Democrats seem to be back-peddling more and more these days…
In a local TV interview, a Democratic congresswoman suggested that when it comes to sexual harassment, women bear a certain “responsibility,” saying their attire and behavior can be “inviting.”
Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson ( D-Texas ) later clarified her comments, saying they came from an “old-school”perspective. However, in her original interview Wednesday, Johnson ‘went there’ when she was asked to respond to the scandal over Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. Johnson said she was “disappointed” in the man who supported many of her Democratic colleagues, but women should be mindful how they appear saying:
“I grew up in a time when it was as much the woman’s responsibility as it was a man’s – how you were dressed, what your behavior was. I’m from the old school that you can have behaviors that appear inviting. It can be interpreted as such. That’s the responsibility, I think, of the female.”
The 13-term congresswoman and former chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus added men have a “responsibility to be professional themselves” saying:
“I think we also need to start talking about the power that women have to control the situation. There’s law enforcement, you can refuse to cooperate with that kind of behavior,” Johnson said. “I think that many times, men get away with this because they are allowed to get away with it by the women.”
Thursday, Johnson’s comments sparked a backlash on Twitter:
A woman can wear whatever the hell she wants to wear, and that does not give anyone, EVER, the right to assault/rape her.
— 👑Karen VOTING IN MIDTERMS (@CapiLady) October 19, 2017
https://twitter.com/nevertrumptoo/status/921000690352353281
She's categorically wrong, there is zero excuse for a man sexually assaulting a woman. That is completely on the man, stop blaming the victim.
— Chris Cranor (@sweet_sailin) October 19, 2017
Johnson later issued a detailed clarification saying she does not “blame victims of sexual assault for the actions of their assailants” saying:
“Sexual assault and harassment has no place in our society. This is something I believe deeply. And at each turn of my professional life, I have made it my mission to fight for women’s rights. I do not blame victims of sexual assault for the actions of their assailants. I do acknowledge that my comments regarding behavior and attire come from an old school perspective that has shaped how some of us understand the issue, but that does not detract from the fact that criminals need to be held accountable for their actions.”
She continued:
“I will never condone those who feel they can abuse the power of their positions to sexually assault and harass women, and I will always encourage victims to come forward so that we can hold these criminals accountable.”
