2017 Apr 10^th

Mona Charen who ordinarily champions all things Israeli, with the possible exception of their abortion policy, has heaped praise on Vice President Pence’ recent rules of engagement for his interaction with the opposite sex. Charen tells us that, “Pence,  even as villagers in Bora-Bora doubtless  know by now does not attend one-on-one dinners with women other than Karen (his wife) and does not drink alcohol in social settings when Karen is not with him.” Then Charen writes, “Progressives were by turns confused and disgusted.” Charen does not cite evidence from any confused and disgusted progressives. Charen seems of the opinion like many conservatives from The Washington Examiner to Fox News, that when you lack evidence you should use hyperbole and increase the volume. I confess here, lest there is any doubt, that I am severely progressive but I was neither confused nor disgusted by Pence’ personal rules; actually I found them close to hilarious. (When I explained Pence’s rules to a close woman friend her response was that he must not trust himself around women.)

Not attending one-on-one dinners with women other that his wife seems an unnecessary rule, not terribly different than a rule against using an “escort” service if your wife is busy with her bridge club. As to alcohol consumption, does he refuse wine at state dinners if his wife is not in attendance?

Charen writes, “Avoiding ‘occasions of sin’ isn’t primitive: actually it’s kind of elevated.” Of course it is; but many people do that without publicly enunciating specific rules. Then she admiringly quotes Jonah Goldberg, another far right icon who wrote, “Elites say we have no right to judge adultery, but we have every right to judge couples who take steps to avoid it.” What gives Jonah Goldberg the right to judge anyone about anything? Only Jonah knows.

Charen continues by writing that, “…women should never disdain the honor that good men show their wives by their constancy.” Again, Charen misses the point. We have a president who has told us over and over how much he respects women, how much he reveres them. Yet he allows his daughter, Tiffany, to be born out of wedlock, refusing to marry the mother, Marla Maples, until his daughter is two months old. Constancy is not in rules you claim you have but in what you do; in short, talk’s cheap. Pence’s “rules” are talk.

Charen’s target here is Bill O’Reilly, the Fox News’ main attraction. O’Reilly has settled a number of lawsuits accusing him of sexual harassment and many of his advertisers have peeled away from his program. Even so his ratings are higher than ever because it is thought that people watch his program to see how he’ll defend himself. Hey, it’s entertainment!

Mona finishes her piece by writing, “Wouldn’t everyone be better off following Mike Pence’s rules?” Actually Mona, almost everyone does, they just don’t talk about it.