Over the past few months, countless victims have come forward with allegations of sexual harassment and/or assault committed by powerful people.
The most recent accusations to be made public involve Roy Moore, a leading candidate for the open Alabama Senate seat. Moore has been accused of making sexual advances on five different girls in the past, the youngest of which was 14 at the time (the age of consent is 16 in Alabama). As a state prosecutor, Moore wielded considerable power power that accusers say he used to threaten them into silence.
Undeterred, Moore's political allies have been quick to jump to his defense though not always with the desired effect. Alabama State Auditor Jim Zeigler raised some eyebrows when he told reporters that even if the accusations are true, there is nothing wrong with dating a younger woman. "Take Mary and Joseph," Zeigler said. "Mary was a teenager and Joseph was an adult carpenter. They became parents of Jesus. There's just nothing immoral or illegal here. Maybe just a little bit unusual."
Now, we don't claim to be Biblical scholars, but there is plenty of conduct detailed in the Bible which unequivocally would not fly by society's current standards. Was pulling the "Mary and Joseph card" really the best defense?
Secrets Spill Out
Unfortunately, Roy Moore is far from alone. Across the board, people in powerful places are being accused of using their positions to carry out and cover up serious sexual misconduct. The entertainment industry in particular has been roiled by a flood of accusations spurring widespread condemnation of many a beloved Hollywood figure. The list of famous personalities now mired in conflict is astounding, and seemingly grows longer as each day passes. Kevin Spacey, Harvey Weinstein, Louis C.K., Ben Affleck, Charlie Sheen, Jeremy Piven, Brett Ratner, Steven Seagal, Mariah Carey, Dustin Hoffman, George Takei, and Ed Westwick are just a few of those to see their names splashed across the headlines in recent weeks.
Ramifications
Reactions have been swift, and the consequences real. Harvey Weinstein was fired from his production company and quickly expelled from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. After Kevin Spacey was accused of making an inappropriate advance on a 14-year-old actor in 1986 (among other offenses), Netflix responded by terminating his contract for the House of Cards series, in which Spacey was renowned for his portrayal of President Frank Underwood. It seems Netflix feels the American public couldn't stomach the idea of watching a man play the President after he was accused of sexual misconduct (well, the fictional President at least).
**Power Corrupts
**
Nearly all the incidents that have come to light have involved a skewed power dynamic. The alleged perpetrator was famous, and the victim relatively unknown an assistant, a secretary, an aspiring talent. The famous person used their status, their position of power as leverage. They would say things like: "What are you going to do, rat me out? Who's going to believe you?"
And so, the truth stayed buried.
What could drive someone to do something so awful, so immoral? Is there something about becoming powerful and influential that causes good people to become corrupted? It seems that for some, a psychological switch was flipped at some point. They began to feel invincible, as if anything they wanted could be theirs.
If that's your mentality, then it must be nearly impossible to take "no" for an answer.
It's Not Just Famous People
Although recent headlines have been dominated by prominent figures in politics and showbusiness, it's important to note that powerful people exist everywhere. Whenever a skewed power dynamic exists, so does the real possibility of sexual misconduct occurring no matter the industry.
The disgusting behavior of Harvey Weinstein has finally been brought to light, but let's be realistic: this is only the tip of the iceberg. There are countless more Harvey Weinsteins out there maybe not as rich or as well known but who act in similarly awful ways. These people might be smaller fish in the eye of the media, but their misconduct is no less harmful.
Where Do We Go from Here?
The past couple of months have shown that these perpetrators, while powerful, are by no means invulnerable. Victims are finally feeling empowered to speak out after years of tortured silence. In all likelihood, damning allegations will continue to surface. As they should.
It takes courage to speak out, to make a traumatic experience public knowledge. But the best way to get a skeleton out of a closet is to fling the door wide open and tell everyone what's inside.
Perhaps if we can expose enough of this misconduct, we'll have a chance of preventing more from happening in the future.
112 comments
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Barry
People are coming out of the woodwork With accusations.Bringing down the powerful.However,it's sad to see someone who you looked up to for many years be brought down.But,the law is the law.
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John Owens
This isn't law. This is gossip. There is no legal action here. Just dramatic, conspiratorial accusations, made and timed to throw an election. No one has taken a polygraph, even.
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katy wall
There are 30 corroborating witnesses. That constitutes more than gossip.
Several of the accusers are also Trump supporters.
He also has claimed not to know one yet she has his signature in her yearbook.
Why would a 30 year old be signing a high school yearbook?
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John Owens
An expert said the writing in the yearbook was a forgery. Also, my daughter had friends. If they had asked me to sign their yearbook, I would have, and a couple of them were very close to my family and I might have said something about love. Not EROS love, but AGAPE love. There are zero corroborating witnesses. Zero. Not one has said they SAW him do what the other accuses him of doing.
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biblical scholar
What is your source on an expert calling the yearbook signature a forgery?
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John Owens
What is yours for saying it isn't?
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John Owens
And we now know the yearbook signature was a forgery. Smoke that.
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biblical scholar
But her emails!!!!
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John Owens
Hillary's emails? Whose emails? I can send an email saying anything (not that I would) but that wouldn't make it true.
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Dreamsinger
Unless, of course, the information came from "unnamed sources who requested anonymity because they weren't authorized to speak on the matter." Because bearing false witness, which requires not having the testicular fortitude to put one's name on what he or she says, is never gossip... right, John Owens?
Or when it's someone we idolize, promoting ideas that we'd never commit to action if we were allowed to think for ourselves for once. Because "just following orders", which requires practicing ignorance while witnessing evil, is bliss... right, John Owens?
Free will is a double-edged sword, John Owens. Weinstein used his to gain power, and to silence his victims; his victims used theirs to remain silent, and earn their 30 pieces of silver as a reward. The public used free will to support Weinstein, and to destroy anyone who spoke up about what was going on... while regularly asking "why doesn't anyone speak up?"
We call folks who share the mentality you just espoused as "fairweather friends".
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John Owens
Where did I espouse a mentality? You're imagining things I said. If information comes from unnamed sources who don't want their name used, IT'S GOSSIP. Maybe true, maybe false, maybe somewhere in between.
You are lecturing me as if you want to lecture someone, but the points you are trying to make do not seem germane to anything I have said. Free will? Following orders? There is something in there, but you need to flesh it out, because as it is written, it does not pertain to me or my comments.
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kimm
Speaking as a woman, and I will probably not be popular with my opinion, I am having a real problem with people waiting, sometimes decades, to make these accusations.
I believe that there should be some sort of statute of limitations on being able to come forward like that (except on murder). I do agree that on some things, a person may be too afraid or even traumatized to come forward immediately, but waiting 10, 20, 30 years or more? Come on.
And, if you have tried to come forward immediately and no one listens, keep talking. At least you're trying. But in my opinion, if you wait a decade or more to say something happened, you lose some credibility.
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Gail
Kimm, I completely agree. Even in the case of Weinstein and the big pile on we are seeing. I do believe he is guilty but so are the women who traded sexual favors for movie parts. They made a deal with the devil and are now complaining about it....after they have reached their goal of fame and wealth.
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John Owens
Right. These wenches haven't been afraid all these years. They are just following the fad and trying to wreck the election now.
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Dreamsinger
It's not as simple as it seems. Hollywood is not the real world, so the folks that Meryl Streep has helped protect for 30 years (including Weinstein and Polanski) are of a way different caliber than the one Kathy Shelton faced in a courtroom as a 12-year-old.
There's a lot of money invested in movie studio directors, whose job is to make money for investors. Same with rising political stars who start out as lawyers defending criminals from their own sworn admissions of guilt. People respect power, plain and simple. If you don't have it, you're the problem in the eyes of those who do.
Oh, and there is a statute of limitations, in quite a few situations. But the reason why these actresses are doing things this way, instead of pressing charges, is a hard lesson I learned while trying to bring my trafficker and family to face justice. Prison is a blessing, while spending the rest of one's life a bankrupt pariah is far better sentence.
I'm going to sign off here, this topic is a bit too close to home for me. I'll be fine, thankfully I have an 8-pound Chorky who is the best therapist in the world.
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Lea Weisenbach
Well the left has to eat their own words..I guess their no better than the right. A women pays the price for opening her mouth and we all know that. The problem that gets me is women that don't help other women. I've been there and have been victimized by the women in slut slamming. They will stay by their man as long as it benefits them. Lets not mention any names. This happens more than we want to beleive...We have to clean up our act...We well also clean the swamp in Hollywood.
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Doc
This is not a Right vs Left issue!!!! This about right vs wrong!!!! What is OK with a 30 year old man trying to or having sex with a 14, 15 or 16 year old girl? If it's OK for your daughter then I can understand your position, it's not for my daughter. The man is a predator, plain and simple and if that is the character of the person you want in the Senate just because he is of your political choice then shame on you. I would think that in the entire state of Alabama you can find one decent character person to run for that position. I really thought this was a place to talk religion not politics!! Politics divides us Religion should bring us all together. Where is the love we should have for others?
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John Owens
There is no evidence that he did that. None. Zero. Yet you have condemned him. I wonder if you condemn Bill Clinton or Podesta with the same vehemence.
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biblical scholar
What about his signature in her yearbook, John? Do you go around writing flirtatious messages in teenage girls' yearbooks?
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John Owens
What did it say? How flirtatious was it? Did it say she was pretty, or sweet? Or did it say she had a nice butt or boobs? Big difference there. And no, I would never do that. I will also not allow an unrelated teen girl to be alone with me at any time, in order to prevent just this kind of accusation. Still, if some young 40 something accused me of anything from 25 years ago, I would be considered guilty until proven innocent, and there being no proof either way, I would just be considered guilty forever.
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biblical scholar
It said:
“To a sweeter more beautiful girl I could not say Merry Christmas. Christmas 1977. Love, Roy Moore, D.A. 12-22-77 Olde Hickory House.”
Be honest with me, John. How would you react if you saw that message from a 30 year old man in your 15 year old daughter's yearbook?
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John Owens
I might raise an eyebrow. I have had books and tourbooks autographed before, and we used to sign one another's yearbooks. When local celebrities or national ones autograph a book, they tend to make it fairly personal and affectionate, and that is what people want. This is innocuous by itself. Not a conviction, unless you are particularly prejudiced against him for whatever reason, especially since she worked for Hillary, a notorious liar and conniver. I can't say he's guilty of anything, or that he is innocent. I'm just saying the timing of this and the sides taken by the individuals taking those sides makes it all really dubious at best.
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katy wall
Oh come on John.
Since when is an district attorney a "local celebrity".
Why would he lie about never knowing her?
He supposedly thought she was the "sweetest most beautiful girl".
The timing is that these women have lived with this for the past 30-40 years and do not want to see this man get even more power.
To think this is some grand conspiracy you have to jump through a lot of hoops.
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John Owens
You have to jump through a lot of hoops to believe these women have waited 40 years and just now grew a spine, too. The one doing all the crying and saying she was afraid? Biggest pile of lies I ever heard. Why would she get in his car, anyway? This was in the 70s. And not ONE of them claims to have had coitus with the man. Why can't just ONE of them do a polygraph? I'll bet you did believe William Jefferson Clinton was guilty, even though he paid out $850,000 to one woman. Why did the accusers hire an attorney? They aren't suing. Same attorney been around the block a few times on stuff like this. You are lynching the man based on hearsay and gossip. You haven't convicted Hillary of her crimes, and we all know she violated the law.
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katy wall
Believing 5 accusers and 30 witnesses vs. the singular testimony of the accused is jumping through hoops? That is not hearsay and gossip. Its a solid case against him.
It doesn't matter if they had "coitus". They were underage and he harassed them.
Polygraph tests are not reliable and often can't even be submitted in a court of law as evidence.
This has nothing to do with Clinton.
I'm looking at the facts on THIS case and they point to guilty.
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biblical scholar
John, in the future you may lend more credence to your retort without using the words 'b-b-but Clinton/Podesta/Obama/DNC/Starbucks/Hollywood/whatever other liberal boogeyman you've concocted.
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John Owens
Y'all are just down on this guy because you are Establishment, and you WANT him to be guilty of, what, exactly? Why would he do ANY of this, and yet not rape ONE of these women? And we all know Clinton and Podesta have MUCH MORE evidence against them than we have on this guy. If 30 Democrats say something, does that make it true? I'm not saying he's innocent. I'm saying you are convicting him without any proof, because you WANT to convict him. That's prejudice and maybe bigotry. You try to sound reasonable, but you are not being reasonable. It is uncivilized to judge in this manner.
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katy wall
Did you seriously just ask why he would do this if he wasn't going to just go ahead and rape them?
You know who else has more evidence against them? The POTUS Donald "I grab'em by the pussy" Trump.
I guess if you can support that you can support anything huh?
You're coming unhinged John...
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John Owens
By the way, there is doubt that the signature in the yearbook is, in fact, Roy Moore's, and his accuser also referred to him as Ray, before being corrected by Gloria Allred. LET THE ACCUSER DO THE MAURY POVITCH POLYGRAPH. Then we might agree.
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John Owens
You're the unhinged one, and you just revealed your derangement to all who read here, William. Two-faced, double-standard hater.
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John Owens
Polygraph tests are MUCH more reliable than hearsay. There is NO EVIDENCE whatsoever EXCEPT hearsay. If polygraphs were ACTUALLY unreliable, police, fire departments, and the US GOVERNMENT would not use them. This is not a court of law. This is a court of public opinion. The haters versus the thinkers.
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Vince Nichols
John Owens is right. There was no coitus involved and everyone knows it - if you deny it then you have to look at yourself and ask yourself why you're being dishonest. He could never engage in coitus with underage women because Roy Moore is a big sodomite. He didn't want those little girls having kids so he knocked on the back door.
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John Owens
Everybody listen to Vince, the epitome of a Democrat--just say any stupid thing you want because words don't really mean anything, and if you say it enough, that makes it true. Even if it is a total lie. Just make up anything you want that suits your argument. Just be a hater. It's ok. It's good. It's justified. It's rational. Just hate, and lie. All you want. Be a moron.
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biblical scholar
Why doesn't Roy Moore just take a polygraph to put these rumors to rest?
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John Owens
Would you believe his innocence if he did, Ramona?
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John Owens
I guess the silence means, " NO." Shows your prejudice.
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Lea Weisenbach
Please read your history books. Its well documented that religion has decided us..And religion has always been political.
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Lea Weisenbach
William...When it comes to Trump's comment " you can grab their p###y"..Well a lot of women would allow him to grab them because of who he is...And mostly any well to do man. There Are women that are just as bad as some men. But the fact remains..Not guilty till proven guilty..
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kimm
That's another issue I'm having. People are seeming to forget innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
There could be a video showing a crime being committed, as clear as day, and he or she could say they did it, yet unless they plead guilty, we would still have to address the person committing the crime as the illeged perpetrator. With all thats out there against Hillary, people are saying she's innocent because she hasn't been convicted of anything yet. But it seems like others, and not just politicians on the right, are not getting the same.
If this is the direction people want to go....Pick and choose who can or cannot be innocent until proven, we have a lot to worry about.
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John Owens
I concur, Zea and Kimm, but reason and thought are not what interest most of these leftist zealots. You have to remember they are the enemy, not misguided friends.
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Lea Weisenbach
John Owen...I'm very liberal..If you look at me a leftist that fine..I feel both sides are misguided with no more then their own selfish ideas. The problem lies that no one is reasonable...This country was founded on separation of church and state..Our forefathers new all to well the damage that religion has done and the blood shed. Personal god has to be respected.
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John Owens
I can go along with that, Zea, but only as long as your personal god and mine respect one another. Liberal means different things to different people. It should mean generous, kind, full of outgoing love and concern for fellow humans. That is not what it means in politics. It means almost the diametric opposite of that.
Refusing to pass a law regarding the establishment of a religion is not the same as not practicing religion. Everything we do reflects our religion, or philosophy.
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Lea Weisenbach
Typo..divided..not dicided
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rabbi jim
If the person is guilty....fry them! Regardless of who they are. If they are found innocent.....fry the accuser! Shalom and have a wonderful day!
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John Owens
exactly
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Ron
Found innocent? Where do you live? In the United States a person IS innocent until PROVEN guilty.
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Rev Carolyn
The timing on this is too convenient. It seems strange with all these cases, people come forward after 20 years, the media roaches jump on it and the person is automatically guilty of sexually assaulting and harassing people throughout their lifetime. What a great way to bring someone down, no evidence and nothing more than he said she said and of course the he did it attitude. Then, the media roaches, man, this puts them in heaven. They jump on it and people come out of the woodwork, "me too, me too", most of them people with a lifetime of acting behind them. Out come the media roaches and Walla! free publicity! free time in front of a camera! 15 minutes of fame. The media roaches have brought down someone else. I agree, if they are guilty hang them but if it was not important years ago before the statue of limitations have run out and maybe there is some type of proof just shut up. All the time and money wasted on this is ridiculous, let it go and investigate current cases, the ones that are going on now and can be dealt with and are absolutely true.
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John Owens
I concur with your prognosis, Doctor.
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katy wall
5 accusers + 30 corroborating witnesses is not "he said, she said".
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John Owens
just keep making stuff up to make your point.
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James
It's all double standards! Most people in those circles want and welcome pimping themselves out (Hollywood). I mean they lie for a living. If a powerful man /woman wants a" favor" to get something done. So be it. If a beautiful person breaks you and dies naughty things to you, oh its a fantasy. But an ugly person does it, it is rape. We are all the issue. Morales at all cost would stop allot of this crap. And stop the double standard. Else we just accept the history of this stuff and move forward.
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Lea Weisenbach
Yes..Responablity for or own action..Morals I find can manipulate..I find the ones that claim to live a moral life really don't.
I beleive in treating people the way I would like to be treated is the best..
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Matthias
I starts in the home sometimes by an abusive Mother. I feel that their will be a lot more women being called out,. Justifiable. This may be an unpopular opinion. Yet, harassment can be seen also being mentally manipulated.
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Lea Weisenbach
Namaste-/-
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Bill Fox
My father would not find himself in a room with a closed door with anyone who was not a wife, daughter, parent, or sibling. He would not enter a house with just himself and a woman. Until the 1960s, this was very much the norm for "gentlemen", whether religious or not.
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John Owens
Yes, and should be practiced by all, whether at work, church, counseling, medical purposes, or elsewhere.
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Lea Weisenbach
Bottom line. I'm 60 now and I remember very well how I was treated as a young women. In my culture it was ok for the men to play around and be agresstive towards women who they felt was looking for it. On the other had I had a friend that was from my culture that at a party thought she was going to get raped and the young men did nothing of sort. In fact I was interrogated to who were they..I gave no names because they did nothing and I'm not watching someone get their legs broken.
I played a price for that as being slur slammed by my girl friend and that added more to me being a victim.
Our ideas have come along way..But the pain is still their for a lot of us. I do beleive the way we treat each other plays a big part of mental illness.
PTSD is contagious and I'm being to thing so is anxiety..No different as alcoholism..Its a disease that is killing our country just because we think we have the right to control morality. You can't police morality. Look at history..
This country was founded on freedom of religion just for the plain fact the Christians were killing Christians. People have the right for their personal god..That is nothing more than..Good ..Orderly..Direction...People have the right to what is best for them and not live by some else's dogma so they feel happy.
We don't know what anyone has been thi nor do we understand. People have the right to information that my be best for them and not hindered in any way.
Sex education has to be taught in a manor that childern understand their feelings and others. We need to be more reasonable not mentally shackling their minds with fear and control.
I've seen the damage on both sides...Its not all about you.
I'm done with this..Namaste
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Darrell Lee Wright
As a Progressive, I am supposed to take a certain stand to this issue. My reply, however, may shock many.
I honestly do NOT believe the majority of these cases are true. A film came out a few years back that studied the effects FEMINISM had on our society. "The Red Pill" eventually lost it's backers as hoards of Feminists boycotted the film everywhere it played. But the movies Impact should be discussed everywhere.
Although the Women's Right Movement was FANTASTIC in the beginning, what it has become is Worse than SATAN entering the White House. Studies prove today's Women have more rights than Men. They are less likely to be Incarcerated, pay child Support, face Child Abuse Charges, go homeless, or be killed than Men. Rape statistics are even higher for Men than Women. (See Kinsey and others scientific research).
Today I urge all young men to seek out the Men's Rights movement or #MGTOW to have their eyes opened. It opened mine, and proved many problems I saw with the 2016 Election.
As a Bernie Sanders supporter, I (and many others) faced ridicule for our Presidential Choice. In my opinion, Hillary Clinton was NEVER President material. Her run in 2008, & her scandals throughout President Bill Clinton's term should have awoken the majority. However MSNBC and CNN decided to focus on her boyfriend (Donald Trump) and no other optimal candidate.
Although NOT a Republican, I cheered when President Donald Trump (Hillary's boyfriend) won the Election. Now more than ever, I (and many others) were chastised for either NOT voting or refusing to vote for Hillary. She is the true reason we need to get to the bottom of Russia Gate.
Think about it, Donald Trump is NOT smart enough, NOR did he have the connections to rig the Election. It is a scam! Even the recent #MeToo campaign is a scam. I post often on Twitter and witnessed when @NBCNews & @maddow created the hashtag. Then they simply asked every female at the Pro-Clinton rallies to sign her name as a victim. (Video proof everywhere on the Web.). That's your real scandal.
Furthermore, another reason I do NOT believe the so-called victims is I understand Female behavior. I once had a household where I alone was the only male. My daughters and their female friends usually had a different boyfriend each month. Many (including my daughters) talked about how they conned their exes and how many times they needed to have sex with him to get him to do HER bidding.
Although I attempted many times to correct their behavior, they often threatened me with False Sexual Harassment claims or False Rape charges. As I was told, "Who cares if we are lying, the public will believe us NOT you."
I have seen this happen multitude of times throughout my life. Even though we laugh at Michael Jackson's case, the courts did find him innocent, but the real damage was already done. How many other times has this happened?
Before we blame the other party, let's remember what could and is happening in the USA. Hillary Clinton lost the Election, and Feminist Hillary Clinton Supporters are angry. Then let's get to the truth, even if it takes President Trump's Impeachment to do so.
Recall Former President Bill Clinton was impeached but never stepped down from office. The same will happen with President Trump (I have faith). But we will never get to the bottom of really happened until Congress does so. Then I believe President Trump will speak out (and be believed) against all the corruption in Washington DC. That is what I believe even GOD is waiting to happen before he strikes down the Liars, Hypocrites, and Haters who are destroying the USA. If NOT, then give the country to MEXICO. They are the ones sustaining our population growth, NOT whites. And in reality, most American born half-breeds pass as White anyways, I know because I am one.
That's my 2 cents on the subject.
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Lea Weisenbach
You are so right in many ways. I feel no one is taking resonablity for themselves and whine about how unfair the world is. I went for Trump to the plain fact that he is more bipartisan and we need to get back to our constitution. We are American's..We are not a Christian country nor are we a socialist country. We need to stop thinking of the things that divid us but start thinking of what binds us. I'm still consider myself a feminist but not for the down fall of men..So it was a no for Hilary for me... We are definitely unbalanced..Have a good evening.
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Chuck
Roy Moore is a distraction hit piece. Maybe hes guilty, maybe hes not. But what they are trying to distract from is FAR worse.
If you have not heard of "Pizzagate", it is large scale child rape and murder, and is VERY real. It involves everyone from politicians (mainly on the Left), Royalty, bankers, etc, etc. Not only that, but it is of a Satanic nature.
For those unaware, the Clinton computer server scandal had very much to do with this, as well as selling Uranium to Russia/China.
The Clinton Foundation has been trafficking children, and will use ANY distraction to take away from their own guilt.
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John Owens
I think you are correct, Chuck. This is the modus operandi of the Left. Distract, distract, distract. When you are exposed, distract more forcefully.
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biblical scholar
There is only one reaction one can have to Pizzagate truthers: https://media.giphy.com/media/10JhviFuU2gWD6/giphy.gif
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John Owens
Wow! Good one, Ramona. It's not as if the Left didn't say the Monica Lowenski scandal did NOT interfere with slick Willy's ability to execute his office. It's not like NPR has been totally ignoring the Menendez trial until the mistrial yesterday, while harping on Roy Moore 4 times every thirty minutes. NO NO NO. NPR is not biased, and they are not obfuscating. They are much too civilized and noble for that.
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biblical scholar
WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH PIZZAGATE
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biblical scholar
Are you seriously incapable of answering a single question without bringing up Bill Clinton?! You've mentioned him over 10 times in just this comments section. You have Clinton tourettes!
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John Owens
I didn't mention Bill Clinton in this one, Ramona. You must be fantasizing about him.
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biblical scholar
"It’s not as if the Left didn’t say the Monica Lowenski scandal did NOT interfere with slick Willy’s ability to execute his office."
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John Owens
She can almost count.
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John Owens
Did I mention Pizzagate?
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John Owens
I was demonstrating BIAS. There is bias in what is even reported, and more in HOW it is reported and HOW OFTEN it is repeated. Even a die-hard leftist should be able to see that.
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Chuck
Dr. Ramona....... stop defending pedophiles just because they LARGELY belong to YOUR party. Theres only one way to respond to Libtards who think their party is innocent of all sexual misdeeds.
Pizzagate is VERY real, and before Trump goes he will be exposing it.
http://www.theamericanmirror.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Bill-Clinton-bed.jpg
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Johnny Doeseph
I'm not going to take a side on the political part, but I can't see Hollywood recovering. With so many famous people committing such illegal acts, and with all but a select few movies that came out this year (except for IT, Wonder Woman, that's about all,) being complete box office flops.
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John Owens
Johnny, I graduated High School in 1975. In Democracy class (a Democrat-inspired brainwashing tool), we were taught that Senator McCarthy was an evil or mislead man, oppressing artists and conducting an Inquisition-style witch hunt. By 1985 I realized that my textbooks and teachers had lied. McCarthy was on the right path, and should have been more ruthless. We would all have been better off.
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Chuck
You are correct....... education was infiltrated by Commies long ago. US History and civics were replaced by "social studies" (socialist studies).
McCarthy was right on, but Liberal law makers squashed the office of Communist Activities in America. We are in a slow take over.
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John Owens
Thank you, Chuck.
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Carl Elfstrom
Regardless of everything else said,everyone changes. Nobody has ever stayed the same. I believe I have heard that every cell in our bodies change every seven years. It may take longer for the way we think,/but I know I'm nothing like I was forty years ago (when I was fourteen), and can't imagine anyone being the same person now as that long ago. Back then, regardless of the year, I knew some girls who liked being submissive to me while I dominated them.Now however, I do whatever they tell me to do, so they won't discipline me too severely,or report me for having dominating them forty years ago, when they loved it. It was only a game we played in the bedroom anyway, while listening to that song "When We Get Behind Closed Doors". Nobody is supposed to take that stuff seriously. It's like locker room banter. Then again, this could be another way the Russians are affecting our elections. Maybe through mental telepathy or mass hypnosis this time. If you really want to know the truth, there once was a thing called sodium pentethol. And what about bamboo shoots under the nails? I wonder what Mulder and Scully would do in a case like this?
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The Doctor
So much what aboutism here from the radical christian republicans. So much blame the possible victim and treat them as a liar and perp. So many who dont understand that innocent until proven guilty is not part of the foundation but an add on after the fact that largely has always been ignored by law enforcement any ways as any one with a LEO in the family will tell you stories of being taught to shoot first and question second.
Recently an actor Jeremy Piven was among actors accused in his case by 3 women, he himself said that with 3 to one the onus was on him for it was not a simple he said she said. So he took a polygraph that he cleared to help prove himself to the public and his fans,, and then challenged his accusers to do the same. They all backed off and the charges have been dropped.
Had Roy Moore done something like that instead of going on record saying if he had dated anyone under age that due to his being a man so old he cant even trust his memory clearly to have dated or asked out he surely is certain he had asked their mothers permission. That right there is pretty self damning to any objective observer.
As for Bill and Hill Dog no charges have been able to stick, no credible witness found, no evidence to support the constant allegations. And Monnie Lew? She wrote in her own memoirs published about it that she always intended to do just what she did to whoever she found and had actually been the office Hoover vac for many to build a reputation as a safe suck. She effectively willfully with intent meant to undermine a presidency which some might call an act of treason.
The judgemental nature of many trying to pretend to be the open minded in here from the radical christian republicans intent on returning to a nation of bigotry is disgusting in the extreme. No true christian would talk as the ones here are speaking.
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John Owens
There is no such creature as a radical Christian republican. I don't even know who invented that. Just saying. I think Roy Moore OR his accusers should do what Jeremy Piven did. I have said it all along.
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Chuck
Exactly John Owens.....no such thing as "radical Christian Republic". Radical refers to all things non-organic or non-peaceful....such as fanatical Islam, or fanatical Leftist American Socialism. All go against the founding principles of where they originate.
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Chuck
Its very simple....... Liberalism (socialism) is full of sexual abusers and pedophiles, as Leftism is the Left Hand Path (Satanism). So they found one guy (Roy Moore) to distract from their own activities.
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Timothy Carlstead
The sexual harassment crap against Roy Moore is all political stunt. See the woman who had the year book is the same age as Moore that tells you it is fake. Think about it something like this happened before the 2016 presidential election. Women came out against Trump but a 75-86 year old woman gave away the act. Trump wouldn't have done that to a lady like that older he would have done that to a younger woman. Th woman who had the year book is the same age as Moore and had crocodile tears (no tears at all). She said that he wrote something in her year book and so what he said Merry Christmas oh no call the cops. The same thing against Bush Senior it is all fake too all these women are money hungry its all fake. Why wait 20 or 40 years you could have ruined their career before it even started. You could have ended their career before it started but no you felt afraid oh phooey its just talk and it didn't happen.
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Jerry
Not sure I appreciate this blog I see has much issues. "Was pulling the “Mary and Joseph card” really the best defense?" - a reminder that Mary had a virgin birth, so the argument is a bit sideways. But sure, concepts of the time of Mary and Joseph are not the concepts of today - today, we tend to believe that children should be protected and educated (not slaved labored and bused), that maturity is required for an age of consent and so on. Netflix did not necessarily terminated Spacey's contract because they did not think the American public could stomach a president accused of sexual assault (I got the hint, thank you) but because companies do not want to be associated with potential sexual abusers and/or predators (which is not good for their image rather than a moral stand). Finally, this thread is full of accusation toward liberals - if they have the courage to come forward or step down and conservative do not (or "pray" to get absolution but continue to hold office), who exactly stand on high ground here?
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rabbi jim
You all have presented good valid comments here. But still, it all comes down to the accused and the accuser. Both or either can be equally evil in their ways and means. Sexual abuse IS a terrible evil thing. But, how can it be proven, and more importantly, how can it be prevented in society? Shalom!
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Josand Agencies
Human being was created with some animal characters, no wonder we hear of such cases of grown up people who reasons like animals if not worse.
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John Owens
Why are we not surprised?
Typical fight the authority issues. Everyone wants to make a clown of someone. Seems like lately, the left is paying the price on all fronts. They are eating their own and trying to incriminate every person on the right that can be pointed out. Just my simple opinion.
Don't politicize this. I agree that many of these recent allegations involve people on the left, but their political affiliation is not related to to their actions. It's people in a position of power that take advantage of subordinates. This is nothing new. Many people across many industries - media, corporations, etc - see this stuff happen and have not been able to speak up. The difference is that the whistle blowers are gaining momentum now that it's a trending topic. I hope more are outed for their actions and it reaches a point where a person is never required to make difficult career decisions (the casting couch) on their way to success.
It IS politicized. Roy Moore is being roasted on this very blog as well as the news. Just this morning, I listened to NPR reporting pure GOSSIP on the way in to work this morning, telling that "people in Etowah County said his propensity to flirt with young women was common knowledge."
Because a handful of women are saying it happened, half the court of public opinion has found him guilty with no evidence whatsoever, but it appears the establishment is just trying to protect and perpetuate itself here. Moore was nominated by the voters because they reject McConnell and Luther Strange. It appears that the Establishment will stop at nothing to get what it wants. McConnell would rather the Democrat candidate win than Moore, because all of the Establishment, Democrat and Republican, are bedfellows.
I think it's horrible when older men OR women covet those who are too young. Pedophilia is a hideous sin/crime that should not go unpunished. Any exploitation by those in dominant position is filthy and criminal. However, these accusations against Moore are opportunistic and perfectly timed to steal the election from him.
If his accusers would pass a polygraph, I would accept his resignation. Short of that, it is slander and libel, and a gross miscarriage of the electoral system.
I agree that it is politicized. But I am making the point that it should not be. People are trying to claim that their political party is the correct party. You got leftist saying people on the right do bad things, and vice versa. Can't make a claim like that without checking the people in your own party and what they have done. The counter argument to Roy Moore is Bill Clinton. But so what? The point is: your political affiliation is not the driver for the actions and it does not represent a political party. It's humans doing bad things by their own independent will.
I agree that Weinstein is a bad egg. I am not yet ready to agree that Roy Moore is. THAT is my point on the politicizing. The whole thing is timed to keep him out of the US Senate. No one can possibly honestly deny that. I'm not saying he is a saint. I don't know. Nobody to the left of center cared that Clinton ejaculated on Monica's dress, or that he took advantage of other women. They were perfectly willing to overlook that. Those same people are acrimoniously condemning Roy Moore. That is political IN THE CONDMENATION without evidence of one, and lack thereof on the other when there was evidence. The sin/crime is not political. The judgmentalism is. The same ones who say Christians are too judgmental.
This is the argument I was hoping we wouldn't reach, but it's good that you did mention it so if anyone reading this who shares that opinion can get some clarification.
The timing of these allegations against Moore were completely tactical - true. It's unfortunate that there isn't another Republican candidate ready to take his place. But we cannot just sweep his poor choices under the rug for "the greater good". That is bad logic. And, we cannot stoop to the Dem's level by being OK with it, as they did with Bill Clinton. We should condemn bad behavior, cut our losses, and show America that Republicans seek to be the party for the good of its people. We may have lost this battle, but we will win the war on our freedom and liberty.
Now, if anyone reading this says "well what about Trump, isn't he just as bad as Moore?". Right, he isn't the ideal candidate either, but what other choice did we have? Hillary Clinton? I think everyone who voted for Trump can agree that at least one reason he won was because he was the lesser of two evils.
Gilbert, I appreciate your reasoning, but I still think people WANT to give Moore's accusers more credence than the evidence warrants. Just being accused does not mean guilty. They want him out so that an Establishment drone can be put into office--either the leftist Democrat who wants us to all stampede hysterically off a cliff or the Washington insider Republican who wants to march slowly off the same cliff in an orderly and dignified fashion.
If Moore came out and said he was guilty of the things of which he has been accused, I would still vote for him over a Democrat, because Democrats are the enemies of personal liberty, personal responsibility and personal property. The actions being alleged were 40 years ago and his actions since then would strongly indicate repentance. Moore's opponent has stated that he wants to do what the Democratic party wants to do, and not what the people of Alabama want to do. That makes him a much worse choice than Roy Moore.
Thanks for your comment. It makes me sad to see Roy Moore's picture on this....what ever happened to innocent until proven guilty? It supposedly happened almost 40 years ago but two weeks before an election someone accuses him....come on people.....stop the madness. I think most people who want to see, do see exactly what is going on.
What ever happened to ... Due Process?
"Innocent until proven guilty" died the moment America decided to settle every matter with death and destruction, instead of debate and dialog. We've been fighting our own shadows for so long that we don't even remember who started the mess -- or care, judging from the blood in everyone's eyes.
Even actively deciding to practice reason, non-violence, and self-accountability, automatically makes you guilty in the court of public opinion. People haven't seen good character in action, so it's seen as suspect behavior.
Is there a problem with power being used to silence victims? Yes. But while the move to clean up Hollywood is a good start, and I definitely applaud it, the understandable anger is currently reaching the level of lynch mob mentality.
The matter has become such a lightning rod for violence that male SA, CA, SCA, and trafficking survivors are terrified to speak out now, even in support of the women who also suffered at the hand of Weinstein's friends.
Weinstein's the bad guy. Don't make the SOB a saint.
I agree. If you’re going to include political players, where’s Trump in your collage?
...and Slick Willy?
How many women have to come forward before you consider what they are saying. It seems to me that more than a "hand full" should be enough to take their accusations seriously. Secondly, instead of his accusers taking a polygraph test, perhaps he should!
The accuser should have to take the polygraph FIRST. Period. Otherwise, the accused is guilty until proven innocent, which goes against everything this country represents. Let me ask you this: How many accusers testified against Jesus at the High Priest's kangaroo court? How many against Apostle Paul before Herod, or Felix? EVIDENCE, woman, EVIDENCE!
Just a observation and a correction. In regards to "pedophilia" and all of those being accused of sexual misconduct. Not one, have I heard of involved pedophilia activity. Most think incorrectly that sexual activity with someone under the legal age is a pedophile. But pedophilia activity only applies if the victim is under the age of puberty (approx. 10 years old and younger). As far as believing something or someone if they passed a polygraph, that would be a mistake. I personally have taken and tested about 7 polygraph test and they are truly, in and of themselves useless. I delibertly lied on everyone and was never caught doing so. That is why they are not allowed as evidence in courts. Where polygraphs are very useful is in the hands of a good interrogator he/she can get the person to confess to things that they might not do so otherwise because they are afraid they somehow got caught lying or that they will get caught lying. It is the interrogation that works, not the polygraph equipment.
...and that is how the polygraph works-- the person being interrogated gives away what they are trying to hide-- or not, if they are being truthful. The graph is just a tool or gauge to point the interrogator in the right direction. Most people are perhaps not as good at lying as you may be.
The point being, if the accuser is not willing to take one, that implies she (they) are lying or exaggerating, and therefore the accusation should be nullified. The fact is that nothing can be PROVEN either way. SO THE RUSH TO CONDEMN HIM IS PRESUMPTIVE, ARBITRARY, PERSECUTORY.
As for your definition of pedophilia-- technically, I agree, BUT-- someone I know has a daughter who is twelve years old, quite tall for her age, athletic, pretty in an exotic way (part Polynesian), and appears to be probably a few years older than she is. If ANY grown man messes with that girl knowing her age, for all intents and purposes, it would be child molestation, even if she was willing, because she is so young. He would need to be in fear for his life here where we live.
John I agree with you and understand . I have a 14 year old daughter who looks closer to 20. Tall, beautiful, etc.
john owens yeah the fact that he was banned from a mall for hitting on little girls doesnt mean anything! first off the mall was asking for it. the doors were wide open and there were little kids inside. tell me that isnt asking for it - who is really at fault?! second, if the mall wasnt lying about this, why did it wait 40 years to ban him in the 1970s? seems too convenient that I'm just now hearing about this while roy moore is running for office. why wont the mall take a polygraph? blah blah blah clinton blah blah blah illuminati blah blah fooooooaaaaaaammmmm
I think you shot down your own sarcasm, Nick. Might want to cut down on those energy drinks.
The people who managed the mall said they have no memory of any such ban.
John Owens. You used the word pedophilia. Are you implying that Roy Moore has a sexual attraction to the pre pubescent. That is after all the definition of pedophilia
I never suggested that in regards to Roy Moore. Others have, but not I.
AND JAMES WHAT if THAT SOMEONE WAS and STILL is a DANGEROUS CLOWN, ROY * CHUCKY * MOORE, DUMP the ORANGUtRUMP DOTAR and HIS VILLAGE of IDIOT CLOWNS !!!
The law is clear, the definition of crime is clear. Evidence of a crime is a necessity. A crime is an act against Another person where they are injured. Not wait until they are running for politic office 50 years later to cry out. If you can't prove it, sorry Charlie. It's slander until you can.
Agree with you 100%. The basic tenet of law is that you are innocent until proven guilty. Yet as soon as someone somewhere opens their mouth a person's reputation and career is destroyed by the media without any evidence or proof offered. Also, can someone define what exactly is sexual harassment for me? It seems to mean different things to different people.
It's like "social justice." It means whatever the people crying about it want it to mean. If you ask a chick out, or tell her she looks nice, or you like her hair, that's not sexual harassment. BUT-- if a feminazi HEARS you do that to another woman, SHE will say it IS sexual harassment. Or a chick will flirt and bat her eyes and imply desire until you tell her you are happily married and faithful to your wife, and THEN she will say you harassed her.
Let's just believe to Jesus...