Ricochet is the best place on the internet to discuss the issues of the day, either through commenting on posts or writing your own for our active and dynamic community in a fully moderated environment. In addition, the Ricochet Audio Network offers over 50 original podcasts with new episodes released every day.
When Is “Sexual Assault” Not Sexual Assault?
Let’s look at two pictures side by side and see if we can tell how they’re different. In one panel, we see a famous TV political analyst who apparently had the charming habit of pressing his erect, if clothed, penis against the bodies of young women who worked with and for him. That was Mark Halperin.
In the second panel, we have former president George H. W. Bush, in a wheelchair, age 90, posing for a photo with a number of others, including his wife Barbara, and an actress called Heather Lind. Lind says she felt moved to share her trauma after seeing the benefit concert for Hurricane Harvey relief in which five former presidents participated. It seems that people are unaware of President Bush’s criminal record:
But when I got the chance to meet George H. W. Bush four years ago to promote a historical television show I was working on, he sexually assaulted me while I was posing for a similar photo.
He didn’t shake my hand. He touched me from behind from his wheelchair with his wife Barbara Bush by his side. He told me a dirty joke.
And then, all the while being photographed, touched me again. Barbara rolled her eyes as if to say ‘not again.’
Fortunately, Lind immediately related the outrage to her “fellow cast-mates and producers” who “helped me that day and continue to support me. I am grateful for the bravery of other women who have spoken up and written about their experiences.”
Ah, yes, the brave women who stand up to sweet, 90-something guys with a form of Parkinson’s. The brave women who put those completely honorable, polite, and respectful guys who were war heroes and served their country in their place.
Sorry, Ms Lind, you’re not brave. You’re a twit. At the very worst, Bush did something tasteless. As you admit, the cameras were rolling the whole time. How awful can it have been? He’s very old. People’s judgment declines, especially if they’re unwell. But you’ve made a fool of yourself for equating a pat on the tush from someone who couldn’t possibly do you any harm, to “sexual assault.” You are either hysterical or cynical. I’m guessing the latter. You figured you’d jump on today’s bandwagon and grab your moment in the spotlight. Instead, you’ve embarrassed yourself.
What must the women Halperin targeted think when they compare their situations with Lind’s? A woman who had worked with Halperin in 2004, when he was political director of ABC News, described a meeting in his office:
The first meeting I ever had with him was in his office and he just came up from behind — I was sitting in a chair from across his desk — and he came up behind me and [while he was clothed] he pressed his body on mine, his penis, on my shoulder. I was obviously completely shocked. I can’t even remember how I got out of there — [but] I got out of there and was freaked out by that whole experience. Given I was so young and new I wasn’t sure if that was the sort of thing that was expected of you if you wanted something from a male figure in news.
There are several reasons to take the story about Halperin seriously – as MSNBC clearly does in announcing his temporary departure from the network. One is that five women have offered very similar stories. Another is that Halperin, while quibbling over details, does not really deny the allegations.
During this period, I did pursue relationships with women that I worked with, including some junior to me. I now understand from these accounts that my behavior was inappropriate and caused others pain. For that, I am deeply sorry and I apologize. Under the circumstances, I’m going to take a step back from my day-to-day work while I properly deal with this situation.
Sorry Mr. Halperin, you don’t “pursue relationships” by grabbing women and pressing yourself on them. As much of a turn on as it may be for you, it’s a violation for them. “I now understand”? No. You always understood. Of course you did. You know that everyone deserves respect, and that women in particular should never have their dignity compromised in the way you apparently did.
What Halperin is accused of, if true, is squalid. The story about Bush, though, demonstrates how common sense flies out the window once the pack is in full cry.
Published in General
There’s video on YouTube from ten years ago of Bush vigorous people patting Teri Hatcher on the backside. I would definitely not call it assault, but it’s weird. Maybe there’s video of him doing the same thing to Dan Quayle, I don’t know.
Most of the time.
Mona,
You seem to be adjudicating these cases. Here is a third case. In it, I find the woman’s claims dubious.
When I was nineteen years old, Elie Wiesel grabbed my ass.
First, her story is a single incident that happened in a crowd of people for no more than a second that can’t be verified by anyone. Second, her essay is close to 4,000 words. In the essay, she makes almost every feminist accusation against men that has ever been stated. Of course, the only actual incident mentioned is the one with the Nobel Prize winner grabbing her ass. She also includes almost every detail of emotional damage ever claimed by women in these situations as if she is quoting from a book or some feminist pamphlet. She is relentless in her detail. She dressed as an Orthodox woman even though she wasn’t Orthodox. She assumes he took advantage of her because he thought she was Orthodox and wouldn’t complain. This is a very bizarre conclusion and reeks of contrivance. This woman claims a PhD in data visualization. I suspect she is aiming at another PhD in victimhood.
BTW, I have never particularly liked Elie Wiesel. I felt like he was exploiting his own victimhood a little too much. However, I find this near endless essay so over the top and so obviously the product of a sophisticated mind looking to score points that I really can’t believe it at all.
What is your judgment?
Regards,
Jim
It certainly seems that way sometimes.
Agreed. Halperin’s behavior was monstrous, and Pappy Bush’s was…something different.
Ms. Lind’s charge is ludicrous, but President Bush’s behavior was, nonetheless, inexcusable. His staff realized this, and acknowledged that similar behavior occurred somewhat regularly over a period of time to the discomfort of multiple women. To their credit, President Bush’s staff issued a forthright apology on his behalf:
A few words in the OP acknowledging that Mr. Bush’s behavior was beneath his dignity probably would have been appreciated by the many anonymous women who experienced unwelcome pats on the tush in photo ops with him.
I’m well familiar with Parkinson’s – it has galloped through many generations of my family. It robs people of so much.
#Metoo It appears that the sisterhood has a sizable cohort of twits
Twit. What a great word. The perfect description of that woman. She’s really a twit.
I’d love to see more people take on such me-too whiners. They diminish and cheapen the true sufferings of bona fide victims.
Thank you, Mona.
Why can’t Halperin and Bush both be wrong, to different degrees? I don’t want any old man patting women on the behinds without invitation, regardless of position or party.
I don’t think anyone’s said that Bush wasn’t/isn’t wrong – just that labeling what he did as being “sexual assualt” weakens the phrase.
Personally, I don’t think what he did was right or ok. But the fact of the matter is he was 89 at the time and probably not in control of all his faculties. And if that’s the case, any blame for the incident should be placed with his staff, not him. They should have taken measures to avoid or at the very least warned the women what might happen.
Add to his probable mental state the fact that he was confined to a wheelchair and the two were in the middle of a group rather than being alone by themselves, and I honestly don’t think his actions should be classified as “sexual assault”. Was what he did annoying? Apparently. Was it sexual assault, though? No, not even close.
Ms. Lind certainly did some things on “Boardwalk Empire” on HBO that would make the Bush family blush. Barbara would call it “porn” I’m sure.
But touching her on her buttocks is something that she would stay outraged about for four years? Really?
This callout of hers was just victimhood signaling. I am sure she’s a hit with her Leftist friends, and maybe her Agent is now returning her phone calls!
Don’t think sexual assault is quite the proper term for what either did. Maybe … unwanted touching of a sexual nature — would be better?
I wonder if she was wearing a provocative outfit which unduly enticed him…
Within the current hype over what men do to wimmins, do recall on many an occasion a woman grabbing my backside with serious intent and not for just grins. Found it rather suprising and tasteless with subsequent offers.
So I will take a pass on the current poor me project with a paycheck in mind. Rather have come to embrace being older, wiser and able to see what is in front of your very eyes. So call it out for what it is, if you can. Bet no one will.