Arnold the Groper. Arnold the Humiliator. Arnold the Sexual Harasser. Arnold the Barbarian who confesses just days before California’s election for governor that he has “behaved badly sometimes.” Badly? How about criminally?

His was a quickie and vague admission after six women publicly alleged in the Los Angeles Times (a few going on TV afterward) that he groped them or said vulgar things to them on movie sets, in an elevator and even in a coffeehouse as late as 2000.

Arnold Schwarzenegger may yet become governor in California’s recall election because the latest sex scandal rocking the megabucks movie action-hero’s campaign reeks of partisan hypocrisy. Besides, the bulk of the frontrunner’s supporters don’t seem to give a hooters.

Hypocrisy, as in California NOW executive director Helen Greico’s response to Arnold’s “apology.” Said Greico to Arnold: “Your explanation is appalling, insults our intelligence, and shows that you just don’t get it. Your behavior was not playful; it was illegal.”

So where was the National Organization for Women when Bill Clinton was in denial, pointing a finger at “that woman,” Monica Lewinsky? Why, out supporting Clinton. You can’t have it both ways, chicas, and that’s why Arnold will get a pass from many. He already has a huge gender gap, so what minds will change?

Arnold’s GOP backers hide their own hypocrisy behind their political opportunism. At first they defended him and called it dirty partisan politics. But then Schwarzenegger turned around and apologized Thursday “to those people I have offended,” saying he had thought he was being “playful” and taking issue with “parts” of the article while refusing to explain further.

Playful? The allegations went way beyond horsing around in “rowdy movie sets.” Women said he grabbed their breasts, sometimes not even knowing their names, stuck his hand up one woman’s skirt and stroked her behind with her boss right there. He did this not only when he was a wild and crazy single guy but a married father of four children.

In contrast to allegations that Arnold praised Adolf Hitler back in the 1970s, which seems out of sync with his generous financial support over the years for a center that studies the Holocaust’s horrors and for programs to help children with disabilities, the sexual-harassment charges include incidents from just three years ago. It indicates a man so intoxicated by his star power that he thinks he can grab any woman at whim.

Remind you of anyone? I was so appalled by Clinton’s intern scandal that, in the beginning, I called for him to resign. Over time, though, Republicans’ dirty tricks exposed the Starr Chamber for what Kenneth Starr was — a partisan political animal. (Starr overstepped the bounds of that investigation in ways that repulsed many people.) And then we learned of extramarital affairs involving Republican members of Congress who sought to hang Clinton for his on the pretext that he lied under oath. Well, duh. Like he wanted Hillary and Chelsea to find out?

One thing’s clear: Monicagate made many of us ever more cynical when anyone chimes that character matters. Because we all now know that, for too many voters, character only matters if it’s not your guy who’s the lecher or the liar.

Myriam Marquez is an editorial page columnist for the Orlando Sentinel. Her e-mail address is mmarquez@orlandosentinel.com.