Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver are separated and now we know the reason was a love child the former Governor of California fathered with a member of their household staff 10 years ago.

So let me get this straight: He was the Governor of California, an actor famous for his built body and tough attitude, someone who (allegedly) knows a lot about a lot of things, and yet when it comes to birth control, he is clearly in the dark?

We all get down on the teen moms of the world for not knowing more about preventing pregnancy, but here is a politician in the spotlight, a man as famous for his macho movie roles as for his happy marriage (at least until recent years) and four children. The Terminator star-turned-politician had a child more than a decade ago whom he just admitted he fathered.

In a statement, Schwarzenegger said:

After leaving the governor's office I told my wife about this event, which occurred over a decade ago. I understand and deserve the feelings of anger and disappointment among my friends and family. There are no excuses and I take full responsibility for the hurt I have caused. I have apologized to Maria, my children and my family. I am truly sorry.

Well, he should be sorry. That is a terrible thing to do, but also a stupid one. If you're going to have an affair, wear a condom. Make sure she's on the pill. Do everything you can to avoid making the situation worse! Duh.

Of course, he's far from the only politician to father a child out of wedlock and/or to destroy his marriage. Here are a couple more politicians who could use a trip back to eighth grade health class:

John Edwards: John Edwards managed to horrify everyone when the family man with the heart of gold who also happened to have a wife with breast cancer revealed that he fathered a child out of wedlock with his mistress Rielle Hunter. 

Strom Thurmond: Senator Strom Thurmond may have long supported segregation and opposed civil rights, but way back when he was 22, he fathered a child with a black 16-year-old girl and he supported his daughter after her mother died.

This stuff goes way back to the founding fathers. Thomas Jefferson allegedly fathered a child with one of his slaves, and even Benjamin Franklin, despite being the hero of all men, managed to father a son out of wedlock who went on to become the Governor of New Jersey.

Ok, so the older guys may have had less access to birth control (though they could have kept it in their pants), but the younger guys have no excuse. Condoms. Repeat after me: CONDOMS. It isn't so hard.

We expect our politicians to be bright, but when they can't even figure out where babies come from (especially after having four), what does that mean for the future of this country? At least Bill Clinton knew enough to use birth control and to avoid the actual act that makes babies. I guess our standards should be much lower for the people we elect. If he knows where babies come from, he gets my vote!

Would you vote for someone with a "love child"?

 

Image via jurvetson/Flickr