Topic: State Rep. Ernest Hewett stripped of speaker title after inappropriate comment. Wow.
Anonymous A started this discussion 13 years ago #26,008
Most members of the southeastern Connecticut delegation agree with the House speaker’s decision to strip state Rep. Ernest Hewett of his deputy speaker title, but state Rep. Edward Moukawsher came to Hewett’s defense on Friday.
During a Feb. 20 Appropriations Committee hearing, a female 17-year-old ambassador for the Connecticut Science Center asked the committee to continue funding the center’s ambassador program.
During her speech, she said the program helped her overcome her shyness and get over her fear of snakes.
According to an audiotape of the hearing, Hewett said: “If you’re bashful I got a snake sitting under my desk here.â€
http://www.theday.com/article/20130301/NWS12/130309988/1017
During a Feb. 20 Appropriations Committee hearing, a female 17-year-old ambassador for the Connecticut Science Center asked the committee to continue funding the center’s ambassador program.
During her speech, she said the program helped her overcome her shyness and get over her fear of snakes.
According to an audiotape of the hearing, Hewett said: “If you’re bashful I got a snake sitting under my desk here.â€
http://www.theday.com/article/20130301/NWS12/130309988/1017
Lrents joined in and replied with this 13 years ago, 17 minutes later[^] [v] #393,973
> Hewett said: “If you’re bashful I got a snake sitting under my desk here.â€
wolololo
wolololo
Anonymous C joined in and replied with this 13 years ago, 2 minutes later, 20 minutes after the original post[^] [v] #393,974
So I wonder if it was just one of those "Oh shit! That came out wrong." moments.
Anonymous A (OP) replied with this 13 years ago, 5 minutes later, 26 minutes after the original post[^] [v] #393,975
Killer Lettuce !!iNo3FkiZx joined in and replied with this 13 years ago, 2 minutes later, 28 minutes after the original post[^] [v] #393,976
@393,974 (C)
Maybe. If only because you'd have to be pretty dumb to say this and actually intend it as a sexual innuendo. But then, maybe he really is dumb. Dunno.
Maybe. If only because you'd have to be pretty dumb to say this and actually intend it as a sexual innuendo. But then, maybe he really is dumb. Dunno.
Meta !PARAdoxiHw joined in and replied with this 13 years ago, 3 minutes later, 31 minutes after the original post[^] [v] #393,978
pic relatedHe should have been stripped of more than his title, imo.
Anonymous C replied with this 13 years ago, 9 minutes later, 40 minutes after the original post[^] [v] #393,983
Anonymous A (OP) replied with this 13 years ago, 3 minutes later, 43 minutes after the original post[^] [v] #393,985
Anonymous C replied with this 13 years ago, 12 minutes later, 56 minutes after the original post[^] [v] #393,989
@previous (A)
That's a pretty nebulous generalization on which to condemn the man, especially when the other committee members who know him are saying that he probably didn't mean for his remark to sound lewd.
That's a pretty nebulous generalization on which to condemn the man, especially when the other committee members who know him are saying that he probably didn't mean for his remark to sound lewd.
Anonymous A (OP) replied with this 13 years ago, 3 minutes later, 1 hour after the original post[^] [v] #393,992
@previous (C)
Was it incorrect? Oftentimes people do find sexism to be funny. Also, people who act in inappropriate ways are often defended by colleagues. Were they people who defended him men as well?
Was it incorrect? Oftentimes people do find sexism to be funny. Also, people who act in inappropriate ways are often defended by colleagues. Were they people who defended him men as well?
Anonymous C replied with this 13 years ago, 12 minutes later, 1 hour after the original post[^] [v] #393,995
@previous (A)
> Oftentimes people do find sexism to be funny.
Sure, but it seems like a big logical leap to go from that generalization to claiming to know the intent behind his remark.
> Oftentimes people do find sexism to be funny.
Sure, but it seems like a big logical leap to go from that generalization to claiming to know the intent behind his remark.
Anonymous A (OP) replied with this 13 years ago, 9 minutes later, 1 hour after the original post[^] [v] #393,997
Anonymous C replied with this 13 years ago, 16 minutes later, 1 hour after the original post[^] [v] #393,998
@previous (A)
It seems like he could have been just trying to get a rise out of her by suggesting there was a snake in the room. The "under my desk" part was certainly a poor choice of wording, but it's plausible he intended the remark playfully. At least, it seems harder to believe that a politician would intentionally make veiled dick jokes to an underage girl in front of his colleagues and political rivals in a public forum. I don't really know one way or the other, but this story by itself doesn't immediately flip by outrage switch.
It seems like he could have been just trying to get a rise out of her by suggesting there was a snake in the room. The "under my desk" part was certainly a poor choice of wording, but it's plausible he intended the remark playfully. At least, it seems harder to believe that a politician would intentionally make veiled dick jokes to an underage girl in front of his colleagues and political rivals in a public forum. I don't really know one way or the other, but this story by itself doesn't immediately flip by outrage switch.
Anonymous A (OP) replied with this 13 years ago, 4 minutes later, 1 hour after the original post[^] [v] #394,000
@previous (C)
Does it make sense that he would be trying to "get a rise" out of her at all? Do many things flip your outrage switch?
Does it make sense that he would be trying to "get a rise" out of her at all? Do many things flip your outrage switch?
Anonymous C replied with this 13 years ago, 40 minutes later, 2 hours after the original post[^] [v] #394,007
@previous (A)
> Does it make sense that he would be trying to "get a rise" out of her at all?
Sure, maybe she seemed nervous and he was just trying to lighten the mood. He reportedly has raised three children of his own, and maybe he has found humor effective in dealing with teens. I'm not saying his comment was appropriate. If a quirky sense of humor is likely to lead to situations like this, then it may a good thing that he was removed from his post. I really don't know his intent, but I can imagine enough plausible reasons why this may have just been a failed attempt at humor that I'm willing to hold off on condemning him out of hand.
> Does it make sense that he would be trying to "get a rise" out of her at all?
Sure, maybe she seemed nervous and he was just trying to lighten the mood. He reportedly has raised three children of his own, and maybe he has found humor effective in dealing with teens. I'm not saying his comment was appropriate. If a quirky sense of humor is likely to lead to situations like this, then it may a good thing that he was removed from his post. I really don't know his intent, but I can imagine enough plausible reasons why this may have just been a failed attempt at humor that I'm willing to hold off on condemning him out of hand.
Anonymous A (OP) replied with this 13 years ago, 23 minutes later, 2 hours after the original post[^] [v] #394,012
@previous (C)
Perhaps. Or maybe it was sexist humor in public, because people who do that constantly are very comfortable with it.
Perhaps. Or maybe it was sexist humor in public, because people who do that constantly are very comfortable with it.
Anonymous A (OP) double-posted this 13 years ago, 5 minutes later, 2 hours after the original post[^] [v] #394,014
Okay, this is what he claimed that he meant to say:
Hewett told The Day that the remark came out wrong. "What I meant to say was, 'If you are shy, then I have an acre of land in the Everglades.'" Which sounds like a lie.
I just relistened to the audio, and he did say it in a sexual way.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/01/ernest-hewett_n_2791201.html?utm_hp_ref=politics
Hewett told The Day that the remark came out wrong. "What I meant to say was, 'If you are shy, then I have an acre of land in the Everglades.'" Which sounds like a lie.
I just relistened to the audio, and he did say it in a sexual way.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/01/ernest-hewett_n_2791201.html?utm_hp_ref=politics
(Edited 14 seconds later.)
beckyderp !CATLDyPIBQ joined in and replied with this 13 years ago, 7 minutes later, 2 hours after the original post[^] [v] #394,022
lolol
Anonymous A (OP) replied with this 13 years ago, 1 minute later, 3 hours after the original post[^] [v] #394,023
beckyderp !CATLDyPIBQ replied with this 13 years ago, 37 seconds later, 3 hours after the original post[^] [v] #394,024
Anonymous A (OP) replied with this 13 years ago, 5 minutes later, 3 hours after the original post[^] [v] #394,028
beckyderp !CATLDyPIBQ replied with this 13 years ago, 4 minutes later, 3 hours after the original post[^] [v] #394,030
@previous (A)
Look at the bright side. I suppose it's a positive sign for race relations that black men are now as disgustingly entitled as white men.
Look at the bright side. I suppose it's a positive sign for race relations that black men are now as disgustingly entitled as white men.
Anonymous A (OP) replied with this 13 years ago, 4 minutes later, 3 hours after the original post[^] [v] #394,034
Handel !tYHPZ2dvu6 joined in and replied with this 13 years ago, 1 hour later, 4 hours after the original post[^] [v] #394,076
Definitely not the time nor the place. Disgusting and creepy.
Fake anon !ZkUt8arUCU joined in and replied with this 13 years ago, 40 minutes later, 5 hours after the original post[^] [v] #394,087
He's a definite creep who just ended his political career (hopefully).
Anonymous I joined in and replied with this 13 years ago, 4 hours later, 10 hours after the original post[^] [v] #394,141
Anonymous A (OP) replied with this 13 years ago, 36 minutes later, 10 hours after the original post[^] [v] #394,149
Anonymous J joined in and replied with this 13 years ago, 4 hours later, 14 hours after the original post[^] [v] #394,181
Everyone knew it was going to be a nigger. Be honest. Even before the pic was posted, you knew it was a nigger.
Anonymous K joined in and replied with this 13 years ago, 3 hours later, 18 hours after the original post[^] [v] #394,197
Fake anon !ZkUt8arUCU replied with this 13 years ago, 2 minutes later, 18 hours after the original post[^] [v] #394,198
Anonymous A (OP) replied with this 13 years ago, 1 hour later, 20 hours after the original post[^] [v] #394,203
Anonymous J replied with this 13 years ago, 10 hours later, 1 day after the original post[^] [v] #394,444
@394,197 (K)
@394,198 (Fake anon !ZkUt8arUCU)
I thought autists were good at recognizing patterns?
@previous (A)
Apparently studies have shown that Africans have less "self-control" than Europeans or Asians, possibly pointing to a genetic contribution to such outbursts. Interesting possibility. Apparently this ties into black people being more outgoing at parties.
@394,198 (Fake anon !ZkUt8arUCU)
I thought autists were good at recognizing patterns?
@previous (A)
Apparently studies have shown that Africans have less "self-control" than Europeans or Asians, possibly pointing to a genetic contribution to such outbursts. Interesting possibility. Apparently this ties into black people being more outgoing at parties.