Politicians Must Be Held to Same Standards

Allegations of sexual assault and harassment have sacked the careers of powerful men in recent months. News anchor Charlie Rose fell at CBS, PBS, and Bloomberg. Producer Harvey Weinstein toppled at the Weinstein Company. Lauer got the boot at Today. Disgusting men across the country have been tried in the court of public approval and suffered consequences for their actions.

But not Trump.

President Donald Trump faces 20 sexual misconduct allegations, ranging in severity and spanning time from as early as the 1980s to as recent as 2013.  Yet, in spite of 20 female accusers, he remains in the White House.

Trump spokeswoman Sarah Sanders claimed that his accusers lie. But with over a dozen women all saying the same thing, coupled with the infamous Access Hollywood video showing Trump bragging about sexual assault, no justification is possible. This lack of accountability can be found elsewhere in politics, like in the case of Alabama’s near-election of Senate candidate and alleged child molester Roy Moore. If that example isn’t horrible enough, it becomes despicable in light of Moore’s endorsement from similarly accused President Trump.

Congressman Blake Farenthold used $84,000 in public funds to make a sexual assault allegation disappear (he has since promised to repay taxpayers). Congressmen Ruben Kihuen, facing similar allegations, has been called to resign by House Minority Leader, Nancy Pelosi.  Yet, these men also remain in their positions of power.

We must hold the powerful accountable for a problem that runs all too rampant in every line of work –not just in the media. As TV anchors and producers are fired, politicians should also face termination. Such low standards for politicians are not acceptable. They, as our nation’s representatives, should stand for what the U.S. stands for both at home and on the world stage.

Our politicians must to represent the American people and American ideals.

The majority of the allegations against President Trump were public when he was a candidate. Yet the country still chose him. What does that say about who we are and what we condone? To elect a man like Trump despite such claims is to do nothing less than accept harassment and sexual violence against women.

The 10th Amendment to the United States Constitution states that no one is above the law, even the highest government official. However, in this situation, politicians are seemingly being treated as if they are exempt. Those that represent us must also be held accountable.

An outpouring of sexual assault accusations may have left the floodgates open in the media, but we must also listen to the women that accuse the most powerful in political office.

The sexual harassment epidemic will continue until we deny predators a place in society.

And it will only worsen by welcoming them to the White House.