(Weigh In) ABC News: Puerto Rican Legislator ‘Gropes’ Grad Journalist
- Posted on October 19, 2010 at 11:30am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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ABC News thinks that state legislators don’t receive enough scrutiny. So recently, it hired five graduate school journalists to conduct an investigation of the “ethics and behavior of state legislators.” ABC’s verdict: “conduct that could be best described as unbecoming.”
The news organization‘s prime piece of evidence is video showing Puerto Rican legislator Jorge Navarro Suarez making unwanted advances toward one of ABC’s female grad journalist:
ABC does provide a body evidence to prove its point that state legislator corruption is a problem. But this incident is interesting considering that the network uses it as its “gotcha” climax, and the video and story aren’t bullet proof.
Consider that ABC in its report describes Suarez as “groping and kissing” the girl while the video appears to only show kissing. To be fair, the student could have been groped out of view. But why make the statement without not explanation?
Also interesting is ABC’s insistence on portraying the girl as a “female student journalist” instead of an adult employee on assignment. The former partly poisons the well, implying a more agregious act by the legislator. But if ABC describes her as an adult — who’s most likely over 21 — at a dance party, Suarez’s actions may not be so strange.
In a statement to ABC, Rep. Suarez denied any misconduct, and said he got close to the student to understand her, since the music was loud and he doesn’t speak English well.
Still, he does seem to make a couple more half-hearted attempts to entice the girl after she seems initially to tell him no.
What do you think? Were Suarez’s actions inappropriate and unbecoming of a legislator? Did he go too far? Or, was he simply conforming to common bar practices of trying to attract an attractive woman, only to back off eventually once he was unsuccessful?
Issue or non-issue?
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Comments (77)
Monty
Posted on October 19, 2010 at 2:07pmYo! Vin-ny! Hey looks like my cousin from Hoboken; Yo Vinny is that you man??
Report Post »He’s always hittin’ on the babes… That Vinny, he is so cool…
DoctorRon
Posted on October 19, 2010 at 1:49pmMust have been a slow news day.
Report Post »338lapua
Posted on October 19, 2010 at 9:37pmMy thought exactly!
Report Post »AGunAndAPrayer
Posted on October 19, 2010 at 1:20pmThis is not the way a gentleman approaches a woman, it looked more like the way an animal might try to engage another. Besides a bar is not the place to find a good woman. Of course, he probably wasn’t looking for a “good” woman, just good enough right now. If I were puerto rican I definetly wouldn’t want him representing me.
Report Post »Scramblin
Posted on October 19, 2010 at 1:13pmbooze, pumping music and babes – looked like a pretty tame event to me. Don’t know where you people party but this looked like a kindergarten event. Yes- also a total set up. She looked to be about 25, definitely not your typical student on assignment.
Report Post »alienguns
Posted on October 19, 2010 at 1:08pmI feel sorry for him having to stoop so low to hit on an ABC reporter……………she wasn’t cute anyway…
Report Post »chuchu12
Posted on October 19, 2010 at 1:08pmis it a public library or a city park or a grocery store…no…….for gods sake its a nightclub….walk away if you do not want to talk to someone…the only thing more ridiculous then posting this as news is my foolishness to respond.
Report Post »shotgun
Posted on October 19, 2010 at 1:07pmLooks like a setup. Staged in a meatmarket club with a bunch of drunks.
Report Post »No Name Yet
Posted on October 19, 2010 at 12:54pmThis guy is a total creep. He was on Live TV in Puerto Rico yesterday and was NOT very convincing to me at all. Then again, he knew the camera was right there. File away under the Inexplicably inexcusable!
Report Post »Contrarianthinker
Posted on October 19, 2010 at 12:23pmABC is NOT being politically correct. This guy is a Latino. Maybe there’s still hope for ABC?
Report Post »blb4jesus
Posted on October 19, 2010 at 12:15pmLooks like your typical bar scene to me. I love the way some news orginizations try to generate news by fabrication. Isn’t there enough “real” news happening? How about some animal “rights” violations or maybe some environmental damage caused by Grandma’s baking? There is quite the carbon footprint damage done there.
Report Post »El Paco
Posted on October 19, 2010 at 12:08pmViva Borriquas!! That’s par for the course.
Report Post »Topcat
Posted on October 19, 2010 at 12:04pmAnother non story , she is a big girl and can take care of herself . The incident didnt seem to go further than she could handle.
Report Post »lbteacher
Posted on October 19, 2010 at 12:03pmIs this guy married? If so then what a creep!
Report Post »whybother
Posted on October 19, 2010 at 12:02pmAre you kidding me?
1-This chick looks 30
2-She entices him into a conversation in that place which requires such proximity
3-If a woman goes out of her way to start this conversation, I would think she was interested
4-once he realizes she is NOT interested he backs off
This is the result of a politically correct climate, and I would like to know from all you offended folks how is a man to approach a woman in todays climate? I think the problem is because too few have ever had a fire blazing passionate love affair which can sometimes start just as seen in the video, except with an honest woman not trying to “catch” the man in inappropriate behavior, but have an actual interest.
Report Post »EqualJustice
Posted on October 19, 2010 at 12:01pmWhat does ABC say about this? He is a member of the National PROGRESSIVE Party, so they’ll probably cover for him…. sleazy.
Report Post »P3ngnr
Posted on October 20, 2010 at 12:33pmActually Puerto Ricos political parties are kinda confusing (I’m from the island). The breakdown of the parties is not as simple as D or R. the New Progresive Party or (PNP) is the closest thing we have to a Conservative party. Case in point; the current Governor Fortuño’s platform is on the reduction of deficits, smaller government and personnal responsibility. He has in fact made Mr Navarro issue an appology.
Report Post »The first thing the governor did when he came to office was reduce government employees by 20%.
bhodson
Posted on October 19, 2010 at 11:55amEntrapment. Feed wealthy well-to-do legislators alcohol and see what happens? I beg the question, did she stand there to GET it on tape? They’re worse than cops looking for broken tail lights. ABC was clearly fishing.
Report Post »tobywil2
Posted on October 19, 2010 at 11:53amI would not believe anything on ABC even if the Anchor were sitting on a stack of Bibles, with the “Holy Ghost” on his lap? http://commonsense21c.com/
Report Post »auntnoree
Posted on October 19, 2010 at 11:52amThis happens everyday at any club around the world. Ooooo…. some guy tries to hit on a pretty girl.
Report Post »walkwithme1966
Posted on October 19, 2010 at 12:56pmThank you – and especially when booze is involved – everywhere in the world!! So whats new – nothing!!
http://wp.me/pYLB7-gA
Report Post »grandmaof5
Posted on October 19, 2010 at 11:46amShe didn’t slap him or try to get away so do we call this “entrapment” by ABC?
Report Post »Kisha Majors
Posted on October 19, 2010 at 11:45amHe isn’t a man. Well, I guess that sum’s up what I think of most legislators!
Report Post »Bullcop34
Posted on October 19, 2010 at 11:44ampossibly made a move??? She said no and he backed off. So what?
Report Post »NoName22
Posted on October 19, 2010 at 11:57amTrust me………The dude with the brown pants and green shirt…………….Nobody was getting any action that night. Lamest party I have ever seen………..Did anyone else think it looked like one of those crappy dramas that ABC creates??????
The Rep was trying to talk to her. End of story.
Report Post »john seven eighteen
Posted on October 19, 2010 at 11:43amDoes ABC not think it’s important to reveal whether or not the man is married? If he is single, whether or not one thinks his actions were appropriate, his actions might be excused as a single man trying to pick up an attractive female. If he was married…….. But, I guess maybe it’s just me, I like to have all the facts before I crucify someone!!!
Report Post »lookn4nrml
Posted on October 19, 2010 at 12:10pmThere‘s also a cultural aspect to this so that probably wouldn’t make a difference. Attitudes in San Juan are definitely different than in Louisville.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on October 19, 2010 at 3:27pmAs I am learning …wow .. I have never had such a pushy rude neighbor as the person from Puerto Rico who just moved into the neighborhood! If this is indicative they make the French look polite!
C. Schwehr
Posted on October 19, 2010 at 8:44pmYou’ve got about the best point of view here. The woman handled it, the slightly drunken, slightly pushy guy backed off, no harm no foul…..except it appears that this guy was of the wrong party so it’s automatically escalated to a major crime…
Remember the “waitress sandwich” done by SENATOR Christopher Dodd and SENATOR Teddy Kennedy?…or Kennedy when he killed a drunken staffer when he was taking her back to his place for semi’concious sex and drove off the bridge? Correct party, no foul!
ABC is inventing the news again!
Report Post »starman70
Posted on October 19, 2010 at 11:41amWas he Dem. or Repub.? If Republican, explanation complete. If
Report Post »Democrat, OOPS, shouldn’t have leaked out!
M31Sailor
Posted on October 19, 2010 at 12:04pmI can just picture my daughters reaction,
The first time he leaned in she would have said an
emphatic No
The second time he leaned in she would have
kneed him in the balls, and if she had a couple of cocktails in her ,
Knock him out cold
Report Post »snowleopard3200
Posted on October 19, 2010 at 11:37amIf Mr Suarez did indeed make the unwanted advances then he does need to be dealt with; I cannot in all fairness make it out clear enough what happened just based on the video. Let everyone make up their own minds though.
http://www.artinphoenix.com/gallery/grimm (mix art)
Report Post »Polwatcher
Posted on October 19, 2010 at 4:08pmWhere is Geraldo when you need him.
Report Post »danieljersey
Posted on October 19, 2010 at 6:44pm@CatB: Just so we are clear, you are judging ALL Puerto Ricans, nearly 10 million, based upon one family that has moved into your neighborhood? Wow, I pity you. As for this jerk, he is a drunk guy hitting on a girl. Thats what drunk guys do, not that I condone the action but it happens. You should get out more instead of posting nonsense.
Report Post »DimmuBorgir
Posted on October 19, 2010 at 11:36amlooks like a creep in a club whose a$$ i would beat down
Report Post »Danglinbags
Posted on October 19, 2010 at 11:47amWoah…those dance moves are insane. I’m practicing them right now. S-e-k-s-i-e.
Bluefish49
Posted on October 19, 2010 at 11:52amSay hello to my little friend….
Report Post »Contrarianthinker
Posted on October 19, 2010 at 12:22pmBluefish, anyone respnding to Dangling is given one warning and then kicked off this blog.
Report Post »sickofitall
Posted on October 19, 2010 at 1:05pmCalm down CONTRARIANTHINKER!
Report Post »It doesn’t look like a response to DANGLES to me, but rather a quip as from Suarez. Don’t threaten with action against someones use of 1st Amendment. Makes you sound like the Obama administration and the DOJ.
DANGLES is like a side of parsley. No real nutritional value, but adds a tiny bit of color.
rebel
Posted on October 19, 2010 at 1:23pmalcohol plus a cute girl. that‘s why politicians shouldn’t go to places like that. who is his PR guy? i can’t blame ABC for doing the piece at all, but i don’t think this is a freak out moment. Now if only they would do a story about non tax paying public officials that don’t grind on dance floors i might watch
Report Post »911
Posted on October 19, 2010 at 2:07pmIf I was her brother I would have beat him down
Report Post »ltb
Posted on October 19, 2010 at 2:47pmYou would think with 3 billion cameras in the world that people wouldn’t make a sport out of trying to look like an ass. Regardless, it’s easy to see how he misread her… the look of disgust on her face, turning her head so she wouldn’t have to smell beer and goat on his breath, putting her hands up to keep his blubber at arm’s length… oh sure, her lips were saying “eeewwww, get away from me you fat slobbering pig” but her body language was saying, “Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh, sweet mystery of life at last I found you!”
Report Post »paladin252
Posted on October 19, 2010 at 2:48pmim praying for you DANGLINBAGS.
Report Post »americanfirst
Posted on October 19, 2010 at 3:05pmContrarian – that is classic!
Report Post »Major Infidel
Posted on October 19, 2010 at 3:26pmI’d have to put an asswhoopin on this d-bag too. Anyone checked his green card?
Report Post »norway1516
Posted on October 19, 2010 at 4:53pmContrarianthinker so now its censorship? get the f out of here
Report Post »FIRED UP FREE MAN !
Posted on October 20, 2010 at 9:34pmMr. SOROS is an international criminal. Any government official taking money from this monster or those he supports should be brought up on treason charges. Anybody who takes money from this monster has sold his soul and our government to HELL ! GOD BLESS AMERICA AND THE LIGHT OF DAY! For only TRUTH and the light of day is what this country DESERVES. Democrats seemed to have been infected by this DEADLY parasite and his minions. This country will NOT rest until SOROS is in prison orange and handcuffs standing in front of a military tribunal in Guantomino Bay, Cuba
If you have any complaints about Mr. SOROS here are the names and addresses, maybe you can send them a line.
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