Women's groups protest Schwarzenegger

Friday, September 5, 2003 Posted: 11:14 PM EDT (0314 GMT)

SANTA MONICA, California (CNN) -- Dozens of women Friday protested outside the new campaign headquarters of GOP actor-turned-gubernatorial hopeful Arnold Schwarzenegger, accusing him of being a sexist who has no place in the governor's office.

The demonstrators chanted outside and held signs of protest. "Terminate the Barbarian," one sign read. Another said: "Governor Gang Bang."

Code Pink, one of the main groups that organized the demonstration, said in a statement that Schwarzenegger had made misogynistic comments as recently as July.

It quoted an interview in Esquire magazine in which Schwarzenegger talked about how people have trouble picturing him as an artsy person because of his physique, much like people thinking that a blonde woman with "great" physical assets "must be stupid or must have nothing else to offer."

"But then again there is the one that is as smart as her breasts look, great as her face looks, beautiful as her whole body looks gorgeous, you know, so people are shocked," the article quoted Schwarzenegger as saying.

"He's obsessed with body parts. I really don't think he gets it -- that women are human beings that are more than their body parts," said Shelly Mandel, the Los Angeles-area head of the National Organization for Women.

The protesters were also referring to, in part, a 1977 interview of Schwarzenegger in the now-defunct Oui magazine, an adult publication that was owned by Playboy.

In the interview, the then-body builder talked about group sex and how having sex with a woman was a good release before a competition.

But in a news conference Friday, Schwarzenegger said he's not the same person he was back then.

"I tried to get attention and headlines and say things that were exaggerated or not true just to get headlines, but you just have to forget about the 70s, I was a different person then," he said.

The candidate said he has the utmost respect for women.

"I think you should just go and talk with all the women I have worked with," Schwarzenegger said.

His aides said the recent hubbub is "background noise" in the campaign, but confirmed they were preparing to roll out a plan to aggressively court women voters.


Schwarzenegger
As protesters marched outside his new campaign headquarters in Santa Monica, Schwarzenegger appeared inside with his wife, Maria Shriver, to thank his supporters during a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

It's the first time Shriver has taken the stage and spoken during one of her husband's campaign appearances.

Shriver, a niece of President John F. Kennedy, referred to her husband as "smart," "kind" and "compassionate."

"I am so proud to be here today on behalf of another candidate that I know will make a difference in this state and in this country," Shriver said, as the crowd chanted "Arnold, Arnold, Arnold!"

Before handing the microphone over to her husband, she kissed him, calling him "the man that I love."

Schwarzenegger thanked her for being "the most extraordinary friend and supporter I have ever had" and said she was the best wife and mother in the world.

In a possible reference to the protesters outside, the candidate said friends questioned him when he said he wanted to get into politics.

"They told me 'They will try to destroy you and try to tear you down,'" he said.

But he said he would weather such storms because he wanted to get California back on track.

Code Pink describes itself on its Web site as a "women-initiated grassroots peace and social justice movement."