Huckabee defends Duggars over Teenage Molestation Accusations

[Revoltingest]

How? Kids are naturally curious, and according to her account she was just a curious kid, as you mentioned, basically "playing doctor." Kids do those things, they think nothing of it, to them there is literally nothing sexual going on, and when it happens, oh well. Children are curious devils, and they are especially curious about their body and the bodies of others, why they look different, what is different, what is the same, and that sort of thing isn't exactly something that a billion-endless "whys" can't satisfy.
When kids do that, it is innocent curiosity - it's actually usually parents who make it into a scene, in a similar way as to how they make a big deal out of seeing their small child touching their genitals, even though to the child it is nothing more than exploration and a feel good touch.
What Josh done was abuse. What his parents done should be grounds for them to be deemed unfit parents.

There was more in Dunham's book than "play'n doctor".
But I ain't go'n into it.
Very creepy gal.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

There was more in Dunham's book than "play'n doctor".
But I ain't go'n into it.
Very creepy gal.

That was what Revolting Truth posted. From the page the showed, it's probably a good thing she was curious, because her sister had apparently stuffed some gravel in her.

 

[Revoltingest]

That was what Revolting Truth posted. From the page the showed, it's probably a good thing she was curious, because her sister had apparently stuffed some gravel in her.

Actually, I don't criticize that episode.
It's creepy, but didn't strike me as a sexual offense.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Actually, I don't criticize that episode.
It's creepy, but didn't strike me as a sexual offense.

We've been discussing two different incidents then.

 

[gsa]

Au contraire....response here to Dunham has only heightened the double standard (IMO).
Note that the Duggar controversy only arose here because of the Huckabee connection,
& even then his support for the family was spun as defense. While there is no justification
for what the Duggars did, politics is a motivating factor in both cases.
I'm glad I've no dog in this fight.....Huckabee, Duggars, Dunham...all very icky people.
I don't watch or vote for any of'm.

It did? Huckabee reacted very quickly; I felt that there was a controversy well before he got involved.

I dislike Dunham for other reasons, but I don't think it is remotely analogous. She was 7, he was 15. Just to start; beyond that there's the fact that she wasn't doing it for sexual gratification. That her parents didn't cover it up. That prominent religious and political figures did not rush to her defense. That she did not work for an outfit analogous to the Family Research Council. Etc. It seems to border on disingenuous to suggest the two situations are comparable.

 

[Revoltingest]

It did? Huckabee reacted very quickly; I felt that there was a controversy well before he got involved.

I dislike Dunham for other reasons, but I don't think it is remotely analogous. She was 7, he was 15. Just to start; beyond that there's the fact that she wasn't doing it for sexual gratification.

This conflicts with some reports based upon excerpts from her book.
Lena Dunham Apologizes for 'Sexual Predator' Section in Her Book - ABC News

That her parents didn't cover it up. That prominent religious and political figures did not rush to her defense. That she did not work for an outfit analogous to the Family Research Council. Etc. It seems to border on disingenuous to suggest the two situations are comparable.

Because there are differences, this means everything Dunham did to her sister is acceptable?

 

[Shadow Wolf]

This conflicts with some reports based upon excerpts from her book.
Lena Dunham Apologizes for 'Sexual Predator' Section in Her Book - ABC News

Reminds me of when a girl kissed me when I was a little kid. I didn't think anything of it then, but good god when my mom brought it up it suddenly became very uncomfortable and unpleasant.

 

[Revoltingest]

Parents can make anything unpleasant, eh.

 

[gsa]

This conflicts with some reports based upon excerpts from her book.
Lena Dunham Apologizes for 'Sexual Predator' Section in Her Book - ABC News

Because there are differences, this means everything Dunham did to her sister is acceptable?

Where's the conflict? The link you provided references incidents that took place when she was 7. That she jokingly referenced sexual predation speaks to her sense of humor, not an accurate characterization.

The fact that there are substantial differences says nothing about whether what Dunham did was acceptable; it simply renders it a completely different situation that cannot be fairly or reasonably compared to sexual predation of 5 underage girls by a teenage boy, at least one of whom was 5 or 6 at the time. I am also not sure why this is being brought up to score political points, since Dunham is not an overtly political figure, to my knowledge. The Duggars are; Josh Duggar is a (now former) political operative for the Christian right wing.

 

[Revoltingest]

Where's the conflict? The link you provided references incidents that took place when she was 7. That she jokingly referenced sexual predation speaks to her sense of humor, not an accurate characterization.

The fact that there are substantial differences says nothing about whether what Dunham did was acceptable; it simply renders it a completely different situation that cannot be fairly or reasonably compared to sexual predation of 5 underage girls by a teenage boy, at least one of whom was 5 or 6 at the time. I am also not sure why this is being brought up to score political points, since Dunham is not an overtly political figure, to my knowledge. The Duggars are; Josh Duggar is a (now former) political operative for the Christian right wing.

I don't really care that the Duggars are conservative or religious. (I am neither.)
I don't dispute that the Duggars did wrong.
We'll have to agree to disagree about whether Dunham did something acceptable or deserving examination.

 

[dawny0826]

Well he's a child molester (which is indeed different than a pedophile clinically speaking.) So yes, technically speaking we can't label him a pedophile. In the common vernacular people will, though. However, the fact that he did this to multiple children indicates sexual predator behavior at the least. Or perhaps even indicates some sort of abusive inclinations. Maybe he's continuing the cycle, so to speak. But I for one do call into question the parenting of ANYONE with such allegations against their character. We're not talking about some remorseful 12 or 13 year old who was a bit confused or themselves abused and trying to figure it out. We're not even talking about a child acting out abuse on another of a similar age as a coping mechanism. Which happens sadly. This is a person who has MULTIPLE allegations against him for abusing prepubescent children as a 15 year old. Call me paranoid but I wouldn't trust the bloke to chaperon any time soon. Or ever. And I'm mightily concerned about his kids.

At least two of his sisters had undergone therapy and have put this behind them for people with a political agenda to unearth sealed juvenile documents and exploit their victimization.

Few people seem to care at all as to what they think, want and what happened from their own perspectives. At least two of his victims do not view him as a child molester and have stated that the damage that the media has done has been far more dehumanizing and victimizing than the molestation itself.

Though I understand the disdain for Fox News, Megyn Kelly did sit with two of the victims and interviewed them. I do care far more about their perspective than that of the typical media outlet.

From my perspective, this was a political slam against the family due to the Duggars' socially conservative politics. There is nothing that convinces me that this was a genuine effort on part of media to protect or support the victims of molestation. The media has unearthed sealed documents from their past. What has been shared as evidence that Josh's transgressions continue?

With two children of my own and one in the oven, believe me, the well being of children is of utmost concern to me. I've seen nothing to suggest that this man is abusing his children.[/QUOTE]

 

[Revoltingest]

At least two of his sisters had undergone therapy and have put this behind them for people with a political agenda to unearth sealed juvenile documents and exploit their victimization.

Few people seem to care at all as to what they think, want and what happened from their own perspectives. At least two of his victims do not view him as a child molester and have stated that the damage that the media has done has been far more dehumanizing and victimizing than the molestation itself.

Though I understand the disdain for Fox News, Megyn Kelly did sit with two of the victims and interviewed them - something that I didn't see anyone else bother to do which confirmed my initial gut feeling about this entire situation.

From my perspective, this was a political slam against the family due to the Duggars' socially conservative politics. There is nothing that convinces me that this was a genuine effort on part of media to protect or support the victims of molestation. The media has unearthed sealed documents from their past. What has been shared as evidence that Josh's transgressions continue?

With two children of my own and one in the oven, believe me, the well being of children is of utmost concern to me. I've seen nothing to suggest that this man is abusing his children.

This is an interesting view.

 

[Nietzsche]

At least two of his sisters had undergone therapy and have put this behind them for people with a political agenda to unearth sealed juvenile documents and exploit their victimization.

Few people seem to care at all as to what they think, want and what happened from their own perspectives. At least two of his victims do not view him as a child molester and have stated that the damage that the media has done has been far more dehumanizing and victimizing than the molestation itself.

Though I understand the disdain for Fox News, Megyn Kelly did sit with two of the victims and interviewed them. I do care far more about their perspective than that of the typical media outlet.

From my perspective, this was a political slam against the family due to the Duggars' socially conservative politics. There is nothing that convinces me that this was a genuine effort on part of media to protect or support the victims of molestation. The media has unearthed sealed documents from their past. What has been shared as evidence that Josh's transgressions continue?

With two children of my own and one in the oven, believe me, the well being of children is of utmost concern to me. I've seen nothing to suggest that this man is abusing his children.

So two of them forgive him. What about the other three?

 

[dawny0826]

So two of them forgive him. What about the other three?

What about them? I've certainly no expectation that they speak out. I find it quite possible that they feel as dehumanized as these two do.

I imagine if their perspectives are quite different and they want to see Josh destroyed - this is the opportune time to make that happen.

 

[Nietzsche]

What about them? I've certainly no expectation that they speak out. I find it quite possible that they feel as dehumanized as these two do.

I imagine if their perspectives are quite different and they want to see Josh destroyed - this is the opportune time to make that happen.

Here's the thing;

I don't know if his sisters have forgiven him by choice or if they've forgiven him because they're afraid of their mother & father. Think about it. Their parents tried to cover this up the first time, just letting it happen.

 

[dawny0826]

Here's the thing;

I don't know if his sisters have forgiven him by choice or if they've forgiven him because they're afraid of their mother & father. Think about it. Their parents tried to cover this up the first time, just letting it happen.

This is their perspective:

Take it for what you find it worth.

 

[Nietzsche]

This is their perspective:

Take it for what you find it worth.

Ugh, the interview with the parents is disgusting.

 

[dawny0826]

Ugh, the interview with the parents is disgusting.

You can certainly think so.

In my opinion, they raise important points that I felt important to consider.

They took steps that they believed to be right for their children. The Department of Human/Social Services was engaged to ascertain the safety of their home & cleared the home as a safe place for their children to remain. A second important point, regardless as to anyone's personal objections to the Duggars is that the records surfaced were surfaced illegally. The Duggars may have legit cause to pursue legal action for the unsealing of these records.

This crux of the issue for me remains the blantant disregard for the victims. Huckabee & the Duggars appear to be the only people who genuinely give a damn about the well being of the victims and for their rights, which have been violated.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

They took steps that they believed to be right for their children. The Department of Human/Social Services was engaged to ascertain the safety of their home & cleared the home as a safe place for their children to remain. A second important point, regardless as to anyone's personal objections to the Duggars is that the records surfaced were surfaced illegally. The Duggars may have legit cause to pursue legal action for the unsealing of these records.

Sometimes childhood records shouldn't be sealed away (in all reality, they aren't, and judges do regularly bring them up). Sexual assault, murder...there are some things that do need to be considered when the person is an adult.

 

[dawny0826]

Sometimes childhood records shouldn't be sealed away (in all reality, they aren't, and judges do regularly bring them up). Sexual assault, murder...there are some things that do need to be considered when the person is an adult.

You might feel different if you were in Duggars' shoes.