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Jun
17
The Boston Globe seems to have the verbal switchbacking correct:
Democrats are incessantly hammering John McCain over a Texas money man, Clayton Williams, who notoriously compared rape to bad weather in an off-color quip during a 1990 campaign against Governor Ann Richards.
According to various media reports, McCain’s campaign initially cancelled the fund-raising event, scheduled for today. Then, it said it would keep the $300,000-plus that Williams had raised, saying it had come from supporters, not the oilman himself. Then, the campaign said the event had been postponed, not entirely cancelled. The latest is that the event will happen, only without Williams, who said in 1990 about rape: “As long as it’s inevitable, you might as well lie back and enjoy it.”
But let’s get one thing absolutely clear: Rural Votes broke this incident on Friday, 6/13/08. I posted about it within an extremely short time of when the word of mouth began and posted it on Progress Ohio as well, on 6/13. The DNC followed up with information about it on Sunday, 6/15. And now everyone is writing about it.
The attribution is nice but never expected. What’s most important to remember is that it’s the feelings and expression of those of us who pay attention and care at a gut, everyday level – because we’re Americans and women and human and are not part of the traditional media – that sense how wretched situations like this should impact the people involved.
John McCain’s campaign has completely bumbled this incident and if you think that won’t be the case for the next several months or when he is in office, then you must not care about anything anymore.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 7:39 am June 17th, 2008 in Blogging, Campaigning, Culture, Elections, Gender, John McCain, Media, Politics, Republicans, Sexism, WH2008, Women
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12 Responses to “McCain-Williams-rape fundraiser fiasco: blogging at its best”
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I remember the comment at issue, and it’s kind of amazing that the McCain campaign would take money from this guy. How could that comment not be on their radar screen? Money talks, I guess.
It’s not Clayton Williams ever left a woman to drown to her death in his Buick, unlike a certain revered lion of the Senate.
William said a terrible thing as a lame joke 18 years ago and he still can’t live it down. What a shame.
Funny how history works, if Williams had beaten Richards then George W. Bush would not have been governor until 1998 at the earliest, and therefor would not be president today.
The comment at issue goes beyond a mere lame joke.
And no one else is at issue, just McCain and Williams.
John McCain is an openly anti Roe candidate, who if elected, will have the power to appoint new justices to the Supreme Court.
The deep moral line is McCain does not place women’s concerns high on his list of priorities, if indeed, they are on his radar at all.
-Thanks for posting this Jill. You are a voice of resonance for our civil liberties.
Shalom Jill,
Five questions:
Has Williams publicly apologized for his statement?
Has Williams made restitution in a real way for his statement?
Has Williams repeated the statement or similar statements?
Do we truly believe in the possibility of tesuvah (turning toward the good) and forgiveness?
If we don’t, what are we?
B’shalom,
Jeff
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From #5:
Has Williams publicly apologized for his statement? My understanding is that in 1990, he did say he was sorry for what he said.
Has Williams made restitution in a real way for his statement? You’d have to define real way but as far as I know, no.
Has Williams repeated the statement or similar statements? I do not know.
Do we truly believe in the possibility of tesuvah (turning toward the good) and forgiveness? I cannot speak for anyone else but I try and as far as Williams goes, the issue isn’t him as much as it is McCain. If Williams is clean, I would expect McCain’s campaign to defend him and publicize that the person has done all the things you just outlined. I’ve not seen that.
If we don’t, what are we? Bad Jews? Bad people? People who still need to do mitzvot, which we are anyway?
Since I’m not Jewish nor running for President I don’t let anything go for McCain or his corrupt circle. How exactly could he make resititution? Unrape a woman? This crap speaks to character and considering who is tied to whom, I’d say rehabilitation has not occurred.
Shalom Jill,
Making it right in a real way might involve: volunteering time and money to fund a rape crisis center, speaking at business meetings about rape awareness or establishing an educational program for teens on rape, to suggest a few possibilities.
The essential piece is to heal the damage done.
As to the role of the McCain Campaign, I don’t expect the Public Relations types to get behind the idea of supporting Williams because they know that it would be a losing proposition.
And that saddens me.
We talk a great deal about a rule of Law, forgiveness and rehabilitation, but we don’t practice any of the above if it interferes with our personal reality structure.
As to who we are, we are imperfect humans. What may sets some apart from others is whether or not we strive toward perfection.
B’shalom,
Jeff
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#8 I agree with you Chuck.
Thanks, Jeff. Those are important reflections. I can only hope to strive in the areas you mention even when my experience has been that the object of my efforts wants to self-destruct anyway. Still, again, just as Williams’ desire to give money to McCain doesn’t dictate what McCain can choose to do, I too can choose to keep doing rather than get discouraged.