Libidinous and Licentious

The lusty month of May has brought us two textbook examples of libido run amok--Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the former International Monetary Fund head's alleged sexual attack, and former California governor and so-called actor Arnold Schwarzenegger's fling with a member of his household staff, resulting in a love child. Freud asked What Do Women Want? I'm wondering Why Can't Men Stop? In the first case we have a sixtyish Frenchman emerging from the shower buck naked purportedly trying to live out a fantasy of sex with the maid. The second affair was consensual but resulted in more visible collateral damage: noble Maria Shriver exiting the mansion and the couple's four children's discovery of a half-sibling they didn't know existed. As their seventeen-year-old son tweeted, "some days you want to quit and just be normal for a bit."

Supposedly, testosterone is to blame in both instances, along with the aphrodisiacal effect of power and entitlement both men enjoyed in their respective professional lives. A New York Times reporter based in France was seen on MSNBC's Martin Bashir show yesterday, informing us that the French expect their politicians to be "sexually vigorous," while Arnold's 2003 gubernatorial bid unearthed several women claiming he'd groped or otherwise sexually harassed them. Both men acted in direct opposition to their own self-interests. Strauss-Kahn was widely believed to be making a run against Sarkozy for president of his country. Arnold jeopardized his 25-year marriage and the relationships with his four, uh, I mean five kids. All because of unbridled libido and colossal errors in judgment. What is it with men?

Leaving aside the issue of the Frenchman's presumed innocence, news of his previous sexual exploits surfaced as soon as the current charges appeared. He's a.k.a. "the great seducer," yet his American-born wife, Anne Sinclair, is standing by her man, coughing up a million in bail money. As for Arnold, his pending plans to return to movies and show biz are alive and well. It would seem that in a post-Charlie Sheen world, knocking up the family housekeeper is no big deal. Have we really grown so accustomed to grown men acting like hormone-crazed teenage boys that we give them a free pass on attempted rape and flagrant infidelity? Not from where I'm standing. Both scumbags deserve to be booted to the curb. In the case of the French Flasher we'll have to see what the trial brings and hope that justice for an immigrant hotel maid is served. But Maria should terminate Conan the Barbarian, revive her career as a journalist and focus on helping her brood heal their shattered lives. Even though she hardly needs the money, she should sue for the heftiest sum possible. With the Kennedy name and friends like Oprah she can bounce back, leaving that sorry slimeball in the dust.

In the meantime, I hope male movers and shakers will heed these cautionary tales and keep their pants zipped. Is it too much to ask for men to be faithful to their wives, behave like gentlemen, refrain from pawing and humiliating every female in their midst? I hope not. My husband and I have been married as long as Maria and Arnold. I trust my hubby 100% but I can't help thinking it's a good thing we've never been able to afford domestic help.