Code of silence is breaking on Tallahassees sex secrets

[HAB911]

After a series of revelations and allegatons, Capitol insiders say a culture that has bred sexual misconduct could be vanishing.

For decades, sex has been a tool and a toy for the politically powerful in the male-dominated world of politics in Florida's capital. Now it's a weapon.

Allegations of sexual assault, harassment and infidelity among the state's legislators flew like shrapnel from a bomb blast in recent weeks, destroying much of the trust left in a Republican-controlled Legislature and replacing it with suspicion and finger pointing.

The latest target, Senate Appropriations Chair Jack Latvala, has been accused by six unnamed women of inappropriate touching and verbal harassment. Shortly after Politico Florida first reported the allegations on Friday, Senate President Joe Negron called them "atrocious and horrendous" and ordered an investigation.

Latvala, a Clearwater Republican and candidate for governor, denied the allegations, said he welcomed the investigation, and vowed a fight to "clear my name."

http://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2017/11/05/code-of-silence-is-breaking-on-tallahassees-sex-secrets/

[Baitball Blogger]

1. Let the shedding begin.

I had no idea this was a problem, but then again, my local paper is the Orlando Sentinel and it has a dark history of promoting candidates who cozy up to good ole boy methods.

[HAB911]

2. I know what you mean

I love Florida, but the backwoods politics is sickening

[obamanut2012]

5. Every single state has state-level politics like Florida

Some are actually far worse.

[janterry]

3. I hope so, but I doubt it

The reporters from the Tallahassee Democrat are, essentially, drinking/pub buddies with state house reps.

Seriously, they are invited to the same parties, they have friends in the same circles. It would take reporting from outside Tally to get to the bottom of anything.

(Remember the Jameis Winston case? 30 camera's in the bar before the alleged rape. None were examined. The 'failed cop' who missed all of this.............promoted the very next year.

[Baitball Blogger]

4. True. Newspapers here are controlled by backwater social relationships.

Until we expose it all, our American experiences will be limited to that of a terminal tourist.

[packman]

7. Agree 100% - Example is Joe Scarborough

His politically connected family with strong ties to every (which is all in this case) conservative newspaper and news outlet helped cover up that strange death of an intern when he was a Congressman.

https://steemit.com/politics/@an0nkn0wledge/the-curious-case-of-the-death-of-joe-scarborough-s-intern-lori-klausutis

[brewens]

6. Brace yourself for this to continue to spread and take down all sorts on all sides. Fine with me.

People with power and money have gotten away with sexual misconduct since civilization began. It's been anything goes with the elite, age or gender. If you had the power to pull it off and keep people quiet, your powerful peers looked the other way.

That 1989 call boy Whitehouse scandal was real. We knew about Larry Craig here in Idaho long before he got busted soliciting sex in that airport bathroom. People believed he was involved in the Congressional page scandal in the early 80's though he was never officially implicated. That's much more believable now isn't it? In a bunch like the Senate with 100 members, they know who's a perv. The dude literally oozed creepiness too.

If anyone and everyone comes forward, heads will roll.