POLITICAL FIGURES: “A spate of sexual misconduct accusations against U.S. politicians and other powerful men will force candidates for the November 2018 congressional elections to weigh more carefully than ever whether their past behavior could doom their chances.
Following allegations against Republican U.S. Senate candidate Roy Moore, Democratic U.S. Representative John Conyers and Democratic U.S. Senator Al Franken, campaign operatives from both parties warned that past behavior that might once have been excused may now be disqualifying…
Politicians have been among a growing number of prominent men, including in the entertainment and media fields, accused of sexual harassment.
There will be increased pressure on candidates to undertake ‘self-vetting,’ where, as one Republican strategist said, they are willing to subject themselves to a ‘trial on what the other side will put them through.’…
Sex scandals have long been a part of U.S. politics, but in the current environment, operatives are encouraging candidates and office-holders alike to level with advisers about past conduct, even behavior that might in the past have fallen into a gray area.”
-James Oliphant and john Whitesides, “Sexual misconduct allegations may roil 2018 U.S. congressional elections,” Reuters, Nov. 30, 2017 03:05am