McCain's Leadership Problem

by: Matt Stoller

Sat Jun 14, 2008 at 14:49


Many people have discussed the major McCain fundraiser Clayton Williams, who said in his campaign against Ann Richards that that rape is like the weather, "As long as it's inevitable, you might as well lie back and enjoy it."  McCain canceled the event after the media heard that McCain had raised $300k from Williams.

I'm with Tracy Russo and McJoan:

He should donate every single dirty dollar that this man has raised for him - all $300,000 - to an organization working to combat rape in our society - like RAINN or RVA.

It's hard to discuss rape, because even the mention of the word brings up any number of defense mechanisms, from a sensibility that it isn't polite to discuss it to a strong awakening of painful memories.  Well-heeled universities and institutions like the military have documented histories of covering up sexual assaults, even though rape is quite common and leads to symptoms like depression, drug abuse, and PTSD.  For some context, 1 in 6 women is sexually assaulted, and only 6% of rapists will spend any time in jail.  Someone is raped every two minutes in this country.
Matt Stoller :: McCain's Leadership Problem

McCain knows the importance of leadership and honor, especially in those at the top.  If a leader tolerates rape as just another recreational event, even if he himself does not engage in that activity, that leader is contributing to a culture where abusing and crushing someone else's soul is an acknowledged and legitimate social activity for the powerful.  The President is first and foremost a moral symbol, a leader in whose person America places its trust.  McCain, by only breaking ties with a strong financial backer who treats rape as a trivial activity after the media caught him, is showing that trust in him would be woefully misplaced.

This is not a partisan gripe, and I would praise McCain is he did what Russo suggests, and gave the money to a charity that focuses on rape victims.  Rape is a great evil, with 60% of rapes going unreported.  Were McCain to acknowledge this scourge when few other leaders do so, he would show himself as man with integrity.  If not, well, even though the majority of the electorate is female, I would hope that both male and female voters would punish him at the polls and show our politicians that wanton cruelty from the top is not our America.

Tags: , , (All Tags)
Print Friendly View Send As Email
McCain's Leadership Problem | 7 comments
slightly off topic (0.00 / 0)
I have to praise Rep. Rich Boucher of Virginia's 9th district for his work as a state senator. Boucher was a former Commonwealth's Attorney (local prosecutor) who had difficulty with rape cases. He changed the rules of evidence in Virginia so that it was no longer possible to conduct character assassination against rape victims.

He struck a great blow for public safety, justice and the women of Virginia.

Thanks for posting this (0.00 / 0)
This is the type of perspecitive and issue that often doesn't make it to the front page here, so it is really nice to see.

It's also the type of issue that lots of "progressive" political junkies have truly retrograde views on. I don't have cable, but is this making big news? Rape is so horribly destructive and recieves so little attention in the mainstream, I'd love to see it getting a bit of focus.

I support John McCain because children are too healthy anyway.

Just wondering. (0.00 / 0)
What's going through the minds of those Hillary supporters who are vowing to vote for McCain because Obama is supposedly a misogynist?

A Compelling Rape Story (0.00 / 0)
Reporter Joanna Connors wrote a very compelling story about her rape 20 years ago and the aftermath. "Beyond rape: A survivor's journey" was published in the Cleveland Plain Dealer on May 4. Though not the most typical story, it still provides a very human perspective on this often ignored problem.
This was 18 years ago. (0.00 / 0)
So he made a joke about rape, a topic that he I'm sure is well aware is serious, 18 years ago.  ::shrug::  It doesn't mean he thinks rape is OK.  The problem is that people are offended at any positive mention of something bad or negative mention of something good; say something nice about Hitler and everyone goes crazy on you because of that, even if the genocidal dictator may actually have some elements that are OK.  I don't think the guy's money is dirty at all.  He didn't steal it.  He just said something offensive once, 18 years ago!  One thing!  And it's not like he raped people himself.  I think this is misdirected outrage.

I don't think McCain did the right thing in calling off the fundraiser, but he probably did the thing that's best for his electoral chances.  This is kinda like the Rev. Wright thing: totally unnecessary and a distraction.  However, unlike Obama in responding to the Wright idiocy, McCain isn't taking this opportunity to deliver a powerful speech against rape or sexism or for women's rights or for allowing women to not have to carry their rapists' babies for nine months, sacrificing whatever other plans they may have had.  He's not taking this moment to decry the legal loophole that prevented Lilly Ledbetter from her legal remedy against wage discrimination, or to promote the shattering of glass and marble ceilings and equality for all.  Somehow I think the guy won't get around to it unless he reverses all of his positions.

Which is not outside the realm of possibility.

To clarify! (0.00 / 0)
Common knowledge says that Hitler was a vegetarian.  It would be silly to complain about someone who says this as a good thing that people are vegetarians.  I'm obviously not saying that killing 12 million people or however many is one of those good things.  The point is that comparisons to Hitler are viewed as evil immediately regardless of their merits.  It's simply prejudice, though, to view anything as evil regardless of its merits.
[ Parent ]
That would be a good step (0.00 / 0)
but as you said that would require leadership and if your platform is "More of the Same" then leadership is not a real option. Those issues have not been a priority for the right and unless there is a major house cleaning or ideology shift social / quality of life issues will stay on the back burner. That way we can devote all our time to peeing our collective pants about "Terror".
[ Parent ]
McCain's Leadership Problem | 7 comments
Donate to Open Left







QUICK HITS

Friends of the Earth thanks the OpenLeft community for the ideas you generate and your contributions to the progressive movement.
As an anti-spam measure, there is a 24-hour waiting period after registering before new users can comment.
blog advertising is good for you
blog advertising is good for you
LIBERAL INSTITUTIONS
STATE BLOGS
SEARCH

   

Advanced Search

Home | RSS/XML Feed | Register | Contact

  © OpenLeft 2007-2009, Powered by SoapBlox