4/3/21
In recent weeks, practically every well known official in the New York state Democratic Party, and not a few national figures, have called on New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to resign following allegations of sexual harassment. As of Saturday morning, the number of Republican officials calling for the resignation of Rep. Matt Gaetz since it was revealed he is under investigation stands at … zero. This week, CNN reported that Gaetz showed other Republican legislators nude photos and videos of women he claimed to have sex with, including while on the floor of the House chamber. Charges that Gaetz once led a group of Republican legislators in a game where they scored “points” for sleeping with staffers and interns—with bonus points for virgins—also resurfaced last week. Though this was not the first time. Or the second. Or even the third. Also this week, Republican House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy announced that not only would be not call on Gaetz to resign. It shouldn’t be surprising that Republicans are silent about Gaetz. After all, this is the party of Donald Trump. Twenty-five women have accused Trump of sexual misconduct up to, and definitely including, rape. During his time in office, it also became clear that Trump had not only paid women to hide his affairs, he had used his power and connections to pressure those women to remain silent.
Republicans compounded the impression that they were the party of party boys with their defense of Supreme Court nominee Brett "Beer" Kavanaugh and the ugly attacks on Dr. Christine Blasey Ford. The truth is that, until recently, both parties have been the parties of wealthy white men behaving badly. But in the last several decades, the parties have gone in decidedly different directions. What changed for Republicans in response is that they stopped even pretending to care. They’ve become the party that overtly defends sexual assault, whether it happens in Kavanaugh’s home or the studios at Fox News. They’re the party that shares nude pictures of women on the House floor, and doesn’t care who knows it. This week, McCarthy said that Gaetz would lose his seats on committees “if he’s indicted.” But none of this is actually news to McCarthy, or to any of the other Republicans who have been hooting with Gaetz about his “sexual conquests”. None of this is a surprise to McCarthy or to any other Republican. This is who Matt Gaetz is. They’ve known it from day one, and they’ve done nothing about it, because of who they are. It seems likely Gaetz will be indicted, but the Republican Party has already indicted itself.
www.dailykos.com
