When You're a Republican, They Let You Do It

Political media fails us once again.

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You’ve heard of Rep. Lauren Boebert (CO-03), right?

The Congresswoman has become one of the most well-known far-right politicians in the country, from calling Jan. 6th a “1776 moment” for Republicans to being an apologist for QAnon to opposing just about every proactive public health response to the pandemic to being an anti-abortion extremist.

She’s also stridently anti-LGBTQ. In addition to the basics that have become synonymous with the Republican Party—like opposing the Equality Act—she is firmly on record against same-sex marriage, believing it should be unconstitutional.

Earlier this year, she called for a boycott of North Face after the outdoor apparel company put out a harmless, non-sexual advertisement featuring a drag queen and has spent the past few years slamming drag queens and trans people as a public threat to children.

A little over a week ago, Congresswoman Boebert and her date were kicked out of a showing of the “Beetlejuice” musical at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts because, among other things, she was reportedly vaping and blew smoke into the face of a pregnant woman who complained.

As ushers and security personnel escorted Rep. Boebert and her date out of the theatre, she apparently said “Do you know who I am?” to them as she was leaving.

Charming.

Rep. Boebert and her campaign manager responded to initial reports of the incident with the typical cavalier nonsense we’ve come to expect when a Republican is caught behaving badly.

In a now deleted tweet, she wrote: “It’s true, I did thoroughly enjoy the AMAZING Beetlejuice at the Buell Theatre and I plead guilty to laughing and singing too loud! Everyone should go see it if you get the chance this week and please let me know how it ends!”

Her campaign manager did a delightful pivot to border policy in his response to reporter inquiries: “I can confirm the stunning and salacious rumors: in her personal time, Congresswoman Lauren Boebert is indeed a supporter of the performing arts (gasp!) and, to the dismay of a select few, enthusiastically enjoyed a weekend performance of ‘Beetlejuice,’ which the Denver Post itself described as ‘zany’, ‘outrageous’, and a ‘lusty riot.’ She appreciates the Buell Theatre’s strict enforcement of their no photos policy and only wishes the Biden Administration could uphold our border laws as thoroughly and vigorously.”

Pretty obnoxious, of course, but then, more video was released of what can only be described as Rep. Boebert fondling her date’s penis over his pants while he fondled her breasts, in the middle of the crowded theatre, with children present (courtesy of kaylan_TX on Twitter).

I don't know the last year this would have been true, but it wasn't long ago that a Member of Congress of either party caught being sexually explicit in a crowded theatre, in front of children, would have resigned within days.

So, how did political media over it?

The New York Times referred to it as "touching and carrying on with her date."

Carrying on.

The Washington Post didn't even cover that aspect, choosing to entirely ignore the sexually explicit behavior.

POLITICO--D.C.'s leading outlet on all things politics--likewise declined to mention any sexually explicit behavior.

In fact, the most pronounced criticism came not from political journalists or GOP leadership or Boebert's fellow congressional Republicans but from Meghan McCain, who pointed out the hypocrisy of Boebert's anti-LGBTQ fearmongering while fondling her date in front of kids.

I’ve already seen a few members of media attempt to claim that this is a matter of privacy, which is completely laughable.

Yeah, sure, it’s a “privacy issue” — it’s between Rep. Boebert, her date, the ushers, the security personnel, the actors, the stage crew, and the 2,280 attendees who were present at the Buell Theatre in the Denver Center for the Performing Arts.

Sure.

Here’s my apparently controversial take: if you're a couple fondling each other in a crowded theatre, with people literally sitting all around you, there is no right to privacy.

Once again, there are two standards in American politics, especially when it comes to how reporters cover these events: one for Democrats and one for the GOP.

And folks, there is no way in hell that any Democrat, let alone someone who is LGBTQ, would have this behavior ignored.

There is no way on God’s green earth that a trans person, elected official or not, would get away with this.

Either political journalists don't really care about the ethical double standard, or they're just terrified to do their jobs when it comes to Republicans. Either way, this is one of the most blatant examples of how thoroughly broken our political media has become.

Can you imagine if, say, Rep. AOC had done this?

It would lead not just Fox News and the rightwing blogosphere but every news broadcast throughout the country. Every national political reporter would be writing about it, every Sunday show would at least mention it, and they’d be right to do so.

But when you’re a Republican, they let you do it.

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Hi, I’m Charlotte Clymer, and this is Charlotte’s Web Thoughts, my Substack. It’s completely free to access and read, but it’s also how my bills! So, please do kindly consider upgrading to a paid subscription: just $7/month or save money with the $70/annual sub. You can also go way above and beyond by becoming a Founding Member at $250.