The GOP Abides
It would be preferable if the front runner for the Republican Presidential nomination were not someone found liable for sexual abuse and battery.
But the Republican Party doesn’t seem to care.
Women’s Rights
In the aftermath of Roe v Wade being overturned, we see several states legislating near-total bans on abortion. Many not even leaving options in the case of rape or incest.
While many support that, most do not. A recent AP poll shows that 53% of US adults disapprove of the Supreme Court decision. And more, 60% think Congress should pass a law guaranteeing access to legal abortion nationwide.
Elsewhere, NFL quarterback Deshaun Watson, who had been accused by 20+ women of sexual assault and misconduct during massages when he was with the Houston Texans, received his arbitrated ruling yesterday. A former federal judge ruled the preponderance of evidence showed Watson had committed sexual assault. She described Watson’s behavior as “predatory” and “egregious.”
He was suspended for a paltry 6 games.
Largely due to comparisons with past NFL punishments and lack of notice to players.
Watson recently signed a fully guaranteed, 5-year, $230 million contract with the Cleveland Browns. Anticipating the suspension, most of his $46 million guaranteed money for this year was a signing bonus, with only ~$1 million as his game salary.
With a 6 game suspension, Watson will lose ~$345,000.
That’s 0.75% of his 5-year contract.
Absurd. Ridiculous. Offensive. Unjust. Wrong. Those are words that come to mind. Both for the Watson suspension and the abortion bans.
That US society devalues women and their rights and bodies is nothing new. It’s disgusting how much it’s still happening, though.
I can only imagine the restraint women show every day to not just burn down the whole system.
Look in the Mirror
Republicans are suddenly very focused on sexual predators, promoting and passing laws all over the country focused on fears of sexual predators and using it as an (unfounded) attack during the confirmation hearings for Ketanji Brown Jackson. Of course, these fears are also cornerstone of the QAnon conspiracy theories.
Wondering when they’ll look in the mirror.
