# Will Schwarzenegger's campaign be hurt by his 1977 Oui interview? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [August 28, 2003, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-schwarzeneggers-campaign-be-hurt-by-his-1977-oui-interview/198177 "2003-08-28T12:49:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![december](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/838e76/32.png) [@december](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/december)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2003, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-schwarzeneggers-campaign-be-hurt-by-his-1977-oui-interview/198177/1 "2003-08-28T12:49:36Z")
This [blog](http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/arnoldoui1.html) recounts details from a 1977 interview with Arnold Schwarzenegger that appeared in _Oui_, a sister publication to _Playboy_. He said some shocking things: > [@](#): > > Arnold Schwarzenegger once told a magazine interviewer about participating in an orgy with other bodybuilders, noting that “everybody jumped on” the woman involved and “took her upstairs where we all got together.” The California Republican added that not every muscleman participated in the gang bang, “just the guys who can f_ck in front of other guys. Not everybody can do that. Some think that they don’t have a big-enough c_ck, so they can’t get a hard-on.”… > > When Manso asked whether he used “dope,” Schwarzenegger replied, “Yes, grass and hash–no hard drugs. But the point is that I do what I feel like doing. I’m not on a health kick.” There’s no way for Schwarzenegger to deny any of this. It’s down in black-and-white. The [entire interview](http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/arnoldinter1.html) is available on the web. _Will this expose hurt his candidacy?_ I’d predict that it won’t hurt him. This is 25-year old news. Clinton, Gore and (presumably) Bush used recreational drugs in the past, and nobody cared. Clinton’s sexual escapades occurred real-time, and he was forgiven. The public cares less about a candidate’s morals than about how effective a governor he’ll be. It’s a measure of how fast our standards have changed. This story would have devastated a candidate 30 years ago. Today it’s of no interest. At least, that’s what I expect. ---
**Author:** ![december](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/838e76/32.png) [@december](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/december)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2003, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-schwarzeneggers-campaign-be-hurt-by-his-1977-oui-interview/198177/2 "2003-08-28T13:02:12Z")
The blog story cited above has now been picked up by the main stream press. [http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20030828/people\_nm/people\_schwarzenegger\_orgy\_dc\_2](http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20030828/people_nm/people_schwarzenegger_orgy_dc_2) ---
**Author:** ![alterego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6bbea6/32.png) [@alterego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alterego)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2003, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-schwarzeneggers-campaign-be-hurt-by-his-1977-oui-interview/198177/3 "2003-08-28T13:07:23Z")
I dont think TSG would be happy being cited as a blog =) I’m still voting for him, anyway. So he’s had a gang-bang or two big deal. ---
**Author:** ![Debaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3da27b/32.png) [@Debaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debaser)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2003, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-schwarzeneggers-campaign-be-hurt-by-his-1977-oui-interview/198177/4 "2003-08-28T13:16:50Z")
I think you are right on about the minds of the voters, **december**. However, this story will give a little more ammunition to the critics that Arnold has on the right wing. Because of his lack of conservative stances on social issues many right winger media folks such as Rush are not his supporters. ---
**Author:** ![feistyALgal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5e9695/32.png) [@feistyALgal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/feistyALgal)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2003, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-schwarzeneggers-campaign-be-hurt-by-his-1977-oui-interview/198177/5 "2003-08-28T13:18:34Z")
Actually, his bid for election will be hampered by the fact that he has the actor Rob Lowe as an advisor. Until he did that, I thought he was serious about wanting to be Governor. Now, I see him as a laughingstock. When you want people to take you seriously, you don’t hire the actor Rob Lowe to do ANYTHING for you. What a goob. ---
**Author:** ![tiny\_ham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@tiny\_ham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiny_ham)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2003, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-schwarzeneggers-campaign-be-hurt-by-his-1977-oui-interview/198177/6 "2003-08-28T13:31:19Z")
He said before he started the campaign that he knew exactly what interviews and pictures and stories his opponents would produce and he didn’t care. I think he counteracted all of the ‘bad publicity’ (As if getting laid is bad) by acknowledging it ahead of time. Neither of the items mentioned in the OP (gang bang and drugs) change his ability to run or not run a state, IMHO ---
**Author:** ![E72521](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dbc845/32.png) [@E72521](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E72521)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2003, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-schwarzeneggers-campaign-be-hurt-by-his-1977-oui-interview/198177/7 "2003-08-28T13:43:56Z")
**december** > [@](#): > > I’d predict that it won’t hurt him. This is 25-year old news. Clinton, Gore and (presumably) Bush used recreational drugs in the past, and nobody cared. Clinton’s sexual escapades occurred real-time, and he was forgiven. The public cares less about a candidate’s morals than about how effective a governor he’ll be. Nobody cared? Clinton forgiven? Arnie isn’t going to lose because he can get his _stuck_ hard in front of the guys. I guess we’ll find out once and for all if size really matters. ---
**Author:** ![tiny\_ham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@tiny\_ham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiny_ham)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2003, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-schwarzeneggers-campaign-be-hurt-by-his-1977-oui-interview/198177/8 "2003-08-28T13:56:51Z")
And if there’s a video of said gang bang, I’d like it sent to me for further review, and I’ll report back immediately. ---
**Author:** ![gluteus\_maximus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f17d59/32.png) [@gluteus\_maximus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gluteus_maximus)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2003, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-schwarzeneggers-campaign-be-hurt-by-his-1977-oui-interview/198177/9 "2003-08-28T14:11:49Z")
He’s already on the path to victory. His adoption of Dubya’s verbal strategies alone almost certainly assures success. > [@](#): > > _Arnold, on gay marriage:_ > > **"I think that gay marriage is something that should be between a man and a woman,"** from [here](http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/08/27/schwarzenegger.views/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2003, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-schwarzeneggers-campaign-be-hurt-by-his-1977-oui-interview/198177/10 "2003-08-28T14:16:26Z")
Old News. He’ll probably be criticized in CA more for his recent interview in Cigar Aficionado. ---
**Author:** ![tiny\_ham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@tiny\_ham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiny_ham)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2003, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-schwarzeneggers-campaign-be-hurt-by-his-1977-oui-interview/198177/11 "2003-08-28T14:17:41Z")
But was the cigar hard? ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2003, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-schwarzeneggers-campaign-be-hurt-by-his-1977-oui-interview/198177/12 "2003-08-28T14:18:50Z")
That’s the beauty of a guy like Arnold Schwarzenegger. No dirt you dig up from his personal life is gonna hurt his campaign. Since he’s not pretending to be virgin-pure like most milquetoast politicians, any personal dirt will just beef up his tough-guy image. Didn’t the same kind of thing happen with Jesse Ventura? ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2003, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-schwarzeneggers-campaign-be-hurt-by-his-1977-oui-interview/198177/13 "2003-08-28T14:24:01Z")
As usual, the people who are already against him will say it’s a character issue, and those who are already for him will say it’s merely youthful indiscretion to be forgiven. Much like the Republicans hammering Clinton for his pot smoking, and giving Dubya a pass for his cocaine use. ---
**Author:** ![SAustinTx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/57b2e6/32.png) [@SAustinTx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SAustinTx)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2003, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-schwarzeneggers-campaign-be-hurt-by-his-1977-oui-interview/198177/14 "2003-08-28T17:22:00Z")
I actually found this interview fascinating and I’m glad you posted the link, but as for hurting his chances I hope not: does anyone seriously confuse the cocky, freewheeling young man in the article with the current version of “Ah-nuld”? The one who has been faithfully married for something like 15-20 years and involved in politics for around the same amount of time? I’d say if opponents are going to stage a successful smear campaign they’d better come up with something more recent. I like Arnold for many reasons: he’s wealthy so there’s less chance of paying him off for favors, he’s been involved in fundraisers and other events for the Republican party for years, he’s worked tirelessly to educate kids on the benefits of exercise and nutrition, and he’s done all of these things not to boost his profile but, to the contrary, he felt he could use his popularity to further causes he believed in. BUT… it is a simple fact that he’s unproven as a politician. Sure, he’s been involved in politics forever, but AFAIK his involvement in the Republican party has been purely in the role of supporting other candidates and their programs/agendas. It remains to be seen whether he can take leadership and get things done on his own, and I think THAT will be the issue his opponents focus on, and ultimately what makes or breaks him. Jeremy Ulrey ---
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2003, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-schwarzeneggers-campaign-be-hurt-by-his-1977-oui-interview/198177/15 "2003-08-28T18:36:21Z")
> [@](#): > > I like Arnold for many reasons: he’s wealthy so there’s less chance of paying him off for favors, This is an aside to the OP. But I have heard this sort of claim repeated about many wealthy candidates, and I’ll be damned if I can see any evidence of its truth. I don’t see wealthy GWB giving the oil industry the cold shoulder now that he’s in office, for instance. ---
**Author:** ![Dogface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@Dogface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogface)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2003, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-schwarzeneggers-campaign-be-hurt-by-his-1977-oui-interview/198177/16 "2003-08-28T18:36:52Z")
Didn’t he already very recently say that not only did he smoke, but he inhaled, he tried everything and did everything already? Ooh, so he’ll be unpalatable to the neocons. In Calicloudcuckooland, that would be a political bonus, one would think. As for “unproven as a politician”. Well, take a look at the wonderful things that people “proven as politicians” have done recently. He can’t be any worse. ---
**Author:** ![errata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/839c29/32.png) [@errata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/errata)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2003, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-schwarzeneggers-campaign-be-hurt-by-his-1977-oui-interview/198177/17 "2003-08-28T19:30:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Dogface \* > As for “unproven as a politician”. Well, take a look at the wonderful things that people “proven as politicians” have done recently. He can’t be any worse. That’s what I thought about Dubya.:rolleyes: This might swing folks on the far right. I don’t know if anybody else is close enough for that to matter though. ---
**Author:** ![Sterra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8c91f0/32.png) [@Sterra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sterra)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2003, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-schwarzeneggers-campaign-be-hurt-by-his-1977-oui-interview/198177/18 "2003-08-28T19:32:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by toadspittle \* > \*\*This is an aside to the OP. But I have heard this sort of claim repeated about many wealthy candidates, and I’ll be damned if I can see any evidence of its truth. I don’t see wealthy GWB giving the oil industry the cold shoulder now that he’s in office, for instance. \*\* Yeah, I’ve personally always attributed it to his celebrity status. People would actually care if Arnold took bribes whereas normally they would shrug it off as something an average politician does. Being rich might just mean you are even more willing to be greedy and take bribes. The thing I like about Arnold is he has the chance to position the Republican party as a more moderate party. After Bush Republicans are going to dump neo-cons and Arnold might become the new face of the Republicans. ---
**Author:** ![Muldoon\_s\_Squishiness](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/13edae/32.png) [@Muldoon\_s\_Squishiness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muldoon_s_Squishiness)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2003, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-schwarzeneggers-campaign-be-hurt-by-his-1977-oui-interview/198177/19 "2003-08-28T20:30:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SAustinTx \* > \*\* The one who has been faithfully married for something like 15-20 years and involved in politics for around the same amount of time? \*\* Arnold, being _faithfully married_? Don’t make me laugh. While he may not have tried to F\*\*\* anything and everything in Hollywood that didn’t have a D\*\*\* he sure has come close over the years. It’s just that like the rest of the Kennedy women, Maria Shriver, while not turning a blind eye to it, at least semi-accepts Arnold’s behavior. ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2003, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-schwarzeneggers-campaign-be-hurt-by-his-1977-oui-interview/198177/20 "2003-08-28T20:42:01Z")
> [@](#): > > Arnold, being faithfully married? > > Don’t make me laugh. But eating is not cheating. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-schwarzeneggers-campaign-be-hurt-by-his-1977-oui-interview/198177.md?page=2)