Sen. Gillibrand: I was sexually harassed by men in Congress

[NHLiberal]

I think she would have said the names if they were Republicans. I bet they're Southern Democrats.

Probably not even. It would be a "breach" of sorts and other Senators would have a hard time trusting her in the future. I would think the milieu in the Senate is that these kinds of things are handled "in-house".

Keep in mind that the claims would be denied and can't really be substantiated anyways. It would backfire.

Exactly. I'm not saying they were definitely Republicans, but the fact that she didn't say the names doesn't make it any less likely that they are. Gillibrand isn't going to use this as some cheap political tactic either way; she has a message about women in the workplace that she wants to send and is trying to convey that Congress isn't immune from this.

[Grumpier Than Thou]

Possibly Harry Reid?

Ewwwwwww......

[DC Al Fine]

I think she would have said the names if they were Republicans. I bet they're Southern Democrats.

Probably not even. It would be a "breach" of sorts and other Senators would have a hard time trusting her in the future. I would think the milieu in the Senate is that these kinds of things are handled "in-house".

Keep in mind that the claims would be denied and can't really be substantiated anyways. It would backfire.

Exactly. I'm not saying they were definitely Republicans, but the fact that she didn't say the names doesn't make it any less likely that they are. Gillibrand isn't going to use this as some cheap political tactic either way; she has a message about women in the workplace that she wants to send and is trying to convey that Congress isn't immune from this.

But but think of the Upworthy headlines!!!

You'd never guess which congressmen grabbed Senator Gillibrand's ass

[Ogre Mage]

I think she would have said the names if they were Republicans. I bet they're Southern Democrats.

Probably not even. It would be a "breach" of sorts and other Senators would have a hard time trusting her in the future. I would think the milieu in the Senate is that these kinds of things are handled "in-house".

Keep in mind that the claims would be denied and can't really be substantiated anyways. It would backfire.

Exactly. I'm not saying they were definitely Republicans, but the fact that she didn't say the names doesn't make it any less likely that they are. Gillibrand isn't going to use this as some cheap political tactic either way; she has a message about women in the workplace that she wants to send and is trying to convey that Congress isn't immune from this.

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http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/02/opinion/schwartz-kirsten-gillibrand/

[Marokai Backbeat]

This is truly sickening.

If unfortunately not surprising.

[Ogre Mage]

One of Gillibrand's Senate colleagues is not handling her announcement gracefully.

Republican Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson:

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http://www.buzzfeed.com/andrewkaczynski/gop-senator-on-gillibrand-claim-she-was-sexually-harassed-by#2q2w24m

Color me surprised that the right-wing male senator has never seen sexual harassment in the U.S. Senate.  Maybe he can mansplain this to Sen. Gillibrand just like he mansplained the budget to Sen. Baldwin.

In fact, it seems Mr. Johnson has a history of not "seeing" these things:

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http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/writers/jessie-opoien/ron-johnson-says-kirsten-gillibrand-should-name-names-in-sexual/article_6c7aed49-3d4b-5126-99c9-80565835f24f.html

[Grumpier Than Thou]

"It's not me"

Translation: "It's me"

[Never]

I think she would have said the names if they were Republicans. I bet they're Southern Democrats.

Probably not even. It would be a "breach" of sorts and other Senators would have a hard time trusting her in the future. I would think the milieu in the Senate is that these kinds of things are handled "in-house".

Keep in mind that the claims would be denied and can't really be substantiated anyways. It would backfire.

Exactly. I'm not saying they were definitely Republicans, but the fact that she didn't say the names doesn't make it any less likely that they are. Gillibrand isn't going to use this as some cheap political tactic either way; she has a message about women in the workplace that she wants to send and is trying to convey that Congress isn't immune from this.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/02/opinion/schwartz-kirsten-gillibrand/

Initially, I couldn't put my finger on why I thought Gillibrand made the right call by not naming the senators who harassed her, but I think Schwartz hit the nail on the head with her two reasons. I think it's still interesting to speculate who the culprits could be, but if Gillibrand wants to keep the identities of the senators to herself, that's just fine.

[Eraserhead]

Ron Johnson is such a scumbag.

Anyway, this isn't even a little surprising.

[badgate]

Being called fat is sexual harassment?

He was objectifying her, so yes.

[swl]

Sometimes it seems a bit difficult to draw the line between sexual harassment and awkwardness.

For example, do you think "You know, Kirsten, you’re even pretty when you’re fat" is sexual harassment?

[Vega]

It's really not appropriate for the U.S. Senate, but I'd take it as a backhanded compliment.

[Knives]

It's really not appropriate for the U.S. Senate, but I'd take it as a backhanded compliment.

I'd feel special is a certain congressman by the name Aaron felt me up...

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

She was Schumer's nebbish, why didn't he defend her from these thugs?

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

Come on, Kirsten. Names. We want names.

Since she isn't saying, anyone want to speculate on who they are?

Robert Byrd is who comes to mind first.

Oh sure, blame the dead guy.

[Free Bird]

Tellin ya, Blunt

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

A drunken Ted Kennedy perhaps?

[Free Bird]

A drunken Ted Kennedy perhaps?

Nah, they only coexisted when Kennedy was sick. Maybe drunk Dodd

[MalaspinaGold]

Gillibrand was on Jon Stewart that the "fat" quote came from a Southerner. Chambliss?

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Baby is sexual harassment? Holy crap we live in a soft world

It's not just about what is said, it's how.

[Maxwell]

Baby is sexual harassment? Holy crap we live in a soft world

It's not just about what is said, it's how.

[Lurker]

I think she would have said the names if they were Republicans. I bet they're Southern Democrats.

Probably not even. It would be a "breach" of sorts and other Senators would have a hard time trusting her in the future. I would think the milieu in the Senate is that these kinds of things are handled "in-house".

Keep in mind that the claims would be denied and can't really be substantiated anyways. It would backfire.

Exactly. I'm not saying they were definitely Republicans, but the fact that she didn't say the names doesn't make it any less likely that they are. Gillibrand isn't going to use this as some cheap political tactic either way; she has a message about women in the workplace that she wants to send and is trying to convey that Congress isn't immune from this.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/02/opinion/schwartz-kirsten-gillibrand/

Initially, I couldn't put my finger on why I thought Gillibrand made the right call by not naming the senators who harassed her, but I think Schwartz hit the nail on the head with her two reasons. I think it's still interesting to speculate who the culprits could be, but if Gillibrand wants to keep the identities of the senators to herself, that's just fine.

Presumably it's not that "interesting" for those being speculated about, particularly those who are then accused of another person's crime. Which is one reason why she perhaps should name them, if nothing else (particularly when she's already narrowed the list of "suspects" quite a bit).

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

So let me ask you guys this........by refusing to name names, does this discourage other women from reporting this kind of stuff?  I mean she's afraid to report some guy because he's powerful, obviously.  So does that tell other women if you're up against a powerful guy you have no chance of getting justice?

[King]

My guess is that's a bipartisan problem. Gillibrand would probably have no issue dropping sexual harassment allegations on Republicans right now and would be encouraged to do so by he fellow Senate Dems.

[Beet]

If she's smart, the reason she's not naming names is because she needs something from the perpetrator(s).