"Beyond disbelief": Kelly's Defense of Rob Porter Roils the West Wing - Gabriel Sherman

[DonViejo]

“BEYOND DISBELIEF”: JOHN KELLY’S DEFENSE OF ROB PORTER ROILS THE WEST WING

Staff Secretary Rob Porter, who has been accused of abusing his former wives, is Kelly’s right hand—and dating Hope Hicks, one of Trump’s closest confidantes. But Kelly’s declaration that Porter is a man of “true integrity and honor” was seen as deeply tone deaf.

BY GABRIEL SHERMAN
FEBRUARY 7, 2018 2:18 PM

For weeks, Donald Trump has been souring on his Chief of Staff John Kelly because of his controlling ways and rising public profile. And now Kelly is in the midst of a bonafide crisis, one that exacerbates the president’s own #MeToo problems. On Tuesday, Kelly strongly defended White House Staff Secretary Rob Porter against disturbing allegations, published first in the Daily Mail, that he abused his ex-wives. Kelly’s decision to back Porter has left many people inside the White House angry, two sources with knowledge of the matter said. On Wednesday afternoon, Porter resigned. Axios reported Kelly wanted Porter to “stay and fight.”

Yesterday, Porter’s second wife, Jennifer Willoughby, told the Mail that Porter called her a “fucking bitch” on their honeymoon, and once pulled her naked out of the shower. In response, Kelly put out a statement calling Porter “a man of true integrity and honor” and a “trusted professional.” But shortly after Kelly rallied behind his colleague, Porter’s first wife came forward with additional harrowing allegations. Colbie Holderness, who married Porter in 2009, told the Daily Mail that Porter punched her in the face and choked her, among other alleged abuses. The article included a photo of her with a black eye. “It was not hard enough for me to pass out, but it was scary, humiliating, and dehumanizing,” she said. Porter told the Daily Mail that the allegations were “slanderous and simply false.”

Kelly’s decision to go to bat for Porter deeply frustrated White House staffers, sources told me. He was supposed to be the West Wing’s resident grown-up, but staffers are increasingly questioning Kelly’s judgment, four Republicans close to the White House told me. “It’s beyond disbelief. Everyone is trying to figure out why Kelly is leading the charge to save him,” one former West Wing official said. Another Republican said: “How many times has Kelly put out a statement defending Trump?”

Sources said Kelly was so quick to defend Porter because the two have grown very close since Trump appointed Kelly chief of staff last summer. Porter, a Rhodes scholar, has helped Kelly instill discipline in the West Wing. Kelly has told people that Porter has a “calming effect” on White House operations. For instance, it’s Porter who screens all the information that gets to Trump’s desk. Porter also helped Kelly conduct a West Wing organizational study that provided Kelly with a cudgel to sideline Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, two former West Wing officials told me. The officials also said Kelly supported Porter even after the F.B.I. delayed granting Porter’s security clearance because they uncovered his alleged history of spousal abuse.

more
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2018/02/john-kelly-defense-of-rob-porter-roils-the-west-wing

[enough]

1. Kelly's the kind of misogynist who believes "women are sacred" and how you treat'em

is nobody's business but your own. He can't abide the idea that accusations like this could interfere with a man's work.

[marylandblue]

3. If women are sacred doesn't that mean you shouldn't beat them?

[Hekate]

11. When some man says we are "sacred" it tells me that actual normal women can never measure up

If we were really goddesses we still would not fulfill their every fantasy of dominance -- we'd smite the bastards for their abuse.

[marylandblue]

14. Well your name is Hekate ...

[enough]

15. This combination of "women are sacred" and men can do whatever they want to them

is the basic psychic pattern of all patriarchal structures, including all fundamentalist religions around the globe and throughout history. I was just pointing out that Kelly has shown himself to be a representative of this pattern.

[erinlough]

7. It might just be me, but...

As a woman I have never wanted to be “sacred” just to be considered a human being who doesn’t deserve to be punched in the face.

[enough]

16. It's a common pathology of patriarchal systems to combine both these ideas in one

"reality."

[Oneironaut]

8. Women are sacred but are lesser minds, so we need to Biblically beat them into submission!

I believe that’s honestly how these nut jobs think.

(Edit: it’s pretty obvious, but the title is sarcastic. DU stripped the quotes off of it)

[tazkcmo]

2. He probably approves.

Wouldn't be a bit surprised if Kelly was a bird of a feather that flocked together.

[panader0]

4. Photo of Colbie Holderness' black eye:

[Hekate]

12. I really hope she left the same day

[lastlib]

30. Well, hey, he's INNOCENT!

If she had not VIOLENTLY FORCED her face in front of his fist, she wouldn't have gotten that bruise! And if she hadn't VIOLENTLY FORCED her neck in between his hands--while he was praying, I'm sure--then he would never have choked her! It's ALL HER fault!!



(in case it's needed........... )

[Buns_of_Fire]

5. "Integrity" and "honor" are pretty loosely defined in this administration.

Integrity = You kiss Comrade Trumpsky's ass at least once a day.
Honor = You LIKE kissing Comrade Trumpsky's ass.

BTW, MSNBC just reported that Porter has resigned.

[Cha]

18. Oh yeah?.. Thanks, Buns_of_Fire!

And, your definitions of integrity and honor in trumpski's admin are right freaking on

More.. if you really want the whole integrity package.

Looks like Kelly isn't up to snuff on the code

[maxrandb]

6. Let's Get This STRAIGHT!!!!!!

KELLY IS A FUCKING PIECE OF SHIT...AND A DISGRACE TO THE UNIFORM HE USED TO WEAR

Thank God the fucker is only Chief of Staff of the fucking White House and no longer commanding troops.

I served 30 years in the Navy, the last 7 as an EA or Flag Aide to 7 different Flag Officers and 3 Senior Executive Service Civilians.

Most were decent and good people, but a couple of them, if you told me I was going to have to work for them again...I'd take a fucking sledge hammer to my knee

How this prick ever made Flag Rank is just fucking beyond me.

- He's used his fucking uniform and position to advance the whims of a fucking fascist

- He's used the corpse of his own son to enable a fucking White Supremacist takeover of our fucking country

- He's kissing Donnie Short Fingers ass so hard, that if the shitgibbon stopped quickly, Kelly's head would go right up his ass.

It would be a dream come true to have a few minutes face-to-face with Kelly to tell him what a piece of shit he is, right to his fucking Nazi dreaming face.

FUCK HIM

FYI - I'm not a fan

[Ilsa]

13. Powerful response.

I ache for you just reading it.

An old friend who was Navy felt the same about her commanding officer (he may have been a captain. She was a LtCmdr.) at the Pentagon. She used to work out, get fighting pointers, and keep her upper body strength up in case his physical abuse ever got beyond physically pushing (into furniture), which he did once. She managed to get out with a good retirement deal.

I haven't talked to her in years. I hope she hates trump.

On edit: many here have stated something similar to what I'm about to type: I had given Kelly the benefit of the doubt and tremendous respect because of his career and Gold Star family status. I'll always feel bad for him as a parent, but for me, he has ruined his career reputation by allying himself with this narcissistic asshole with dictatorial ambitions. I have no respect for him any more and feel about him much the same way as I feel about trump - I despise them and wish they would disappear off the planet.

[dalton99a]

33. +1

[TheOther95Percent]

9. His work record isn't the issue.

Abusive personalities can be very effective in the workplace. However, someone who has a track record of abuse against multiple intimate partners should not be praised with such sterling adjectives. In my experience, batterers are not honorable.

[bullwinkle428]

10. You mean Mr. John "Women were once revered in this country" Kelly?

[enough]

17. That's the one. NT

[Maraya1969]

27. The "once revered" women he is talking about is probably back when women

were barefoot and pregnant, never talked back and waited on their husbands. And they were not taking jobs away from men.

[sprinkleeninow]

31. Or when they greeted them at the door in high heels 👠flouncy shirt waist dress👗 perfectly coifed

hair👩 full makeup 💄 and had a complete hot supper 🍝 ready for him. After which he'd retire to his easy chair💺 and she'd fetch him his pipe 🚬, slippers 👞 and the dog 🐶, a la June Cleaver.

oooh I made MYSELF laugh!
😆

[Squinch]

19. I recently read somewhere that choking is the strongest predictor that an abuser will go on

to kill his victim.

[texasfiddler]

20. Looks like Rob Porter is probably left handed

[Upthevibe]

21. This is so pathetic...

I just don't know....

[DallasNE]

22. Does John Kelly Have Problems Of His Own Hiding In The Closet

And that is why he can't see the forest for the trees?

[Corgigal]

23. The military might want to pull

the soldiers that worked under Kelly now. This performance isn't in a vacuum, I wonder how many women he fucked over during his military career. I hope a journalist is reaching out. It's going to be hard to find anyone to talk, but as a woman veteran, I want to be sure he actually performed properly to the rank he achieved.

[Marcuse]

24. There appears to be a pattern.

http://www.militarycorruption.com/tomko2.t

"The charges include three counts of aggravated sexual battery, three more of taking indecent liberties, and one of cruelty to children. If convicted, he could spend the rest of his life behind bars. This is a man who was so admired in the Corps that when he faced his trouble two years ago, four active duty and retired general officers testified as to his "high character." One of them was someone our readers will immediately know - the former C. O. of the U.S. Southern Command. He is also President Donald Trump's chief of staff, Gen. John Kelly.."

[Maraya1969]

26. Your link doesn't work. Do you have another?

[Marcuse]

28. Apologies. Try this.

http://militarycorruption.com/tomko2.htm

[sprinkleeninow]

32. The whole situation with Kelly on the staff creeps me out.

He's whack to have covered for Porter and the serviceman who he endorsed with praise of high character. Sickening.

What's that (one of a ton of) stupid remark schlumpy made about one of his spawns? He had high class character or something. 😤

[Maraya1969]

25. I'm now curious about how John Kelly treats his wife. Racists tend to be

misogynists too.

[OnDoutside]

34. That's a good question.

[Nitram]

29. Isn't the experssion actually, "beyond belief?" "Beyond disbelief" would mean it is believable.

Just as "beyond belief" means it is "unbelievable."