Arnie says he didn't tell his wife Maria Shriver until he left the Governor's office. Maria has released a statement asking for compassion and privacy for herself and the couple's children.
"As a mother my concern is for the children. I ask for compassion, respect and privacy as my children and I try to rebuild our lives and heal. I will have no further comment."
I think the person who needs compassion and privacy is the child of Arnie and the staffer. The staffer told the Times just yesterday that her ex-husband was the father of the child. It sounds like this child, who is older than 10, is learning today that the man he thought was his father is not. If so, it must be very traumatizing for the child.
Also significant: That the child was born before Arnold first ran for Governor in 2003. Unlike John Edwards, he was able to keep it a secret.
Schwarzenegger is hardly the first politician to have a love-child in their background. Nor will he be the last. Remember Grover Cleveland and the election of 1884?
Ma, Ma, Where's My Pa?
Gone to the White House, Ha, Ha Ha!
Update: Patrick Schwarzenegger tweets 2 hours ago:
some days you feel like sh*t, some days you want to quit and just be normal for a bit, yet i love my family till death do us apart