Schwarzenegger Denies Admiring Hitler

[CatWoman]

http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=3550676

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Arnold Schwarzenegger was forced on Thursday to deny comments he made 25 years ago that he admired Adolf Hitler and wished he too could enjoy a stadium full of screaming fans.

The Austrian-born actor, who is the leading candidate in California's gubernatorial recall race, was quoted as making the comments in a 1975 transcript of an interview while filming the documentary "Pumping Iron" that made him famous.

ABC News, which broadcast the remarks on Thursday, said they were contained in an unpublished book proposal with quotes from what it calls a "verbatim transcript" of the interview.

[Clete]

1. Well, I suppose it is politically incorrect to

admire Hitler today. Although, it was politically incorrect back then too. Sorry, Mr. Kkklean doesn't get a pass from me.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

2. He was only saying that to be nice

Still, as a Jew, I am a bit reticent to send someone to office who wants the Nuremburg stadium blindly clicking their heels and saluting you. :D

[BattyDem]

3. Verbatim transcript?

Doesn't that usually mean it was transcribed from a tape? Please, please, please let that be the case! :bounce:

[Cush]

4. whats next?

Arnie will deny steroid use?

[flamingyouth]

5. Everyone did group sex and Hitler admiration in the '70s

Geez, what's with you libruls??? ;-)

[Josh]

11. *LOL*

That's brilliant... I would only add,

"Come on... everyone had group sex, groped women, and admired Hitler in the 70s! What's with you damn liberals!"

[dfong63]

6. what, only a denial? not a denial and an apology?

[Unknown Known]

7. He can deny it all he wants

because it's the expendable thing to do 5 days before the election. The facts still stand.

[stickdog]

8. "When I said I admired Hitler, I just meant the fascism part."

"Believe me, I love Jews.

Nothing like the look on some stuck up JAP's face when you overpower her with an unexpected grope!"

[Must_B_Free]

12. WuAH!

I can just hear him saying that!

Believe me, I love Jews!

ROTFL!

[LunaC]

9. Here's a quote about dictators....

"I was always dreaming about very powerful people, dictators and things like that."

Arnold Schwarzenegger.


http://stacks.msnbc.com:80/news/950552.asp?0sl=-44&cp1=1

[Jolene]

10. George Butler: Arnold definitely did say that he admired Hitler

From the book, An Unauthorized Biography, Arnold, by Wendy Leigh:

...since 1977 rumors have circulated in the bodybuilding world that during the filming of Pumping Iron, the pseudo-documentary film that transformed him into a legend, Arnold said he admired Hitler. When contacted for a newspaper article in 1988, George Butler, the producer and director of the film and still a close friend of Arnold's today, admitted that during the filming of Pumping Iron, Arnold definitely did say that he admired Hitler. Butler then conceded that the remark was cut from the final version of the film, adding that Arnold expressed his admiration of "Hitler and Kennedy in almost the same breath as people who are leaders." When asked why Arnold admired Hitler, Butler replied that the context in the film was that Arnold was saying he had "always wanted to be remembered like the most famous people in history, like Jesus and so on. And I think his admiration is for people who are so striking that they would be remembered always."

pp. 87-88

The book goes on to say that the film was not scripted. It was story-boarded. IOW, the entire movie was not scripted. There are witnesses, the author notes, who have seen Arnold do a "Sieg Heil" salute and play records of Hitler's speeches.

He answered this issue in a 1989 Penthouse interview by claiming through Butler, that his interest "was only that of a student." Butler claims to have forgotten this exchange, and says he never saw any Nazi paraphernalia at Arnold's house. (others insisted that he did have some)

Arnold goes on to say he hated the Nazi period.

According to the author, another bodybuilder who witnessed a "Sieg Heil" speculated that it "was expected of him." He personified Aryan supremacy and Germanic will. His father had been a Nazi, so both his heritage and image were inescapable--but not ineradicable. Arnold, instead of underplaying his roots, advertised them.

The author goes on to say that the goal of many bodybuilders is to carve themselves befitting a master race. Power and dominance are valued above all. Allegations of Nazism didn't hurt him in the body building arena. (paraphrased)

pp. 89-90

[thebigidea]

13. what an idiot

a shame he bought the outtakes to that movie.

And what happened with Larry Flynt? Surely he could've dug deep and dug up some dirt.