I hope this hysteria ends soon, and when it does Democrats need to take a god hard look at themselves. We got rolled last year with the email bullshit and we’re getting rolled this year by “groping” allegations. What’s next?
Gullible to the point of absolute stupidity is no way to run a country. If we can’t pull our heads out of our asses and figure out how to not get played like this, we may very well end up with anther four years of Donald Trump, and we’ll deserve it.
Related: Leonard Lopate and Jonathan Schwartz were both suspended at WNYC yesterday, days after John Hockenberry got the axe. Looks like Silicon Valley is starting to clean out the predators, too, but I’m not too optimistic about that.
Yes and the cause of fighting (genuine) sexual harassment will have been set back decades.
A full explanation is necessary. A beloved public figure had his career ended. It may be that he deserved it. But the public deserves to know what is alleged, and to be able to judge whether what is alleged is credible. By holding back, MPR is destroying its own reputation.
But we don’t know what Lopate or Schwartz are accused of doing. And if the allegations are not disclosed, that will just provide fodder for the Donald Trumps and Roy Moores of this world to deny that anything ever happens.
Those of us, regardless of our political views, who believe in fairness to BOTH SIDES in these disputes should be clear:
A process of these kind of allegations and accusations is needed, and proportionate response is required.
Yeah, I think we’ve accomplished that already.
Believe the women
Treat the issue of assault with utmost seriousness
Obey the rule of law (including Constitutional due process)
None of these is intrinsically incompatible with the other.
Several other comments:
So are any of Keillor’s legions of fans at NPR standing up for him at all? Or are they all fine with him getting fired for touching someone’s back?
Keillor (reputedly) has a long history of acting like a jerk with respect to women, including repeated trading in of romantic partners for fancier models when their youth or business utility is done. MPR may have the problem of having covered for previous allegations in ways that leave the organization liable should they raise those occurrences as reasons for firing him.
You are hereby challenged to cite your sources for GK’s “long history.” If it’s that he has divorced and remarried, you’re alone in being scandalized.
I liked your comment simply for this. Not sure I agree with everything else.
Also, note that it isn’t just his career. It’s his whole body of work, and it’s not just his, it is all his crew and performers and guests and people who sent in those happy anniversary notes he read mid-show. It’s also his listeners. This is burning down the museum because someone said they spotted a forgery.
What repulsive moralistic bullcrap. Take your moralistic superciliousness and cram it up your butt. You have no business passing judgement on your betters.
Well, that’s an explanation that makes more sense than anything else I’ve heard. And yes, he does have a reputation of acting like a jerk, or actually, of being difficult to work with at times (who doesn’t?). But if he’d ever had a reputation of being a harasser that’s news to me.
I’m really curious to know what is going on at MPR.
What bothers me about how MPR is handling this is the expunging of decades’ work by myriad -other- individuals who worked alongside Keillor. As I understand it, episodes of PHC featuring Keillor are to be unavailable henceforth. This is a shockingly unfair approach.
Keillor’s case might be a way to more carefully explore how to deal with situations involving a single personage whose transgressions cast a shadow of the good work of many others. As well, as we explore this issue we’re going to be faced with hard decisions. Pablo Picasso’s treatment of women was dismal, awful. But should we go as far as to remove works such as “Guernica” from public view, to punish a dead man? It’s an open question at the moment.
like x 100
Christ, this is getting to be ridiculous - touching a back to console then apologizing is grounds for dismissal.
Pure speculation like yours demands proof. How do you know MPR powers that be aren’t just getting rid of a popular show they don’t like or maybe a paycheck they don’t want to pay. In the case of a public figure who will suffer far beyond the loss of his job the burden should be MPR to prove their charge. By the way being a jerk is not a capital offense.
“… PROPORTIONALITY…”
Should be common sense, but it ain’t. If one tries to argue this, one is labeled an enabler or someone excusing or condoning a behavior. Even homicide has degrees: 1st, 2nd, 3rd or manslaughter.
Ditto for assault: With weapon, without weapon, a push or shove, a punch etc.
Every woman I know has a story and I believe every one of them.
Those I’ve heard commenting on this current discussion seem to be of this same mind as you articulate.
I’m glad I’m out of the work world. Before I left about 10 years ago, my interactions with female co workers were downright sterile. And if they thought I was an unfriendly stiff, too bad.They deserve their dignity. So do I.