SChwarzenegger, Under Fire, Cuts Financial Ties to Magazines

Some more stories on our Governator's magazine scandal.
This is from the New York Times:

LOS ANGELES, July 15 - Reacting to a storm of accusations about a conflict of interest, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said Friday that he would sever a financial relationship with a publisher of fitness magazines that would have paid him at least $5 million over five years.

"When I became governor, I pledged to put the people of California front and center," Mr. Schwarzenegger said in a statement issued by his office. "I don't want there to be any question or doubt that the people have my full devotion.

"Therefore, effective today, I will relinquish my title as executive editor and forgo any compensation from the magazines."

So the Governator has got his hand caught in the cookie jar. And now he's trying to say "Everything is okay, I'll go back to being the people's champion of reform."

The problem, Governator, is that the political damage has already been done.

First, you never bothered disclosing the details of these financial dealings. The public never knew that as you were vetoing the bill restricting the use of supplements to high school athletes, you were also receiving compensation from businesses that had a direct financial interest in the killing of this bill. The public never knew this conflict of interest. Whatever you say about the regulation of these supplements, the public will still believe that you are kow-towing to an industry for financial greed. You haven't given back any of the money the magazines have already paid you--which the Times estimates to be around $1 million. Is that $1 million payment for your veto services rendered?

Second, what other deals are you making under the table? Oh, these deals certainly don't have to include the exchange of compensation, but rather the exchange of political favors for possibly campaign contributions? What are the real reasons for your support of these special ballot initiatives? Who really benefits from these initiatives? What interest groups or individuals have you talked to regarding these initiatives, and what have they given to you in terms of campaign contributions or political support? How much have they given to you?