Arnie’s sex boasts return to haunt him

A 25-YEAR-OLD interview in which Arnold Schwarzenegger boasts of orgies and drug taking has come back to haunt the actor has he runs for California governor.

The screen tough guy's sex talk appeared in the August 1977 issue of Oui, a men's magazine published by Playboy, and unearthed by thesmokinggun.com.

In the six page interview he boasted about participating in an orgy with other bodybuilders.

He said that "everybody jumped on" the woman involved and "took her upstairs where we all got together."

The interviewer asked if he was talking about a "gang bang," Mr Schwarzenegger answered, "Yes, but not everybody, just the guys who can **** in front of other guys. Not everybody can do that.

"Having chicks around is the kind of thing that breaks up the intense training. It gives you relief, and then afterward you go back to the serious stuff."

At the time, Mr Schwarzenegger, then 29, was appearing in Pumping Iron, a documentary film on the bodybuilding circuit.

When asked whether he used drugs, Mr Schwarzenegger replied, "Yes, grass and hash no hard drugs. But the point is that I do what I feel like doing. I'm not on a health kick."

Mr Schwarzenegger, meanwhile, has spelled out his views on issues ranging from abortion to taxes.

Bowing to weeks of criticism the action star's campaign has been all style and no substance, Mr Schwarzenegger's comments were his most detailed so far in his bid to replace Governor Gray Davis in the October 7 recall election.

The Republican said he backed legalising marijuana for medicinal purposes, abortion rights, an assault-weapons ban and background checks on gun purchases. He said he was against offshore drilling, gay marriage and granting driving licences to illegal immigrants.

Efforts to recall California's governor have been fuelled by voter anger over the state's energy crisis and a 40 billion state budget deficit. The two-part ballot will ask voters whether Davis should be removed, and then ask them to chose from among 135 candidates to replace him if he is.

Asked whether he thought Mr Schwarzenegger would make a good governor, Davis said the Austrian-born actor met the minimal age and state resident qualifications.

"Sometimes people want a little more," Davis said.

Mr Schwarzenegger gave his opinions during a call to a radio show, which was also broadcast live on the Fox Television channel.

Schwarzenegger described himself as "pro-choice" but said he did not support late-stage abortion procedures.

Asked about gay marriage, Mr Schwarzenegger said he supported "domestic partnerships" but was against gay marriage. He said marriage should be between a man and a woman.