William Donald Schaefer: the man, the pol, the legend. Or something like that. Anyway, he's been in some kind of elected office somewhere in Maryland since Mencken's day, and he's in the soup again:
ANNAPOLIS // Comptroller William Donald Schaefer was unapologetic Wednesday after making suggestive comments to a young female aide to the governor during a meeting of the state Board of Public Works.The incident sent some jaws dropping and drew laughter from others in the crowd of more than 100 state officials, lobbyists, journalists and business leaders attending the session.
Responding to Schaefer's request for tea, the woman, an executive assistant in Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.'s front office, set down a thermal mug in front of the comptroller. Schaefer, 84, watched her walk away, then beckoned for her to return. When she obliged, he told her, "Walk again," staring after her as she left a ceremonial conference room at the State House.
Schaefer defended the comment in a profanity-laced rant at reporters after the meeting.
"That's so goddamn dumb, I can't believe it," Schaefer said when asked about the appropriateness of his remark. "She's a pretty little girl."
So: How should this be handled?
Schaefer's one of those people most charitably described as "colorful", and I bet that if he tries to hide at all it's going to be behind his age.
Sorry, I don't buy it. You don't get to be rude just because you're old.
I don't think this is something that should be laughed off. But at the same time I don't think the contemporary lawsuit and sensitivity training is the right choice either.
To my way of thinking, if Schaefer wants to act as he thinks he remembers men acting "back in the day," then let him face up to the "back in the day" consequences. I'm picturing something involving a father, a fiance or older brother, and a shotgun. But the guy's 84, and then there's those pesky battery laws.
A pity that more of the men in the room didn't rise to the occasion and give the old goat the withering look he deserved.
Truly this calls for the wisdom of Solomon.
Sorry, I don't buy it. You don't get to be rude just because you're old.
I am not sure why in some scenarios, disgusting behaviour is always written off by age. I see that with waitresses often, old men will goose the waitresses and everyone chuckles and say "oh, they're old." Baffled.
I see this with racist remarks I see this as well. Someone will say something racist and then everyone will say "oh, they were raised in a different time..."
Maybe if I were old, I would understand.
The proper way for the governor (who I presume was present) to handle this would have been to make some disparaging remark connecting Schaeffer's age and prowess. If he wants to use his age to excuse boorish behavior, then he has put age humor on the table. Gosh, Methusulah, back in the day a comparison like that would have been seen as the laugh of the week. Perhaps you don't remember.
Schaeffer's behavior clearly will not meet the standard defined under Maryland law for sexual harassment. Shooting the man is a punishment that does not fit the crime. Punching him probably doesn't either, although I don't think Krum's male relatives ought to take it off the table. Once the young woman understood why she was being asked to "walk again," she should have poured the contents of the thermal jug in Mr. Schaeffer's lap, thus further impairing his already diminished capacity. Too late for that, although she could still kick him in the balls next time they meet. Since Ehrlich probably cannot fire the comptroller (an elective office?), what's needed now is a public address by the governor in which he explains why lechery in those of ancient years is such an ugly, despicable, and morally revolting spectacle, and that those unable to age gracefully ought to do it at home, in private, where their worm-eaten brains can continue to decay out of public view and unfunded by taxpayer dollars. The young woman, after all, is the gov's employee, not Schaeffer's, and he ought to stand up for her. But this will require some political courage which he does not appear to have. I still like the knee to the groin idea, and though there may be some consequence to Miss Krum, she might also get elected president some day. Not exactly Solomonic, but, hey, we live in different times.
I'm with Bill on this one. Had it been me, I would have poured the coffee on him, or "accidentally" turned around, and knocked it all over his desk and computer.
How come girls don't know how to do this?
And as far as losing your job if you were her? Doubtful. All you'd have to do is lean over and say, "Don't do it again. If you whine about the coffee, I'll tell the world what you did and you're gonna look like the desperate old lecher you are. Try me."
I like the coffee idea. Perfecto.
I was reading some of your 2005 posts and I wholeheartedy agree with Anon. Birth control is evil? People who don't agree with your views are judgemental but it's okay for you to criticize others. Birth control is a religious issue only if you make it so. If your religion forbids birth control than don't use it but don't try to impose your religious beliefs on others. You all give the impression that you are all just wonderful because you are Roman Catholic and are bold enough to pronounce it. Big deal! It's like you are saying "I belong to the one true Church" "I am on the "right" side - the conservative side." Very arrogant and judgemental -these are the two words I thought of when reading your posts. Yes, you are all martyrs for homeschooling and having children you can't afford. I mean so what if the children have to suffer by wearing hand-me-downs, never experience the psychological and healthy feeling of belonging. Children compare themselves with others. Say what you want, your children are looking at their well-used clothes, worn out shoes and feeling bad (whether it's right or wrong) because they feel "different" from other kids. And if you think you can teach them how to feel okay with that, you are barking up the wrong tree. Your kids may say it's okay to placate you but isn't that sad. Stop advertising your religiosity and prove it privately by being kind to others - even if they don't agree with you! Jesus spent much of his time being kind to others that people hated. I don't see Jesus in any of you. And I openly admit I AM judging you. We all make judgements whether we want to admit it or not. And last year someone said liberals usually end up killing each other in the end. That wins the prize for being the most ridiculous statement I have ever heard. The real Christians I have met are those who live a good Christian life. They don't have to pronounce to the world "I am a Christian (Catholic or otherwise)" because you can clearly see it by their behaviour and not by writing most of the posts I have read on this site.