Op-Ed on why Moore’s supporters aren’t bothered by the allegations, and how the culture in which the author was raised supports older men dating and marrying young teenage girls:
On the topic of these forums, would the national publicity around Roy Moore and his substantial support in Alabama cause a greater number of students to decide that they do not want to go there, despite the large scholarship offers that some of the universities there offer to attract more high achieving out-of-state students?
Cultural differences between a U one may attend and what one prefers or is used to is certainly an important and valid consideration in choosing what U one may wish to attend or send loved ones to attend.
It would definitely affect what I would say to anyone I counsel about college. I can see how the national spotlight could definitely dissuade some folks from considering attending Us in the this state.
I think campus culture is really important and don’t advocate sending students someplace they will be uncomfortable.
If everyone who finds Moore disgusting leaves Alabama, that just exacerbates the problem of people like Moore, in my opinion. I left the south at 23 and didn’t return for 30 years. A number of my friends did the same. Like 4MyKidz, we found southern culture too difficult and opted out. If we had stuck around those decades instead of bailing, we might have made a difference. Now we are back and working hard to make up for lost time. We are doing our very best here. It’s our heritage, too, and maybe we should all have just stayed put.
It may not make a big difference in #of OOS students going to UAlabama for practically nothing - but are they going to stay in Alabama after graduating? I bet even before Moore, a large proportion leave after getting their degree. I don’t think Alabama wants to attract OOS students out of the kindness of their hearts and it’s original intention was to increase the educated population to attract corporations to come to Alabama. Electing Moore certainly will give pause to companies thinking about moving to Alabama, IMO.
I wonder if he’ll try that argument. I read today he plans to sue WaPo.
To be accurate, he says he plans to sue the Washington Post, much like Harvey Weinstein said he would sue the New York Times. I’m guessing neither of these lawsuits will materialize.
He’s not going to sue the Washington Post. He’ll go to a real lawyer, and the real lawyer will tell him that he’d need to demonstrate “actual malice” by the Post to win. “Actual malice” is defined as “knowledge that it was false or with reckless disregard of whether it was false or not.”
First of all, there’s no way he’d clear that hurdle, and secondly, if he sued, he’d open himself up to discovery, where the Post’s thrilled lawyers would get to question him on the record. This is not going to happen.
I found that idea thrilling, personally 
Now the Majority Leader has said he believes the accuser and has called on Moore to step aside. This is getting interesting.
I don’t think Moore will ever step aside and, sadly, will get elected. We live in a topsy turvy world these days.
I’ve been thinking about these accusations and the burden of proof. I imagine I’m on a jury and I hear all the testimony/evidence we’ve seen in the paper. How would I decide?
If it’s a criminal case, I find Not Guilty. I take “reasonable doubt” seriously, and have no trouble imagining ways in which Leigh Corfman is not saying true things. I don’t think she’s lying, but memory confabulates. She could have had the same experience, but with another man. She could “remember” things that aren’t true. (If you are a criminal defendant, you should want me on your jury. I’m skeptical.)
If it’s a civil case with either a “preponderance of evidence” (more likely than not) or a “clear and convincing evidence” (more or less, a 75% chance), I find against Moore. All the evidence fits together: Corfman and Moore were indeed at the courthouse when she said they were, Moore did indeed live in a house in the woods, Corfman told at least four people of the allegations years ago, Corfman had a pattern of targeting teenagers. I believe her.
How about you?
I also wonder about the people who are defending Moore by saying even if the allegations are true, it’s no big deal. Suppose he had been convicted in a court of law. Would they still think it was no big deal? Would they still vote for him?
McConnell came out and said Moore should step aside: https://www.axios.com/mcconnell-calls-on-moore-to-step-aside-2509108989.html
Unfortunately, given who backs Moore, this might encourage even more people to vote for him 
McConnell did not want Moore in the first place. He and other Republican leaders backed Strange in the primary.
Gloria Allred has called a press conference for this afternoon. She says she will be appearing with another, not yet named, victim of Moore. http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2017/11/roy_moore_alabama_sex_claims.html
We’re not in Seattle proper but one of the suburbs. My son’s graduating class last year was 40% white. The factory where I work is about the same. Western Washington collects people from all over the world.
What we don’t have is a large population of African Americans (about 2% and growing in our town), but “very little racial diversity” does not describe the Seattle area. It’s around 1/3 POC, skewing young.
Absolutely ucb. I said early on in this thread that this was a convenient excuse for the GOP who never wanted someone as extreme as Moore.
A former colleague says it was “common knowledge” that Moore dated HS girls:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/everyone-knew-roy-moore-dated-041052725.html
I also take “beyond a reasonable doubt” extremely seriously. Better to let 10 “guilty” go free than one innocent go to prison.
A “not guilty” verdict does not mean the person is innocent.
I don’t know if a criminal trial was held in this case how I would vote. Wouid depend on how the victims held up under cross exam and the accused - plus corroborating evidence presented, etc.
Since child molesters almost never stop with one assault, I have always assumed there were other victims, and I have been hoping one (or more) would be brave enough to step forward now.
@jonri, I can only hope there is fire with Allred’s smoke. The thought of Moore being my state senator is unbearable.