Routinely, politicians and media figures find themselves caught in the bright glare of #MeToo accusations. Sometimes, the accusations are warranted and action is taken. Other times, the claims fall apart or disappear entirely.
Crimes of a sexual nature are damaging in ways that others are not. Additionally, false allegations can destroy reputations and lives, leaving the accused fighting for a sense of normalcy long after the cameras have left. In the political sphere, claims of sexual assault or harassment have unfortunately become a formidable weapon against opponents.
On Monday, it was reported that internet troll Jacob Wohl was behind an attempt to fabricate rape allegations against South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg, the young Democratic presidential candidate who has been rising in the polls. There is absolutely no difference between Wohl, his much older partner-in-crime, Jack Burkman, and other partisan scumbags who may use the same technique to take down Republicans. In fact, it is this despicable behavior that unites all of these types when every other “principle” they claim to hold dear separates them. This egregious behavior should be quickly condemned no matter where it comes from.
In September 2018, the nation was fixated on the Brett Kavanaugh confirmation hearings for a similar reason. In the eleventh-hour, sexual abuse allegations by Christine Blasey Ford brought everything to a standstill. I am not here to place blame on Ford, because I do think she has undergone some sort of physical trauma in the past. The question is whether Kavanaugh was responsible for causing it. Based on the investigation and lack of evidence, I believe it’s safe to say that he is not. However, her claims were enough to spur attorney Michael Avenatti, a despicable creature, into launching his own campaign of lies against Kavanaugh.
Are Wohl and Burkman any different from Avenatti? The answer is no.
As the Daily Beast’s Lachlan Markay, Kevin Poulsen, and Noah Shachtman wrote:
I feel for Pete Buttigieg, a candidate whose positions I oppose in every way. He will never receive my vote, but he does have my sympathy on this matter. He was targeted simply because he is running against a Republican, President Trump, and happens to be doing fairly well in the polls. Unfortunately, he won’t be the last candidate to experience a coordinated attack of lies.
It says much about how far we’ve fallen as a society when sexual behavior is used as a ruler by which we check the character of both our enemies and allies. It shows that both incidents of actual abuse and dishonest claims of same are far more numerous than they should be. Increasingly, treating other human beings with basic decency is not our default setting. Worst of all, the contentious political landscape is a breeding ground for both assault and false assumptions.
Republicans and Democrats must center around a shared goal of focusing on substantive, corroborated claims and quickly dismiss all others. Neither party should view abusive behavior as a wonderful tool with which to undermine their adversaries. If not, it leaves the door wide open for the Wohls, Burkmans, and Avenattis of the world to grab attention, promote lies, and stir controversy. Those individuals who prey on concerns to gain political ground should be quickly and forcefully ostracized, without question. Thankfully, the attempt to falsely smear Buttigieg was almost immediately denounced by nearly everyone on the Left and the Right.
There is no reason to dismiss an entire movement that has spurred a national conversation about abuse and harassment. But like initial allegations, the movement must be kept in check. Not everything should be given full weight just because a supposed enemy, whether Kavanaugh or Buttigieg, is under fire. Neither should we grant a moment of further legitimacy to those liars who sow seeds of discord in the first place.
Kimberly Ross (@SouthernKeeks) is a contributor to the Washington Examiner’s Beltway Confidential blog and a columnist at Arc Digital.
