Religious Group to Schwarzenegger: 'Come Clean'

Yahoo! News ^ | 8/30/03 | Reuters - San Francisco

[NormsRevenge]

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A prominent California-based religious group is calling on Arnold Schwarzenegger to set the record straight over a 1977 interview in which the Republican candidate for California governor discussed taking part in an orgy and using marijuana.

Californians for Moral Government said it wanted the action star to "come clean and fully repent and repudiate the years of sexual promiscuity that have been reported," the Rev. Louis Sheldon, the group's chairman, said on Friday in a letter.

Californians for Moral Government is a project of the Traditional Values Victory Fund, part of the Traditional Values Coalition (news - web sites). The Anaheim, California-based TVC touts itself as the largest non-denominational, grass-roots church lobby in America with a membership of about 43,000 churches, including most Christian denominations.

The letter was addressed to 20 of the state assembly's 32 Republicans who have endorsed Schwarzenegger, the leading Republican candidate fighting to become California's next governor. Schwarzenegger and 132 others are battling for the top job in the nation's richest state in an unprecedented recall vote on Oct. 7.

Calls to Schwarzenegger's campaign and to the TVC were not immediately returned.

Schwarzenegger has been hounded in recent days by questions about a 1977 interview with the long-defunct men's magazine, Oui, in which he described his experiences with smoking marijuana and group sex when he was 29.

On Thursday, the actor-turned politician said he had "no idea what you are talking about" when asked at a news conference about the magazine interview.

In its letter, the coalition asked: "Is Arnold a Republican version of Bill Clinton (news - web sites)?," a reference to the former U.S. president's extramarital dalliances and sexual misdemeanors.

The coalition asked the Republican lawmakers "to consider holding off on persisting with your endorsement of Mr. Schwarzenegger" until Schwarzenegger addresses the matter.

As a Republican, Schwarzenegger is trying to reach out to the party's powerful conservative wing who might prefer a more conservative candidate like State Sen. Tom McClintock, a long-time veteran of the California Legislature.

Polls show a majority of Californians would vote to recall Democratic Gov. Gray Davis (news - web sites), who is unpopular because of his handling of the state's finances. A recent Los Angeles Times survey found Democratic Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante is in the lead to replace his boss, followed by Schwarzenegger.

[steplock]

Religious Groups can be IDIOTS too!

[NormsRevenge]

JoinT
Arnold
:-\

[Scenic Sounds]

Californians for Moral Government said it wanted the action star to "come clean and fully repent and repudiate the years of sexual promiscuity that have been reported," the Rev. Louis Sheldon, the group's chairman, said on Friday in a letter.

What do you think it would take to satisfy Rev. Sheldon?

[lelio]

A trip to the Oprah show maybe.

[Scenic Sounds]

A trip to the Oprah show maybe.

Good! That would help. And maybe some "Jimmy Swaggert" tears?

[anymouse]

Reminds me of the plot of the "Dragnet" movie.
Think of Christopher Plummer's crooked Reverend Jonathan Whirley character.

[strela]

Californians for Moral Government is a project of the Traditional Values Victory Fund, part of the Traditional Values Coalition

Ah yes, the Traditional Values Coalition. Or, as Tom Tancredo describes them:

... "The TVC accepted money from the pharmaceutical industry to fund spiteful attacks on pro-life Members. Reverend Sheldon (TVC leader, ed.) sold out to the drug companies, to support claims that lacked truth and to employ methods that alienated him from those whom he should consider his friends."

[Ken522]

Do you really think Arnold is going to even talk to Rev. Sheldon??

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

I am embarrassed when I see that man on television, representing Christians. For some reason, he just strikes me as a buffoon.

[Moonmad27]

If the Rev wants everyone to come clean who did that sort of thing as a young person in the 1970's, he's going to be busy listening to apologies 24 hours a day for several years, if not a decade. However, he'll get a big Gracias from Governor Cruz for keeping this ancient story alive a few more days - his donation to the Rev will be in the mail!

[BenR2]

Arnold has evidently learned one of Hillary's most effective lines, "I don't recall."

[Scenic Sounds]

I am embarrassed when I see that man on television, representing Christians. For some reason, he just strikes me as a buffoon.

Yeah, he's special!

I think the only way Arnie could satisfy him is to hold a fundraiser for him. ;-)

[#3Fan]

Arnold shouldn't confess to anyone who calls themselves "Reverend". Only God should be revered.

[cyncooper]

What do you think it would take to satisfy Rev. Sheldon?

Every last salacious detail.

Don't leave anything out!

[NormsRevenge]

It's a long holiday weekend and slow news day so I posted it. Arnold can just ignore it is my gut feel. It's the perfect time to make the challenge, tho. It's about as relevant to anything as Tom's voting guide error. But reporters have to write about something. :-]

Just some more street drama in this abridged Recall campaign FRom hell ;-)

[annyokie]

Call me crazy, but yes! He is a buffoon.

[Scenic Sounds]

Every last salacious detail.

Don't leave anything out!

I disagree. A gentelman doesn't talk about such things. Reverend Sheldon should just satisfy himself by renting a movie.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

My impression has always been that he would seem less out-of-place on The Andy Griffith Show than he would on Hannity and Colmes.

Scenic, I think you're right. Flash a little green his way, and I think ol' Lou just might declare that Arnold's sin has been washed as white as snow. ; )

[annyokie]

LOL Yep, color freedom is green!