Monday, July 16, 2007

Did '95 House scandal teach us anything?

The sudden resignation last week of Rep. David Almond, R-Stanly, for what at least one source has described as sexual misconduct brings to mind a question: Does anyone remember Rep. Ken Miller, R-Alamance, and his public censure by the state House for advances on a teenage page?
If the House’s 1996 censure of then-Rep. Miller for making unwanted sexual advances meant anything, it was to serve as an example of what not to do. Among other things, the 33-year-old Republican was found by the House Ethics Committee to have licked a 16-year-old-page’s hand and propositioned a lobbyist and a House clerk in 1995, when the GOP controlled the House.
When the 1996 legislature convened, it censured Miller as he stood before the full House. A legislator from Shelby was quoted in Observer reporter Carol Leonnig’s story:
“What happened today sent a loud, clear message to men in Raleigh and across the state that sexual harassment is not going to be tolerated,” said Rep. Debby Clary, R-Cleveland. “I hope like hell a lot of people hear it.”
Evidently not enough people remember that incident. According to a story Saturday by the Observer’s Mark Johnson and David Ingram, one blogger said Rep. Almond had called a House employee into his office, where he exposed himself. Here’s a link to that story.
All this has veteran Republican legislators shaking their heads. Recent scandals involving Democrats had more to do with money. “They’re going after the money and we’re going after the body,” said one longtime lawmaker.
Republican Rep. Julia Howard, who chaired the House Ethics Committee inquiry into Miller’s behavior, said there was one good rule to follow” “Don’t do anything that would embarrass your grandchildren or that you wouldn’t want your momma to know about.”

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