In The Amendment Killer, a Brooks/Lotello Thriller that supports my author brand, “blurring fiction and reality,” Congress sues to invalidate a Constitutional amendment criminalizing abuse of power on the part of our political representatives.
Section 4 of this fictional 28th Amendment provides “No law shall hereafter be enacted that shall provide any benefit to any elected or appointed public official not generally provided to all Americans or shall exempt any elected or appointed public official from any obligation generally imposed on all Americans.”
Blurring The Lines
Just fantasy?
Or maybe a dash of some reality too?
Being Enraged Has Become All The Rage
Standing up to sexual harassment has, belatedly, become all the rage. Suddenly, such behavior has people all enraged.
Entertainers (Bill Cosby), big business (Harvey Weinstein), media (Charlie Rose). Commit the crime, do the time.
Even our political representatives are speaking out. Joining the bandwagon. Now that it’s in vogue.
And even our political representatives seem to be accountable. Well, maybe not Bill Clinton, but certainly Senator Al Franken and Congressman John Conyers.
Really? You think so? Think again.
The Private Sector
In the private sector, you can be sued for sexual harassment. And such lawsuits can be initiated years after the alleged misconduct. If the defendant loses, he (or she) has to pay up. With his (or her) own money.
The Public Sector
Under a law QUIETLY enacted by our politicians 22 years ago in 1995, it’s a “little” different in the case of claims of sexual harassment committed by our political representatives:
1. Claims must be brought within six months after the alleged misconduct or they are waived.
2. The claims must be brought in strict confidence before a Congressional committee and not in any open public forum.
3. There is a four month preliminary procedure that must precede the determination of the claim, including a 30 day mandatory mediation.
4. If the claimant prevails, the award is held in strict confidence and is paid by we the people taxpayers out of a secret U.S. Treasury fund AND NOT BY THE GUILTY GOVERNMENTAL HARASSER!
Not Really Much Of A Blur
There is no accountability or oversight of any of this public sector sexual harassment. Harvey Weinstein is washed up. Charlie Rose was fired by CBS. His career and reputation is over.
In contrast, we have no knowledge of which of our political representatives have been found guilty of sexual harassment. They still have their jobs. They still have their reputations. They have not had to pay a dime. Not one dime. No embarrassment. They are free to harass again. And you and I have reportedly shelled out millions of dollars to fund their misbehavior under this below the radar 1995 law.
Lots of [Rotten] Apples
Free passes for all of our political representatives cum sexual predators. How do you feel about them [rotten] apples!?
No doubt this law will be changed now that it has been uncovered, but do you still think The Amendment Killer about our political representatives is just an entertaining piece of fiction?
Editor’s Note: Kudos to the first reader to explain the meaning of “How do you feel about them apples?” Hint: It does relate to a form of harassment, but not sexual. 🙂
Additional Editor’s Note: As we all know, Representative John Conyers and Senator Al Franken have both been forced to reluctantly resign their Congressional seats since this blog was first posted, not because of any change in this obnoxious, double standard law, which remains on the books, but because public claims from the alleged victims coupled with the court of public opinion brought them down. Were settlements paid by the public for them? We don’t know. Will they refund any such payments? We don’t know. Personally, I don’t think anyone should take a hit like this unless they have been found guilty in a court of law or have admitted their guilt. However, our political representatives should be severely criticized for every day this obnoxious cover-up law remains on the books. If Alabama U.S. Senatorial candidate Roy Brooks is elected in the special election later this month, that will probably bring this subject to a head.
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