Kevin Jennings: Obama Aide Under Attack From Fox News, Conservatives

[ruggerson]

Source: Huffington Post

Conservative media figures have set their sights on another obscure Obama administration official. This time it's Kevin Jennings, assistant deputy secretary of education for the Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools.

Right-wingers, outraged by Jennings' work as a gay-rights advocate, claim that he has expressed a desire to spread homosexuality among schoolkids, contempt for religion and enthusiasm for drug use. (The Family Research Council has a scare-quote filled petition circulating.) Those hits have been rebuffed by people who have actually worked with Jennings. But the charge that's gained traction is that Jennings, while a high school teacher, failed to report a statutory rape. He said in a talk that he counseled a student who went home with a man he met in a bus station:

JENNINGS: And I said, "Brewster, what are you doing in there asleep?" And he said, "Well, I'm tired." And I said, "Well, we all are tired and we all got to school today." And he said, "Well, I was out late last night." And I said, "What were you doing out late on a school night?" And he said, "Well, I was in Boston." Boston was about 45 minutes from Concord. So I said, "What were you doing in Boston on a school night, Brewster?" He got very quiet, and he finally looked at me and said, "Well, I met somebody in the bus station bathroom and I went home with him." High school sophomore, 15 years old. That was the only way he knew how to meet gay people. I was a closeted gay teacher, 24 years old, didn't know what to say. Knew I should say something quickly, so I finally -- my best friend had just died of AIDS the week before -- I looked at Brewster and said, "You know, I hope you knew to use a condom." He said to me something I will never forget. He said "Why should I, my life isn't worth saving anyway."

But the student was actually at least 16 at the time. The age of consent in Massachusetts was (and still is) 16; all Jennings did was choose not to share his knowledge of a consensual, legal sexual relationship. Nevertheless, Fox News and the Washington Times have reported that Jennings was "encouraging" statutory rape. The distorted story was picked up by Politico's Mike Allen, who called it a "problem": "He didn't seem to recognize that given this young man's age, this was an assault, and that it should be reported." ABC News and the Associated Press have also reported on the story.


Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/01/kevin-jennings-obama-aide_n_306950.html

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Bicoastal]

2. As a straight obama supporter, I resent that.

[xchrom]

5. let's see -- do i care?

hmmm -- not so much.

[Bicoastal]

7. I see you've learned how to single people out by sexual orientation. Nice going.

[xchrom]

17. that's actually a compliment coming from you. nt

[Bicoastal]

Coming from me? I don't believe we've met, and you certainly know nothing about about me...

...why so quick to make enemies?

[Tansy_Gold]

6. I'm not sure what you mean by that, but. . ..

My take is that if Jennings knew the kid was really 16 and that's the legal age of consent, then he had no obligation to report it to anyone. It wasn't statutory rape, it wasn't an assault.

If the kid was in fact only 15, then Jennings did have an obligation to report it and didn't.


The point is, we don't have the facts and they are crucial. "Statutory rape" is a "status" crime, meaning that the action itself is a crime ONLY because of the status of one of the parties involved. If the kid is 15, it's a crime. If he's 16, it's not.


TG

[WriteDown]

9. Good, logical breakdown. nt

[ruggerson]

11. CNN is reporting that the kid was 16 - fully legal

[appleannie1]

10. I am a straight Obama supporter.

If Jennings told that boy to use a condom, he did the right thing IMO. I don't give a damn how old he was or whether it was straight or gay sex, our youth should know their options to be safe.

[Grassy Knoll]

15. What do you mean ?

Liberals are just that, we are free to liberate, we are on your side or anybody with progressive thought,
Geez, were all friends here.

[xchrom]

18. no. we're not all friends here. nt

[Grassy Knoll]

21. Well at least I am......

Peace .
:toast:

[Cha]

27. And, you seem like a nice

person:fistbump:

[WriteDown]

3. I'm wondering how this story would have been different

if this were a female student.

[nashville_brook]

4. he'll be gone by monday.

hope i'm wrong.

[ej510]

14. You're right, and Faux news will move on to the next

cabinet member in the Obama administration.

[Enrique]

8. he should have warned the kid

about all the GOP senators that hang out in bathrooms.

[BluDemocratGirl]

16. You hear that, Mr. Craig?

You got that right, and I am a straight Obama supporter as well.

[Zorra]

12. A republican senator solicited sex with a man in a men's bathroom at an airport in Minnesota.

He was arrested, pleaded guilty, and was fined. In all probability, the senator had been blowing guys in bathroom stalls regularly for years.

He was permitted to finish his term.

Jennings did nothing wrong. This is a bona fide witch hunt. He should not resign or be forced to resign.

[robo50]

13. Yes, I agree, for sure this is a witch hunt, and Fox will lead the homophobes

all the way, banging the drum of fear and confusion, making all gay people into pederasts.

We can tell how they work, this is no surprise.

[Cha]

28. +1,000!

[TankLV]

29. Totally agree - let's see if Obama has his back...

I certainly hope so - because if he throws ANOTHER one under the bus, then the repukes WILL be emboldened to NEVER STOP for FOUR FUCKING YEARS!!!

Obama better learn FAST from the Clinton years...

[marshall]

19. This man must not be the next Joycelyn Elders

For speaking the plain truth.

[Doctor_J]

20. How long till he's kicked to the curb

This administration seems to do whatever Fox "News" tells them to do

[AlbertCat]

25. This administration seems to do whatever Fox "News" tells them to do

They do?????

[pattmarty]

22. God, I can't believe a lot here are saying "oh, geez, he really was..........................

.................16 and "was legal", so fucking what? The argument should actually be, he was a teacher and was HONESTLY counseling a student. I don't give a fuck if he was gay, green or what, it sounds like it was just that, and that only.

[QC]

23. I hope Faux News doesn't decide they want Michelle out of the picture. n/t

[TankLV]

30. HA - too few will even know the point of your statement...

[AlbertCat]

24. claim that he has expressed a desire to spread homosexuality among schoolkids,

How do you spread homosexuality?

With a spatula?



OK, this one doesn't even make any sense. Repugs are fucking out of their minds. Homosexuality is not Swine flu. You don't "spread" it. (Well, maybe if you're already gay, but straights spread it too!)

Is anybody going to take this seriously? Maybe... it does use "the children!" scare tactic.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

26. What are these Repukes thinking?

Pssst. You wanna join our club? We're gay. There's a lot of cute guys here.