McCain campaign cancels event w/TX oilman who compared rape to the weather
Just in case people can’t come up with enough reasons on their own why John McCain is not the choice for women, ABC News reports on how one Texas oilman, Clayton Williams, who is a McCain supporter slipped up:
ABC’s Rick Klein reports: Sen. John McCain on Friday abruptly cancelled a Monday fundraiser that had been scheduled at the home of a Texas oilman, after ABC News contacted the campaign inquiring about a verbal blunder the Texan made during an unsuccessful 1990 campaign for governor.
Clayton Williams stirred controversy during his 1990 campaign for governor of Texas with a botched attempt at humor in which he compared rape to weather. Within earshot of a reporter, Williams said: “As long as it’s inevitable, you might as well lie back and enjoy it.”
McCain’s campaign is on the record for nixing the event due to those comments:
McCain campaign spokesman Brian Rogers said the Monday event was being cancelled, given the offensive comments. He said he could not yet say what McCain would do with donations brought into the campaign by Williams.
“These were obviously incredibly offensive remarks that the campaign was unaware of at the time this event was scheduled,” Rogers said. He added that Williams apologized for the comments back in 1990, but he said that does not excuse them.
But, there’s one more thing, from the ABC item:
Williams told the Midland Reporter-Telegram recently that he had already raised more than $300,000 for McCain and the fundraiser to be held at his home in Midland. Williams said that he needed to help McCain raise money to stop an Obama campaign that would enact “socialist” policies if elected to office.
Really now? Tracy Russo of Rural Votes has this suggestion:
It’s not enough that Senator McCain cancels an event because the media got wind of it.
It’s not enough.
Senator McCain should publicly reject and denounce this man.
He should donate every single dirty dollar that this man has raised for him – all $300,000 – to an organization working to combat rape in our society – like RAINN or RVA.
And he should apologize immediately and completely to his female supporters for daring to entertain the thought of keeping company with this despicable, disgusting individual.
Rape isn’t something that’s funny, it’s tragic. It’s a blight on all of society. Women should be able to trust Senator McCain to recognize that, and to do the right thing.
I completely agree.
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17 Responses to “McCain campaign cancels event w/TX oilman who compared rape to the weather”
McCain campaign spokesman Brian Rogers… said he could not yet say what McCain would do with donations brought into the campaign by Williams.”
Really? Like McCain has a choice on what to do with the money? I think it's a no-brainer and as was suggested, McCain shoudl donate all $300k (or however much) to an organization to combat rape (or abuse) in our society.
Thanks, StockBoy. Over at my blog, this comment was left by a blogger I know well and do consider a friend – though we definitely have disagreements:
It took me a nanosecond to say, “yes.”
I do not support McCain, but if his campaign's response was to cancel the event when they heard about the tasteless remark, then why is this another reason for women not to choose him (which isn't to say there aren't plenty enough as it is)? It seems utterly impractical to expect every single person affiliated with the candidates to be thoroughly vetted. (Okay, maybe a 1-minute Google search would've done it this time, but maybe not.)
aba23, you know what? You are right. McCain should get credit – if he gives the money back or donates it. Otherwise, it's not a meaningful gesture to simply cancel the event. But yes – you are right – he should get props from women AND men if he follows through.
As for thoroughly vetting, this case isn't the one where you want to make that argument. In Texas political and fundraising circles, this individual and this incident are widely known. Not to mention the sums of money involved.
However, as I wrote on my blog earlier today, the point is this: people can proffer money to any candidate they want. The candidate gets to choose the rules by which they're going to accept the money. Obama has been very clear about certain funding streams from which he just won't accept. When we're talking about the potential president of the United States, it's hard to make the argument that we shouldn't care how $300,000 was raised to support him or her.
I'm not defending the remark itself (I agree that it was distasteful and completely inappropriate), but denouncing a person based solely on a single remark made eighteen years ago is bunk.
I'm not going to try and tell you that words don't matter, but should we really fly off the handle every time someone makes an off-color remark? Is a single statement by someone really enough to be able to form an “informed” opinion regarding their inner beliefs and core values?
Were Williams' remark part of a whole pattern or trend of misogynistic remarks/behavior, I might be inclined to agree with you, but, until you can show that – and not that he's guilty of exercising horrible judgment in which dirty joke to tell at one thus-far-isolated point in his life – I have to say that I find your self-righteous attitude more than a little unfounded.
I'm not defending the remark itself (I agree that it was distasteful and completely inappropriate), but denouncing a person based solely on a single remark made eighteen years ago is bunk.
I'm not going to try and tell you that words don't matter, but should we really fly off the handle every time someone makes an off-color remark? Is a single statement by someone really enough to be able to form an “informed” opinion regarding their inner beliefs and core values?
Were Williams' remark part of a whole pattern or trend of misogynistic remarks/behavior, I might be inclined to agree with you, but, until you can show that – and not that he's guilty of exercising horrible judgment in which dirty joke to tell at one thus-far-isolated point in his life – I have to say that I find your self-righteous attitude more than a little unfounded.
oops… sorry for the double-post
I disagree with you on who has the burden. Williams has the burden to show how that remark does not define him. I've read materials that assert just how well-known this incident of his is. If he'd turned around the image associated with it, wouldn't you expect then that McCain would defend Williams as a legitimate ally?
Sure… Williams certainly didn't do himself any favors by not more actively “rehabilitating” his image after the fact. Nevertheless, regardless of how well-known this incident was, it is still only *one* incident.
Although I knew about Williams and his incident before reading your post, I don't know much more about him other than that which you mentioned, so I won't make any claims as to the type of person he is or what he believes.
Still, I just can't justify making the same leap you did, at least, not based on that information alone.
With respect to McCain's defense of Williams, politics is politics, and fairness and logic don't necessarily play into it. McCain could just be waiting to see the direction public opinion takes before deciding on a course of action.
But I'll freely admit to pretty much being a political idiot. That's why I usually adhere to the adage that “it's better to be silent and thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt,” as I have a tendency to incriminate myself.
[...] McCain campaign cancels event w/TX oilman who compared rape to the …Just in case people can’t come up with enough reasons on their own why John McCain is not the choice for women, ABC News reports on how one Texas oilman, Clayton Williams, who is a McCain supporter slipped up: …The Moderate Voice – http://themoderatevoice.com [...]
[...] of Texas against the late Ann Richards …MOMocrats – http://momocrats.typepad.com/momocrats/McCain campaign cancels event w/TX oilman who compared rape to the …Just in case people can’t come up with enough reasons on their own why John McCain is not the [...]
So much for doing the right thing; he's keeping the money (http://thepage.time.com/2008/06/14/mccain-nixes…). I stand corrected on all counts.
It's not the tactic I'd use to try to win over Clinton supporters.
So much for doing the right thing; he's keeping the money (http://thepage.time.com/2008/06/14/mccain-nixes…). I stand corrected on all counts.
It's not the tactic I'd use to try to win over Clinton supporters.
TeaFizz – no one should feel that way and I would guess that you do because people are too quick to slap down others . That's a real problem and something I try to prevent from happening on my personal blog – no one should be made fun of for asking a question – if it's sincere.
Anyway – thanks for leaving your thoughts. I do disagree – I think that the fact that Williams hasn't done anything that we know of to alter this image of him, that in itself says something, and something big. To me and to some others, anyway. I agree about not judging a person per se but this isn't about Williams – this is about McCain and his acceptance of this persons's assistance. These actions DO say something about each of us -not only politicians.
TeaFizz – no one should feel that way and I would guess that you do because people are too quick to slap down others . That's a real problem and something I try to prevent from happening on my personal blog – no one should be made fun of for asking a question – if it's sincere.
Anyway – thanks for leaving your thoughts. I do disagree – I think that the fact that Williams hasn't done anything that we know of to alter this image of him, that in itself says something, and something big. To me and to some others, anyway. I agree about not judging a person per se but this isn't about Williams – this is about McCain and his acceptance of this persons's assistance. These actions DO say something about each of us -not only politicians.
aba23 Thanks for the link – for some folks, it may be enough. For me, I will be honest – I'm not voting for him anyway, from what I can tell you right now. But for women on the fence, well – he really has a pretty abysmal record and is in the old patriarchy, good old boys mold. Sure, he's admirable for many things – but promoting policy and legislation that eradicates the discrimination and mistreatment of women and others who are other unrepresented or underrepresented? That is not what he champions and that negatively impacts those groups – women included.
aba23 Thanks for the link – for some folks, it may be enough. For me, I will be honest – I'm not voting for him anyway, from what I can tell you right now. But for women on the fence, well – he really has a pretty abysmal record and is in the old patriarchy, good old boys mold. Sure, he's admirable for many things – but promoting policy and legislation that eradicates the discrimination and mistreatment of women and others who are other unrepresented or underrepresented? That is not what he champions and that negatively impacts those groups – women included.