Angelus
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In states, legislators face flood of harassment allegations
In states, legislators face flood of harassment allegations The powerful chairman of the Arizona state House Appropriations Committee was suspended from his post on Friday after eight women accused him of inappropriate sexual advances. The lawmaker, Rep. Don Shooter (R), is one of more than a dozen state legislators who face allegations of sexual harassment or improper behavior in capitals across the country, as female lawmakers, lobbyists and staff increasingly speak up about what many call a pervasive culture of mistreatment.
Despite the multiple allegations, Arizona House Speaker J.D. Mesnard (R) did not suspend Shooter until several hours after he was contacted for a response to criticism from a fellow Republican lawmaker who has alleged Shooter harassed her. That lawmaker, state Rep. Michelle Ugenti-Rita (R), is one of three legislators to publicly accuse Shooter of harassment. State Reps. Wenona Benally (D) and Athena Salman (D) have also made public allegations against him.
Ugenti-Rita said she had been harassed by Shooter for years and repeatedly brought her allegations to House leadership.
So it's crossing party lines all over the place now. Democrats and Republicans are being accused - Democrats and Republicans are accusers. What was once an accepted behavior is no longer acceptable. Business as usual will not be accepted any longer by those who have been harassed. Thus far it's women, but I suspect some men will be speaking out as well.
Maybe our legislators need the same rules used in the average elementary school classroom - treat everyone with respect. How hard is it to refrain from telling another legislator that you want to have sex with them? How hard is it to back off once they tell you that they are not interested? If legislators can't manage that, then do they really have enough self control to do their jobs?
And if you are reflexively against the idea that there are just women complaining - what about the male legislator who complained that a senior member of his party repeatedly asked him for a blow job?
Granted, Moore is accused of molesting teens - so his offense is far more serious. But now that the floodgates are open I think we will find that this is not an issue for one party alone.
In states, legislators face flood of harassment allegations The powerful chairman of the Arizona state House Appropriations Committee was suspended from his post on Friday after eight women accused him of inappropriate sexual advances. The lawmaker, Rep. Don Shooter (R), is one of more than a dozen state legislators who face allegations of sexual harassment or improper behavior in capitals across the country, as female lawmakers, lobbyists and staff increasingly speak up about what many call a pervasive culture of mistreatment.
Despite the multiple allegations, Arizona House Speaker J.D. Mesnard (R) did not suspend Shooter until several hours after he was contacted for a response to criticism from a fellow Republican lawmaker who has alleged Shooter harassed her. That lawmaker, state Rep. Michelle Ugenti-Rita (R), is one of three legislators to publicly accuse Shooter of harassment. State Reps. Wenona Benally (D) and Athena Salman (D) have also made public allegations against him.
Ugenti-Rita said she had been harassed by Shooter for years and repeatedly brought her allegations to House leadership.
So it's crossing party lines all over the place now. Democrats and Republicans are being accused - Democrats and Republicans are accusers. What was once an accepted behavior is no longer acceptable. Business as usual will not be accepted any longer by those who have been harassed. Thus far it's women, but I suspect some men will be speaking out as well.
Maybe our legislators need the same rules used in the average elementary school classroom - treat everyone with respect. How hard is it to refrain from telling another legislator that you want to have sex with them? How hard is it to back off once they tell you that they are not interested? If legislators can't manage that, then do they really have enough self control to do their jobs?
And if you are reflexively against the idea that there are just women complaining - what about the male legislator who complained that a senior member of his party repeatedly asked him for a blow job?
Granted, Moore is accused of molesting teens - so his offense is far more serious. But now that the floodgates are open I think we will find that this is not an issue for one party alone.
