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Connecticut state Rep. Ernest Hewett, D-New London, says he was punished without due process when he was removed as deputy speaker for making a lewd comment to a 17-year-old girl. The girl was speaking to the House Appropriations Committee, asking it to contine funding for the Connecticut Science Center's ambassador program. When the girl said taking part in the program had helped her overcome shyness and a fear of snakes, Hewett said "If you're bashful, I got a snake sitting under my desk here."

Comments

[Question of Auban]

If his last name were Clinton he would have gotton off scott-free.

[Eduard van Haalen]

Or if his name were Scott.

[Radioactive]

Why would Chelsea say something like that? Hillary maybe.

[Just Counterfly]

George, definitely.

[Almanian!]

You know who else kept a snake under their desk....

[LTC(ret) John]

Marlin Perkins?

[Capt Ace Rimmer]

Lord Voldemort?

[Just Counterfly]

Pro L

[Ted S.]

Duran Duran?

[Fist of Etiquette]

Saint Patrick?

[Just Counterfly]

OOOH can I change my answer to Rowdy Roddy Piper?

[Kaptious Kristen]

Jake Plummer?

[mr lizard]

Samuel L Jackson?

[Longtorso]

Conn. Legislator Makes Lewd Remark to 17 Year-old Girl at Hearing; Conn. Post Fails to Tag Him as a Dem

[wareagle]

it's only news when a Repub does it. With Dems, it's practically an expectation.

[HazelMeade]

But Dems are so much more sophisticated and liberated about sexual matters. So when they do it, you have to assume they meant it in a sex positive way that would appeal to the girl's feminist instincts.

[Bee Tagger]

Did you ever mean to say "If you are shy then I have an acre of land in the Everglades." and have it come out "If you're bashful I got a snake sitting under my desk here"? I mean, those sentences are so close to being identical, and these kinds of misstatements happen all the time, right?

Yeah, because "If you're bashful I got a snake sitting under my desk here" is such a common innuendo.

I think this guy gets it right:
http://www.theday.com/article/...../303029970

[Just Counterfly]

It's just snake is so obvious. There are plenty of other dangerous or surprising things that he could have gone with that wouldn't have gotten him in trouble:

Big Worm, giant mushroom, tiny fireman, cattle prod, wiggle stick, lap rocket, cranny axe, quiver bone, pork steeple, dude piston, nether rod.

The list of completely innocent, non-innuendo inducing things, goes on and on and on.

[phandaal]

Bloodhound Gang fan?

[freeAgent]

Disco stick?

[BarryD]

If I said that, I'd have immediately said, "Uh, that didn't come out right! Anyway, you are obviously a great public speaker, and we all share your pride."

I mean, seriously. Don't politicians know how to say things like that any more?

[Suthenboy]

I heard the audio of that incident....he did not intend to make a lewd comment. In the context of what was being said he made a really stupid joke, that is all.

[Bee Tagger]

I haven't heard the audio but the article sure made it seem like he was in trouble for being elected alongside Beavis and Butthead afficionados, who are incapable of hearing the word "snake" without snickering.

On top of it all:

The teen did not clearly hear the comment and didn't know it could be perceived as offensive until reading news accounts, according to a statement by Matt Fleury, president and chief executive officer of the science center.

[phandaal]

Pretty much. He made a really bad joke in an attempt to lighten the mood.

That being said, it's probably good to reprimand him for not realizing that EVERYTHING he says will be scrutinized. The Republicans are taking it too far, because that's what happens when the other party does something like this. MUST DESTROY.

[ant1sthenes]

If there was ever a time for someone nearby to shout "phrasing!"...

[Copernicus]

I heard that his real crime was that he had a pastry that he had nibbled into the shape of a mountain/penis.

[Bardas Phocas]

Was that wrong? Should I not have done that?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RvNS7JfcMM

[ZinxMinx]

So thats how they roll? Amazing.

http://www.AnonProx.da.bz

[LTC(ret) John]

Indeed anonybot, indeed.

[Ted S.]

It's new material for Pedobot.

[Just Counterfly]

She's 17. Way to old for the 'bot.

[Just Counterfly]

Badger Badger Badger

[sarcasmic]

Mushroom!

[Agile Cyborg]

Free speech society in full swing there.

[ThatSkepticGuy]

. . . well? Was there a snake under the desk?

[Agile Cyborg]

Depends on if you want my mind to be as fucking scatty as the House Appropriations Committee.

[SugarFree]

"I want these motherfucking phallic substitutes off this motherfucking penis-with-wings!"

[Eduard van Haalen]

"All I said was, I'm going to take this girl to Portland, Maine, and then I'm going to Bangor. Why is everyone making such a fuss out of an inoffensive comment?"

[DJF]

The bitch set him up.

[Almanian!]

word

[Old Man With Candy]

Win!

[mr lizard]

Compared to all the other government retardness out there, I would give him a pass even if he whipped I out.

[Eduard van Haalen]

Whipped *I* out? What are you suggesting about yourself?

[Agile Cyborg]

He's a lizard that cannot type well?

[mr lizard]

Actually he could've whipped *me* out. And yes even reptiles need an edit function.