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| Janay Rice |
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| Hillary Clinton |
Ray Rice, no excuses!!! You brutally punched your then-fiancée and now wife, Janay. Although we don’t know all the facts, we’ve seen the tape and it is horrific. Your wife has forgiven you, but the public (and the NFL) has not.
On the anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act, women’s rights activists have made Ray Rice the poster child for domestic violence. Rice has been eviscerated in the media and the Baltimore Ravens fired him from his job…
FIRED FROM HIS JOB!!!!!
I recall two other women who were publicly humiliated and abused. While the women involved defended their abuser, many called for the abuser’s job. Those women were Monica Lewinsky and Hillary Clinton…the abuser President Bill Clinton!!!
Ultimately, the public and women’s rights activists determined that President Clinton’s personal behavior should not cost him his job. After all, “if Hillary can forgive him, what business is it of mine?”
Domestic issues are very, very complicated, and Ray Rice may deserve everything that has befallen him. But, the difference in treatment between Bill Clinton and Ray Rice are noteworthy. (Not to mention, the respective differences in the fates of Janay Rice and Hillary Clinton. While Janay faces the slings and arrows of unwelcome, judgemental commentary, Hillary faces becoming the second white woman President of the United States...the first being Eleanor Roosevelt.)
I get it…we have a videotape of Rice viciously striking Janay, and we don’t have video footage of Clinton’s exploitation of Lewinsky.
However, it is worth noting that the NFL is disproportionately comprised of Black males. The Presidency has been disproportionately comprised of White males. A large portion of Black NFL players come from violent, disadvantaged backgrounds. Most presidents come from coddled, advantaged backgrounds. NFL players are our modern-day gladiators...playing America's most violent game. Presidents are our modern-day aristocrats...playing America's most powerful game. Former Presidents get $500,000 for a 1-hour speech...Former NFL players get diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries.
I get it…there are no excuses for hitting anyone who doesn’t pose a threat to you (man or woman). At the risk of sounding patriarchal and patronizing to women, I was taught to be a gentleman and cherish womanhood as the “gentler sex.”
But, sometimes I can’t help but wonder if “White” collar crime and “Black” collar crime are treated somewhat differently.
The public debate will continue and rightly so. I wish Ray and Janay the best if they are tying to heal their relationship. But, violence against women is UNACCEPTABLE!!
Can’t wait to hear from Hillary Clinton on this very important subject.
Expose that "Dirty Laundry," Kelly!
Until we rendezvous...
Peace!!
