Men Behaving Badly
The celebrated film producer Harvey Weinstein made the news headlines the other day after being engulfed by a wave of lurid sexual harassment allegations going back over three decades.
As a high profile Democrat supporter, Weinstein was immediately attacked by Republicans who seemed more interested in party advantage rather than the behaviour of powerful men who seem to think it's perfectly OK to treat women in this way.
Donald Trump, for example, who was exposed during the election campaign for boasting about his ability to "grab women by the pussy", or his fellow 'pro-life' and anti-abortion Republican congressman, Tim Murphy, who asked his mistress to seek an abortion during a pregnancy scare.
Not forgetting, of course, Bill Clinton who had inappropriate sexual relations with a young White House intern only to lie through his teeth when caught out to protect his political career.
The sad thing is that the women behind these pitiful men seem to have little problem in standing by and excusing their husbands instead of showing them the door.
But the much bigger political and social issue is that this ugly male behaviour is effectively condoned by all political groups and parties because they really only stand up and condemn it unreservedly when the perpetrator is from the 'other side'.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-41520007
Harvey Weinstein: Film producer says 'I have caused a lot of pain'
BBC US & Canada
Image copyright - GETTY IMAGES
Film producer Harvey Weinstein has issued an apology as a newspaper reported a number of sexual harassment allegations against him.
"I appreciate the way I've behaved with colleagues in the past has caused a lot of pain, and I sincerely apologise for it," said the movie mogul's statement.
But he later disputed a New York Times report that claimed he harassed female employees over nearly three decades.
The newspaper reported he had reached at least eight settlements with women.
Mr Weinstein, a married father-of-five, said he planned to take a leave of absence from his company and had hired therapists to deal with his issue.
"My journey now will be to learn about myself and conquer my demons," the 65-year-old's statement on Thursday said.
Film producer Harvey Weinstein has issued an apology as a newspaper reported a number of sexual harassment allegations against him.
"I appreciate the way I've behaved with colleagues in the past has caused a lot of pain, and I sincerely apologise for it," said the movie mogul's statement.
But he later disputed a New York Times report that claimed he harassed female employees over nearly three decades.
The newspaper reported he had reached at least eight settlements with women.
Mr Weinstein, a married father-of-five, said he planned to take a leave of absence from his company and had hired therapists to deal with his issue.
"My journey now will be to learn about myself and conquer my demons," the 65-year-old's statement on Thursday said.
Image copyright - GETTY IMAGES Image caption - Weinstein is married to English fashion designer Georgina Chapman
"I so respect all women and regret what happened," he added in the statement initially given to the New York Times, and later sent to the BBC.
It continued: "I cannot be more remorseful about the people I hurt and I plan to do right by all of them."
The Miramax and Weinstein Company co-founder has produced a number of Oscar-winning blockbusters, including Shakespeare in Love, The King's Speech and The Artist.
Mr Weinstein's lawyer, Lisa Bloom, said in another statement that he denies many of the allegations against him as "patently false".
She also said that as a women's rights advocate she had been blunt with him that some of his conduct "can be perceived as inappropriate, even intimidating".
"He has acknowledged mistakes he has made," said Ms Bloom. "He is reading books and going to therapy. He is an old dinosaur learning new ways."
But another Weinstein lawyer, Charles Harder, said in a separate statement to the Hollywood Reporter that his client was preparing to sue the New York Times.
The attorney said the newspaper's report was "saturated with false and defamatory statements".
The statement also said the report "relies on mostly hearsay accounts and a faulty report, apparently stolen from an employee personnel file, which has been debunked by 9 different eyewitnesses". It did not specify which particular parts of the Times article were disputed.
Mr Harder's statement said the New York Times had ignored the "facts and evidence" and any proceeds from the lawsuit would be donated to women's organisations.
Mr Weinstein has been married since 2007 to London-born fashion designer Georgina Rose Chapman, and they have two children.
"I so respect all women and regret what happened," he added in the statement initially given to the New York Times, and later sent to the BBC.
It continued: "I cannot be more remorseful about the people I hurt and I plan to do right by all of them."
The Miramax and Weinstein Company co-founder has produced a number of Oscar-winning blockbusters, including Shakespeare in Love, The King's Speech and The Artist.
Mr Weinstein's lawyer, Lisa Bloom, said in another statement that he denies many of the allegations against him as "patently false".
She also said that as a women's rights advocate she had been blunt with him that some of his conduct "can be perceived as inappropriate, even intimidating".
"He has acknowledged mistakes he has made," said Ms Bloom. "He is reading books and going to therapy. He is an old dinosaur learning new ways."
But another Weinstein lawyer, Charles Harder, said in a separate statement to the Hollywood Reporter that his client was preparing to sue the New York Times.
The attorney said the newspaper's report was "saturated with false and defamatory statements".
The statement also said the report "relies on mostly hearsay accounts and a faulty report, apparently stolen from an employee personnel file, which has been debunked by 9 different eyewitnesses". It did not specify which particular parts of the Times article were disputed.
Mr Harder's statement said the New York Times had ignored the "facts and evidence" and any proceeds from the lawsuit would be donated to women's organisations.
Mr Weinstein has been married since 2007 to London-born fashion designer Georgina Rose Chapman, and they have two children.
Pro-life congressman Tim Murphy resigns in 'abortion scandal'
BBC US & Canada
Image copyright - GETTY IMAGES Image caption - Tim Murphy (second left) will resign ffective on 21 October
An anti-abortion US lawmaker will resign after a report this week that he asked his lover to seek a termination during a pregnancy scare.
Tim Murphy announced on Wednesday night he would not stand in next year's mid-term elections.
But the Pennsylvania Republican has now said he will resign from the House of Representatives on 21 October.
His lover suggested he was a hypocrite when he allegedly proposed she seek an abortion.
Only this week he voted for a bill that would outlaw abortions after 20 weeks.
House Speaker Paul Ryan confirmed he had received Mr Murphy's letter of resignation on Thursday.
"We thank him for his many years of tireless work on mental health issues here in Congress and his service to the country as a naval reserve officer," Mr Ryan said in a statement.
An anti-abortion US lawmaker will resign after a report this week that he asked his lover to seek a termination during a pregnancy scare.
Tim Murphy announced on Wednesday night he would not stand in next year's mid-term elections.
But the Pennsylvania Republican has now said he will resign from the House of Representatives on 21 October.
His lover suggested he was a hypocrite when he allegedly proposed she seek an abortion.
Only this week he voted for a bill that would outlaw abortions after 20 weeks.
House Speaker Paul Ryan confirmed he had received Mr Murphy's letter of resignation on Thursday.
"We thank him for his many years of tireless work on mental health issues here in Congress and his service to the country as a naval reserve officer," Mr Ryan said in a statement.
From relief to regret: Readers' experiences of abortion
Trump's order on abortion policy: What does it mean?
US abortion debate: Both sides speak
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported this week that it had obtained text messages between the married congressman and his lover, forensic psychologist Shannon Edwards.
Mr Murphy admitted to the affair last month after it became public in her divorce proceedings.
According to the newspaper, she sent him a text on 25 January reminding the congressman he had "zero issue posting your pro-life stance all over the place when you had no issue asking me to abort our unborn child just last week when we thought that was one of the options".
A text reply reportedly sent from Mr Murphy's mobile phone maintained it was his staff who were behind the anti-abortion rhetoric, not him.
"I get what you say about my March for life messages," he wrote.
"I've never written them. Staff does them. I read them and winced. I told staff don't write any more. I will."
It turned out the pregnancy scare was unfounded, reports the Post-Gazette.
On Tuesday, the congressman voted in favour of a Republican bill that would criminalise abortions performed after 20 weeks of foetal development.
Mr Murphy, a member of the House of Representatives Pro-Life Caucus who is in his eighth term, was a co-sponsor of the bill.
He has been praised by the Family Research Council, a conservative Christian lobby group, for his stance on abortion and family values.
The anti-abortion bill he co-sponsored is expected to fail in the Senate, where Democrats have enough votes to stop the measure.
Trump's order on abortion policy: What does it mean?
US abortion debate: Both sides speak
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported this week that it had obtained text messages between the married congressman and his lover, forensic psychologist Shannon Edwards.
Mr Murphy admitted to the affair last month after it became public in her divorce proceedings.
According to the newspaper, she sent him a text on 25 January reminding the congressman he had "zero issue posting your pro-life stance all over the place when you had no issue asking me to abort our unborn child just last week when we thought that was one of the options".
A text reply reportedly sent from Mr Murphy's mobile phone maintained it was his staff who were behind the anti-abortion rhetoric, not him.
"I get what you say about my March for life messages," he wrote.
"I've never written them. Staff does them. I read them and winced. I told staff don't write any more. I will."
It turned out the pregnancy scare was unfounded, reports the Post-Gazette.
On Tuesday, the congressman voted in favour of a Republican bill that would criminalise abortions performed after 20 weeks of foetal development.
Mr Murphy, a member of the House of Representatives Pro-Life Caucus who is in his eighth term, was a co-sponsor of the bill.
He has been praised by the Family Research Council, a conservative Christian lobby group, for his stance on abortion and family values.
The anti-abortion bill he co-sponsored is expected to fail in the Senate, where Democrats have enough votes to stop the measure.
Locker-Room Banter? (18/01/17)
Speaking at a press conference in the Kremlin the other day, Russian President Vladimir Putin had this to say about the incoming American President Donald Trump:
"This is an adult (Donald Trump) and, moreover, a man who for many years has organised beauty contests. He socialised with the most beautiful women in the world. I can hardly imagine he rushed to the hotel to meet our girls of lower social responsibility - even though they are the best in the world, of course."
Now you might put this kind of nonsense down as juvenile 'locker-room' banter, as Donald Trump has done himself, of course.
But if you ask me, President Putin's comments about Russian prostitutes being of "lower social responsibility" are hugely demeaning, particularly as he goes on to boast that "our girls......are the best in the world."
By the way it's worth remembering that while Donald Trump claims to be far too smart to be caught out by sophisticated spying equipment during his stay in Moscow, he was exposed for his "Grab 'em by the pussy" comments while wearing a lapel microphone while doing a TV show with the NBC presenter Billy Bush.
Sexual Predator (10/10/16)
"Grab them by the pussy" is locker-room banter according to Donald Trump, but it's not the kind of foul language or ugly mindset that you'd expect from a professional person never mind someone aspiring to become President of the United States.
So the race for the White House has been dragged into the world of sexual predators by the unguarded comments of the Republican nominee while his 'partner in crime', a TV presenter named Billy Bush, has been suspended by the NBC Today programme.
NBC has said there is "simply no excuse for Billy's behaviour and language on that tape", yet Trump carries on after issuing a perfunctory apology which completely ingress the fact that he was in a professional setting at the time and nowhere near a locker-room.
To their credit most of the Bush family have said they will not be voting for this buffoon and while Trump's poll ratings are taking a well-deserved hit, especially among women voters, I suspect there's much more to come in the days ahead.
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-37605883
Billy Bush suspended by NBC after Trump tape emerges
BBC - Entertainment & Arts
Image copyright AP Image caption - Billy Bush has said that he is "very sorry" for the 2005 remarks
US TV host Billy Bush has been suspended from NBC's Today show after a video tape emerged in which he and Donald Trump made lewd comments.
Today executive Noah Oppenheim wrote in a memo to the morning show's staff that there is "simply no excuse for Billy's language and behaviour on that tape".
Mr Bush has said he was "embarrassed and ashamed" at the remarks.
US presidential candidate Mr Trump has also apologised for the obscene comments made in the 2005 tape.
In the video, Mr Trump was on a bus talking to Mr Bush - then host of NBC's Access Hollywood - ahead of a segment they were about to record.
Mr Trump says "you can do anything" to women "when you're a star" and also brags about trying to grope and kiss women.
Mr Bush tells Mr Trump at one point "the Donald has scored" and also comments on a woman's "good legs".
US TV host Billy Bush has been suspended from NBC's Today show after a video tape emerged in which he and Donald Trump made lewd comments.
Today executive Noah Oppenheim wrote in a memo to the morning show's staff that there is "simply no excuse for Billy's language and behaviour on that tape".
Mr Bush has said he was "embarrassed and ashamed" at the remarks.
US presidential candidate Mr Trump has also apologised for the obscene comments made in the 2005 tape.
In the video, Mr Trump was on a bus talking to Mr Bush - then host of NBC's Access Hollywood - ahead of a segment they were about to record.
Mr Trump says "you can do anything" to women "when you're a star" and also brags about trying to grope and kiss women.
Mr Bush tells Mr Trump at one point "the Donald has scored" and also comments on a woman's "good legs".
Image copyrightAPImage caption - Mr Trump has said the words "don't reflect" who he is
The presenter, who is the first cousin of former President George W Bush, has since said: "It's no excuse, but this happened 11 years ago - I was younger, less mature, and acted foolishly in playing along. I'm very sorry."
Top Republicans have condemned Mr Trump for the comments. His election rival Hillary Clinton called them "horrific".
The Republican party nominee has said "these words don't reflect who I am... I apologise".
Bush joined the Today team in August, having been anchor of Access Hollywood since 2009 and co-host of Access Hollywood Live since 2010.
Mr Oppenheim said that there would be a "further review" of the matter and did not say how long Mr Bush would be suspended for.
The presenter, who is the first cousin of former President George W Bush, has since said: "It's no excuse, but this happened 11 years ago - I was younger, less mature, and acted foolishly in playing along. I'm very sorry."
Top Republicans have condemned Mr Trump for the comments. His election rival Hillary Clinton called them "horrific".
The Republican party nominee has said "these words don't reflect who I am... I apologise".
Bush joined the Today team in August, having been anchor of Access Hollywood since 2009 and co-host of Access Hollywood Live since 2010.
Mr Oppenheim said that there would be a "further review" of the matter and did not say how long Mr Bush would be suspended for.
