#MeToo played a valuable role in exposing some scandals, but its supporters are guilty of blatant hypocrisy. If Harvey Weinstein hadn't been accused, he would be its loudest supporter and would be developing a movie about it. Meanwhile the California Dem establishment has been rocked by accusations going both ways on #MeToo with both Dem legislators being accused of harassment and the legislator who led the charge against them also being accused of harassment. Obviously this is partially payback. But that doesn't mean that it isn't true.
Here's the old story.
California Democratic Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia, the head of the Legislative Women's Caucus and a leading figure in the state's anti-sexual harassment movement, is accused of groping a male staffer from another lawmaker's office.
Daniel Fierro told The Associated Press on Thursday that Garcia stroked his back, squeezed his buttocks and attempted to touch his crotch in a dugout after a legislative softball game in 2014.
Fierro didn't report it at the time but in January told his former boss, Democratic Assemblyman Ian Calderon, who reported it to Assembly leaders. The Assembly is now investigating Garcia.
And here are the latest developments.
New misconduct allegations have been leveled against California Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia — the high-profile #MeToo movement activist under investigation herself for alleged sexual harassment — including a claim that Garcia urged staffers to play “spin the bottle” after a political fundraiser.
Kernick, 38, who worked for the assemblywoman for five months in 2014, described to POLITICO an evening of heavy drinking in which Garcia ended up sitting on a hotel room floor with about half-dozen people — including her staffers and at least one male friend — and prompted them to play a game that results in participants kissing each other.
“It was definitely uncomfortable,’’ said Kernick, adding that the assemblywoman’s suggestion was met with discomfort and then ignored. “But I realized it’s different for a man than for a woman. … You know it’s inappropriate, but at the same time you may wonder, ‘How many women do you work for that act like that?’ You think … ’Maybe she’s just really cool.’’’
When Time magazine announced that “Silence Breakers” who spoke out against sexual misconduct were its Persons of the Year, Garcia’s photo appeared with the story.
These accusations are somewhat weaker than the previous ones. But they're a good reminder that puritanical witch hunts come up against the inescapable fact that no sex is perfect. And that there is no such thing as a perfect politician.