Republican governor Arnold Schwarzenegger easily became governor of California, a state filled with a majority of voters labeling themselves as Democrats. The reason Schwarzenegger was able to become governor is because the people of California trusted him. Arnold had apparently been successfully married for a long time while simultaneously maintaining a successful career in acting. But we now know Schwarzenegger’s marriage, career, and understanding of the word “responsibility” involve a lot of controversy.
Up to this point, we thought Arnold Schwarzenegger was the father of four children, currently ranging in age from 14 to 21 years old. But we now know that Schwarzenegger is the father of a fifth child that is 10 years old. The mother of this child is a member of the staff employed at Schwarzenegger’s home known as the Brentwood mansion. This means that when Schwarzenegger had young children ranging in age from 4 to 11 years old, he was cheating on his loyal wife, Maria Shriver.
Arnold Schwarzenegger issued the following statement to the media:
“After leaving the governor’s office I told my wife about this event, which occurred over a decade ago. I understand and deserve the feelings of anger and disappointment among my friends and family. There are no excuses and I take full responsibility for the hurt I have caused. I have apologized to Maria, my children and my family. I am truly sorry.”
The statement made by Schwarzenegger concluded when he said, “I ask that the media respect my wife and children through this extremely difficult time. While I deserve your attention and criticism, my family does not.”
The fact that Arnold Schwarzenegger refers to this adulterous personal incident as an “event” proves he is only looking at the situation from a selfish political point of view. Arnold makes it clear that the timing of this revelation to his family was dependent on the announcement being made after he left the governor’s office! This is further confirmation that Schwarzenegger is a very selfish man, looking at things only from a political point of view.
Arnold Schwarzenegger claims that he takes “full responsibility” for the hurt he has caused. Some of this actually seems true, since we know Arnold has financially provided for his fifth child. This was a very responsible action, showing that Schwarzenegger is a far more responsible man than many others. But there is a big difference between responsibility and accountability. By using the word “responsibility” in place of the word “accountability,” Arnold Schwarzenegger is able to avoid negative publicity and put a positive spin on much of what he has done over the last ten years.
For the last ten years, eight of which were governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger has not been willing to accept any form of accountability for his actions. From the moment Schwarzenegger was running for governor, he was keeping this awful situation a secret from his family and the media. Schwarzenegger knew that he would not be able to achieve his political goals if this information was revealed to the public, since the California voters would hold him accountable for his actions. As a result, Schwarzenegger’s lovely wife and children now suffer.
I’m particularly disappointed by the way Schwarzenegger’s statement concludes by saying “I deserve your attention and criticism.” This suggests Arnold wants the spotlight back on himself, as he once again becomes a Hollywood actor. We know that Arnold Schwarzenegger’s true lies have terminated his 25-year marriage. But it now seems Arnold Schwarzenegger doesn’t mind being seen as a running man, trying to put on the image of a predator seeking employment as a commando.
Personally, I think Schwarzenegger needs a total recall about some basic things in life. When you enter a marriage with someone, you are supposed to remain loyal. And if you do make a mistake in marriage, you shouldn’t allow a false image based on political status to prevent you from telling your loyal wife what happened. Each day that Arnold kept this secret, he must have been thinking to himself “I wonder how long it will be until I’m labeled as a destroyer and my marriage is erased.”
What are your thoughts about this situation? Do you believe the way Schwarzenegger kept this situation secret from California voters was a raw deal? In my opinion, Arnold was acting like a selfish barbarian.