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mythology

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14. But one of them had power over the other

Reply to lame54 (Reply #9)

Thu May 10, 2018, 03:52 PM

May 2018

He had a responsibility to say no.

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Was Monica Lewinsky a victim of sexual harassment or [View all] BigmanPigman May 2018 OP

Depends Xipe Totec May 2018 #1

She ADMITTED leftynyc May 2018 #84

That's actually a right-wing sliming allegation, Xipe. Hortensis May 2018 #130

Since she initiated it, she is not without fault in the matter. Bill was wrong too. bettyellen May 2018 #2

I agree JustAnotherGen May 2018 #11

So agree, Wellstone ruled May 2018 #19

Employer/Employee realtionship where the power is all on one side bottomofthehill May 2018 #48

She initiated it and wanted the relationship MaryMagdaline May 2018 #51

There were very heavy consequences for Bill too. bettyellen May 2018 #68

The balance of power was such that he COULDN'T walk away without consequences EffieBlack May 2018 #78

The fact that she admits threatening him.... is pretty damning. She knew she had her own cards and bettyellen May 2018 #116

It seems like she was disappointed she didn't break up their marriage... so she allowed her affair bettyellen May 2018 #23

I don't hold her responsible though - hear me out JustAnotherGen May 2018 #49

Bill was wrong, period. Eliot Rosewater May 2018 #53

I just wonder why JustAnotherGen May 2018 #54

Take all of Bill's faults, multiply them by ten million and he is still a FAR better person Eliot Rosewater May 2018 #55

She bragged to a friend before going to DC that she was going to earn her "presidential knepads." nt tblue37 May 2018 #44

See - wrong game JustAnotherGen May 2018 #50

Hey, another '73er here! True Dough May 2018 #59

Oh - you are a fellow Aquarian JustAnotherGen May 2018 #67

I take no offence to your position whatsoever True Dough May 2018 #75

5 yr olds know you are not supposed to show your... 3catwoman3 May 2018 #31

The bragging to friends doesn't persuade me that this was merely consensual. Orsino May 2018 #89

I dislike treating a 22 year old as a child. If he had made the first move I could see thinking she bettyellen May 2018 #92

Recognizing the unequal power the two wielded isn't treating either like a child. Orsino May 2018 #94

Harassment is pressure, and I'm afraid there was none. I've been harassed and it wasn't my decision bettyellen May 2018 #95

The affair wasn't a "mistake," if it was truly consensual. Orsino May 2018 #96

Well I think both regret their choices and would see it as a mistake. bettyellen May 2018 #97

We could convincingly both-sides the matter if they were just two people who didn't work together... Orsino May 2018 #98

It doesn't matter to you that she initiated it? I can't agree. I didn't see where he bettyellen May 2018 #99

It doesn't matter to me who initiated... Orsino May 2018 #101

In the context of workplace harassment it does matter who initiated it. She should have been fired bettyellen May 2018 #103

In the context of abuse/misuse of power, it matters who had power. Orsino May 2018 #118

I so agree with you. His position was an aphrodisiac to her femmedem May 2018 #127

Good post. Tipperary May 2018 #131

yep, in many workplaces, she would have been fired that day karynnj May 2018 #100

I agree completely. Clinton was a huge disappointment, but I can't see holding her up as a victim in bettyellen May 2018 #102

At worst, she is the victim of her own actions karynnj May 2018 #105

Agreed, I can't say she's to be counted among those who are truly harassed in the workplace- bettyellen May 2018 #108

Yes, she should have been fired for that behavior. R B Garr May 2018 #112

Thank you! As someone who was harassed at work and fired for refusing my smelly boss... bettyellen May 2018 #113

Yes it is awful behavior and it has so many ripple effects, like R B Garr May 2018 #114

Thanks- it totally sucked. A small company w no HR and an owner who does bettyellen May 2018 #115

That is beyond horrible. I'm sure you were working R B Garr May 2018 #117

Ugh, I had one interview where the guy was cagey, a no show first time. When I showed up the second bettyellen May 2018 #121

I think you need to be one of the participants to answer that. wasupaloopa May 2018 #3

All you have to do is read the transcript where it is said pnwmom May 2018 #65

Which is why they were both wrong Yupster May 2018 #125

It was highly inappropriate sexual conduct by the Big Dog. NCTraveler May 2018 #4

she apparently told a friend before her internship lapfog_1 May 2018 #5

They both broke the rules together lame54 May 2018 #9

But one of them had power over the other mythology May 2018 #14

At one point he did say no. kskiska May 2018 #21

There are those who would say that a 22year old woman is jrthin May 2018 #26

I don't think a power differential necessarily means someone is at fault. Squinch May 2018 #42

which doesn't make Bill Clinton any less guilty... and he should have known better. lapfog_1 May 2018 #15

Well ...... LenaBaby61 May 2018 #77

this has always been problematic to me because though it was consensual, there was power mismatch hlthe2b May 2018 #6

She flashed her thong underwear and bare hip at him, so she sexually signaled him. pnwmom May 2018 #64

A good question. If Clinton were a Republican we would have, and did, scream bloody murder elocs May 2018 #7

It wasn't sexual harassment because she made the first move JI7 May 2018 #12

That's just sad, and pathetic. The POTUS couldn't resist a young intern. elocs May 2018 #69

He is a cheater, adulterer for sure JI7 May 2018 #70

Neither Bill or Monica leftynyc May 2018 #85

No from Clinton JI7 May 2018 #8

The difficulty in answering that is why you don't sleep with those you manage mythology May 2018 #10

Life is complicated. IluvPitties May 2018 #36

Since Monica supposedly told friends before she went to Washington that she was going to Arkansas Granny May 2018 #13

Thank you!!!!! And an Amen. jrthin May 2018 #27

Yep. GoCubsGo May 2018 #128

I Agree that Workplace "Romances" are a Poor Idea-But Do You All Realize How Common it Is? Stallion May 2018 #16

They are super common. IluvPitties May 2018 #37

I agree they are a poor idea but only because they are complicated. There is nothing Squinch May 2018 #43

The more prominent the workplace, and the greater the difference in power... Orsino May 2018 #104

There was a disparity in power but it doesn't meet the legal definition of sexual harassment DemocratSinceBirth May 2018 #17

This message was self-deleted by its author .99center May 2018 #18

What's all this about a "power mismatch?" Yes, I know... LAS14 May 2018 #20

Lewinsky explaining her various evolution on the matter, of which she still does not have an absolut LanternWaste May 2018 #22

Sorry, Monica. At 22 year old you are considered to be an adult. You play by adult rules and you Arkansas Granny May 2018 #29

Thank you. Lochloosa May 2018 #33

Exactly! IluvPitties May 2018 #38

Thank You-I wrote something like that but I was not sure if it would be taken well Stallion May 2018 #45

Yet we call 22 year olds "kids" when they can want to stay on their parent's insurance MichMan May 2018 #71

Well, I still call mine "kids" and they are in their 40's and 50's. Arkansas Granny May 2018 #73

that has to do with getting more health care coverage and the reality of things like affordability, JI7 May 2018 #81

The three ring circus that eventually formed around her had to have been unbearably difficult. Squinch May 2018 #47

She'd check his schedule kskiska May 2018 #58

Here's the part that's not complicated: she flashed her thong underwear and bare hip pnwmom May 2018 #63

That's really got her to say, and she never has called it harassment. unblock May 2018 #24

If we are to believe the story that she came hunting for an encounter Grammy23 May 2018 #25

No comment. I married my assistant and we've been married 35 years. 4139 May 2018 #28

I think I may have made your comment for you. See reply #20. nt LAS14 May 2018 #30

She was not in a position to decline consent. djg21 May 2018 #32

This attitude infantilizes people (usually women). nt LAS14 May 2018 #35

Her position infantilized her relative to his. Orsino May 2018 #90

Interesting perspective, bit I disagree. IluvPitties May 2018 #39

Sure doesn't sound like she wanted to decline. LisaL May 2018 #41

She was an intern, not an employee. As an intern she had a boss who was over the interns politicaljunkie41910 May 2018 #61

Clinton was her boss. djg21 May 2018 #76

Yes, she was. He didn't ask her to flash her thong at him --that was HER way of initiating this. pnwmom May 2018 #62

Your point is valid, but completely moot in this instance RhodeIslandOne May 2018 #74

Your statement is incorrect from the get go. He did not ask her, she approached and asked him. stevenleser May 2018 #107

Consensual. Two adults decided to have sex. Period. IluvPitties May 2018 #34

Bill Clinton was totally irresponsible but the afffair was consensual. comradebillyboy May 2018 #40

Monica went to the job hoping to have an affair. She initiated it. StevieM May 2018 #46

You know what? No,and that sleeping dog should be let alone. pandr32 May 2018 #52

No. nt frogmarch May 2018 #56

Why are we still re-hashing this shit? Blue_Tires May 2018 #57

"Don't get your sex where you get your checks." moriah May 2018 #60

I think the aftermath has many of the qualities of sexual harrassment. aikoaiko May 2018 #66

A therapist would lose a license even if the client initiated things. nolabear May 2018 #72

+1 demmiblue May 2018 #87

When you go into your boss' office and show him your drawers, you waive the sexual harassment claim EffieBlack May 2018 #79

Yep. Hekate May 2018 #110

She was a vulnerable needy person who went Raine May 2018 #80

Back in the 80s a classmate Bluesaph May 2018 #82

She had already had a long affair with a married man. betsuni May 2018 #83

Not only consentual dansolo May 2018 #86

Another good point. n/t Orsino May 2018 #91

Was it harassment? No, Probably not forthemiddle May 2018 #88

One needs to have mental guardrails Le Gaucher May 2018 #120

She says not ismnotwasm May 2018 #93

They both... Mike Nelson May 2018 #106

Ah, in Spring the perennials bloom. No, Monica and Bill were a match made in Fool's Paradise... Hekate May 2018 #109

I totally agree. nt LAS14 May 2018 #124

Consensual Miles Archer May 2018 #111

Well, she shown him her thong UpInArms May 2018 #119

I've worked at corporate law firms my entire life, and young women seeking out powerful men was ... Yavin4 May 2018 #122

Well stated. nt LAS14 May 2018 #123

God WHO CARES.....I haven't thought about Monica Lewinsky for 10 years!! onecent May 2018 #126

I thought she was a predator WhiteTara May 2018 #129

Older man, in a position of power.. disillusioned73 May 2018 #132