Did the press go too far in identifying Arnold’s mistress?

[mfcorey1]

Former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's whopping breach of marital ethics has touched off a curious ethical dilemma in the media world: In reporting the ongoing fallout from Schwarzenegger's affair with the former housekeeper who gave birth to his child, has the press unduly invaded the privacy of Schwarzenegger's one-time paramour?

Some major news organizations have exercised restraint, declining to publish the names, photos or any other revealing details about the housekeeper and her son. Others have confirmed the woman's identity, described her home, and splashed her image across TV screens, front pages and web browsers. At its most lurid, the coverage seems akin to stealing an intimate family photo album and scattering its contents around world.

Has the press gone too far?

Some critics think so: "The housekeeper, who was recently let go by the former California governor, did not ask to be at the center of a white-hot political scandal," writes Howard Kurtz of the Daily Beast, which decided not to identify her. "She has made no statement, filed no lawsuit, trotted out no publicist, sold nothing to the tabloids, made no appearance on 'Oprah.' She had an affair with her boss and got pregnant, but she is as far from a public figure as you can imagine. What gives the media the right to obliterate her privacy?"

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_thecutline/20110519/ts_yblog_thecutline/arnold-mistress-tk

[dkf]

1. Why did they name Monica Lewinsky?

That was probably worse.

[zazen]

5. the press and right wing violated Lewinsky far more than Clinton did

As Catharine MacKinnon once said of Anita Hill's restraint during the Clarence Hill hearings, "She didn't want his words coming out of her mouth. She didn't want to become his pornography."

They coerced Lewinsky into sexually exposing herself. It was a prolonged public rape.

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[KharmaTrain]

7. What If Taxpayer Funds Were Used...

...to pay the mother to keep quiet or for backdoor child support, the voters of California deserve the right to know how their money was squandered. Or if donors money was used...shouldn't they find out what their money really went to?

This wasn't a "celebrity" caught cheating, but a public official...a person who ran for the office based on his "moral integrity" and ruthlessly putting down the "bimbo eruptions"...trashing any women who dared to come forward. The voters of California were duped...and thus they deserve to know all that's involved here.

Had Ahnuld cared for the privacy of this woman and his child, he would have never run for public office.

[Name removed]

19. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Ineeda]

9. Not 100% in agreement....

I despise celebrity gossip passed off as 'news'. I don't give a hoot about Tiger Woods or Lindsey Lohan/Charlie Sheen-type celebrities, other than in their positions as "role models" to our youth. However, I do want to know the ethics of our elected officials, including in their private lives. Maria and, especially, the housekeeper's husband and child might be the only 'innocent victims' here. The housekeeper was married herself, passed the child off as her husband's and continued to work in the governor's household for a decade. It's sad, but now it's time to pay the piper.

[malaise]

14. No TIger Woods is a private citizen

The scumbag sperminator was the governor of California and he lied big time.

[joeybee12]

25. The most famous athlete in the world is NOT simply a private citizen...

not by a long shot, espceially when he became a billionaire on his public image.

[seabeyond]

3. she had an affair with an actor and governor of a state. her action put her in line of fire

did shriver ask for this attention? ask for this pain?

way things roll.

[H2O Man]

4. "

[zazen]

6. would she have lost her job if she said no?

I don't know the details. . . just wondering if she had her livelihood at stake, since abruptly resigning might have raised red flags, and he might have made it difficult for her to find other work.

Or, she may have actively seduced him. I don't know.

[JVS]

8. That's one of the risks you take when you decide to fuck Ahrnuld.

[Warren Stupidity]

10. No. Only Democrats should get aired out this way. nt

[Canuckistanian]

11. They always go too far

Except when they should.

[Stevenmarc]

12. Well if you lie down with dogs

[malaise]

13. They should have done it when he was campaigning

to destroy California for ReTHUGS

[vi5]

15. Was she "let go recently"? I thought she retired..

Not that it changes the nature of the question or the issue at hand. Just more curious since I hadn't heard she was let go.

[woodsprite]

16. Actually, she did ask for it, the moment she started screwing around with him. n/t

[blueamy66]

17. Yes.

Nobody should have to see that mug on their television.

on edit: just a joke....don't jump on me

[patricia92243]

18. I hate that the child is being dragged thru the mud. He is an innocent victim. Calling him a "love

child" is repulsive. Unfortunatly by telling all about the mother, the child is also exposed. Sorry business.

[rucky]

20. So now the media is supposed to be a beard, too?

[Mr. Jefferson]

21. This type of stuff is the norm for The National Enquirer...

It SHOULD be considered going too far for respectable news outlets.

[marions ghost]

22. Arnold is a public figure

anyone connected with Arnold is a story.

Unless she is truly stupid, she would know that. These things cannot be hidden in this society.

[Johonny]

23. He loved the press when Jay Leno and company kissed his *

NOW the press sucks. L O L.

[Xithras]

24. The kid shouldn't have been named, but SHE knowingly became involved with a public figure.

When you have a sexual relationship with the governor of one of the most powerful states in the union, you ARE asking to be at the center of a white-hot political scandal.