Jackie Speier calls for harassment training

[alp227]

Source: Politico

A House Democrat is calling for mandatory sexual harassment training for lawmakers after revelations that a House Republican was caught on tape in a romantic embrace with a now-ex-aide.

Saying the House is “not a frat house,” Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) is readying legislation that would require all members of the House and their aides to undergo annual sexual harassment training. That would include “practical examples aimed at the prevention of harassment, discrimination and retaliation presented by expert trainers,” according to her office, and it would be similar to harassment training available in the private sector.

In a statement, she aims criticism not only at Rep. Vance McAllister (R-La.), the freshman lawmaker now swept up in the controversy involving a former staffer, but also at former Rep. Bob Filner (D-Calif.), who resigned as San Diego mayor amid multiple sexual harassment allegations against him. Filner was released Sunday from a three-month house arrest on charges of felony false imprisonment and two misdemeanor charges of battery, according to the Associated Press.

Speier noted in her statement that despite multiple allegations against Filner, “not one person felt able to report his misconduct in his decades-long tenure in the House.”



Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2014/04/jackie-speier-harrassment-training-105497.html

[qazplm]

1. I dont have a problem with mandatory

sexual harassment training, heck, that's just good to do no matter what job you are in.

But how does this tie to a consensual relationship between two adults? This wasn't a young intern, it was a grown, married woman with kids, and it appears to be very consensual...they were friends for years, before he was even in Congress IIRC.

[Tempest]

2. Is it really consensual?

He was her boss. There have been thousands of cases where women have felt pressured into relationships under these circumstances.

[qazplm]

4. yes

they were friends before this, and I suspect this wasn't a pressure situation. It CAN be non-consensual, it is not per se non-consensual simply because he was her boss.

[Tempest]

5. Being friends is meaningless

Most rapes are by someone the victim knows.

Has she made a statement it was consenual?

[WhiteTara]

7. When there is one who has power and one who has none

there is definite coercion on the part of the person with power. The person with power is the one who MUST be trained in not using their power to sexually control someone with no power.

He should not have hired her in the beginning as it sure looks like cronyism from your description. There really needs to be a standard of conduct...this is not a frat house at college where we are all away from home and constraints for the first time in our lives.

[cosmicone]

3. These are our esteemed representatives and should know better

Why give them training on something so obvious and common knowledge?

It just excuses their behavior for lack of training. They should know right from wrong at the get go or shouldn't seek office.

I love Jackie Speier to pieces but this is unnecessary and gives the assholes a cover.

In this day and age, how many bosses are really going to say, "oh, I didn't know it was wrong to have sex with a subordinate?"

[Paladin]

6. I think you're crediting politicians with too much intellect, scruples and restraint.

Far too many of these officials revert to their inner satyr when they arrive in D.C. with their families left behind, looking upon the district as just one big sexual playing field. If you doubt this, you ought to talk to some congressional staffers or interns. Ms. Speir's suggested training program probably won't ever happen, but it's a worthy idea---"common knowledge" isn't so common.