With the latest revelation that former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s infidelity lead to a now fourteen year old son, do Californians watch for the entertainment value, or does it factor in on a politician’s ability to govern?
Waiting till out of office
As the rumor mill churns at warp speed, some interesting details seem to be floating around. The gist is (at least according to radaronline.com) is that the housekeeper was fired in an attempt to save the marriage between Schwarzenegger and his wife. An action that was not well received by “the other woman” who had worked for the family for decades.
Assuming the former governor must have gone through extraordinary measures to keep the whole mess under wraps until he was out of office, it’s worth a little brain power to consider how that would have played out if the information was revealed a little earlier.
Considering President Clinton was impeached for his infamous activities, California’s governor could have faced a political nightmare.
Mayor Villaraigosa
Sexual indiscretions are not limited to Republican Governors as only a few years back Los Angeles’ current mayor Antonio Villaraigosa joined the list of scandal ridden politicians.
When the Mayor’s then wife filed for divorce seemingly out of the blue, it only took a couple weeks before the more sorted details emerged involving a well new spanish language news reporter.
Regardless of his actions, Angelenos did not seem bothered enough to oust him for his sexcapades, but do seem rather upset that their mayor got to attend free laker games while the rest of us have to fork out way to much money.
The Huffingtons
There was even a time in California where one power couple, Michael and Ariana Huffington made a strong political pair. That was until the world found out Michael was gay, and once again Californians got to watch a marriage dissolve along with political hopes.
Still, it looks like Ariana Huffington was able to turn that unpleasantness into a damn popular political website.
Does it really matter
Yes, no, maybe.
No, because the “shocking” revelations about Schwarzenegger should surprise no one as it comes after a long list of allegations ranging from inappropriate groping to paying off former mistresses. So if you assumed he was a chaste saint when you voted for him, then the only person you should be mad at is yourself.
Yes it should matter, if only for the hypocrisy. In the case of Michael Huffington, for example, his staunch conservative Republican stance led him to support and vote an for amendment in Washington, D.C., that blocked spending money on a domestic partners program. Even when Huffington did take steps to support the Gay and Lesbian community, such as his support of gays in the military, he felt compelled to add that he wasn’t, “promoting the gay lifestyle.”
Maybe the sexual activities of political leaders should matter if you care about who everyone is ending up in bed with. Your favorite Starbucks Barrista cheated on her boyfriend with a co-worker? Time to find coffee elsewhere. Your mailman delivering more then just mail to the apartment next to yours? Time to pick your mail up from the post office.
The bottom line is, if you’ve read more articles about Schwarzenegger’s affair and subsequent love child then his voting record or policy beliefs, then it may be time put down the People and pick up the LA Times.
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