Sexual Abuse Pretzel Twisting
Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders has said, in essence, that it is better to support a sexual abuser who denies his molestation than to support one who admits his sexual abuse, apologizes for it, and in the case of Sen. Al Franken, even welcomes a Senate ethics investigation. Franken's unwelcome sexual advance pales in comparison to the allegations made against Donald Trump and aspiring U.S. senator Roy Moore. The allegations made against Roy Moore now involve nine women and one is a claim that Moore sexually violated a 14-year-old. The allegations against Moore are buttressed by a signed yearbook -- under some dispute as to authenticity -- and the statements made by two policemen who patrolled the mall, and two workers inside the mall, that Moore was known for cruising the mall to try to pick up teenage girls.
The number of women who have accused Donald Trump of unwelcome sexual advances varying in severity, varies in media accounts; however, MSNBC has put up 15 pictures and names, and has even posted portions of their statements -- I'm not sure if that number includes the 13-year-old who has accused Trump of rape, but has withdrawn her criminal complaint due to claimed death threats. It also may not include the woman who is currently suing Trump for his behavior toward her on "The Apprentice" show. She is asking for an apology only, not money. Nonetheless, Trump has said all these women are liars, as are the five people who they told their stories to at the times of the incidents. If we include the three African American women who disputed Trump's account of the condolence call in the death of Sgt. La David Johnson, that makes 23 people who are liars and Trump the only truth-teller. During the campaign, Donald Trump promised he would shortly produce the proof that the women were lying, and later said he would also sue them. Neither promise has been fulfilled.
Sen. Franken's self-accepted improper sexual behavior consists of one woman's description of him putting his tongue in her mouth and the picture of Franken with his hands cupped over the same woman's covered breasts. Strengthening the case that this is a planned skit at a USO shoe in 2006 is the fact that Franken is smiling at the camera, and to the left of the woman is a man also sitting in a chair with his eyes closed. Nonetheless, Franken has accepted his behavior as very improper and has apologized, both publicly and in a letter.
What spokesperson Sanders is saying is that if you admit to no wrongdoing, no wrongdoing was done. President Trump has said that if the women are telling the truth about Roy Moore, he will weigh in with a further statement about his position on Moore. Another White House spokesperson has said that since Trump is not campaigning for Moore, that indicates his disapproval. Trying to read tea leaves about Trump doesn't cut the cake. What is needed is whether or not Trump believes that Roy Moore should exit the campaign.
What has been revealed in this whole Roy Moore matter is how far the Republicans have departed from Sen. John McCain's "regular order." They refused to even have a hearing on President Obama's nominee for a Supreme Court justice; they tried to ram through ACA repeal and replace with virtually no committee hearings in either the Senate or the House; they amended their repeal and replace bill in the White House with only Trump and two lawmakers present; and they are now trying to ram through a major tax cut bill with as little consideration as possible.
In regard to Roy Moore, the GOP has: 1. Tried to have the Alabama governor change the date of the special election; 2. Do a write-in campaign with either Luther Strange or Jeff Sessions; and 3. Have Sen. Luther Strange resign now and do a special election to pick a successor. Conservative commentator Hugh Hewitt has even suggested just cancelling the election in Alabama. It is an open question if the U.S. governmental structure can survive the many norms for it that the GOP is trying to destroy.
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