Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Oh My: Democratic Rep Suggests John Conyers Accusers Shouldn't Be Believed Because They're White
Townhall.com ^ | November 30, 2017 | Matt Vespa

Posted on 11/30/2017 10:35:28 AM PST by Kaslin

We didn’t go there, did we? I mean seriously? Did Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC), the third ranking member of the House Democratic Caucus, pretty much insinuate that the accusations against Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) shouldn’t be believed because the accusers are white? Conyers is under fire for sexual misconduct. In 2015, he settled a sexual harassment claim to the tune of $27,000 in taxpayer money. Melanie Sloan, a Washington lawyer, claimed to be the subject of verbal abuse by Conyers, even walking into his office to have the Michigan Democrat half-dressed. She has not alleged any sexual harassment, but Deanna Maher, Conyers’ former deputy chief of staff, is a separate story (via Detroit Free Press) [emphasis mine]

Deanna Maher, who worked for him from 1997 to 2005, told The Detroit News that the Detroit Democrat made unwanted advances toward her three times.

[…]

The first instance of harassment happened, Maher said, shortly after the congressman hired her in September 1997 during an event with the Congressional Black Caucus.

“I didn’t have a room, and he had me put in his hotel suite,” said Maher, 77, adding that she rejected his offer to share his room at the Grand Hyatt in Washington and have sex.

The other incidents with the now 88-year-old Conyers involved unwanted touching in a car in 1998 and another unwanted touching of her legs under her dress in 1999, she said.

Conyers’ attorney Arnold Reed questioned why Maher would continue to work for Conyers for so many years after the alleged incidents. He also said Maher’s allegations are uncorroborated and that his client denies wrongdoing.

“At the end of the day, he’s confident that he will be exonerated because he maintains that he has not done anything wrong,” Reed said.

Maher said her need for employment explains why she stayed on the job.

Clyburn has already made controversial statement about Conyers’ sexual misconduct allegations, saying that they could all be made up. Yet, the House Assistant Democratic Leader seemed to have stepped on a rake by suggesting the accusers against Conyers, who are white, shouldn’t be believed because of Susan Smith, a disturbed South Carolina woman who was convicted of drowning her sons back in 1995; Smith lied to authorities by saying a black man carjacked her vehicle and kidnapped her children. Yeah, it’s a rather shaky defense of Conyers. Also, we’re really going to invoke race into this?

Also at this morning's House Democratic caucus: James Clyburn compared Conyers' accusers to the child murderer Susan Smith, who initially claimed a black man had abducted her kids. Clyburn said, these are all white women who've made these charges against Conyers.— Robert Draper (@DraperRobert) November 29, 2017

Yes, according to 2 sources. One told me Clyburn has used the Susan Smith parallel more than once, to members & staffers. https://t.co/3SjKCzjBh8— Robert Draper (@DraperRobert) November 29, 2017

Alex Moe of NBC News also posted a video of reporters asking Congressional Black Caucus chair Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-LA) and Clyburn about why Conyers hasn’t stepped down when men from other industries who have been accused o such conduct have been removed or taken their exits in kind. Richmond asked for examples, to which the press replied Harvey Weinstein, Charlie Rose, and Matt Lauer.” Clyburn responded with “who elected them?”

CBC Chair Richmond asks for ex. of ppl leaving jobs faster than Conyers when face sexual harassment claims; Clyburn asks "who elected them?" pic.twitter.com/FGDNbvBUcg— Alex Moe (@AlexNBCNews) November 29, 2017

Robert Draper of The New York Times Magazine and National Geographic tweeted about the Smith remarks, which was criticized by Clyburn as being inaccurate, but two sources confirmed to Draper that Clyburn was making this analogy, and the Congressional Black Caucus also confirmed this as well. Clyburn also tried to do some damage control for who “who elected them?” remarks, which gave the impression that members of the Hill play by a separate set of rule when it comes to sexual misconduct (via The State):

“So it’s different because he’s elected,” but the elevator doors closed before Clyburn might have responded.

But after 5 p.m., Clyburn posted his official statement regarding a House Resolution that read very differently than the flippant response to reporters in the halls of the Capitol.

“As elected officials, we ought to be held to a higher standard,” Clyburn said in his statement. “Congress must review and improve the current administrative procedure for victims to come forward. All harassment and discrimination allegations must be taken seriously.”

This might have been in response to the criticism leveled at Clyburn.

Many comments critical of Clyburn have been posted on social media. Among them, people are questioning his logic, asking him to resign – in delicate and powerful terms – and calling him a poor representative of South Carolina.

A writer for The New York Times Magazine and National Geographic tweeted that Clyburn invoked the name of Susan Smith, South Carolina’s infamous child murderer, in his defense of Conyers.

“James Clyburn compared Conyers’ accusers to the child murderer Susan Smith, who initially claimed a black man had abducted her kids. Clyburn said, these are all white women who’ve made these charges against Conyers,” Robert Draper tweeted.

When asked if that comment was true, Draper said he verified it through two sources, adding “Clyburn has used the Susan Smith parallel more than once, to members & staffers.”

[…]

The Congressional Black Caucus tweeted about the alleged Susan Smith comment, saying Clyburn “used the Smith example to illustrate the dangers of convicting people before getting all the facts.”

Let’s circle back to the Smith example. Why? Wouldn’t it have been easier to say we have to get all the fact and let the system of due process work here? Of course, it would—but that hasn’t been the party line. Remember the reforms to Title IX Education Secretary Betsy DeVos brought forward on this subject. It placed an emphasis on due process. The Left went ballistic

“On too many campuses, a new attitude about due process — and the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty — has taken hold,” wrote The Atlantic’s Emily Yoffe.

Now, because Conyers and Sen. Al Franken (D-MN), who is in hot water for forcibly kissing, groping, and grabbing the rear ends of multiple women, are in the crosshairs, due process is what’s needed? Yeah—this come to Jesus moment on this is crap. We all know it’s borne out of political climate. Yet, it also sends a message that it’s okay to harass women, as long as you’re a liberal Democrat. The Bill Clinton protocol is still in effect. For Clyburn, well, he decided to rip a rather odd and somewhat extraneous example to defend Conyers: a disturbed white woman who told a lie to police about a black man carjacking her. Ms. Maher and Ms. Sloan are not mentally ill. And yes, they’re white. So what? That in itself doesn’t make it any less credible. I don’t think identity politics is going to save your pals, Clyburn. This was a stupid remark to make, not matter what the intention. 

Kathleen Rice (D-NY) Slams Her Colleague James Clyburn (D-SC), Thinks His Comment Was Inappropriate (video>


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; US: California; US: Louisiana; US: Michigan; US: Minnesota; US: South Carolina
KEYWORDS: 115th; alfranken; california; cbc; cedricrichmond; clyburn; jamesclyburn; johnconyers; louisiana; melaniesloan; michigan; nancypelosi; perverts; racecard; sexualharassment; sexualmisconduct; southcarolina; susansmith
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-65 next last
To: Kaslin

Identity politics just doesn’t stop at white males.


21 posted on 11/30/2017 10:52:37 AM PST by jimmygrace
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: CptnObvious

It shows you who the racist is (The one that hollers the most and the loudest)


22 posted on 11/30/2017 10:54:10 AM PST by Kaslin (Quid est Veritas?: What Is Truth?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: Liz
Demorats are tripping over their own feet in these plays

....and we've got the ball running hard and fast down the field...


23 posted on 11/30/2017 10:57:32 AM PST by caww (freeen)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

Then Roy Moore’s accusers shouldn’t be believed because they’re Democrats. Same logic.


24 posted on 11/30/2017 10:58:07 AM PST by TBP (Progressives lack compassion and tolerance. Their self-aggrandizement is all that matters.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin
Congress illegally unnaturalized the country after WBTS. image Uniform rule of naturalization is keeping USA citizenship the same natural kind, That's Congress only immigration and citizenship authority. image
25 posted on 11/30/2017 10:58:43 AM PST by bushpilot2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

So, the woman who went to some black-ish convention and got booked, without her advance knowledge, into a two bedroom suite with Conyers... was she white? I thought she was black.


26 posted on 11/30/2017 10:58:53 AM PST by Pearls Before Swine
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

Is Conyers an “Icon?”


27 posted on 11/30/2017 11:05:40 AM PST by Cowboy Bob
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin
14th Amendment Illegally Adopted: David Lawrence https://www.scribd.com/document/40659078/No-14th-Amendment image
28 posted on 11/30/2017 11:06:40 AM PST by bushpilot2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

Negro Fatigue Syndrome, it never fails to amaze us. This is a flat out gift.


29 posted on 11/30/2017 11:07:57 AM PST by jmaroneps37 (Conservatism is truth. Liberalism is lies.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

https://www.scribd.com/document/40659078/No-14th-Amendment


30 posted on 11/30/2017 11:08:40 AM PST by bushpilot2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Cowboy Bob

Con-man, more like. Now hospitalized with “stress”. Yeah, thinkin’ about Hell will do that...


31 posted on 11/30/2017 11:14:33 AM PST by bigbob (People say believe half of what you see son and none of what you hear - M. Gaye)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: jmaroneps37
Conyers rolled out the black guys in bowties to speak for him.

Best time for living in U.S. ever.

32 posted on 11/30/2017 11:15:04 AM PST by blackdog
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

looks like *black privilege

*the ability to play the race card if you get in trouble


33 posted on 11/30/2017 11:15:41 AM PST by Cubs Fan (Trump is all that stands between America and left wing totalitarianism)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

I think this statement is what finally PISSED OFF Pelosi and made her call for Conyer’s resignation.


34 posted on 11/30/2017 11:17:06 AM PST by a real Sheila (Love my golden retrievers!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

In the Air Force the white women weren’t believed when they reported sexual harassment and groping and rape by black guys...

so the black guys knew they could get away with sex crimes...

roving gangs of feral animals...what white officer was going to dare tell them to go back to their own section or building ???

the blacks had a “social actions office” to complain to if they thought they were being “discriminated” against and they used it...often to “punish” some poor unfortunate white women who had refused their unwelcome advances...I know that happened to me...


35 posted on 11/30/2017 11:18:36 AM PST by Tennessee Nana
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin
Cleburne looks just like Mugabe


36 posted on 11/30/2017 11:22:10 AM PST by Slyfox (Are you tired of winning yet?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

What a coincidence. All Conyers’ accusers are white, and so were all of his victims!


37 posted on 11/30/2017 11:23:37 AM PST by Kenton
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

,,,,,, SOUNDS RACIST to ME !!!! and I thought Blacks couldn’t be racist ,,, dang !!!


38 posted on 11/30/2017 11:29:38 AM PST by Lionheartusa1 ()-: There is nothing DEMOCRATIC about the democrat party ,, stop using that term :-()
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

,,,,,, SOUNDS RACIST to ME !!!! and I thought Blacks couldn’t be racist ,,, dang !!!


39 posted on 11/30/2017 11:31:54 AM PST by Lionheartusa1 ()-: There is nothing DEMOCRATIC about the democrat party ,, stop using that term :-()
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin
Is Clyburne trying to say that da bitch set him up?
40 posted on 11/30/2017 11:34:17 AM PST by ZOOKER (Until further notice the /s is implied...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-65 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson