Wash. Post Publishes Pro-Statutory Rape Op-Ed (REALLY)

[alp227]

by Ari Rabin-Havt, Media Matters

The Washington Post published a problematic op-ed by Betsy Karasik, a Dupont Circle artist described by the Post as a "writer and former lawyer," that argued for the legal acceptance of consensual sexual relationships between teachers and their underage students.

Karasik's column centered on a widely discussed Montana case in which a 49-year-old teacher was sentenced to 30 days in prison after the statutory rape of a 14-year-old student, who several years later committed suicide. This sentence, which many feel was far too lenient and which came after the judge stated that the student was "older than her chronological age," led to a national public outcry.

Karasik, however, found herself "troubled for the opposite reason":

I don't believe that all sexual conduct between underage students and teachers should necessarily be classified as rape, and I believe that absent extenuating circumstances, consensual sexual activity between teachers and students should not be criminalized.

full: http://mediamatters.org/blog/2013/09/01/wash-post-publishes-pro-statutory-rape-op-ed/195698

See also think progress article by Ian Millhiser, "Washington Post Actually Runs Piece Arguing Teachers Shouldn't Be Jailed For Sex With Underage Students", which concludes:

The Washington Post opinion page’s decision to publish this piece is the latest in a series of questionable editorial decisions by that paper. Most recently, the paper published two pieces by its regular columnists arguing that George Zimmerman “understandably suspected” Trayvon Martin of being a criminal “because he was black” and that racial profiling is “common sense.”

Wow, is that why the amazon.com founder bought the paper? It resorted to publishing such mindless dreck like Karasik's column? (By the way, Kathleen Parker is still employed by the Post, her latest column being about...telling Miley Cyrus to be a prude again.)

[idwiyo]

1. WTF???

[Yo_Mama]

2. This isn't even a lack of moral sense

It's a lack of common sense.

Pedophiles or ephebophiles are attracted to kids or teens, and if you make it open season you will get more of them in the teaching profession, which is not what the teaching profession needs.

49 year-olds and 14 or 15 year-olds don't belong in bed together, and anyone with any common sense knows this. This can of worms does not need to be opened.

And there truly is an ethical problem with teachers and students having sex together, which is why codes of ethics in colleges usually prohibit it.

[niyad]

3. absolutely sickening.

[NaturalHigh]

4. Are they fans of Kaitlyn Hunt too?

I've seen some posts about her that I considered "pro-statutory rape."

[alp227]

7. Think Progress has written about the Hunt case rather favorably

http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2013/05/18/2033281/florida-teen-expelled-charged-with-felony-over-lesbian-relationship/
http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2013/05/19/2034111/next-for-kaitlyn-hunt/

But ever since Hunt went back to jail amid revelations of her post-release conduct, NOTHING from outlets like think progress.

[pipoman]

5. When I clicked I thought this was going to be a story of

a 17 year old who was dating a 15 year old when the 17 yo turned 18. Something I believe shouldn't be criminal. I had a client once who this exact thing happened to..his 15 y.o. girlfriend got pregnant shortly after he turned 18. He was charged and convicted of statutory rape and had been on the 'sex offender's registry' for 10 years when I met them. Ten years later he and the girl (now woman) were married with 2 more children. Both had bachelor's degrees and he couldn't get a job, or live within 1/2 mile of a school or day care. Actually he couldn't get a job beyond menial labor because of the conviction. A miscarriage of justice..

That said, 50 year old teachers and 14 year old students is an entirely different kettle of fish..convict the guy and sentence him harshly simply for being a perverted idiot.

[struggle4progress]

6. Appropriate sexual relationships never involve partners of unequal power:

that's why we don't accept sexual relationships between psychiatrists and their patients, or prison guards and their prisoners, or employers and their employees, or teachers and their students

[Gravitycollapse]

11. That is probably the most important aspect of determining sexual coercion...

beyond the obvious physical coercion.

Intellectual equality is the most important characteristic of consensual, meaningful relationships and that includes sex. That really isn't possible between a teacher and his or her student.

[Starry Messenger]

8. Hell no.

Never.

[ismnotwasm]

9. Wow

So all a rapist would have to say is 'hey, it was consensual, he/she wanted it'.

What a bloody idiot.

[Comrade Grumpy]

10. The writer dares to suggest that teens are not necessarily harmed by sex with adults.

And that statutory rape should not be considered the same thing as a rape.

But that teachers shouldn't have sex with students.

"I don't believe that all sexual conduct between underage students and teachers should necessarily be classified as rape, and I believe that absent extenuating circumstances, consensual sexual activity between teachers and students should not be criminalized."

"Teachers who engage in sex with students, no matter how consensual, should be removed from their jobs and barred from teaching unless they prove that they have completed rehabilitation."

Burn the witch!

[LittleBlue]

12. Er... the Post prints provocative opinions all the time

They still employ Jennifer Rubin, and she was practically a paid shill for Romney. She just copy/pastas the shit she reads on Freeperville and RNC.org

Not that I think this should be shut down. It's obviously provocative, as it's the Post's #1 article right now with 3000 comments, but I'm just wondering why people are surprised by the Post's publication of material you find offensive. They've been doing it for years.