Hillary Clinton: Monica Lewinsky Was "An Adult" The View

Bill Clinton was a terrific President who in this particular situation behaved like a schmuck. He had a sexual encounter with an employee which IMO was inappropriate and in addition left him and his family open to unending negative commentary. His relationship with his wife is between them. It's up to Hillary to forgive him or not...That is not my concern. However to continue to find ways to rationalize or defend his actions in this situation is just not helpful to her or the Democratic Party . He F..... Up....He's human. People screw up.. This was a time where a really smart person behaved like an Ass. Move on and stop trying to make it good.

that Linda gal who was in with the Republicans. She outed the relationship. So the Lewinsky thing was not a #metoo thing, from the standpoint of the female. She did not feel abused.

The impropriety was from the viewpoint of the male who was in a power position, and the appropriateness of it for a sitting President.

Pressured Monica to do anything. never offered her a job or anything. She went after him flashing her thong at him. He did wrong no doubt but Monica was not innocent.

"There are even some people who feel my White House experiences don’t have a place in this movement, as what transpired between Bill Clinton and myself was not sexual assault, although we now recognize that it constituted a gross abuse of power."


and

"Given my PTSD and my understanding of trauma, it’s very likely that my thinking would not necessarily be changing at this time had it not been for the #MeToo movement—not only because of the new lens it has provided but also because of how it has offered new avenues toward the safety that comes from solidarity. Just four years ago, in an essay for this magazine, I wrote the following: “Sure, my boss took advantage of me, but I will always remain firm on this point: it was a consensual relationship. Any ‘abuse’ came in the aftermath, when I was made a scapegoat in order to protect his powerful position.” I now see how problematic it was that the two of us even got to a place where there was a question of consent. Instead, the road that led there was littered with inappropriate abuse of authority, station, and privilege. (Full stop.)

Now, at 44, I’m beginning (just beginning) to consider the implications of the power differentials that were so vast between a president and a White House intern. I’m beginning to entertain the notion that in such a circumstance the idea of consent might well be rendered moot. (Although power imbalances—and the ability to abuse them—do exist even when the sex has been consensual.)

But it’s also complicated. Very, very complicated. The dictionary definition of “consent”? “To give permission for something to happen.” And yet what did the “something” mean in this instance, given the power dynamics, his position, and my age? Was the “something” just about crossing a line of sexual (and later emotional) intimacy? (An intimacy I wanted—with a 22-year-old’s limited understanding of the consequences.) He was my boss. He was the most powerful man on the planet. He was 27 years my senior, with enough life experience to know better. He was, at the time, at the pinnacle of his career, while I was in my first job out of college. (Note to the trolls, both Democratic and Republican: none of the above excuses me for my responsibility for what happened. I meet Regret every day.)"

More: https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2018/02/monica-lewinsky-in-the-age-of-metoo

opinion at the time was very different than it is now. Progressive society has evolved. Gay marriage was unheard of and the idea of a powerful man having sex with a subordinate woman was not thought of as we think about it now. Times have changed and it's not productive to rehash that time. We need to focus on Nov 6th folks!

. . . in the context of a discussion that is itself an instance of "whatabout-ism!"

that "this is only a 23 year old story."

We have a White House and administration filled with misogynists, adulterers, liars, cheats, racists....anything I'm missing? And we are going to drag this up again? We need to save our country, please.

And oh, I'm with Hillary (and Bill). That is something I'm very sure will not change.