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Media Ignores Coercive Nature Of Schwarzenegger’s Relationship With Love Child’s Mother

by Tommy Christopher | 10:18 am, May 18th, 2011

» 42 comments

Media coverage of scandals involving sex is often fraught with common pitfalls, none more insidious than the nomenclature surrounding questions of consent. For those seeking to draw a bright line between former Governator Arnold Schwarzenegger‘s just-revealed love child, and IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn‘s attempted rape case, yes, there is a huge difference, but Bill Maher‘s advice to “get a yes” before you “go after the household help” ignores the inherently coercive relationship between employee and employer.

There are aspects to the Schwarzenegger story which must, necessarily, remain private. What goes on within two marriages (Schwarzenegger’s employee was married at the time) and two families is nobody else’s business. But the idea that this relationship was consensual is not something that should be taken for granted.

The Los Angeles Times, who broke the story, reports that the woman involved has financial considerations, beyond keeping keeping her job, to think of:

In an interview Monday before Schwarzenegger issued his statement, the former staffer said another man — her then-husband — was the child’s father.

She said she voluntarily left her position with the couple earlier this year after reaching a longstanding goal of working for them for two decades. “I wanted to achieve my 20 years, then I asked to retire,” she said, adding she received a severance payment and “left on good terms with them.”

Later Monday, The Times informed the woman of the governor’s statement and she declined to comment further.

Schwarzenegger took financial responsibility for the child from the start and continued to provide support, according to a source who declined to be identified because of the former governor’s request for privacy.

Fair enough, she’s got to do what she thinks is best for her family, but as such, we may never know the circumstances surrounding the beginning of their relationship. What we do know is that Schwarzenegger was in a position of financial and authoritative power over her, and whether he explicitly exerted his authority, its existence makes complete, ungrudging consent a near impossibility. Whatever went on, she would have been acutely aware that her job, and financial future, could have been on the line.

That’s why we have sexual harassment laws, not just so that people can’t be fired for refusing sex, but also so they can’t be coerced into it. This is the reason I never gave Bill Clinton the pass that many other liberals did, because moral issues aside (I’m no prude/saint), he abused his authority over Monica Lewinsky in a way that compromised both of them, and it was his duty not to do so.

The same could be said of David Letterman, whose exploitation of his own staff for sex was passed off as a “personal matter,” and who was almost portrayed heroically for standing up to an extortionist.

Part of the problem is that ignorance of that dynamic is written right into the law, which defines sexual harassment as “unwelcome” sexual advances. If such an advance is made in private (as most surely are), with no method of proof beyond the recipient’s word, how do you determine if the advance was “welcome,” or simply tolerated as a means to maintain employment? In our culture, women in particular are constantly reminded that they will not be believed, so an unwitnessed, un-filmed shoulder rub is a tough thing to stake your job on at a moment’s notice.

Given Schwarzenegger’s history of “groping” allegations (the more evocative term is “sexual assault“), the assumption that the coercion was merely implicit is, itself, a shaky one. According to CBS News, Schwarzenegger didn’t deny the allegations, just that the women involved didn’t protest hard enough:

He stopped short of denying all the women’s accounts, but said none of the women told him at the time that, “You went over the line now.”

It ought to go without saying that there are obvious things you don’t grab upon making an acquaintance (the set that does not include “the right hand”), and that the violator of such boundaries is the culpable party, not the violatee, who risks her entire livelihood by enforcing them.

This has nothing to do with politics. The country would be in much better shape if every Republican were as moderate as Schwarzenegger. This is about belying the notion that Arnold (or Clinton, or Letterman) were just “boys being boys.” They are all guilty, to some degree, of abusing naturally coercive relationships, and to ignore that fact is to codify their actions. To put it in Bill Maher’s terms, you shouldn’t have to “get a yes,” and a “yes” obtained through coercion (explicit or implicit) is no “yes” at all.

Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bill Clinton, Bill Maher, David Letterman, Maria Shriver, Monica Lewinsky, sex scandal

Pablo

But the idea that this relationship was consensual is not something that should be taken for granted.

Nor is the idea that because they had a working relationship it was somehow non-consensual. But then, there wouldn’t be a piece here at all, would there?

They are all guilty, to some degree, of abusing naturally coercive relationships, and to ignore that fact is to codify their actions.

Yeah, you have absolutely no idea whether there’s any truth at all to that statement regarding Arnold.
lonestar77

You have zero evidence to support this. It’s just as likely that she saw an opportunity for a payday and went after him. Or, sometimes it just is what it is.

Using your theory, none of us would be able to say no to sexual advances from our bosses. That’s stupid.
Color Me Badd

Gotta love those Republican family values.
cjd ohio 1

Color Me Badd said:
Gotta love those Republican family values.

yep, glad the democrats dont have family values to get in the way
Pablo

Color Me Badd said:
Gotta love those Republican family values.

It’s a Kennedy thing. You wouldn’t understand.
david r

There is a coercive nature to the relationship. Had she sued him, it would have been an issue. She did not sue him. No story.
Harry Flashman

Tommy,

I agree with your premise on principle, but at the risk of being the skunk in the garden party I have to say that some women see a situation like this as an opportunity and can even manipulate the entire scenario to very much wotk in their favor either financially – or with an eye on thier fifteen minutes of fame that comes with consorting with the rich and famous.

That being said, you’re right about one thing – any employer who puts themselves in this position is nuts and deserves whatever comes down the pike at them later. ANY relationship with a subordinate can be seen as coercive. And all it takes to make your life miserable is an EEOC complaint by someone you thought was your little darlin’.

Simple rule – when you’re the boss the staff is off limits. Somebody should have told Arnold about that.
brownsound

It’s come out now that she’s hispanic. Damn Tommy, if you’d waited a little longer you could have fabricated a racial aspect as well as a coercive angle. Nevermind, I’m sure you’re working on that “column” as we speak.
http://activitypit.ning.com/profile/massmurdermedia MASSMURDERMEDIA

christopher said: “the country would be in much better shape if every republican were as moderate as schwarzenegger.”

the country would be in much better shape if every democrat were as conservative as michele bachmann…
notsofast

Color Me Badd said:
Gotta love those Republican family values.

Yeah, they sound just like Dims values- see all the Kennedy sons and John Edwards.
Jimmy Joe Johnson

It’s being reported elsewhere that Mildred “Patty” Baena “began to “pursue Arnold” in the late 1990s.”

Is that harassment?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/18/mildred-patricia-baena-mo_n_863406.html
notsofast

Media Ignores Coercive Nature Of Schwarzenegger’s Relationship With Love Child’s Mother”

Yes, TC, and you offered zero proof of any kind of a “Coercive Nature” of the relationship.

Why not speculate how the housekeeper actually seduced the Gov and blackmailed him?

You have as much evidence of that as you have for your baseless claim..

TC, I thought a journalist was supposed to report facts and not his childish adolescent musings.
Paul G

At least the son is now a citizen…..(I know…my bad) lmao
http://gordonbloyershow.com gordonbloyershow

Color Me Badd said:
Gotta love those Republican family values.

Let me see, I guess these folks are republicans, Jesse Jackson, MLK, Tiger Woods, O.J. Simpson, Kobe Bryant, Jesse Jackson Jr. and Elija Mohammed? Wait, yes MLK was a republican.
jerrybobphil

“The country would be in much better shape if every Republican were as moderate as Schwarzenegger. ” Yes because California is in such great shape after Arnold run at Governor. LOL
justanotherconservative

Color Me Badd said:
Gotta love those Republican family values.

oh? you mean billy clinton is a republican? what a surprise that is.
justanotherconservative

notsofast said:
see all the Kennedy sons

who, of course, learned well from the old man kennedy.
TerryDo

So, Arnold fornicates and some say it is Maria’s fault for hiring an attractive maid.
So because his wife hired an attractive maid, she is an idiot and it is her fault the Sus scrofa went rooting for Spanish truffles.
The womanizing pig has no responsibility, the 64 year old ugly hog that looks more and more like Herman Munster as he ages, was provokes by the attractive maid, so it wasn’t his fault.
The total fault lies with his wife, the maid, or any other woman that sends a tingle up the pig’s leg, the pig is just an unintelligent and uncontrollable bundle of sexual stimuli.
Arnold the ugly pig will “never be back” and I hope Maria takes that swine to the cleaners and then sells him to a butcher girl.
Paul G

You think she’s attractive? Wow. Hate to see your wife/husband.
George Sore-ohs

I am wondering if Maria was coercing the poor guy when he was governor.
Many of the policies coming out of Arnie regarding immigration and global warming seemed so Un-Terminator.

Could be that she told him she would stay with him while he was governor but she wanted to promote some of her causes and Arnie didnt have a choice.

I cant believe she didnt know 10 years ago. After all she was an investigative reporter.
Color Me Badd

justanotherconservative said:
oh? you mean billy clinton is a republican? what a surprise that is.

gordonbloyershow said:
Let me see, I guess these folks are republicans, Jesse Jackson, MLK, Tiger Woods, O.J. Simpson, Kobe Bryant, Jesse Jackson Jr. and Elija Mohammed? Wait, yes MLK was a republican.

notsofast said:
Yeah, they sound just like Dims values- see all the Kennedy sons and John Edwards.

Pablo said:
It’s a Kennedy thing. You wouldn’t understand.

cjd ohio 1 said:
yep, glad the democrats dont have family values to get in the way

Since when do Dems push family values, that is your side. Newt, Larry Craig, diaper Vitter etc.
Ajolily

Harry Flashman said:
Tommy, I agree with your premise on principle, but at the risk of being the skunk in the garden party I have to say that some women see a situation like this as an opportunity and can even manipulate the entire scenario to very much wotk in their favor either financially – or with an eye on thier fifteen minutes of fame that comes with consorting with the rich and famous. That being said, you’re right about one thing – any employer who puts themselves in this position is nuts and deserves whatever comes down the pike at them later. ANY relationship with a subordinate can be seen as coercive. And all it takes to make your life miserable is an EEOC complaint by someone you thought was your little darlin’. Simple rule – when you’re the boss the staff is off limits. Somebody should have told Arnold about that.

Agree, there is no evidence to say that he used his position to coerce her and some evidence she deliberately pursued him. It is being reported that she bragged about it. But at any rate he should have known better and should not have (1) cheated on his wife (2) messed with an employee.
brownsound

Ignores? Really Tommy? How does not reporting on something that doesn’t exist constitute ignoring it? If by “ignore” you mean Didn’t Fabricate a Victim Story, then I think you need to brush up on the definition of the word ignore.
cjd ohio 1

Color Me Badd said:
Since when do Dems push family values, that is your side. Newt, Larry Craig, diaper Vitter etc.

cjd ohio 1 said:
yep, glad the democrats dont have family values to get in the way

what your problemi agreed didn’t i

Color Me Badd said:
Gotta love those Republican family values.
Georgia999

The woman herself said that she “went after Schwartzenager”. What gives the media or Mediaite the right to judge either of them. She kept the birth quiet, I’m sure there was a paternity test, it was Arnold who decided to tell all, NOT HER. My compassion goes to all five of the children involved in this case.
It is very unlike the Letterman case where Letterman denied everything and lied until he was taken to court.
But the media loves juicy gossip….this is a godsend for them…they should think about those kids.
tatboy

Color Me Badd said:
Since when do Dems push family values, that is your side. Newt, Larry Craig, diaper Vitter etc.

I believe several people here have pointed out the Dems NOT having any values to get in the way of their “fun”. At least one side TRIES. The other just gave up and wallows in the mud 24/7.

PS… Thanks for not being one sides on this subject Tommy. Too many liberals (CMB?) would have conveniently forgot about that Liberals that abused their position.
jgsr

Thanks for pointing out that some employers put their self-interest above that of their employees!
WHEW! I had no idea that ever happened.
I’m today, quitting my job and I’ll never work again….now that I know that employers sometimes look after their self-interests first.
I thank you. The world thanks you. Please run for President.
http://activitypit.ning.com/profile/massmurdermedia MASSMURDERMEDIA

notsofast said:
TC, I thought a journalist was supposed to report facts and not his childish adolescent musings.

there are different types of journalists, and while i stand to be corrected, i suspect the writers of mediaite are bloggers, not reporters… they are not reporting news stories, they are covering how other media outlets report stories… reporters, ostensibly, report facts… bloggers opinionate, speculate, fold, spindle and mutilate… so childish adolescent musings are fair game…
MrTPar_taY

Welp! I guess that should drive a spike thru the heart of green technofreaks everywhere. Wonder if that reduced sentencing for son of former Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñez was ‘cuz Nuñez had the goods on Arnie. I think Schwarzenegger and Nuñez got some ‘splainin’ to do Ricky! This could be a payday for alot of lawyers.
WCinWI

Color Me Badd said:
Gotta love those Republican family values.

Having lived in CA, Arnold was NO Republican.
Barack Must Go

Media Ignores Coercive Nature Of Obama’s Relationship With The American People.

Media coverage of scandals involving sex is often fraught with common pitfalls, none more insidious than the nomenclature surrounding questions of consent.

But the idea that the relationship between a president and his insistence on bending the ” real ” American people over, attempting to have his perverted way with them could somehow be misconstrued as consensual is mind boggling and never just taken for granted.
RichS

notsofast said:
Yeah, they sound just like Dims values- see all the Kennedy sons and John Edwards.

Don’t forget Bill Clinton. Can’t wait to read the attacks on Arny from all the guys who defended President Clinton.
Tedderman

While the most obvious comparison to Arnold’s situation would seem to be the John Ensign debacle, we are instead treated to Democratic substitutes and poor ones at that. Ensign, like Arnold held all the cards in the relationship with his underling and her husband while being her sole means of financial support. And though we do not know if Arnold’s servant was coerced, we now know Ensigns subordinate never wanted a relationship with her boss.
Lewinsky, by her own admission, pursued a relationship with Clinton, one, as leader of the free world he should have declined. The evidence in the Letterman case is murkier given that it occurred in “show business” and as It’s apparently not uncommon to sleep with the boss to get ahead. Both of these men should have known better than to eat where they……well, you know but it seems the circumstances were significantly different than Arnold’s.
notsofast

Color Me Badd said:
Since when do Dems push family values, that is your side

Oh, that’s right, libs have no family values. Thanks for reminding us , son!

LMAO
brownsound

MASSMURDERMEDIA said:
there are different types of journalists, and while i stand to be corrected, i suspect the writers of mediaite are bloggers, not reporters… they are not reporting news stories, they are covering how other media outlets report stories… reporters, ostensibly, report facts… bloggers opinionate, speculate, fold, spindle and mutilate… so childish adolescent musings are fair game…

Actually, some of them bill themselves as reporters. TC likes to say he’s Mediaite’s Senior White House Reporter. Except of course when he’s hearing racist dog whistles. Then he bills himself as a “columnist”. I bill describe him as a racer douchebag
Ajolily

Tedderman said:
While the most obvious comparison to Arnold’s situation would seem to be the John Ensign debacle, we are instead treated to Democratic substitutes and poor ones at that. Ensign, like Arnold held all the cards in the relationship with his underling and her husband while being her sole means of financial support. And though we do not know if Arnold’s servant was coerced, we now know Ensigns subordinate never wanted a relationship with her boss.Lewinsky, by her own admission, pursued a relationship with Clinton, one, as leader of the free world he should have declined. The evidence in the Letterman case is murkier given that it occurred in “show business” and as It’s apparently not uncommon to sleep with the boss to get ahead. Both of these men should have known better than to eat where they……well, you know but it seems the circumstances were significantly different than Arnold’s.

It is being reported that the woman says she pursued Arnold. Doesn’t make it right what Arnold did but it doesn’t seem to be about an employer abusing an employee. You know sometimes employees take advantage as well. Just saying.
Mas Liberty5

Tommy “unabashed liberal” Christopher actually claimed:
“The country would be in much better shape if every Republican were as moderate as Schwarzenegger.”

You actually believe that stupid line don’t you. Try comparing the state of California, where Schwarzenegger was the gov, to the State of Texas. Take a look at the disaster that is California, and compare that to the prosperous state of Texas.

There is your answer.
TillieGlockenspiel

Perhaps, Ann Coulter is right, “To Liberal Men, Every Woman Looks Like a Hotel Maid.”
http://www.anncoulter.com/
Pablo

Ajolily said:
It is being reported that the woman says she pursued Arnold. Doesn’t make it right what Arnold did but it doesn’t seem to be about an employer abusing an employee. You know sometimes employees take advantage as well. Just saying.

And some women want to screw movie stars, which is what Ahnold was at the time.
Pablo

Georgia999 said:
The woman herself said that she “went after Schwartzenager”. What gives the media or Mediaite the right to judge either of them.

Tommy is the all knowing moral arbiter of everything. Just ask him.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Dronetek-Bulk-Vanderhuge/100000918732763 Dronetek

As always TC is full of shit.

http://newsbusters.org/blogs/kyle-drennen/2011/05/19/nbcs-lauer-asks-if-la-times-vindicated-smears-against-schwarzenegger-2
John Michael

Tommy Christopher said:
Media Ignores Coercive Nature Of Schwarzenegger’s Relationship With Love Child’s Mother

What? You conceded nobody knows what happened here, but at the very least with Ahnold being her employer is enough evidence that it had to be a ‘coercive’ relationship because she would be in fear of losing her job. How do you know that she didn’t come onto him? That wouldn’t make what he did right, but it wouldn’t be a coercive relationship. It’s right for media to ignore assumptions made by Tommy Christopher. Kudos to them I say.