GOP Mississippi gubernatorial candidate refuses to be alone with female reporter

[Santander]

This is a perfectly normal common reaction.

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/men-are-afraid-to-mentor-female-colleagues-in-the-metoo-era-heres-what-not-to-do-2019-05-20

Are 60% of managers rapists now?

There is a difference between (largely irrational) worrying about potential negative consequences of well-intentioned professional interactions in an unequal power relationship in the same organization, and not meeting with a reporter as a candidate for public office because she happens to be a woman. The latter is stupid enough to be disqualifying on its own for public office.

And remember, basically all of these assholes who have been busted for sexual harassment in the #metoo era have had accusations laid at them by multiple unrelated women. It is one thing to think one crazy/vindictive woman could make false allegations against you, but if you fear that would cause some some sort of career-ending chain reaction, you either have no respect for women, or you have legitimate skeletons in the closet.

[Santander]

In #MeToo era, when you may get an accusation of "sexual harrasment"for almost any word said (and even more - for any deed) - i can undertand candidate's precaution...

What proof do you offer that there's some epidemic of false allegations of sexual assault and harassment?

Statistical one. An avalanche of such scandals in 2017-2018. In fact there was very little "sexual" and almost no "harrassment" in most of such cases, but many men are simply frightened now, when almost any word or joke may be interpreted this way with far-reaching political and other consequences. Thanks God it's not so widespread in Russia, where i live now.

How in the world are you under this impression?

Because he is a self-admitted sexual harasser.

[Santander]

https://www.si.com/college-football/2018/05/23/michigan-state-keith-mumphery-lawsuit-sex-assault-claims

https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Brian-Banks-Rape-Case-Exonerated-NFL-Atlanta-Falcons-218978851.html

https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/mans-life-destroyed-following-classmates-false-rape-allegation/news-story/05ba6eeffae4791c3b99993634afa226

... and the "one crazy/vindictive woman" in each of those cases was found out and either forced to cough up damages or sent to prison. Have I not said there is some room for understandable concern, given the increased media coverage of such events?

Also, they have no similarities to the situation at hand here. I don't see what point you're trying to make.

[Santander]

The fact that only a man can be present suggests this is about something entirely different - he's stated that he's afraid of salacious rumors being spread which include but are not limited to infidelity. This isn't unique to Foster - Mike Pence also said before being inaugurated that he wouldn't dine with a woman unless his wife is present. The consequence is that it shuts women out of interactions that are a necessary part of being in power, essentially closing off positions of authority for them.

These idiots are disqualified from any public office because of this alone.

[Santander]

“Vichy traitor to her gender”.

Yeah, pretty much. And proudly so.

I mean, it takes a special level of troll to blame women have come forward to relate their stories of sexual abuse and harassment for some southern fried dill dough refusing to be interviewed by a female reporter without Witnesses, or the various knuckle draggers in this thread thinking that this is completely normal.

So yeah, don't roll your eyes just because I call a spade a spade.

Badger, I'm on your side, but I think what Cath is rolling his eyes about is the idea that you can be a "traitor to your gender" at all. Of course, women can be anti-woman, but "gender traitor" implies all sorts of other things, like that men (or at least, men's interests) are on a different "side" than women, or that men can be gender traitors, or that people owe loyalty to others of their gender. It's a silly characterization and unnecessarily provocative.