If Kevin Jennings goes, I'm going with him.

[Robb]

Jennings is an exceptional, distinguished educator. He is gay. And the GOP is targeting him as they have targeted other "czars" this President has selected.

I watched the GLBT end of DU become increasingly horrified with Obama's decisions from the Inauguration forward. That any of them can still support this President after the repeated neglect they have endured is a testament to their own character and commitment.

I'm a true believer in the political acumen of this President. He's very, very good at this.

However.

This President has caved, and caved, and caved on the "czar" appointments. In an effort to appeal to a broader base, some say. In an effort for bipartisanship. In an effort to govern everyone. In part of a broader plan that will be revealed in time as worthy of his obvious genius. Whatever. I've bought into it. I've given the benefit of the doubt, because every other time I thought I knew better than Obama, I was wrong.

However.

Jennings is a bright star and role model. The number of children he has helped, to say nothing of those who were GLBT, has earned him a place at the biggest table we can set up for him. He's got work to do, and he's got the chops to do it.

If Jennings is sacrificed on the altar of whatever plan Obama or the people around him are running, I'm done. I'll start sending my money and time to PFLAG or something. I'll join the rabble calling for a primary challenge (while still thinking most of them are idiots).

It is time for this President to stand up for the GLBT community that voted for him. Brushing off the attacks on Jennings, or rather defending him with the full force of his bully pulpit, would be a good start.

[aquart]

1. Don't tell us, tell them. And your newspapers.

[Robb]

2. Count on it. nt

[JuniperLea]

3. +1

[lib_wit_it]

38. I'm sure Robb can do all three and more. /m

[bbinacan]

4. Well, bye.

Jennings is a pig. You just don't tell a minor to fuck an adult. Idiocy abounds here on DU.

[Robb]

6. I would advise you check your facts.

I do agree with your second and third sentences, however, in broad terms. :hi:

[ruggerson]

7. He didn't tell anyone to fuck anyone

A gay 16 year old (fully legal in Mass) told a story to him of a one night stand.

Your spin is the repetition of rightwing mendacity.

[Howardx]

16. "Your spin is the repetition of rightwing mendacity."

not only on this topic.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

8. do you ever check your facts?

[bbinacan]

15. ....

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2009/09/head-of-office-of-safe-and-drug-free-schools-expresses-regret-for-controversial-incident.html

[Robb]

19. You equate "I hope you knew to use a condom"

...with "telling a kid to fuck an adult"?

Amazing.

[bbinacan]

21. I stand corrected

"get fucked (raped) by an adult". Either way, this is disgusting behavior. And it's sickening that a teacher endorsed it.

[Robb]

22. I'm astounded still.

You equate "hope you knew to use a condom" with an endorsement? Really?

[bbinacan]

24. You're astounded?

What part of statutory rape actually astounds you? I guess nothing.

[Robb]

27. Read below carefully, I honestly want an answer:

You said Jennings told a kid to fuck an adult. Then you said he endorsed a kid fucking an adult, or being raped by an adult.

None of those things are supported by the record. The words were "I hope you knew to use a condom." The words were spoken after the act.

Did you simply misread? Or are you honestly of the opinion that bringing up condom use equates to an endorsement/promotion of teenage sex? I ask because some people do feel that way, and obviously I disagree.

[bbinacan]

37. This is the problem I have

with the whole situation.

"That Jennings knew of a sexually active 15-year-old, of any gender, involved with “an older man” and didn’t take steps to report that relationship to the student’s parents or to authorities has made him a target for criticism -- long before he was put in charge of the Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools."

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2009/09/head-of-office-of-safe-and-drug-free-schools-expresses-regret-for-controversial-incident.html

[Robb]

39. That's not at ALL what you said. You are lying.

You said your problem was "You just don't tell a minor to fuck an adult."

You were called on that being incorrect.

Then you said Jennings "endorsed" a sexual act between a teenager and an adult.

You were called on that, too.

Now you are saying your problem is he didn't report it.

I'm sorry, but I don't believe you. At all.

Tell us what your real problem with this man is, won't you.

[bbinacan]

40. The real problem I have

with this man is that he should not be in his current job. Have I answered your question?

[Robb]

43. Just say it. It's because he's gay, isn't it.

Very sad to see that. :(

[bbinacan]

45. You assume too much.

And when you assume you.......

[Robb]

46. You haven't offered another reason. I'm running out of options here. nt

[Robb]

47. Kicking because I don't want to let this go.

Why then, is "that man" not supposed to be around children?

[Robb]

51. Still waiting.

Why do you not want "that man" around children?

[Robb]

52. Kicking again, and still waiting.

Why do you not want "this man" to be in his job?

[Robb]

53. Still waiting. nt

[Robb]

55. Kick. nt

[Robb]

56. Still waiting. nt

[Robb]

58. A patient kick. nt

[ruggerson]

28. There is no statutory rape since the kid was 16 and that is the legal age in Mass

[FreeState]

41. The poster does not care about the facts clearly

http://mediamatters.org/blog/200910020029

EXCLUSIVE: Statement from former student at center of Fox-fueled Jennings controversy
October 02, 2009 4:05 pm ET by Karl Frisch

The former student at the center of the Fox News fueled Jennings controversy has provided Media Matters for America with the following statement:

Since I was of legal consent at the time, the fifteen-minute conversation I had with Mr. Jennings twenty-one years ago is of nobody's concern but his and mine. However, since the Republican noise machine is so concerned about my "well-being" and that of America's students, they'll be relieved to know that I was not "inducted" into homosexuality, assaulted, raped, or sold into sexual slavery.

In 1988, I had taken a bus home for the weekend, and on the return trip met someone who was also gay. The next day, I had a conversation with Mr. Jennings about it. I had no sexual contact with anybody at the time, though I was entirely legally free to do so. I was a sixteen year-old going through something most of us have experienced: adolescence. I find it regrettable that the people who have the compassion and integrity to protect our nation's students are themselves in need of protection from homophobic smear attacks. Were it not for Mr. Jennings' courage and concern for my well-being at that time in my life, I doubt I'd be the proud gay man that I am today.

- Brewster

[La Lioness Priyanka]

25. apparantly we dont give kids sexual health advice if we dont agree with their sexual decisions.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

23. not raped since it was consensual. i think you know nothing of the deep pain gay boys

are made to suffer at that age and that a stupid moralistic lecture would have made the boy suffer even more.

ugh.

[bbinacan]

29. By definition

statutory rape has to do with a MINOR not being able to adequately give consenual sex. I guess you think that what Polanski did was OK now that the victim has called off the dogs. You're pitiful.

[ruggerson]

30. the kid was of legal age in Mass at the time

You can scream "statutory rape" and "minor" all you wish, but it's not supported by the facts of the case.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

31. he was 16. which is consensual age. what should the teacher done without outing the kid?

stalk down all men in the area? the kid didnt even know who he had sex with. that was the whole point of the story

[dionysus]

48. you're effed up, because the fact clearly are not on your side, and you won't admit it.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

20. i read it. he didnt want the child to get aids. how horrible of him

[cali]

10. he didn't. you pulled that story right out of..... well, we know where you pulled it from

[bbinacan]

17. ...

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2009/09/head-of-office-of-safe-and-drug-free-schools-expresses-regret-for-controversial-incident.html

[FreeState]

42. The kid in question was 16 at the time and DID NOT HAVE SEX

http://mediamatters.org/blog/200910020029

Stop repeating lies please.

[Malikshah]

11. It's not worth arguing with you about this

Much like the teabaggers, facts elude you.

Such a waste of dna.

[bbinacan]

32. The sign of a weak argument

is to throw the "teabagger" name out there. The facts definitely alude you. So, let me get this straight. It's OK to rape a child as long as you're in this administration.

[Malikshah]

34. Not a weak argument at all. The truth does hurt. If one doesn't like the pain

then seek a way to stop acting like Michelle Bachman, et al.

The "burn the witch"/throw the bastard overboard mentality is beneath thinking adults.

Provide some clear evidence or stop with the tiresome obfuscation.

[MadMaddie]

13. The law in the state is that 16 is considered legal for consensual

sex in that state. He broke no laws.

He was a young teacher who was in the closet and he who was not prepared for the situation +as the teachers of today are.

That was 21 years ago and as in hindsight with all of us there are things we would have done different.

Again he broke no law. And 21 years ago is not 2009.

[bbinacan]

Last I read the kid was

15 years old.

[ruggerson]

26. Reporters don't do their homework

they sometimes repeat rightwing spin.

http://mediamatters.org/research/200910010024

Fox News' Bill Hemmer continued his network's attacks on Department of Education official Kevin Jennings by claiming that Jennings knew of a "statutory rape" case involving a student but "never reported it." However, Hemmer ignored that Jennings' attorney wrote in a 2004 letter that the student was 16 years old, which Jennings' book appears to support, and that 16 is -- and was at the time -- the legal age of consent in Massachusetts

[bbinacan]

35. From ABC

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2009/09/head-of-office-of-safe-and-drug-free-schools-expresses-regret-for-controversial-incident.html

[dsc]

57. Mediamatters has his drivers licence

it clearly states a DOB of July 1971. The coversation occured, at the very earliest, in September of 1987. 1987-1971 is 16. It was 16 yesterday, it is 16 today, it will be 16 tomorrow, and it still will be 16 when they are planting tomatoes on Mars. This isn't a debate over the number of angels on the head of a pin, it is a simple math problem that any second grader could do.

BTW you dishonest person from your very own link

UPDATE: CNN's Jessica Yellin has spoken to "Brewster," who says despite Jennings' recounting of the story, he was 16 at the time, which was then the age of consent in Massachusetts, and further he was not sexually active at the time.

"Since I was of legal consent at the time, the fifteen minute conversation I had with Mr. Jennings twenty-one years ago is of nobody's concern but his and mine," Brewster tells her. "However, since the Republican noise machine is so concerned about my 'well-being' and that of America's students, they'll be relieved to know that I was not 'inducted' into homosexuality, assaulted, raped, or sold into sexual slavery."

Brewster says, "In 1988, I had taken a bus home for the weekend, and on the return trip met someone who was also gay. The next day, I had a conversation with Mr. Jennings about it. I had no sexual contact with anybody at the time, though I was entirely legally free to do so. I was a sixteen year-old going through something most of us have experienced: adolescence."

He adds, "I find it regrettable that the people who have the compassion and integrity to protect our nation's students are themselves in need of protection from homophobic smear attacks. Were it not for Mr. Jennings' courage and concern for my well-being at that time in my life, I doubt I'd be the proud gay man that I am today."

end of quote

Your mendacity is literally needed to be seen to be believed. I am a mere 3 and a half years older than Brewster. I would have killed for a teacher I could talk to about what I was going through as a sophomore. Instead I sought out an older man for sex. Had I had a Jennings in my life I might well have understood that I could be a happy, healthy, adult gay and made better choices back then. Luckily I survived my mistakes. Not all of us do.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

44. So you're saying gay people should have unprotected sex?

Yikes.

[Lucy Goosey]

5. I'm with you

I'm still grossed out by the fact that he essentially let Glenn Beck fire Van Jones.

[cali]

9. everyone has to make up their own mind about this. What I know is that

Obama appointed him. The wingnuts went after him. If it becomes too much of a distraction for the admin, yeah, the guy will probably go. If that happens, I'll place 80% or so of the blame on the wingnuts

[ruggerson]

12. it can't become a distraction

if they stand their ground and stick up for him. He did absolutely nothing wrong.

And Gibbs actually was moderately strong in defending him.

[cali]

14. while I certainly think they should strongly defend him and he certainly

did nothing wrong, yeah and can become a distraction if they keep it up and if it gets enough attention from the MSM.

[BlooInBloo]

18. They will *always* come up with another distraction....

In light of that, they should have just dug in their heels on Van Jones, imo.

[AuntPatsy]

36. I could not agree with you more..how many will be viewed as a distraction and given the boot because

omg...the loonies on the right are whining again..say what? when did they stop?

[Gold Metal Flake]

33. Ensign First!

[xchrom]

49. thank you. nt

[11 Bravo]

50. Who are you, and what have you done with the dingbat?

But seriously, this is a thoughtful and well stated post.

:toast:

[Are_grits_groceries]

54. Well. it's going to get a lot nastier.

They are going to try to tie Jennings to NAMBLA.

Jennings has said he admired Harry Hay for his activism in promoting gay rights. However, Hay was a supporter of NAMBLA.

If his opponents take this approach, the attacks we have seen up until now will seem mild.