One - I'll pass it off as politics as usual. Two - meh. Same thing. Three - Hmmm? Four - There's fire behind the smoke. Five - We're done here. Might not have a jury verdict in place, but he's lost my vote. Unless, apparently, you live in Alabama or your name's Hannity.
What was the name of that newspaper? WAPO? Ain't no National Inquirer. This story's got legs, and they're all attached to Alabama teenagers.
3
When Trump says, "Honestly..". stop right there. These guys are cartoons of genuine masculinity.
2
Shouldn't every article on Rootin' Tootin' Rudy Ray Roy Moore include the important background information that, as a judge, he was twice removed from the bench for flouting the very laws he was paid to uphold? If Moore had never touched an underage girl, his previous record of lawlessness and contempt for the Constitution should firmly disqualify him for a U.S. Senate seat.
4
I was laughing out loud on reading: "President Trump is the leader of the Republican Party in America,” Richard J. Durbin of Illinois, the No. 2 Senate Democrat, said on CNN. “It’s his responsibility to step forward and say more and do more.”
Big Mouth, Small Hands, Twitter Brain, likes to tell Pakistan to, "Do More" as a surrogate of America (and against Pakistan's own long term interests), in Afghanistan.
And now American Senator is telling a man known for his own foibles and predilection for things he calls "locker-room" happenings to DO MORE to hold others responsible for such behaviour.
1
And that, as Duncan just said is the only truth, sad truth! Alabama has clear priorities. Party before children, not theirs of course, but somebody else’s.
2
“There’s no Senate seat more important than the notion of child pedophilia." What a garbled sentence. Is this guy as dumb as Trump? Or is he just "conflicted" because he works for such an amoral administration?
3
Caution? It is too late for cautious. Moore the pedophile should have used that caution himself. We women are sick to death of his kind of monster. We have children to protect. He deserves jail time not a seat in the senate!
3
How much more evidence do we need than four women independently giving very similar reports? The reason it appears "in the press" is because the statute of limitations has run out for bringing charges against him, so this is the alternative. I find it fascinating that Moore, and others, blame the Democrats for these charges coming out. Did it never occur to him that Luther Strange and his cheerleader, Donald Trump himself, might have prompted such a "story"? Especially in light of all the suggestions for Strange running a write-in campaign............?
I agree that he should be allowed to defend himself. I am a previous victim myself but I am sick and tired of trial and judgment by social media and in the media in general.
Anthony Weiner never touched (or met!) his underage victims and he's in jail. Why would you want Moore to skate free except blind partisanship garnished with a twist of hypocrisy?
I hope Moore continues to campaign & the Republicans put up a Write In candidate so as to split the guber vote. This will give the Dem , Jones , a better chance to win. As many have said the gubers would sooner have a pedophile as their senator than a Democrat.
3
It’s criminal. Period.
How Republicans can put somebody like Moore on the ballot, in any state, in any race, is a mystery.
The women who have come forward with their stories of sexual misconduct should be heard and they should be believed, until such time as evidence would show otherwise.
Conversely, by refusing to explain his actions and answer questions, Moore has disqualified himself as a candidate. He should be denied the opportunity to run and to serve in any government capacity.
7
Mr. Moore already did defend himself. He said he can not remember.
5
exactly.
2
Anyone who continues to support Trump, especially those who work for him, has long ago lost any credibility to speak about sexual assault under any circumstances.
11
I wonder what Hillary thinks about the Trump gang embracing the concept of waiting for the facts before judging?
Never mind, I am pretty sure I already know.
6
“If more evidence comes out that can prove that he did this, then sure, by all means he should be disqualified,” Mr. Short added. “But that’s a huge if.” —Trump advisor Marc Short.
Marc, I think you'll find that it's really a very, very tiny if.
6
Three things that occurred to me in reading both the article, and more especially the Comments section, are that
1) yes, under our legal system Moore may be presumed innocent until proven guilty, but AL voters need to be e-x-t-r-e-m-e-l-y diligent in researching this story before heading to the polls,
2) Trump must be hyperventilating a huge sigh of relief that he's been half a world away from Wash DC during the breaking of THIS story , and
3) to those who are pointing out that Joseph was 'an old man' (in what, his 30's?) when he married a purportedly 13 y.o. virgin named Mary, PLEASE, get real - the Bible was written centuries after they lived, before there was an office of birth and death records, and indeed, even if they were literally those ages, until much more recently in human history, a 13 yo female was considered an adult, and ready for childbearing simply because she was biologically capable of same.
FOCUS, please, on OUR modern western standards in this regard, as they are the only ones that can be fairly applied. And by our standards and laws, if Moore did as he is accused, then yes, he is unfit to serve in public office.
6
What? The Republicans are actually getting around to withdrawing support from this guy? As if everything we knew about him before this allegations came up was just fine and made him eminently qualified to serve in the US Senate. Disgusting.
5
Time will tell if these allegations are true. I struggle with timing of the revelation and the amount of time that has passed (Almost 40 years!) since the alleged behavior took place. If true, wouldn't there be some evidence over the years that he continued in his attraction to young girls? Pedophiles usually don't abrubtly change their behavior. And, we are so repulsed by this allegation when France's current President is married to a woman he began pursuing while underaged; his parents confronted her when he was a teen and sent him away to another country in hopes of ending an age-inappropriate relationship. Yet their relationship appears to be widely accepted. There's alot that's unsettling about their story. I hope the truth comes out for Mr. Moore; whatever it may be. But until then: innocent until proven guilty.
1
So, since this these are allegations, you're giving the benefit of the doubt to Moore over a little girl? Shameful.
5
Cathy, I wonder if you have been reading all of the reports, testimonies, research, et al, that have been all over the media for the last month or so speaking to why women [and men also] do not make their situations public at the time of the occurrences: shame, lack of power or social standing, fear of retribution, etc. Have none of these arguments made any sense to you? If not, you might add your response to the list above, being that no matter what the accuser says, the burden of proof begins against them. They are guilty until proven innocent.
In any case, is Roy Moore such an vital or important legislator and politician that this would be the tactic that people would use to run him out of office? Why do we not hear allegations of this type for every contested seat? If Moore cared so much about the government and position, he put his Country above his own ambitions andrecuse himself so that the integrity of the public office was not denigrated in relation to this scandal! Others have done far more heroic things in the name of public service.
1
I don't recognize this country any more.
This is insane. I don't know what more proof they need than 4 named victims who went on record to discuss their abuse. This seems like more than the Fox News effect..
12
I believe it's the Trump effect.
The Evangelicals, one of Trump's strongest group of supporters, demonstrating once again the hypocrisy and moral bankruptcy they are apparently determined to cement in the minds of Americans who think of them.
13
Let me guess, is Mr. Miller one the WH officials urging caution on judge Roy?
3
Nah, no problem with Mr Moore, he is just Josephs great nephew.
You know Joseph, the “Father” of Jesus?
Or is it Ezekiel. His uncle?
4
I would be cautious in judging Moore. I suspect he's worse than we think.
If you cross him, we would likely pull out his tiny little pistol and kill you until you die from it.
5
In Alabama pedophilia is accepted as long as it is by a white, conservative Christian extremist who doesn't hesitate to judge others. These extremists would support Hitler once they learn that he was a Christian too.
7
Odd that a known predator is begging for leniency and a wait and see attitude. Who would have thought?
6
It's not a single accuser. It's a series of accusers and a judge with a history of viewing himself as above the law.
Sure it's all hearsay evidence, but there's quite a bit of it going back a long time. There's a lot of smoke to this fire.
I for one am happy that I've never supported an alleged child molester for purely political reasons. Can conservatives say the same thing?
10
Trump should go down there to campaign for Moore. They might pick up some techniques from each other on dealing with the ladies, or girls, as it were.
5
He says he did not--she says he did.
The voters of Alabama will be the ones who will decide who they believe.
The rest of us can have an opinion but it really does not matter.
Making accusations 40 years after the fact when the person you are accusing has been in public life for those 40 years does not lend credence to your assertions.
This is the hardest thing a man or a woman who has been sexually abused to do. They live a life of pain, shame. But, it can be done and please this is the best time to get it out of your chest. Prosecutions must follow.
I just hope that women sexually abused, harassed or raped will continue to come forward. Some may be in the same social circles of
These men, but I am sure there are a lot of attorneys like Gloria Allred that are ready to have your back. The rest of us , man or woman, have your back.
To Keep Mr. Trump in power is to continue to give so many women and men the license to be predators. Please speak up, come forward.
1/3 girls and 1/5 boys are sexually abused in US. Abuse is an epidemic in the US and speaks loud and clear about our character as a people. We need to stop and reflect before we speak of others and how they treat women, until we take care of this.
6
OK, but why was this allegation only made 30-40 years after the fact, in the middle of a heated political campaign? I hope it turns out that it didn't happen. I also hope that the alleged victims have evidence of possibly mentioning this prior to last week, as this will go a long ways towards making the accusations legitimate.
Until now, women and girls have been too fearful to report abuse- accusers have been promised character annhilation , physical threats, and lawsuits by their abusers. Molestation is not something a girl forgets, but she may recant under threat.
BB - I suggest you read the Washington Post's article, with investigative work on this report. There were a number of people aware of Judge Moore's behavior at the time, both among the girls' families and friends as well as and among his colleagues; and the accounts that over thirty people gave to the journalists are consistent.
So there's plenty of evidence that the accusations are most likely quite legitimate.
Perhaps they felt a duty to come forth now and shine a light on his moral character as he is yet again in a position to effect the lives of others.
Moore has already defended himself by answering "generally no" and "I had the mother's permission first" to questions of whether he had sex with 14 year old girls. People are free to judge him on these answers alone. If the people of Alabama think this man is worthy of representing them in the Senate, that is all we need to know about Alabama.
6
I disagree with the argument that ".....A candidate is innocent until proven guilty." This is not a court of law; this is a state having to basically decide whether or not to hire someone for a particular job. If I were in their shoes, I would be concerned about this person's record, which would be grounds enough to not hire him. He can continue on with his life just fine, even if he's not hired to be the next bus driver.
6
It is amazing! The republican response to Moore’s behavior seems to be that, like monuments to Confederate soldiers, “dating” underage females is just another aspect of southern heritage. Of course, what can you expect from people who view human slavery as just another economic system.
6
The key question here is not whether he did these thing 40 years ago, but whether he has changed his behavior since. Many of our leaders have done stupid things is the past, but have changed for the better. Remember Jesus' comment to those who were going to stone the woman caught in adultery: "Let those who are without sin, cast the first stone", and according to the record the attackers left, the oldest first until none were left to stone her. Roy Moore is no longer pursuing sexual and romantic relationships with teenage girls. His critics need to examine their own lives before they condemn him!
..and how do you know that? He could be all over young girls who fear him.
1
No. Moore from all the accounts of the women involved and their witnesses molested teenage girls. He admitted this the other night on Hannity about "dating" high school age girls when he was in his 30s (after having permission from their mothers).
He has expressed no remorse, he has not confessed his sins, he has not admitted any wrong doing. This was behavior that harmed the girls and may well have traumatized them, particularly the 14-year-old. There are victims involved here.
It was known at the time that he pursued underage girls. This is a crime. It is not stupid youthful behavior. The man was an assistant DA in his 30s, for heaven's sake! Since when is it permissible for a man in his 30s to molest a 14-year-old!
Just because someone is no longer committing a crime (that we know about) does not grant him automatic forgiveness. Instead it seems in those who are justifying Moore's past actions that they are judging the girls involved, the victims.
Think about the other crimes against minors -- murder, rape, other types of sexual assault. Do the men involved get granted automatic forgiveness later because they only murdered one or two victims, and they haven't done that for a long time?
Yes, I will condemn him. I condemn him strongly. My support is for the women involved.
2
It is critical to note that there is no allegation that Roy Moore actually had sex with any of the reported offenders, only that he showed "inappropriate" sexual interest in teenage girls. Clearly, something inside him kept him from forcing himself on any of them. One can be quite certain that other young men also showed sexual interest in these young women; the question is how far did that interest go? To actual sexual intercourse? Consensual? Statutory rape? Where is the evidence that Roy Moore actually had sexual intercourse with any of the alleged victims?
His crimes against the Federal Judiciary and the SCOTUS plus violates of state ethics standards were far worse!
2
So far I've heard accusations from a woman whose life's story is pretty consistent with others who have been abused.
Roy, we're all waiting for your side of the story. I suggest you do better than calling them liars.
2
Boy is he welcome to defend himself. Everything he says just shoves his boot farther down his throat.
4
Did they urge caution in judging Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey or Louis C.K.? It seems being republican means never having to say you’re sorry. Party of “family values” indeed!
7
Republicans only care if a Democrat has sex with a minor. Then it is an outrage.
2
How insecure a thirty-something man must be to court teen girls. Can’t hold your own with a grown woman, sir? Sick, pathetic and dangerous.
5
Apparently Jesus has endorsed sexual misconduct with minors.
YEEHA!
2
President Perv defending U.S. Senate candidate Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice-suspended Perv.
2
Hypocrites all of them!!! they need him for the tax vote...gross
3
To summarize these politicians: "I support pedophilia if it means Republicans win over Democrats".
2
I guess his opponent can campaign with the slogan "Doug Jones for Alabama Senator. Democrat. Prosecutor of KKK. Non-child molester."
5
You really want him to lose, huh?
1
Really NYT..."romantic relationship"????
More like sexual predatorship of innocent minor.
8
To paraphrase a YouTube meme from years ago:
"Leave Roy Moore alone!"
Nothing could be sweeter than to have a pedophile Republican running against an honorable man who prosecuted the murderers of children killed in a church bombing.
And even if Moore wins, all the better.
The Democrats have another albatross to hang around the necks of the GOP. MANY people will respond appropriately.
I know--the Trump base won't budge, but at least there's more fuel on the fire. Hopefully independents will reconsider their votes. Call me an optimist :)
10
Oh. I thought he did defend himself.
We're seeing some extremely ugly defenses from elected officials in Alabama, including preferring a child molester elected over a Democrat. Or comparing Moore's actions to those of Biblical figures.
The White House has to tread lightly on this, our President is a self-confessed sexual predator.
19
No crime against children should have a statute of limitations.
17
Roy Moor and trump must be in the same club along with bill clinton and many others, just lie and call it fake news. It is about time that men come out and denounce these predators but trump supports him.
4
f the 14 year old girl's story is true ...he should be in jail. Period.
but ...did you ever accept a drink at 18 from an older man ...? or at 20
if the drinking age was 21 ...?
People magazine has a story NOW ...about some 18 or 19 year old actress and HER 30 something boyfriend ... THEY think it is cute ...
How many people commenting HERE have been the younger girl or older man ... and the girl is 17-21 and the man is 25-32 ish
14 is just sick ...once he knew her age.
2
I would imagine one of the conflicts here is that men may feel threatened by their past impure thoughts. How many men of any age have admired, (lust), younger women. They will sometimes feel the need to defend their sex. They should be reminded of the difference between thoughts and actions. Also that they all have mothers, often sisters, daughters, friends....
If your male friend brags about abuse, say something. Even in locker rooms.
Touch with your eyes only.
5
Kellyanne Conway has disgraced herself yet again. The accusations are not coming from "a single news article," they are coming from 4 women and include extensive details and concurrent corroboration from numerous people. The message that Ms. Conway is sending to her 14-year-old daughter is, if you accuse a powerful man of sexual misconduct, we will not believe you and we will call you a liar. Is it any wonder that many women, especially young girls, do not come forward when they have been assaulted? Stop being part of the problem.
19
Because the statute of limitations has expired this will never see a courtroom. But, my next door neighbor is a former DA, and said that based on the accounts given and reported that there would have been more than enough to get an indictment. Additionally, the reporting has laid out a textbook case of sexual predatory behavior including stalking. Bottom line, is that Moore’s only defense is that this is some massive cooked up conspiracy by all his accusers, which is what he is saying. But, that defense is so unreasonable as to add enormous credence to the allegations against him.
Trump and all GOPers will have to choose who is lying. To say that the women cannot prove their claims is to choose Moore’s explanation. You have to choose, Senators, who is lying.
5
It is time to ask Moore and his accusers to VOLUNTARILY take a lie detector test. Afterall, polygraph evidence is accepted as defence in Alabama and has likely been used in Moore's courtroom. So is it too much to ask for him to take such a test to confirm that he has never done what he has been accused of and that he has never met these women as he claimed? Every Republican should be demanding a polygraph for a candidate facing such serious accusations. Every Alabama citizen should welcome Moore taking a polygraph before having to vote. Moore should welcome the test as a way to prove his innocence. (unless he is lying in which case the 4 women and their supporters would welcome the test) The New York Times could faciliatate the test by arranging the tests by a non partisan, 3rd party polygraph expert.
5
I am reminded about Jimmy Swaggert ‘s encounter with a prostitute, after it became public, he went on TV and cried, saying “I have sinned.” Afterwards his TV show resumed and the donations flows again. Also nice ladies across the South believed that trump was forgiven by God about his remarks concerning his technique of showing women who is boss, and blithely voted for him. Alabama is Alabama, after all.
6
Swaggart, Bakker, Haggard...
3
Moore is a sex offender, plain and simple. Who knows what he has done since he went after teenage girls in his 30's. Any republican who stick with him now is condoning middle-aged men to go after their teenage daughters. Disgusting.
7
Allegation or not, if anyone deserves the benefit of the doubt, it's the victim. Shame on Republicans, Hannity and so-called Christians who'd give Moore the benefit of the doubt over a little girl. Shameful. These people have no shame.
16
Conway sold her soul to the Devil at an early age. Now will she sell her daughters also?
10
We are witnessing the demise of any last thread of moral character in our GOP. They have abandoned any moral compass for money and power. What a horrible model we are sending out to the world. Sick. Moore asks why these women came forward years later? Hmmmm maybe because you were the assistant district attorney whose charter was to protect your constituents-not take advantage of innocent young children. They didn't come forward because they have seen the way our country handles women who use their voice to SPEAK UP. Maybe they didn't come forward to be humiliated, blamed and viewed under a microscope for actions they should not be held responsible for. We are witnessing the realization from citizens that our countries leadership is corrupt right down to their bones and has been for longer than we have knows. Makes me want to vomit.
5
It's too early to talk about guns. It's not appropriate to talk about a candidate for the most important deliberative body in America. And we should move past locker-room talk. God help us all.
Moore is not on trial in a court of law. Before these sex accusations surfaced, he was eminently unqualified for the Senate. With these accusations, were he a cop, he'd be placed on administrative duty.
11
Republicans are being very, very careful about criticizing Moore,
because many Republicans have committed similar sins.
6
This is about our President and his second-grade understanding of the English language, sorry, American language.
Moore has had ample opportunity to defend himself. He has had more opportunity that 300,000,000 other Americans will ever have.
He has chosen not to defend himself. He has chosen to hint that he might have political enemies. News to me, but OK.
He has said outright that his primary accuser was sexually active, so he couldn't have abused her.
He has hinted that Donald Trump is out to get him, which makes the headline on this story darkly amusing.
He has done everything except defend himself.
Oh, you want him to defend himself formally, in a court of law? Fine, let him leave the race and go to court. Because it will never happen of he is elected.
There is an extraordinarily convincing case against this man, so called, and he has taken no opportunity to deny it.
Neither have his rabid supporters, by and large, who instead offer such socially cogent glosses as the fact that it's nice to date 14 year old girls, so what?
Or that Mary was what, 12, when she got pregnant with Jesus? And, um, something about Joseph because we forgot that Catholic-y immaculate part.
And guilty or not, elected or not, the real message here is that nobody in the White House or in Right Alabama sees anything wrong with this story.
9
All Hail the Groper in Chief!
11
Now we read "Hannity Fans Destroy Keurig Coffee Makers After Company Pulls Advertising" (on NYT front page).
Assume this means those people approve of defending Moore? How sick is that?
I do not fear for Keurig's future, but for the future of the US.
19
No one is stopping Moore from defending himself. He is doing exactly that. But from my point of view they should:
Lock him up!
10
Tall tree--SHORT ROPE. We are talking about children here and I don't care how often he waves his Bible around......It is NEVER okay.
4
"There were some very fine people on both sides of this sexual predator"
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/teresa-jones-says-roy-moore-common-knowledg...
Nothing sinks to the occasion like the Donald Trump Administration.
64
The news interviewed a woman who paraphrased said that it's unsettling the accusations but that she couldn't make a decision until she found out more. Um, so multiple women with similar stories and corroborating witnesses from a legitimate news source is insufficient? So is the testimony of multiple people who knew him and have said that he liked to find teenagers when he was in his 30s. What do you want? I guess until you read it on facebook it's not true.
24
I am reminded of what happened after it came out
1
Moore should be out!! There should be No question about it. None whatever. It is bad enough that we have a sexual predator for president, already an abomination, but to have Moore, a pedophile, for senator is absolutely heinous. The Republican Party has buried in a quagmire of filth. There are none to be trusted.
8
Lock him up.
5
Of course, Trump and his cronies would urge caution since Trump is a predator and sexually perverted himself. There is no getting around the disgust of Roy Moore. To the mothers and grandmother of Alabama look at your daughters and granddaughters and how in decency and good faith could you look them in the eye and say Roy Moore is decent and morally fit. In so many words Roy Moore has admitted to Hannity, he likes and enjoys dating young girls. It even reported by people knew Roy Moore dated teenagers yet said nothing. I think we can say the Republican Party has a new title the Republican Pedophile Party since the Republican are so willingly and cowardly defending this disgusting man. Just look at Grassley, McConnell, Orin Hatch when being asked about Moore they disgustedly laughed at the questions by reporters: this is not fake, and it has never been fake.
2
This is from the same source who bragged about grabbing women. Just saying.
9
"You grab 'em by the..."
Where have we heard this? For the Trump White House to advise anyone on how to handle a sexual harrassment/abuse/assault case is beyond the pale.
9
Yes, but Trump is an expert at getting off scott free! He knows how to do it. Of course, it might not work for Roy Moore.
2
Just reframe this. Consider a lecherous man in his 30s entering the girls' bathroom at a high school or middle school, to pick up "dates". Would that make Moore supporters think any differently? Or a pervert who wanders around the girls' dressing room at a high school or middle school where girls as young as 14 are nude. Any change of mind?
Or your own daughter "dating" a man in his 30s when she is only 14 or 16 or 17 and is driven to his home and undressed. Any squeamishness yet?
Trump and Moore are pervs of a feather.
15
This just shows how this White House is consistent. I remember all of these officials - including the National Embarrassment himself - urging caution when there were people saying Obama was born in Kenya. Remember?
7
It's funny how Trumpublicans try to claim Moore should be "innocent until proven guilty" after 30 years of repeatedly pronouncing Hillary Clinton guilty despite never being charged with anything.
45
From the actions and support of Moore's candidacy, it appears to me that the Alabama Republican Party has now lowered the age of consent to 14 yrs. old.
Just when I thought I couldn't be surprised anymore...
16
People will show the same restraint judging Moore that Trump and the GOP showed Hillary.
Lock him up!
16
Of course the White House urges caution. To not do so, would require Trump to deal with his own accusers. Secondly, they need his vote.
Alabama , who gave us Jeff Sessions, may well give us a pedophile. If that happens, we will see how low this country has sunk, that republicans will ignore this for his vote.
17
A former prosecutor who worked in the office at that time tells CNN that it was common knowledge that Moore would troll the mall and high school football games looking for girls to date. These women are credible, but then, so was Anita Hill...
20
We have the molester in-chief in the White house, so what's surprising or shocking about a having another child molester in a US Senate seat from Alabama? Absolutely nothing! The Republicans are and have been morally and philosophically bankrupt since the Presidency of George W. Bush.
20
The bankruptcy (literally) started with Herbert Hoover. Richard Nixon layered in criminality. Now Trump would love to ditch democracy altogether so he can stand with his admired autocrats, Putin, Duarte, and (increasingly) Kim Jong-un.
But what else would you expect from a right-wing owner of a private business who has never had to account to anyone? It must be terribly annoying to bow to little people.
To the 50% of the American electorate who can’t be bothered voting and still choose ignorance: you got what you deserve.
6
Roy Moore will never face a court trial for pedophilia. But, eligible voters in Alabama have the right to judge his fitness to be their Senator.
The evidence that he molested a 14 year old has been well documented and corroborated at the time and since by multiple sources. They evidence that he did not molest the 14 year old is only Roy Moore's denials and his brother's attempt to deflect guilt by charging Joseph with engaging in pedophilia with Virgin Mary! Given how religious Moore professes to be, it is odd he didn't caution his brother that Joseph's alibi was documented almost 2,000 years ago in what has become the most widely read book in the world.
42
"Proven guilty"???? Who's burden is that and how will "facts" be accumulated??
Pretty easy, I would say. Just demonstrate that Moore knew these girls. End of story. Was one a daughter of a personal friend? A volunteer?
Since any statute of limitations is gone, and this was pre-CCTV, an accusation + acquaintance and we're done.
Pigs like this man, with or without assaulting kids, aren't entitled to demand more, and such demands are, for me, further proof of guilt.
Go away Roy.
10
I'm wondering if it was the WH or McConnell that saw to it this secret was made known. I'm pretty sure you couldn't get a reporter's attention with a salacious allegation unless the source was very credible. The women involved did not become credible until the investigating was done, so you add it up. It has to be someone who knew of Moore's behavior which means it is someone close to him one or two degrees away.
On a related topic Sex addiction is real, Spacey and Weinstein are not sufferers of it. Both are accused of things that are not directly sex related they are the false exercise of power or position related. Like it is with rape the real dynamic in those sexual assaults was power not sex.
1
Hey Alabama - the Dark Ages are over - join the 21st century !
There's a choice on December 12, 2017.
Constitutional Lawyer Doug Jones ....or Christian Shariah Lawyer and Grand Old Pervert Roy Moore
https://dougjonesforsenate.com/
67
I can't wait till Trump returns and sits down to interrogate and get the truth from Roy Moore like he just did again in coaxing Vladimir Putin to confess he did not meddle in our election process after all.
This so-called president really knows how to get to the bottom of things. Literally.
17
As an American citizen every day gets more sickening in my country! This is totally REVOLTING! LOCK HIM UP! And please take TRUMP with him.
Both of them deserve each other, so alike, so utterly deporable!!!!!!!!!
17
Roy Moore hasn't yet been charged with any crime, and he probably won't be. If he was facing criminal charges in court he would be afforded benefit of doubt, and innocent until proven guilty to a crime. He's not in court, and he does not have the right to benefit of doubt.
The fact that Moore and his oh-so-Christian backers are blaming the victims tells me everything I need to know.
Roy Moore has a past that includes sexual pursuit of underage women when he was in his 30s. He took advantage of them then, and he is trying to use them to his advance now.
Roy Moore has proven himself, and he's a creepy pervert.
33
if the 14 year old girl's story is true ...he should be in jail. Period.
but ...did you ever accept a drink at 18 from an older man ...? or at 20
if the drinking age was 21 ...?
People magazine has a story NOW ...about some 18 or 19 year old actress and HER 30 something boyfriend ... THEY think it is cute ...
How many people commenting HERE have been the younger girl or older man ... and the girl is 17-21 and the man is 25-32 ish
14 is just sick ...once he knew her age.
1
Why didn't ABC's Martha Raddatz ask spokesmonster Kellyanne how a 14-year-old schoolgirl could have even known where Moore lived, what the driveway to his house looked like, that he played guitar? Why was she allowed to parade her 'I don't know either party' scam on national TV like that?
Moore is a strutting Pharisee and phony if one ever walked the earth. His MO also happens to be the same as most child molesters. Sick to death of hearing imbeciles and fools defend him.
68
There have been many cases of alleged crimes in the past that were later found to be false. Remember the Central Park "Rapists" that were found innocent after the whole country assumed their guilt. Roy Moore is not likable but we are a country of laws and a written Constitution that require us to assume his innocence until proven guilty. Unfortunately, the Republican voters in Alabama will most likely vote Moore for their Senator unless an allegation arises that implicates Moore in a crime committed in the time frame for which he can be convicted.
2
Unbelievably, I find myself siding with Mitt Romney. Moore is not on trial and rules of evidence and reasonable doubt do not apply to elections. Common sense does, and the Post interviewed over 30 witnesses, who recount contemporaneous statement about what happened. I am a thinking person and can make judgments outside a court of law.
Moore should not be in the Senate
7
In a court of law, Moore is innocent until proven guilty. But in deciding who to vote for anything can count -- moral fiber is something most of us take into account and we don't always have access to the complete story, but we have to decide on the facts we have.
Alabama will do what it does. They have the right to vote any way they want. The Senate can try not to seat him if he is elected but the vote of the people is taken very seriously in a court of law. They hight have to seat him.
1
Trump, the Immoral Narcissist and sexual predator supporting depravity against children? I would never ever have expected that.
14
This lifelong Dem since the days of JFK hopes to high heaven Republicans in Alabama show their true racist colors and put old Judge Moore right there in the Senate with his fellow right-wing Republicans. Let them see first-hand with they wrought with their nomination of Trump the worse candidate in their party's history. That says a lot when you think Nixon and Reagan served as presidents. They were bad, but they don't come close to the dastardly deeds of Trump. That combined with SS Steve Bannon, the Freedumb Caucue, the Tea Party and an assortment of the some of most unqualified racists and misogynists to infiltrate both Houses of Congress.
Yes, Judge Moore belongs right smack dab in the center of this conservative cabal. Let Roy Boy regale his colleagues in the Senate with his glory days in Alabamy, where dating a pubescent was "OK", as long as you asked permission from Mom. What is wrong with Alabama, and for that matter, the entire Deep South. They've been know as Darwin's Waiting Room for ages. When we speak of the South we think of them as just a tad more advanced then the ISIS terrorists whose archaic laws emulate the ethos of the Southern political mindset. The more one thinks about it, when they seceded, Lincoln should have had the foresight to let them go. They are a lost people who will never "get it".
DD
Manhattan
11
So, as sexist 45 defends a pedophile- no surprises here.
10
There is NO DEFENSE for Pedophelia!!!
8
True but that just pays to the false 'he said she said' dichotomy that Moore wants you to think this is.
The reporting is the thing here. You have to read the original WaPo article to get how clearly the reporters showed us that what is alleged is probably true. I think a lawyer would call it a very good circumstantial case. The ensuing statements by his former co-workers only served to corroborate what the repoter's came up with.
2
The Repubs are waiting for the poll results showing how large the pedophile demographic is in Alabama before making a decision.
9
So DJT thinks we should use caution on judging a man who admits that he dated under age children but will not admit that he abused them while dating them.
1st this guy needs to be locked up and 2nd look at the idiot that's urging caution.
10
There's a reason that there is no "Thou Shalt Not Sexually Assault a Woman" in the Ten Commandments.
Because sexually assaulting a woman is fine with God.
Your own wife. Your own slave. The wife of a captured enemy. In the South, married white Christian men regularly raped their black slaves (almost certainly many a white Christian woman contracted syphilis or gonorrhea this way)...and the man's mulatto children were also their own father's slaves...by law.
The only women off limits are your neighbors' wives (if the man isn't your husband's neighbor, too bad for you, lady).
Because sexually assaulting women is the norm according to biblical Judaism, Christianity and Islam (which, like Christianity, is somewhat based on Judaism).
Bible-believing Christians SHOULD vote for Moore. Moore is upholding God's sacred values: Women serve men for sex and children; that's it.
4
Human nature sure makes people capable of many thinks that our intellect just can't square. If anything is at odds with itself it's the two of us together.
1
Imagine if such accusations were against a black, gay man who had tried to hit on a 14 year old white male!! The outrage would be from corner to corner of the heart of Dixie. Such a candidate would get less than zero votes, before being run up a tree with a noose around his neck. However, as a white, heterosexual male, the excuses (however pathetic) are ceaseless and Mr Moore remains a viable candidate for the republican party. In Alabama politics, racism, homophobia and a patriarchal view of society have a peculiar way of coming in very handy.
9
This isn't a criminal court of law. It's a Senate seat. Based on his past and present actions and words, Roy Moore is a sickness that must be removed from the political body. The only caution necessary is by anyone who comes in contact with him.
5
I have never been a fan of Pat Toomey, but I want to give credit where it is due. Toomey is quoted as saying, "But from my point of view, you know, I have to say, I think the accusations have more credibility than the denial." THANK YOU, Senator Toomey, for apparently reading and/or listening to the opposing sides, thinking about both such sides, and then giving public voice to the conclusion you reached without regard to which "side of the aisle" it might favor. More of this type of honesty would go a long way toward improving the state of the government and our country.
55
All well and good but Pat Toomey is simply towing McConnell's line since McConnell does not want to deal with another Bannonite in the Senate.
Pat Toomey has no interest in protecting 14 year old girls -- from being forced to bear children against their will.
The decision is that of the electorate in Alabama. Who is desired as a representative - a mature human being or an emotionally stunted male who has a suspect memory and sense of morals who seeks to represent himself in an unwarranted but sanctimonious fashion?
2
The groper in chief, asking for caution regarding the defense of his power abusing liar in waiting. This is laughable.
We are losing our strength abroad, and at home, the powerful create and exploit divisions. We allow it. That's the shocker.
I think the most shocking part of all this, is watching the Fox News coverage of all this..
Apparently, Moore is a good man, and the accusations of PEDOPHILIA are politically motivated at worst.
And at best, according to the hosts, and their guests, Jesus was born of a teenager, so I guess Roy Moore was speeding up another birth of a redeemer, using the more conventional manner of indulging in underage intercourse???
Fox News has become a state run propaganda machine. It is sad to see them excuse alleged pedophiles in the name of Trumpism. They are the Trump News Network. TNN. Terrible.
5
Moore has already proven himself unfit for office with his actions up to this point. But the republican machinery in the state of Alabama (and nationally) is happy to overlook that since he would likely toe the line on the core republican agenda at the national level. The fake revulsion of the republicans at the national level, to the new allegations, is preposterous. The reality is that they would overlook these allegations too, if pedophilia were not such a universally toxic act. Even the "religious" Right in America cannot abide pedophilia (while they apparently CAN abide mass shootings that kill children, sexual assault against women, denying basic healthcare, price gouging for insurance for those with pre-existing conditions, baseless wars that kill innocent civilians and our service members, etc.).
7
Moore would be perfect on the Senate Finance Committee. He could help repeal the kiddie tax.
2
The last thing we want is a government that is a reflection of its populace. Maybe it's time to return to blue blooded royalty so we can be sure our leaders are born and bred correctly.
1
Moore will not be tried in a court of law unless he is convicted of a crime. He will be judged by his constituents and the voters. This is an election problem, not a legal problem -- yet!
But Alabama voters seem to hate the title Democrat so much that they could vote for a known harasser or pedophile (take your pick) rather than a moderate Democrat or even a moderate Republican.
The country is moving toward believing the victims, at least partly because the problem is now becoming so widespread. We are finally beginning to listen to the accusers. Why haven't we listened before?
2
How exactly does one "prove" or "disprove" something like this when it is really about whose story is the credible one. I'll take the woman's story over the creep.
4
This issue should be resolved before the election. If the charges prove true then he should withdraw from the race or be completely dis-owned by the Republican leadership. To have an elected senator facing charges of pedophilia would be intolerable. But then again, look at some of the people elected to office in the last year.
Of course these Trumpists "urge caution". To condemn and call for Moore's withdrawal would require, consistently, the same for their admitted Groper-in-Chief, the star of Access Hollywood fame. How utterly transparent and self-serving. "Alternative Facts" Conway attempts to establish her bona fides by shamefully dragging her own daughters into the fray. Disgusting.
3
Joke of the day. "White House" urges caution in judging Moore.
Senators had better pull support and Alabama voters had better come out to defeat this evil predator. If not the Good People of the United States of America had better show up the day he is to be "installed" to help destroy OUR government and stop him any way possible.
WE THE PEOPLE must not sit idly by and let more of these financial elite operatives inhabit OUR United States Government.
5
Remember when we thought Mitt Romney carrying his dog in a crate on top of the car was unconscionable?
I'd give anything to have Mitt Romney in the White House right now. And I voted for Bernie.
45
I voted for Obama four times (two primaries and two general elections) and Bernie once.
I only voted for Hillary because Dems forced her on us.
Mitt Romney is a decent man.
He just belongs to the wrong political party (almost any other party would be fine).
1
Mitt would be better than Trump. So would road kill.
Personally, I'd rather have Nixon, who signed the EPA into existence and lowered the tensions with China.
But the person I would give anything to have in the White House right now is the person who won the popular vote by 3 million American voters.
And I voted for Bernie in the primary as well.
Let's remember:
There are contemporaneous witnesses. Lawyers who worked with him. At the time.
The Deputy District Attorney who *worked* with Moore at the time has stated that it was common knowledge amongst the Alabama Bar that Moore preferred to date teens, that he would hand around the Mall looking to meet them, and that it was found to be "weird" by the other lawyers.
This was well known by his attorney colleagues at the time.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/teresa-jones-says-roy-moore-common-knowledg...
122
Here's the corrected link:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/teresa-jones-says-roy-moore-common-knowledg...
"It was common knowledge that Roy dated high school girls, everyone we knew thought it was weird," former deputy district attorney Teresa Jones told CNN in comments aired Saturday.
"We wondered why someone his age would hang out at high school football games and the mall ... but you really wouldn't say anything to someone like that."
Teresa Jones is a law partner at the Syprett, Meshad, Resnick, Lieb, Dumbaugh, Jones, Krotec & Westheimer law firm in Sarasota, Florida, served as deputy district attorney for Etowah County, Alabama from 1982 to 1985, according to her firm's website.
Roy Moore worked as a deputy district attorney in that office from 1977 to 1982. Before joining the DA's office, Jones was the assistant city attorney for the city of Gadsden, Alabama, the county seat of Etowah County.
For those Alabamans with a shred of human dignity, I would like to point out that predator Roy Moore in unfit for the United States Senate.
Doug Jones is a much finer and respectable choice on Dec 12 2017.
13
Actually I’m surprised the White House isn’t endorsing Judge Moore. The president and he have so much in common.
8
Two peas in pod.
10
"White House Urging Caution Re ROY MOORE?" Why? Is it because it is 'hitting pretty close to home (i.e. Trump)' and HIS various encounters
through the auspices of a known corrupter of 'under age girls' (Epstein)? Keep digging Free Press - there's more to this STORY!!! We don't have to wait for 'innocence or guilty' - tape recorder words speak loudly.
8
Yet another example of the moral rot--particularly in the Repub party--that's sweeping the land. What have we become, that an individual like Mr. Moore would even be considered for high office? This is not the America I grew up in.
9
HE ABSOLUTELY DESERVES THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEFEND HIMSELF !!!!
This is America.... we can't pick and choose when we want fair treatment for people based on our emotions or biases.
I never would vote for him.... still, EVERYONE deserves fair treatment....
2
In his public statements thus far, he did not deny the charges as such.
1
Kellyanne,,,,you could try thinking beyond YOURSELF, i.e., take such allegations seriously even if they DIDN'T "involve somebody who happened to be one of my daughters’ ages.”
5
Now we can have a Senator Humbert Humbert. He can chair a committee to deal with sexual abuse. Perfectly qualified.
2
Of course White House will urge caution on this.
They don’t want to start going down the road of disqualifying Moore based on his past behavior, which could very well lead to calls for someone else to leave office, based on his similarly piggish past behavior.
57
Why ask Trump for his opinion on Moore, Trump is a sexual predator.
87
There will be no "trial." There will be no further meaningful "evidence." As Mitt Romney basically says, this is a judgment people will have to make based on whether they believe three women -- little people like you and me -- who have nothing to gain outside of vicious attacks by Republicans and the right-wing media, or if you believe the likes of Roy Moore, his composition and his flailing denials.
At least the Republican politicians and electorate who will support Roy Moore should have the honesty to admit that they are OK with electing a pedophile, rather than hiding behind the curtain of “fake news” and dragging their fellow Alabama citizens who have been traumatized by Moore through the mud.
22
Roy Moore is as unsuited to the Senate as Trump is to the presidency. Voters who think either and/or both of these two belong in those offices cannot be reasoned with and are demented and evil.
28
This reminds me of the old joke:
Good ol' boy A: When it comes to sex, I like twenty nine year olds.
Good ol' boy B: Twenty's a lot.
13
Public officials at all levels are wringing their hands that “if” the allegations are proved true, Mr. Moore should step aside. Well, there is a disciplinary process, under the auspices of the Alabama State Bar, that can render a judgment about the allegations, and his overall fitness as a member of the bar. In Alabama, complaints against lawyers are investigated by grievance committees of eight (8) local bar associations and by the Alabama State Bar (ASB) Office of General Counsel. Reports of Recommendations of these committees and of the General Counsel are considered and approved or modified by the Disciplinary Commission of the Alabama State Bar (ASB). Roy Moore is a lawyer, and he may not “[e]ngage in any conduct that adversely reflects on his fitness to practice law." He was removed from the bench, showing that people of integrity in Alabama can render a dispassionate judgment about a powerful public figure. Now, it is alleged he was involved in untoward interactions that allegedly occurred in a courthouse. The ASB should open an inquiry sua sponte, or upon complaint. (And Mr. Moore's threat to sue the Wash Post is an empty threat; the last thing he wants is to be put under oath in a deposition).
31
A person who will lie to the public will have no problem lying under oath.
Personally, I think we should help Moore win the election to realize that we can lower the bar even lower than when Donald Trump was elected. We left the gate open to the sty.
4
Make Alabama great! Reject a 32 year old dating teens today or years ago with or without the mom's approval. Reject a guy who who drove off with a 14 year old , an acquaintance that was framed as a favor to a distraught mother going to a court hearing.
Use caution about putting Moore in the Senate knowing both his professional and personal histories. Alabama can do better!
18
Well! Of course! It's not at all like the Central Park Five! Besides, ain't he a white Republican man? A conservative white Republican man?
36
Mr. Moore's record should be clear of misconduct BEFORE he runs for office; not while he is running or while In office.
16
Caution about calling Roy Moore what he is, a sexual predator? Mr. Trump, you are a self-declared sexual predator yourself, hence, with no right, and a straight face, to defend the indefensible. We all believe the victims, they have no reason whatsoever to accuse you unless the 'crime' occurred. Moore must not be allowed to become Senator, as he is a lousy example of virtue (required in the Senate?!!)... gone wrong.
42
"We" may all believe the victims, but we are not the white Alabama electorate, whose capacity for self-deception in defense of its various peculiar institutions seems limitless.
3
This guy was removed from office once before because he thought he was above the law. And now this?
He has no business running for office considering his past behavior and these new allegations bring even more questions regarding his ethics.
The fact that he won’t drop out of the race makes me even more suspicious.
56
"This guy was removed from office once before because he thought he was above the law. "
Twice. But you're quite right, he has no business running for office; his previous offenses alone would disqualify him in a civilized country.
NO, he was removed TWICE because he thought he was above the law.
This is another "if true" caveat, this time from the White House. Mark Short says that Roy Moore should have a chance to defend himself but last year, when the GOP nominee's sex tape went viral, Republicans said nothing and did nothing and the matter was effectively swept under the rug and remained a non issue for the rest of the campaign. Is this the wish of the White House and the president this time around as well?
6
"Trump officials urge caution on judging Roy Moore" And the caution signs blink "Warning White Man Ahead Proceed With Deference."
45
Absolutely he should be allowed to defend himself. The girls he allegedly molested should also be allowed to testify. His friends as well as friends of the girls he molested should also be called in. This can get VERY public and VERY incriminating, all the way to prison time if rape is discovered.
9
As Mitt Romney said, the burden of proof doesn't have to be carried in an election. Mr. Moore has no right to be a Senator and a credible report is more than sufficient. Of course this should be moot, as Moore should be disqualified from office by virtue of his prior political behavior. He has defied the court, exhibited erratic behavior, been removed from the bench and expressed a twisted view of the United States Constitution. Those things are more important than his personal behavior, although his personal behavior is utterly disgusting.
18
I forget now which defender in Alabama almost demanded that the four women be made to take a lie-detector test. Okay. I'm game. But only if Roy Moore is forced to do the same. I want to hear his response to anyone who asks if he's willing to do that. That person's skin would probably be blistered by his response.
29
The empirical evidence of Moore's Ten-Commandments-in-his-courtroom episode should be enough reason to disqualify him for a seat in the senate.
4
I understand the basic rule of law that you are innocent until proven guilty, but it is laughable that the Republican Senators are saying if it’s true he should not run. Did they really think that someone who would engage in this type of behavior would actually come forward and admit it.? To Kelly Ann Connelly’s argument that you should not condemn a person based on one article, it’s not the one article it’s the testimony of four women that were molested by him that is what is condemning him
If her daughter came to her with a similar situation would she believe her or would she require her daughter to submit a video or provide corroborating evidence before she would believe her? All candidates for Senate should be judged by their character. Roy Moore has shown many other character flaws that should discount him as a senator on their own. These accusations are just one of many that shows he’s unfit to be a US Senator and support from this White House is not plus in my book.
12
If you read the transcript of his "interview" with Sean Hannity, it is clear he is NOT DENYING this!
32
Of course, Louis C.K., Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey, the GOP have no problem telling them their careers are over without anything more than accusations, moralizing about the arrogance of men in the Hollywood culture. And not saying these men shouldn't have their careers terminated. But funny how Moore's allegations need to be prove before something is done and not the others.
31
Trump has publicly proclaimed that he sexually assaults women. I am not surprised that he thnks that sexually assaulting teenage girls is fine. Moore and Trump are equally contemptible.
9
When it came to Sgt. Bergdahl, Trump didn't hesitate to call for him to be executed before his trial had even started. But when it comes to Roy Moore, sure, innocent until proven guilty. I thought Trump had something against rapists? Or is that only when they are Mexican?
59
Caution was never exercised elesewhere.
What a laugh!
3
“Trump Officials Urge Caution on Judging Roy Moore” for sexual predators, and KKKs, are also very nice people.
9
By an large, American conservatives (citizens, legislators and the President) are quick to condemn then vilify minorities and refugees with sweeping, generalized crimes (tax scofflaws, illegal border crossing, drug smuggling, rape, terrorism, etc...) whereas the alleged sexual improprieties of one of their own is given a wide berth of presumed innocence.
8
Yet another instance where Moore is less.
8
What a surprise. Trump has a long history of alleged sexual assault and was caught on video bragging about it. His lackeys now are coming around to support Roy Moore, who credibly has been alleged to commit sexual assault on minors.
Birds of a feather.
6
Just imagine the conversation between Trump and Moore. A serial assaulter lecturing a pedophile about propriety. Good God! What a relentless and horrible joke.
12
Pretty simple really. Pedophilia will be on the ballot in Alabama. If you support it, then vote for Moore.
154
Lets presume innocence until proven guilty. It is just to easy to levels these charges before election.
1
Normally I would, but these things almost always turn out to be true, so I'm not particularly inclined to give this guy the benefit of the doubt.
3
This is not an issue under consideration in a court. The issue is: What do these women have to gain by airing their accounts and what does Moore have to gain by denial?
6
In another, better time, someone accused of this would step aside because the integrity of the office and the importance of governance was more important than the career of one individual, as unjust as it might be in the circumstance. Besmirching public office with even notions of impropriety would have been beyond the pale because there are/were higher ideals of service, public life and integrity of the rule of law.
The issue of the ease of leveling such charges is another, wholly polluted notion in and of itself.
The only caution that should be exercised is getting within 25 feet of this guy or pulling a voting lever for him.
That said, I am sure he will win, be seated and run for president in 2020.
The GOP has staked out its position in words and will not DO NOTHING when the call to action arises. They are too worried about their tax bill.
33
With all due respect to Marc Short and Kellyanne Conway, we do not have to prove Roy Moore guilty. If Moore wants the Senate seat, then he has to prove himself worthy. Mitt Romney said it best when he tweeted that "Innocent until proven guilty is for criminal convictions, not elections."
Let's face it. The people who claim they need more "evidence" to consider the pile of allegations against Roy Moore are the same people who shoved aside the Access Hollywood tape and dismissed other rock-solid evidence of Trump's wrongdoing. So what are they waiting for now -- an audiotape of Roy Moore confessing to his preying on teenagers?
107
It's almost as if Kellyanne Conway were waiting for some "alternative facts" to emerge.
1
But, she added,“it would be a very dangerous precedent for any of us, for any person in this country to just be cast aside as guilty because of press reports.”
No, it wouldn't. Bill Cosby is the precedent.
By the way, if I can be up to date on current events, so can the President of the United States. He has a phone, even if they don't have Internet in Asia.
51
They have internet in Asia. China is not Asia. Asian countries are as different from each other as European countries are.
1