oh, how the midgets have fallen!

The tsunami of sexual harassment charges is the swiftest and most comprehensive social upheaval I’ve ever witnessed.  It’s redefining the most fundamental ways humans interact, bringing up our deepest secrets and spotlighting our worst hypocrisies.  Example: someone on my slice of Facebook questioned why it took dozens of women to corral the odious Harvey Weinstein, but only one man to collapse Kevin Spacey’s world.

Although I applaud this phenomenal change, I hope that due process of law doesn’t get swept away in the turmoil.  It’s refreshing to see Louis C.K. own up to his misdeeds, but not a total shock if you’re familiar with his stand-up routines.

Far to the right of Louie is Roy Moore of Alabama, the GOP’s choice to succeed Jeff Sessions in the U.S. Senate.  Moore is a legend in the state.  He was removed as Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court in 2003 for refusing to take out a monument of the Ten Commandments from the state judicial building.  He was re-elected in 2013, then suspended in May of last year for ordering probate judges to continue to enforce the state’s ban on same-sex marriages even though it had been declared unconstitutional.

Yesterday a Washington Post article alleged that Moore had sexual contact with Leigh Corfman when she was 14 years old.  He was 32.  Moore has strongly denied this but admitted he may have dated other teenaged girls when he was in his 30’s.

His defenders offered precious little help.  State Auditor Jim Ziegler averred that it was “much ado about nothing”, then segued from Shakespeare to the Bible with an oblique reference: “Mary was a teenager and Joseph was an adult carpenter.  They became parents of Jesus.”  Ziegler wrapped it up with “there’s just nothing immoral or illegal here.  Maybe just a little bit unusual.”

Moore has already made this a titanic struggle between good and evil, because that’s what Christian extremists do.  Persecution and martyrdom are the coin of their realm.  Indeed, Alabama voters may still elect him December 12th.  He was well ahead in the polls.  But check the Real Clear Politics website in a few days to see how this affects the race.

He could easily clarify matters by submitting to a polygraph test, preferably while placing his hand on the Bible.  Maybe he would remember the Commandment about not coveting thy neighbour’s underaged daughter.

Moore’s Democratic opponent Doug Jones is a formidable opponent.  As U.S. Attorney for northern Alabama, he helped bring down domestic terrorist Eric Rudolph.  Jones also convicted two Klan members for the 1963 bombing of a Birmingham church that killed four black children.

Alabama is no Virginia.  It is very red.  The state university’s nickname is even The Crimson Tide.  But the tide is quickly turning.  National GOP leaders seem petrified by this.  Bombarded yesterday with reporters’ questions about Moore, Mitch McConnell could only muster that mirthless turtle smile.