No Vetoes for the Foreign Media
SACRAMENTO — Catch Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger by himself and he's downright chatty -- he loves to talk about himself and his family. But lately, he has been as conversational with the news media as a mechanical robot from the future.
With one notable exception -- the international press.
During a freewheeling meeting with the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. last week, Schwarzenegger talked about, among other things, sitting in a Jacuzzi with his wife discussing his run for governor, his relationship with President Bush, and sexual harassment training.
In response to a question, Schwarzenegger said he had "learned my lesson" about groping women, an allegation that surfaced a year ago in The Times when he was running for governor.
Schwarzenegger admitted no wrongdoing, only saying "it is a totally different ballgame" now that he is representing the state of California instead of just himself.
The world "has changed so much that any kind of a comment you make to a woman now about her clothes or about this or that could be misinterpreted and could make someone uncomfortable and open the door to a lawsuit," he said.
The candid admission was a noticeable departure from the Schwarzenegger who has avoided California press for more than a month -- while making scores of controversial decisions, vetoing bills to stop outsourcing of California jobs and to allow cheaper prescription drugs from Canada.
His comments about taking a class on how to avoid sexual harassment, which is required for most state employees, were printed in London's Daily Mirror and dozens of publications around the world.
The Mirror used the headline: "I'm Trying to Terminate My Groping Urge," while an India news site took a more academic approach: "Arnie Enrolls for Sexual Harassment Class."
The free-flowing, conversational foreign press interview took place with about 45 reporters around a conference table in the association's West Hollywood offices. It lasted about an hour and was punctuated by jokes and banter.
"He had a very good command of the room and on the subjects," said Lorenzo Soria, president of the foreign press association. "He was a little evasive and skillful at not addressing some of them directly and on others I have to say he was extremely open."
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