Actress claims President George H.W Bush sexually assaulted her

[bluesneakers]

Why did the actress not make a scene - pun intended - when GHWB put his hand on her behind? Why did she not push his hand away or turn around and glare at him? I would have done both! I would not let any man other than my husband touch my derriere for any reason, and I wouldn't stand quietly and not say (or do) something to let the man know that I don't approve.

This was a photo/video op that was obviously more important to the actress than her dignity. The time to do something about this is when it's happening, not weeks, months, years after the incident. :moo:

Maybe she didn't make a scene because she was in public, making an appearance, and was frightened or intimidated. Or shocked or didn't know how to respond. Maybe no man had treated her that way before and she didn't know the appropriate response. Maybe she was taught her whole life men are men and that's just the way it is. Maybe she had spoken up before and her mistake was corrected. Maybe she was scared. What if he got mad?

I'm just listing some possibilities because while I don't know why she didn't make a scene at the time, I know many, many women (including myself) who have been touched inappropriately by men in power or with authority and have known we best keep our mouths shut, just smile and go along with it.

 

[bluesneakers]

^ At 67, I've had enough life experience to know that I would most definitely tell any man who touched me or spoke to me inappropriately that I do not approve of his actions/speech. I actually did exactly that when I was 14 years old and attending a family wedding. A drunken uncle made advances towards me, and I pushed him and told him to get away from me! My parents witnessed the interaction and told the man to stay away from me.

Good for you! Confident and brave, and what great parents to back you up.

 

[Poppyflower]

I'm shy and nervous in most situations. It would not be in my nature to speak up, even if it entered my mind in the moment. I would be worried to speak up for so many reasons. One of which, is because people would discount me as a victim and not take my personal, real feelings seriously.

 

[grammieto5]

I also believe everyone acts different. When I was pregnant with my second child, I was standing on the corner, at night, in LA outside the bus depot, this was 1969. I was holding my first child in my arms. My mom was on one side of me; my brother was on the other side. This freak rode by on his bike and ran his hand along my bottom. My first thought for just a second was of my babies, I felt scared and then I was so angry, I turned around and yelled at him to keep his F’n hand off my , who the F did he think he was. My mom says, “don’t say that” I said “why not, you always told me my body was mine, no one had the right to touch me unless I said they could”, my brother says “that’s true, but not at night on the corner in LA outside the bus depot. It took me awhile to think maybe they were right, but sometimes you just react to certain situations without thinking of where you are.

 

[AlwaysShocked]

The part about "cop a feel" being his favorite joke tells us that he's been doing this for at least some period of time. I believe the girl who says it happened to her years ago when she was only 16, and I suspect there have been a lot of others.

Mr. Bush needs to not be placed into a situation where this can take place in the future. At this point, it is up to his caregivers to prevent this.

 

[bluesneakers]

Woman Says George H.W. Bush Groped Her When She Was 16: 'I Was a Child'

Roslyn Corrigan was sixteen years old when she got a chance to meet George H.W. Bush, excited to be introduced to a former president having grown up dreaming of going into politics.

But Corrigan was crushed by her encounter: Bush, then 79 years old, groped her buttocks at a November 2003 event in The Woodlands, Texas, office of the Central Intelligence Agency where Corrigan’s father gathered with fellow intelligence officers and family members to meet Bush, Corrigan said.

Corrigan is the sixth woman since Oct. 24 to accuse Bush publicly of grabbing her buttocks without consent.