Staff Editorial: Give Arnold a chance

California's recall election race has once again rekindled the debate over the role of character in politics. Arnold Schwarzenegger has allegedly sexually harassed at least 15 women--one as recently as 2000--and made several controversial comments concerning his personal sexual history. Schwarzenegger claims that he has learned from his mistakes, and that he will be a "champion of women," and more importantly, of the issues, as governor of California. But the question remains--do Schwarzenegger's past indiscretions necessarily degrade his ability to be an affective leader?

Many voters, including numerous Democrats and members of the female electorate, say yes. Schwarzenegger's sexual indiscretions preclude effective, unbiased leadership. His mistreatment of women is indicative of larger flaws in his worldview. If he cannot treat women with respect and exercise good judgement on a movie set, he cannot be trusted to manage the affairs of California as a whole. California is the number one state for women-owned businesses and one of the most progressive states in terms of women's involvement in politics. Many feminist lobby groups and women in general claim that as governor, Schwarzenegger would not take the interests and opinions of women to heart. Democrats charge that a sexist, closed-minded man cannot deal with California's diverse array of minority issues, manage its fiscal crisis, stimulate business or address education. According to this line of reasoning, in order to discount Schwarzenegger as a qualified candidate for governor, one of two things must be shown to be true: that there is a direct link between a candidate's past indiscretions and their ability to lead, or that examples of poor leadership are already evident in Schwarzenegger's political history.

First, recent historical precedent tells us that the connection between character and effective leadership is tenuous at best. Sexual practices do not predict success in managing the economy or other issues. Former President Bill Clinton engaged in adultery in the Oval Office, and admittedly performed actions bordering on sexual deviancy. Yet, he was hailed by the majority of Democrats, and many Americans, as a strong leader who ushered in a period of solid economic recovery through sound fiscal policies. There is no evidence that the character flaws that led him to commit adultery, and to subsequently lie about it, had an affect on his decision-making capabilities as president. His value system in the wake of his affair, could be seen as contrary to positive view of family values, but some of Clinton's greatest successes came in family-leave and maternity bills. If an admitted adulterer can exercise sound judgment for America families, what precludes Schwarzenegger from becoming a champion of women?

With regard to Schwarzenegger's past, and his stated plans for the future, there is no reason to believe that he will not act in the best interest of women or minority groups, or that he cannot manage California's faultering economy and educational system. On the contrary, before running for governor, Schwarzenegger initiated several successful inner-city education and after-school programs, and displayed a committment to stimulating business in California. Currently, he has drafted a five-point package to encourage growth and job creation. His political history and his vision for the future do not carry with them hints of sexism or character flaws that impede his judgment.