We simply don’t have a pause from one Team Trump corruption situation to another Team Trump corruption situation, to @EPAScottPruitt violating the law in a new way, to key GOP donors’ (Koch Brothers, Sheldon Adelson, etc.) massive tax sheltering emerging, to serial sexual harassment/assault by a prominent/powerful man, to…it goes on and on. It is hard to live with perpetual outrage (which is merited) and hard to believe that there are things emerging that actual lead to renewed or increased shock.
The latest is the weighty new (four victims, thirty witnesses — so far) allegations against Alabama Republican U.S. Senate nominee Roy Moore.
Seriously, how can anyone – father, sister, son, aunt – not be disgusted with this and look themselves in the mirror. The fact is, any human should find Moore’s behavior reprehensible. Which makes the embrace of Moore from the likes of Steve Bannon and far too many in the Alabama GOP that much more disgusting.
Let’s be honest and fair, however; a number of significant Republican politicians have stepped forward with strong statements condemning Moore. Senator John McCain, for instance, stepped forward early and strongly.
Mitt Romney could not be clearer:
Innocent until proven guilty is for criminal convictions, not elections. I believe Leigh Corfman. Her account is too serious to ignore. Moore is unfit for office and should step aside.
— Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) November 10, 2017
And here’s OH Governor John Kasich:
I've long opposed Roy Moore & his divisive viewpoints. The actions described make him unfit for office. The GOP must not support him. He should step aside.
— John Kasich (@JohnKasich) November 10, 2017
As for Virginia’s Republican elites, so far it’s mostly been crickets.
For example, looking at the twitter thread of John Whitbeck, the VA GOP chair, is sort of like living in Faux News world — inconvenient truth simply doesn’t show up and no comment about whether Roy Moore is welcome in Whitbeck’s GOP.
Another prominent Virginia Republican, VA-10’s Representative Barbara Comstock, is also silent. Whether on twitter, her Facebook pages, her Congressional website, Google searching for media comments, you name it – it’s crickets all around.
— UPDATE —
Since the posting of this piece,
Representative Comstock came out with a statement as per this tweet:
Harvey Weinstein, Anthony Weiner, Roger Ailes, Roy Moore… No MOORE… pic.twitter.com/X15JbUs26G
— Barbara Comstock (@BarbaraComstock) November 10, 2017
OTHER THAN THESE COMMENTS
ADDING IN COMSTOCK’S TWEET,
THIS POST REMAINS UNCHANGED
———
Seriously, @RepComstock, #VA10, is it that hard to take a stand on a pedophile?
Crickets on Twitter, Facebook, Office website.When it comes to
* #TrumpRussia, #Trump before Nation?
* #EmolumentsClause, Party before Constitution?
* #RoyMooreChildMolester, @GOP before morality? https://t.co/7mVN7rCNy3— A Siegel (@A_Siegel) November 10, 2017
With all her appearances at Republican rallies, photo opportunities, etc., it’s crickets from Rep. Comstock on the Roy Moore situation.
To be clear, just as Comstock not endorsing Trump in the 2016 primary suggests where her actual emotions might be, I truly doubt that Barbara Comstock loves Roy Moore, is thrilled with Roy Moore, is comfortable with his pedophilia. However:
- at what point does silence imply consent?
- when does inaction equate to support?
- when does failure to speak out equate to concurrence …?
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