October 03, 2006
Malkin describe the Page program in fairly positive terms
"It's a highly competitive process to become a page. And its an exclusive and exciting opportunity to see Wahsington up close."She also used words like "prestigious" and "venerable." She didn't elaborate in the implications, but I'm sure having a session as a Congressional Page on your resume is probably a good thing for your future.
Her solution deny any teen the exclusive and exciting opportunity.
There are simply too many adults in washington who cannot be trusted to ensure the safety of young people under their wing. I believe it is time to suspend the Page system and reassess the wisdom of putting underaged teens so easily impressed by power in such vulnerable positions. The Page system has been abused as a sexual Romper Room one too many times.As I see it, the problem is not the existence of the Page System, but level of scum that manages to get elected to the Congress.
These teens did not go through the competitive process to become a page in the hopes of seducing or being seduced by a member of Congress. Punishing these young people by depriving them of this opportunity because of the behavior of a few immoral predatory adults is just wrong. It's like saying to a rape victim "If you hadn't been in that bar wearing a short skirt, none of this would have happened."
There are not sex scandals because there are young Pages serving Congress. There are sex scandals because people like Foley and Krane and Studds get elected.
Posted by: Stephen Macklin at 06:01 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
That being said, you are right, it's fraught with harassment of every type by individuals who should exemplify and safe guard the morals of our country in their leadership positions.
Eliminating the program would be to victimize these kids all over again!
Posted by: michele at October 03, 2006 10:20 AM (DPFIK)
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