Lord, you'd think his hand left an imprint or something.

[small voice in the wilderness]

Could we please construct a wailing wall for dems. in this country? There should be a centrally located meeting place for all the bitching, whining, moaning and groaning that goes on with these people. I really wish I could feel for her. But alas, I used all my anger from 1992-2000.

[ex-Texan]

Groping womens breasts is considered 'appropriate conduct' in the film industry. I have been in bars popular with A-List types and have seen groping going on openly in public. Extras and crew party like that nearly every night in Santa Monica. They think it really 'coool.' This female is too dense to know that? DUH!

She should thank her lucky stars she did not have a run in with Bubba. She would have been asked to 'kiss it.'

[observer5]

"who said Schwarzenegger grabbed her breast nearly two decades ago. "Nothing came of it. And I look at it now and I think...

Maybe the breast just wasn't that good lookin...

Hey, I can always find another guy!

[goldstategop]

Sure. It was an election eve smear. Once the Democrats found out it didn't work they dropped it. Let's turn this around: how come these women don't accuse the Democrats of having exploited their plight for political gain? After all the Party Of Clinton seems to be a regard for women if they are sex objects.

[Paul Atreides]

"Our society doesn't seem to care anymore," she told The Sacramento Bee. "Since about half the people in California happen to be women, and he has demonstrated a long history of demeaning women, one would think that would be important. Apparently, celebrity is more important."

I'm sitting here, incredulous.

[jocko12]

YOU HAD YOUR 15 MIN.NOW BACK TO THE MEDIAS BIMBO HERD.

[goldstategop]

Uh huh. One would think these women would be flattered someone like Arnold paid them ANY attention - especially when you know how women fantasize what its like to bed a celebrity. That's what's incredulous!

[Batrachian]

Arnie is getting a little too popular, so they have to trot out these sorry individuals again. Maybe Bill Lockyer should start a criminal investigation. He doesn't have too much else on his plate right now.

[Paul Atreides]

They also have to make sure he chooses the "correct" side in the homo-marriages debacle.

[Paul Atreides]

That they could sit there, in a post-Clinton America, and make such statements in farcical. It sounds like something from The Onion.

[MegaSilver]

Groping womens breasts is considered 'appropriate conduct' in the film industry.

And exposing them is considered appropriate on network TV, apparently, too.

[goldstategop]

There are tons of film stock in which actresses have disrobed and shown their all on the camera. Just go to Google and type in "nude celebrity" or "celebrity sex" and do a search. What planet are these women living on?

[Pukin Dog]

Okay. Time for my confession.

15 years ago, while nursing a beer at the Miramar O-Club, minding my own business, some young woman pinched me on the ass, causing me undue emotional trauma. I felt demeaned as a person, but I allowed her to take advantage of me for many nights, never saying no to her constant sexual demands, while on the inside I felt cheap and dirty.

Now, instead of healthy committed relationships I am dammed, addicted to the kind of women who think because I wore a Navy flight-suit, that I am easy and a whore. I get no respect from these women, to them I was only a piece of meat. I am only now coming to grips with the abuse that I suffered, I am still to ashamed to seek treatment, afraid that therapists would laugh at me for being so naive. But I tell you now, that I promise should run of them run for public office, I will tell my story to the media. I have pictures of some of my abusers, so they better watch out.

sniff.