I’m assuming a man asked this question. Women and people of color already know the answer. Yes this is a time to speak up. There is a difference between speaking up and answering with dangerous racial undertones.
Sadly, whether it’s in the safe house or any other organization, women will never be safe from this kind of behavior. The real question is what are you doing to reduce the likelihood that it is happening. And what assurance can you provide that if it does it won’t be tolerated and dealt with promptly and professionally.
This is a systematic problem. We can’t have creeps entrusted with the work of dealing with other creeps. It creates a hopeless environment for victims.
- River Heights PI - Friday, Jul 24, 26 @ 10:41 am:
I haven’t been safe there yet. Too many uncomfortable offhand comments or “unintentional” putdowns related to my sex, including from the senior staff and even some members of the press. It’s a man’s world.
No. Every HR complaint my coworkers tried to file was swept under the rug when I was with HDems, which also happened to be 2023. Big year for harassment, I guess.
There is always a risk. It doesn’t matter how smart you are, how vigilant you are, how much the people around you have been vetted. There is always a risk. Be in a position to defend yourself. Because everyone can be fooled by bad actors.
Please either answer the question or don’t comment.
- Just Another Anon - Friday, Jul 24, 26 @ 12:54 pm:
Candidly, if I had a daughter, I would want to keep her away from Congresscritters and state legislators as much as possible. In my experience, a disconcertingly large number of them have a god complex (leads them to abuse or belittle staff who work for them as “beneath them”), a disconcerting sense of entitlement and/or avarice, and increasingly a feeling of invulnerability/immunity/insulation from consequences amongst the legislative members. Should these same people display anywhere near the level of competency and intellect which they suggest they possess, I would perhaps be more forgiving of their high opinions of themselves. The shortcomings in leadership, intellect, and competency being apparent on their face, those same high opinions are greatly unwarranted.
I would avoid recommending caucus work and would encourage her to work only as district staff for one of the fewer and fewer “normal” members.
I do tell women who are looking to work for the legislature to avoid being alone with certain representatives/senators because of their past behavior towards women. To date, I have not had any of those women suggest that I have assessed the character of those elected officials inaccurately.
This is a shame, because some of the most valuable experiences I had were in DC and Springfield. As long as people keep getting elected because of the letter next to their name or the desire to “own” the opposing party, we will continue to place into power the neurotic, the narcissist, the dogmatic, and the demagogue over the earnest, humble, selfless, and well-intentioned. My favorite Menken quote remains “Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want and deserve to get it good and hard.” Said another way by Mayor Koch, “The people have spoken, and now they must be punished.” These are the representatives in whom the electorate has expressed its confidence. It is to that electorate that these representatives must be held accountable, as internal leadership appears toothless, ineffective, and at times complicit in the unacceptable behavior. Until these traits are punished and these virtues rewarded, rotten people will continue to rise to the level of their aspirations. Our system of government will suffer for those decisions.
A lobbyist I looked up to a whole lot always said he wouldn’t let his daughters anywhere near the Capitol. I always thought he was being a little dramatic. Maybe I was being naive.
NO. There is a noticeable pattern following Welch around. From before being elected to his time as Speaker the pattern is clear. Women are not safe around him or under his leadership.
And don’t get me started on the ageism for women not that anyone seems to think that’s an issue. The comments people feel free to make in public are WILD.
Certain venues attract certain people…positions of power are most attractive to sociopaths and narcissists…politics and law enforcement are their feeding grounds.
===I do tell women who are looking to work for the legislature to avoid being alone with certain representatives/senators because of their past behavior towards women===
Part of the problem is that these conversations occur too discreetly and too few people take their allegations public.
Longer Answer: If Welch remains Speaker, the environment for women will only get worse. Fewer women will chose the legislature or lobbying as a career path, and many women there now will decide to leave.
For some female lobbyists, maybe that’s okay. It’s a cutthroat business and less competition is less competition. Maybe male lobbyists do not feel like they have any skin in the game either, but it seems to me the entire legislature has become a hostile workplace, and it seems like it’s getting worse not better.
One group we have not heard from yet is Third House and that seems strange given that one of Benton’s victims was a woman.
What would Barbara Flynn Currie say or do if she were here?
I don’t know, but it’s worth considering. When she passed, there were plenty of tributes about how she opened doors for women. Those same folks have gotten mighty quiet now that she’s gone and it’s their turn to step up and fight. I hope the silence is not permanent.
=Certain venues attract certain people…positions of power are most attractive to sociopaths and narcissists…politics and law enforcement are their feeding grounds.=
Not sure about law enforcement, but I agree as to politics.
My first experience of sexual harassment came when I was 12, in the 1970s. We now have a vocabulary for it, but not much else has changed.
Since then I’ve learned that a percentage of the population are anti-social in a predatory way. It’s a shame we don’t teach people what to look for so we can systematically exclude them from positions of power, where they can do so much harm. A good place to start would be to prioritize character over policy in matters of choosing elected representatives. We have lately forgotten the importance of that.
- Almost the Weekend - Friday, Jul 24, 26 @ 9:05 am:
If Welch follows your niece’s Instagram, i’d say no
- Amalia - Friday, Jul 24, 26 @ 9:14 am:
women are not safe anywhere.
- Candy Dogood - Friday, Jul 24, 26 @ 9:18 am:
The problem with any accurate answer to this question is that it isn’t just a simple “yes.”
- VK - Friday, Jul 24, 26 @ 9:18 am:
Great question. Next question.
- Friendly Bob Adams - Friday, Jul 24, 26 @ 9:21 am:
CrashDavis163 does not seem to have a current Bluesky account…
- We’ll See - Friday, Jul 24, 26 @ 9:23 am:
Have you read Boss by Royko? If you have you’d know the answer.
- Earnest - Friday, Jul 24, 26 @ 9:24 am:
OK if I just answer with an emoji?
- politico - Friday, Jul 24, 26 @ 9:28 am:
No. Never will be. Men will always prey on young women.
- Incandenza - Friday, Jul 24, 26 @ 9:42 am:
I think a better question would be, will harassment be investigated promptly and come with appropriate consequences to act as a deterrent?
- Big Tent - Friday, Jul 24, 26 @ 9:54 am:
Senate?
Likely
Welch’s House?
Not a prayer
- Trinity - Friday, Jul 24, 26 @ 9:54 am:
I’m assuming a man asked this question. Women and people of color already know the answer. Yes this is a time to speak up. There is a difference between speaking up and answering with dangerous racial undertones.
- Wonderful World - Friday, Jul 24, 26 @ 9:56 am:
No.
- Heat of Summer - Friday, Jul 24, 26 @ 9:56 am:
Friendly Bob, that’s an X account with a confusing blue butterfly profile image.
- Pundent - Friday, Jul 24, 26 @ 10:00 am:
Sadly, whether it’s in the safe house or any other organization, women will never be safe from this kind of behavior. The real question is what are you doing to reduce the likelihood that it is happening. And what assurance can you provide that if it does it won’t be tolerated and dealt with promptly and professionally.
This is a systematic problem. We can’t have creeps entrusted with the work of dealing with other creeps. It creates a hopeless environment for victims.
- Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Friday, Jul 24, 26 @ 10:01 am:
As a father of a twenty-five-year-old daughter, welcome to the nightmare that is the rest of your life.
You talk to them, listen to them, give them advice, then pray.
- Billy the Kid - Friday, Jul 24, 26 @ 10:07 am:
Quite sad that this is a reality and a serious question. Moreover, Mr. Welch should not be serving as speaker. This is horrible.
www.illinoistimes.com/news/there-was-no-arrest-speaker-welch-claims-13076452/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
- Lt Guv - Friday, Jul 24, 26 @ 10:15 am:
No.
- River Heights PI - Friday, Jul 24, 26 @ 10:41 am:
I haven’t been safe there yet. Too many uncomfortable offhand comments or “unintentional” putdowns related to my sex, including from the senior staff and even some members of the press. It’s a man’s world.
- Ex Staffer - Friday, Jul 24, 26 @ 10:45 am:
No. Every HR complaint my coworkers tried to file was swept under the rug when I was with HDems, which also happened to be 2023. Big year for harassment, I guess.
- Ducky LaMoore - Friday, Jul 24, 26 @ 10:52 am:
There is always a risk. It doesn’t matter how smart you are, how vigilant you are, how much the people around you have been vetted. There is always a risk. Be in a position to defend yourself. Because everyone can be fooled by bad actors.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Jul 24, 26 @ 11:34 am:
===have a current===
Click the pic. It’s a twitter account.
- Excitable Boy - Friday, Jul 24, 26 @ 11:51 am:
I’ve never worked in the legislature, but everywhere I have worked I’ve seen sexual harassment toward women in one form or another.
- H-W - Friday, Jul 24, 26 @ 12:46 pm:
Relative to which other employment sectors?
- Rich Miller - Friday, Jul 24, 26 @ 12:49 pm:
Please either answer the question or don’t comment.
- Just Another Anon - Friday, Jul 24, 26 @ 12:54 pm:
Candidly, if I had a daughter, I would want to keep her away from Congresscritters and state legislators as much as possible. In my experience, a disconcertingly large number of them have a god complex (leads them to abuse or belittle staff who work for them as “beneath them”), a disconcerting sense of entitlement and/or avarice, and increasingly a feeling of invulnerability/immunity/insulation from consequences amongst the legislative members. Should these same people display anywhere near the level of competency and intellect which they suggest they possess, I would perhaps be more forgiving of their high opinions of themselves. The shortcomings in leadership, intellect, and competency being apparent on their face, those same high opinions are greatly unwarranted.
I would avoid recommending caucus work and would encourage her to work only as district staff for one of the fewer and fewer “normal” members.
I do tell women who are looking to work for the legislature to avoid being alone with certain representatives/senators because of their past behavior towards women. To date, I have not had any of those women suggest that I have assessed the character of those elected officials inaccurately.
This is a shame, because some of the most valuable experiences I had were in DC and Springfield. As long as people keep getting elected because of the letter next to their name or the desire to “own” the opposing party, we will continue to place into power the neurotic, the narcissist, the dogmatic, and the demagogue over the earnest, humble, selfless, and well-intentioned. My favorite Menken quote remains “Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want and deserve to get it good and hard.” Said another way by Mayor Koch, “The people have spoken, and now they must be punished.” These are the representatives in whom the electorate has expressed its confidence. It is to that electorate that these representatives must be held accountable, as internal leadership appears toothless, ineffective, and at times complicit in the unacceptable behavior. Until these traits are punished and these virtues rewarded, rotten people will continue to rise to the level of their aspirations. Our system of government will suffer for those decisions.
- Ugh - Friday, Jul 24, 26 @ 1:03 pm:
A lobbyist I looked up to a whole lot always said he wouldn’t let his daughters anywhere near the Capitol. I always thought he was being a little dramatic. Maybe I was being naive.
- Granite countertop - Friday, Jul 24, 26 @ 1:31 pm:
NO. There is a noticeable pattern following Welch around. From before being elected to his time as Speaker the pattern is clear. Women are not safe around him or under his leadership.
- Ugh - Friday, Jul 24, 26 @ 1:46 pm:
And don’t get me started on the ageism for women not that anyone seems to think that’s an issue. The comments people feel free to make in public are WILD.
- Responsa - Friday, Jul 24, 26 @ 1:55 pm:
This thread is a refreshing and necessary airing of the laundry.
- Dotnonymous x - Friday, Jul 24, 26 @ 2:01 pm:
Certain venues attract certain people…positions of power are most attractive to sociopaths and narcissists…politics and law enforcement are their feeding grounds.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Jul 24, 26 @ 2:05 pm:
===not that anyone seems to think that’s an issue===
Not sure that thought is universal, but I’d be interested in hearing more. Please reach out.
- Candy Dogood - Friday, Jul 24, 26 @ 2:12 pm:
===I do tell women who are looking to work for the legislature to avoid being alone with certain representatives/senators because of their past behavior towards women===
Part of the problem is that these conversations occur too discreetly and too few people take their allegations public.
- Bagger Vance - Friday, Jul 24, 26 @ 2:33 pm:
Short Answer: No.
Longer Answer: If Welch remains Speaker, the environment for women will only get worse. Fewer women will chose the legislature or lobbying as a career path, and many women there now will decide to leave.
For some female lobbyists, maybe that’s okay. It’s a cutthroat business and less competition is less competition. Maybe male lobbyists do not feel like they have any skin in the game either, but it seems to me the entire legislature has become a hostile workplace, and it seems like it’s getting worse not better.
One group we have not heard from yet is Third House and that seems strange given that one of Benton’s victims was a woman.
What would Barbara Flynn Currie say or do if she were here?
I don’t know, but it’s worth considering. When she passed, there were plenty of tributes about how she opened doors for women. Those same folks have gotten mighty quiet now that she’s gone and it’s their turn to step up and fight. I hope the silence is not permanent.
- JS Mill - Friday, Jul 24, 26 @ 2:55 pm:
No
=Certain venues attract certain people…positions of power are most attractive to sociopaths and narcissists…politics and law enforcement are their feeding grounds.=
Not sure about law enforcement, but I agree as to politics.
- yinn - Friday, Jul 24, 26 @ 3:05 pm:
==Men will always prey on young women==
Correction: predators will prey.
My first experience of sexual harassment came when I was 12, in the 1970s. We now have a vocabulary for it, but not much else has changed.
Since then I’ve learned that a percentage of the population are anti-social in a predatory way. It’s a shame we don’t teach people what to look for so we can systematically exclude them from positions of power, where they can do so much harm. A good place to start would be to prioritize character over policy in matters of choosing elected representatives. We have lately forgotten the importance of that.
So my answer is no, she would not be safe there.