Sexual misconduct

One of the problems of living in a hyper-partisan society is that many of us seem unable to make reasonable judgements.  A perfect example is the attempt to equate the child molester Roy Moore with the boorish pig Al Franken.  

In the interests of rational debate, I’ll try to set up a continuum.  At the one end, I’ll put the case that was recently reported in the Morning Call about a guy who raped a baby.  A baby!  As a member of a jury, I’d go for life in prison on that one, no problem.  

Then we have Harvey Weinstein, who not only exposed himself, but evidently raped women.  (By the way, Donald Trump, President of the United States, has also been accused of this crime.)

Roy Moore’s crime ranks fairly high on the continuum.  It’s obvious that he was involved in what is defined as child abuse.  If you are 15 it’s ok to ask out a 14-year-old, but not when you are in your 30s.  

I will admit that times are changing.  Fifty years ago the idea that a husband could rape his wife would have been seen as nonsense.  According to an article in Time, the first successful prosecution of marital rape occurred in 1979.  I believe at one time grabbing a woman’s butt was regarded as “playful” by many men and a very few women, although I don’t ever recall it was acceptable to “grab them by the pussy,” which Donald Trump, President of the United States, bragged about.

Where you stand on how much punishment should be meted out to men at various points on the continuum is both a legal and a personal judgement.  I personally think someone guilty of pedophilia should not serve in the U.S. Senate.  Someone guilty of forcing his tongue in an adult woman’s mouth certainly behaved in a disgusting manner and today, I believe, could be prosecuted for assault, although probably when Franken did it, it probably would not have been prosecuted.  

The point of this is that not all sexual misconduct is equivalent.  Use some judgement and common sense and put partisan politics aside.  If Toomey had done what Franken did, what would you be saying?  If a Democratic candidate had done what Moore had done, would you call on him (it’s always a him) to resign?  

In the child molestation case, yes.  In the forcible kiss case, I’m still thinking about it, although the fact that 14 of Franken’s female staff members have stated he has always treated them with respect makes me think he is not the same person he once was.  Let’s hope not.