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Congressman Joe Barton from Texas is sorry. An image that he took of himself fully nude were leaked on social media earlier in the week. Now, he’s facing questions about whether or not he should even run for reelection.
In a statement, he said:
“While separated from my second wife, prior to the divorce, I had sexual relationships with other mature adult women. Each was consensual. Those relationships have ended. I am sorry I did not use better judgment during those days. I am sorry that I let my constituents down.”
My Take
While there was nothing illegal about the photo itself, there are moral implications. He’s a grown man who was separated at the time and sending nude images supposedly to people who wanted them, but we’re talking about a U.S. Congressman. Shouldn’t the standards for decency be higher?
Further Reading
U.S. Rep. Joe Barton apologizes for graphic online photo
It is still unclear how the photo got onto social media, who put it there, or whether its posting would constitute revenge porn, which is illegal under Texas law.
Barton, who announced his re-election bid earlier this month, is navigating in a political environment charged with emerging stories of sexual misbehavior in politics, in business, and in the media. The photo, which appeared on an anonymous Twitter account, set off speculation within Texas GOP circles about his political future.
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Ms. Mansfield writes and poses the rhetorical question, “He’s a grown man who was separated at the time and sending nude images supposedly to people who wanted them, but we’re talking about a U.S. Congressman. Shouldn’t the standards for decency be higher?”
The answer to that question is, “No.” You’ve answered it already with, “sending nude images supposedly to people who wanted them.” What any two consenting adults do in private is no ones business but their own and, since not meant for public consumption, “decency” is just puritan hand-wringing.
Had you asked, “Shouldn’t any public figure exhibit far greater restraint before doing something this stupid?,” then the answer would be a resounding, “Yes.”
I can’t believe he was this stupid. But I have no business whatsoever commenting on the decency of something I should not ever have been privy to in the first place.
I don’t make a habit of disagreeing with my writers, but on this minor point, I’m with Bit Bucket.