Judge Roy Moore is the Alabama Republican Senate candidate running in the 12/12/17 special election. Five women have accused him of inappropriate sexual behavior decades ago. The most serious is Ms. Nelson’s claim of sexual assault in 1977 when she was 16. With the election only a few weeks, the liberal news media, Democrats, feminists and Doug Jones (the Democratic nominee) are all on the attack. Despite Judge Moore’s denials, even some Republicans have thrown him to the dogs. Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the majority leader, declared, “I believe the women.” There’s talk of the Senate not seating him if he wins the election.
Judge Moore is a storied, if controversial figure. He was twice elected to and removed from the Alabama Supreme Court for his strong religious views and twice a candidate for governor. Judge Moore is a West Point graduate and a Vietnam War veteran. West Point instills “duty, honor and country” in all graduates. His resume is better than most politicians have. Are his denials totally without merit? If you want his background, check out https;//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_Moore.
I don’t know whether Judge Moore abused these women 40 years ago, but I have a major problem with the way he’s being treated and portrayed. Is it coincidence or dirty politics that his accusers first come forth so close to this election? Wouldn’t his accusers have made their claims years ago, when he was a candidate for governor or Alabama’s highest court? Is everyone supposed to ignore “innocent until proven guilty?” Are all our male Senators so pure they never groped a woman in their younger years? Should we ignore Judge Moore’s denials? Do people improve for the better in 40 years?
My common sense tells me that Judge Moore is an honorable man. I don’t agree with his views on religion’s place in government. I don’t approve of any man abusing a woman. But times, people and societal mores change. Forty years ago in the South it was not uncommon for older men to date and marry much younger women, even teens. Judge Moore has been married for 32 years without any claims of sexual misconduct in that time. I admire Judge Moore’s adhering to his beliefs in the face of opposition even if I disagree with his political views. My common sense says we shouldn’t disqualify honorable men for unproven allegations originating from decades ago. (Remember Judge Clarence Thomas, Anita Hill and the infamous coke can?) Let Alabama’s citizens alone decide who should represent them in Congress. And let’s everyone stop convicting people with unproven allegations!
[11/16/17 Update: After a public accusation, Democratic Senator Al Franken admits to 2006 kissing and groping without consent. That’s only 11 years ago and he apologized. So everything is ok right? Given the standard applied to Judge Moore, shouldn’t Senator Franken be told to resign? I’m guessing there will be relative inaction from the same people who have so vehemently demeaned Judge Moore. Is there a Democratic double-standard?]
[12/7/17 Update: Sen. Franken of Minnesota announced he is resigning. Other accusers had come forward. His resignation is a surprise since he likely could have survived the criticism. However, the Democrats couldn’t hypocritically attack President Trump and Judge Moore if Franken remained. Thus, Sen. Franken had to go. He didn’t apologize in his resignation speech and stated some of the claims were untrue. To be fair, this looks like yet another example of a public lynching over unproven allegations and political correctness run amok.]
[12/12/17 Update: It appears Judge Moore lost the election in a very close race. Alabama’s citizens decided and that’s the way it’s supposed to be. I’m not upset with the result because, as noted before, I don’t support his view of religion in government. Nevertheless, I’m still troubled by unproven allegations being the deciding factor in any election. If your public perception is forever set in stone by something you may or may not have done 40 years ago, is anyone’s reputation safe. Do subsequent decades of living a good and honorable life mean nothing?]
[1/2/18 Update: Sen. Franken submitted his resignation. I’m impressed that he kept his word. I’m not impressed that he was forced to resign in what today amounts to a public lynching without any trial or due process.]