Tag Archives: sexual assault

entertainment news, national news

Et tu, Dr. Huxtable?

This cannot be happening to one of America’s most iconic entertainers.

Then again …

Bill Cosby has been accused by at least three women of sexual assault. His lawyer denies the allegations. Meanwhile, one television network, NBC, and an online entertainment provider, Netflix, have cancelled planned projects involving Cosby.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/news/nbc-scraps-cosby-television-project/ar-BBeHfAq

What in the name of all that is holy is going on here?

I believe we are seeing a case of the backlash hurting at least as much as the initial slap.

The allegations need to be proven and Cosby is entitled to the presumption of innocence. NBC and Netflix have been quick to distance themselves from the one-time Dr. Heathcliff Huxtable, a character Cosby portrayed on the acclaimed series “The Cosby Show.”

In that show, Dr. Huxtable became the standard bearer for family men across the nation, rearing a boisterous family along with his equally successful wife, portrayed by Phylicia Rashad. More to the point, Cosby’s character became an important role model for African-American men, many of whom forsake their fatherly duties once they learn that a child is on his or her way.

I do hope these allegations lead to nowhere. However, hope by itself won’t make it so.

My fears are leading me to suspect something else might be about to transpire.

 

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Akin: the gift that keeps on giving

Bless that good ol’ Todd “Legitimate Rape” Akin. He just can’t keep quiet about things that got him and his political party into trouble.

Akin, a Republican, has written a book with a mouthful of a title: “Firing back: Taking on the Party Bosses and Media Elite to Protect Our Faith.” It’s going to be released in a few days.

Democrats’ mouths are watering at the prospect of raising money using this man’s pearls of wisdom as the lure.

http://www.politico.com/story/2014/07/todd-akin-book-firing-back-democrats-reaction-108823.html?hp=l2

Akin sought to win election to the U.S. Senate seat from Missouri. He was considered a strong candidate until he sought to differentiate between “legitimate rape” and, well, other kinds of rape. He was trying to explain how some women become pregnant as they are being sexually assaulted, explaining that “the female body has ways to try and shut that whole thing down.”

Akin, I hasten to add, is not a physician.

He didn’t win the Senate seat in the 2012 election and his comments — along with those uttered by other GOP candidates that year — helped fuel the perception that his party has declared war on women.

Akin is just the gift that keeps on giving, apparently, with the publication of his book. I’m not sure if I’m going to read it. I might catch an excerpt or two when they show up online.

Democrats and their political-action committee pals — such as Emily’s List — likely are going to reap some benefit from this guy’s memoir.

And why not? Akin provided a tremendous case study on the troubles politicians — particularly those of the male persuasion — find when they speak of things of which they know zero intimate knowledge.

Pregnancy comes to mind.

Akin told Politico that his “only regret is apologizing for his comments about rape and pregnancy.”

Let the fun begin all over again.