No Critic Of Sexual Harassment

Nikki Haley has no reason to be "incredibly proud of the women who have come forward." But Donald Trump has plenty of reason to be proud of Nikki Haley.

On CBS' Face the Nation (transcript here) Sunday, USA ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley was asked by host John Dickerson about the "three members of Congress kicked out of Congress because of sexual behavior, misdeeds" and the "cultural moment that's happening."

In 1991, women lined up to testify against the lifetime appointment of Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court were bit players in an event sparking a "cultural moment." Twenty-five years later, Donald J. Trump was elected President of the United States of America and Clarence Thomas is still on the United States Supreme Court. That is what passes as "progress."

Nevertheless, John Dickerson does not serve the USA or President Trump; Nikki Haley does and she responded

You know, I am incredibly proud of the women who have come forward. I'm proud of their strength. I'm proud of their courage. And I think that the idea that this is happening, I think it will start to bring a conscience to the situation, not just in politics, but in, you know, we've seen in Hollywood and in every industry. And I think the time has come.

I'm not sure what "time" Haley believes "has come." But I do credit her for saying she is "incredibly" proud, because her pride is simply not credible. She can have no pride in what the women are doing because pride is "feeling deep pleasure or satisfaction as a result of one's own achievements, qualities, or possessions or those of someone with whom one is closely associated."  

Nikki Haley is not closely associated with any of the women who have maintained they have been harassed or assaulted. She is, however, closely associated with a man nineteen women have accused of sexual misbehavior. She is closely associated with a man who reportedly now is questioning the authenticity of the tape on which he is bragging about being assaulting women.

She not only is closely associated with the man, she's his defender. Replying to Dickerson's follow-up question, Haley stated

Well, I mean, you know, the same thing, is women who accuse anyone should be heard. They should be heard and they should be dealt with. And I think we heard from them prior to the election. And I think any woman who has felt violated or felt mistreated in any way, they have every right to speak up.

Bold! Nikki Haley acknowledges straight up that the First Amendment should apply to women. However, they will be "dealt with," code for "we will respond as we will respond and they might not like it."

With "And I think we heard from them prior to the election," Haley has echoed the Trump line that upon being elected, he is immune from criticism. The matter has been litigated, the President implies.  

Why should the women speak up when "they've already been heard, "prior to the election?" Even Donald J. Trump has not denied that that accusers have a right "to speak up." Fastidiously loyal, the UN ambassador agrees.

Class act- all of them, Kellyanne Conway, Sarah H. Sanders, and Nikki Haley, each ready to run interference for Donald J. Trump at a moment's notice.

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