Sexual misconduct: shades of gray

PEORIA, IL -- See UPDATE on Dec. 7 below.

What to realize about sexual misconduct of the good guys as well as the bad.  Here are my reactions and practical advice:

1. Rape is a crime and the police should be called. Save the evidence.
2. Frequent inappropriate touching is very annoying and should be reported to a superior.  Get the free recorder app on your phone and turn on the recorder as you enter the pig's office. That's evidence.  Save all text messages, emails etc.
3. Occasional or infrequent touching -- it depends.  If it's a guy you otherwise like, talk to him.  If it's a politician or media person who supports women, talk to him, don't report him and cause him to be fired. If it's Roy Moore or Donald Trump, enemies of women, out him, with evidence.
4. Don't be greedy hoping for a big payout.

There's a reason for the weird procedure Congress uses, as reported in USA Today.  It's because elected officials fear someone will try to set them up, for a payout or to support an opponent. That's something everyone should also consider, including educators and business people.

Smart guys keep the door open or another female in the room, like doctors do.

There seems to be some hysteria taking place -- was Garrison Keillor really fired for touching a woman's back? That's nuts.

  -- Elaine Hopkins

UPDATE 12/7/2017:  OK, the hysterical pack has ousted a chief supporter of women, Sen. Al Franken of Minnesota.  A Democrat.  There's no guarantee that a Demo will replace him in purple Minnesota.  Way to go, Demo idiots.

Yes, what he did was bad.  Nobody wants to be kissed without permission. But he was a strong supporter of women. He should have refused to resign until Trump does. 

It's the same story with former Pres. Clinton -- that was consent, and perhaps a set up, yet there are hysterical calls for him to shame himself.

Meanwhile the GOPers stand strong, and deny, deny, deny.  Justice Clarence Thomas, Pres. Trump, and likely Roy Moore -- they're not punished by their supporters as Franken was.  Why? Because the GOP hates women and doesn't care about their feelings, and apparently their officials can get away with strong denials, even against evidence.

Very sad. So contraception and abortion and women's health hang by a thread, because a few women felt violated and want their moment of power and fame. Ugh.

And this won't be a cultural change until the GOP changes. So it's all for nothing today.

 -- Elaine Hopkins

UPDATE Dec. 9, 2017:  Here's a fascinating story about Garrison Keillor.  Be sure to read the comments.