Monica Lewinsky already had a history of having affairs with married men. While a college student, she had an affair with a professor. I specifically recall reading this. I agree that Clinton's behavior was wrong and that his womanizing hurt the country. But I do not see Lewinsky as being part of the "Me Too" movement. They had a consensual relationship. This all seems like another pile on.

If this was an intern with the CEO of an oil company people would be screaming for his head because he was in a position of immense power over the woman. She obviously was vulnerable to this , because as you point out, she had an affair as a college student with her professor. In most colleges that would call for the discharge of the professor if it became known.

"She obviously was vulnerable to this..." Really? A 24 year old woman who pursued married men and sought to have an affair with the president. Nope. I will never see Lewinsky as a victim.

We will have to agree to disagree.

She went to DC to screw the president. She wasn't preyed upon and was no novice when it comes to sleeping with married men. Don't you put ANY of the blame on the 22 year old woman? At what age does a woman stop being a victim in your eyes? In your world view, every single woman who goes for a powerful man is a victim.

And I think they would disagree with your view. Their view is that sexual harassment is established as a prima facie case when there is a large gap in power between the executive and the employee. It is then up to the executive to prove themselves innocent. Now you may disagree with that but that is the law in the private sector which is why I gave the example of an oil company executive. The EEOC only has jurisdiction over the private sector so Bill Clinton did not need to worry about them. But it does not make it right.

Please realize this is manipulation to make people not vote for Democrats.

Until November 6, whenever you hear "Clinton," think frightened children crying in ICE holding camps. Okay?

Consensual sex can NEVER be harassment as long as they're both consenting adults. To me, harassment is "fuck me or you're fired", it's having to put up with a boss putting his hands on you in ANY way that is not welcome, it's having to work in an environment that makes you uncomfortable (language,etc). The only person that abused Lewinsky was linda tripp.

When we make excuses for Bill because he's a Democrat, it does more harm than good.

By her own admission, she was the one who went after Clinton. She flirted with him and then snapped the elastic of her panties. I'm not excusing his behavior, it was deplorable and he should have known better, but she was no innocent girl. She had already been in an affair with one of her married professors. She even followed him to OR from CA and ingratiated herself to his wife, trying to get the wife to give her a babysitting job.

If nothing else it gives the appearance of impropriety.

with her boss rather than a different man is ridiculous.

But, I'm sorry. If you brag to your friends that you are getting out your "presidential kneepads," march into your boss' office, show him your drawers and then willingly give him oral sex and afterward brag to your friends some more about it, you've lost all ability to claim you didn't give "consent."

An inappropriate relationship that you initiated but didn't turn out the way you hoped it would is not exploitation, it's not assault, it's not harassment and it's not abuse of power. It's a bad choice that YOU made willingly.

I think she's glomming onto the #metoo thing now, but those "dynamics" didn't seem to matter much to her in the mid-90's.

Her recent statements seem rather convenient.

Also, I seem to recall that she didn't actually work directly for him. Obviously, as president he could have arranged to have her employment terminated, but he wasn't technically her boss.

If not, I'd encourage it.

So this wasn’t an instance of Bill chasing women.

It was an instance of a woman pursuing Bill.

He should have known better than to accept the invitation, but he was invited with a flash of the thong by Ms. Lewinsky.

I am disgusted at watching the media that gave Trump a free pass for a year before his election now pile on to Bill Clinton over this. It's ridiculous.

This was NOT a #MeToo situation, as you explain. He doesn't owe Monica Lewinsky and apology any more than she owes him one. And, whatever anyone thinks of his behavior, he has paid for it in spades. Good Lord, the man was IMPEACHED over it! And, not only that, he was publicly humiliated, his marriage jeopardized, every bit of minutiae about his private life was dragged out for all to see, his presidency was forever tarnished.

It's over. It's not a #MeToo issue. Stop it.

not condoning Bill's actions but, c'mon, that all happened TWENTY YEARS AGO and we have a REAL sexual perv in the WH who openly brags about sexual assault, has had multiple affairs, made creepy comments about his own daughter, and wanders around underage(?) beauty pageants.

She never shirks responsibility, but the power differential was not acknowledged at the time and is still dismissed as unimportant. Standing by while alleged supporters of women's rights switch sides and smear her the way a defense attorney would a rape victim is something I really regret taking part in. It was a shameful moment in our history, as a country and as a party. We had a chance to say that it is unacceptable for powerful men to use their privilege and power to manipulate women sexually and emotionally for their personal enjoyment. We are finally saying it. One person could validate and advance the destruction of a system that protects such men. He chose, instead, to take the side of men who cry victim when they get caught. hmmmm

The President of the United Sates and a White House intern?

Yes, I wanted "my tribe" to stay in power (term we use 20 years later).

But given Weinstein, Cosby, on and on - there was something going on that has to end.

Time's up. I hate to see us Democrats repeatedly waffle on this issue.

Even Democrats protected Thomas, though. I suspect that many had their own histories. It's a shame that people we like are being exposed. I was sad to learn about Charlie Rose,, James Clyburn, and certainly Cosby. But, it was bound to happen because the protective mechanism has been systemic and solidly supported by widespread cooperative efforts and willful ignorance among powerful people in politics, entertainment, academia, and every other professional and social arena.

Time's up demands a full scale dismantling of that mechanism. We are willing to rethink the past when it comes to entertainment and news media and at least some political figures. But there is one exception whose voice could be a force in the interest of gender equality.

for that reason exactly. Later it deviated, but...

Clinton's womanizing is legendary, but I've never thought Lewinsky story was credible. I knew her type in college and business, young women who were enthralled and thrilled to be around famous and powerful men. They used sex as the means to enhance their social and professional status, their careers, fame and access, bank accounts, and even their marriage prospects.

Lewinsky had her own agenda, a door through the Oval Office (but not necessarily with Clinton) that she thought would give her fame and fortune. She was out of her league, a clumsy fool who quickly got in over her head and was unprepared for the inevitable blowback.

...i wont be part of the medias sustained bullying of other Dems.

He said that when Clinton spoke in Harlem - after opening his office there. His(their) enemies are exactly all the deplorables Trump dredged up. Same fight, less cyber-hacking. That's my answer you your question "why".

As was Newt, etc.

Clinton lied about Lewinsky on National TV and got too cute about it under oath. He should have just admitted it, said it was consensual, and moved on. The fact he was willing to lie about it made him appear vulnerable to blackmail from those that knew the truth. I do not see that having much to do with the me too movement.

Gennifer Flowers was consensual. However, there was also Kathleen Willey, (?) Broaddrick, and of course Paula Jones that claimed at a minimum sexual harassment from Clinton.