Now what was all that about personal responsibility?
I am disappointed with Bill Cosby and his penchant for cheating on his wife. My disappointment is deepened by the fact that liberals and other naysayers are using his proclivities to have sex with women other than the woman he married to dismiss his entire message.
As you may recall, Cosby criticized a certain set of the black community, particularly the segment that pays $500 for a pair of sneakers, doesn’t speak proper English at anytime (we all slip into slang once in a while) and blames the “white man” for their troubles. Many segments overlap, but blacks knew exactly which one Cosby was referring to. Many conservatives praised Cosby, while black liberals castigated him for airing dirty laundry. You can guess which camp I was in.
But all that seems for naught. We all know that what he said is TRUE, but this cheating man’s heart is not. Cosby has been accused of drugging two woman. He admitted to having sex with one but denied the druggings. From the Washington Post (reg. req.):
The next night Philadelphia’s NBC-10 reported that a 31-year-old Canadian woman had accused Cosby of sexual misconduct at his suburban Philadelphia mansion. At the time of the alleged incident, in mid-January 2004, the woman was director of operations for the Temple University women’s basketball program. She had been recruited to Temple by coach Dawn Staley, a close friend of Cosby’s, and that is how the two met.The woman told the following story to authorities:
She had been out to dinner with Cosby and mutual friends at a Philadelphia area restaurant and was invited alone to come back to his place. After she complained of stress, Cosby gave her some pills — “herbal medication,” he said — that made her dizzy. Though her memory is hazy, she remembers Cosby touching her breast and placing her hand on his genitals. She awoke at 4 a.m. to find her clothing in disarray and her bra undone. She then drove herself home. (The Washington Post does not generally publish the names of alleged victims of sexual assault without their consent.)
After investigating the allegations, Montgomery County (Pa.) District Attorney Bruce L. Castor Jr. announced late last week that he had found “insufficient credible and admissible evidence” to file charges against Cosby. The complainant’s attorney, Dolores Troiani, has said her client will file a civil suit against Cosby.
This is not the first time he’s cheated on his wife. Back in 1997, a woman named Autumn Jackson tried to extort money from Cosby, threatening to go public that she was his illegitmate daughter. As it turns out, she wasn’t his daughter, but he did have sex with her mother. While he was married to someone else. This is only the stuff we know about.
Bill Cosby is a hypocrite in the eyes of many, and he has no one to blame but himself. Unfaithfulness is bad enough; unfaithfulness coupled with accusations of drugging is off the chart. All I have to say is that it was good while it lasted. When people stand up for truth, detractors inevitably begin attacking the person. Sometimes the person deserves it.
(See these Cosby-related posts)
Stay tuned for my next post, “God And Man At CPAC.” It’s going to ruffle some feathers. 
Update: From reader David L.: “Correct me if I am wrong. I don’t recall any significant outrage that Jesse Jackson, or B.J. Clinton’s extramarital activity diminished their messages. Just more of the MSM usual double standard. It is only cheating on your wife if you oppose abortion.”
This is where I stand with the “Coz.”
I appreciated his comments greatly last year. I think a huge kernal of truth was spoken and the criticism directed at him because of said comments was unfair and unjustified.
That said, it’s certainly upsetting to read of these charges. But, I don’t think it’s a “liberal” media thing. Cosby is a celebrity and it doesn’t matter how you swing politically. The media will always come down on any celebrity sex scandal.
I hope he makes it through all this drama. I remember thinking the same thing when he made the comment about many in the black community shelling out $500 for new shows but not paying $100 for Hooked on Phonics. Great guy.
Comment by Mike M. — 02.23.05 @ 9:28 am
Quasi-Freudian slip?
“Back in 1997, a woman named Autumn Jackson tried to extort money from Jackson”…
Autumn, or Michael? ;o)
Cosby, of course. Have a great day - sorry for playing copy editor…
Comment by Steve — 02.23.05 @ 9:34 am
So far the accusations of drugging are accusations and nothing has ever come of them. To say it is over the top becuase of those accusations is incorrect. However I personally did not know about his unfaithfulness. While this darkens him also remember that he is human. It is up to God to judge him not us. Also he cheated in the past that’s true..but nothing else has surfaced. I am a white man and i am going to leave judging him up to God..:)
Comment by Hescominsoon — 02.23.05 @ 9:34 am
Funny how before Clinton’s activities had no effect on his messages with the excuse of private life and all of that. Though it is dissapointing to once again hear of Cosby’s adulterous actions.
Comment by Jeff Miller — 02.23.05 @ 9:35 am
There was no significant outcry about Clinton and Jackson’s affairs because liberals can’t be held to morals they never had.
Comment by Scooter — 02.23.05 @ 11:04 am
The actions of a Jackson or Clinton don’t matter, because they SAID the right things. They supported (if only verbally) the right things.
It never ceases to amaze me what feminist will tolerate from men who publicly agree with them, but a man that treats women impeccably is a devil if he disagrees with their dogma. (not saying Cos is this man, BTW).
Comment by SCSIwuzzy — 02.23.05 @ 11:35 am
The old badger game. They did it to Al Capp, too.
Comment by Walter E. Wallis — 02.23.05 @ 11:45 am
Scooter says “There was no significant outcry about Clinton and Jackson’s affairs.” Excuse me. Clinton’s dalliance with a White House intern was the number 1 media story for a full year. It was the subject of an investigation costing some $70 million, and an impeachment. Even those who opposed the impeachment criticized Clinton in strong, stark language. The liberal website MoveOn.org was born from this episode, calling for Congress to censure and move on. Censure is significant outcry. An impeachment trial is significant outcry. The mythical “liberal” media spent a whole year crying out against Clinton’s transgression.
And please don’t accuse President Clinton, or liberals in general, of lacking morals. We all have morals, and we all sometimes fail to live up to our moral standard. Moral struggle is the human condition.
Comment by Anomalocaris — 02.23.05 @ 12:04 pm
I still respect Cosby’s message - both in his shows and also in his lastest ‘talks’ regarding the state of our people. However, these charges of misconduct - whether true or not - point out that we ALWAYS err when we place too much faith in a human being. Hear the message, but don’t embrace the human messenger too much. Only one in history deserved that much honor.
Peace!
Comment by Francene — 02.23.05 @ 12:05 pm
That is the danger of being powerful and rich: temptation is even more magnified.
Comment by mj — 02.23.05 @ 12:42 pm
In case you didn’t know, there was insufficient evidence to pursue the latest charges against the Coz.
He was villified for what he said and they want to find a reason to disgrace him. As an earlier poster said - we all have failings. That is why we need Jesus.
Comment by Pat'sRick© — 02.23.05 @ 12:51 pm
And the only outrage during the Clinton affair that the MSM exhibited was towards the “intolerant” right who couldn’t just leave Bill alone in the privacy of the Oval Office.
Comment by Pat'sRick© — 02.23.05 @ 12:55 pm
Speaking as a man, I urge caution in believing what you’re told about someone who is prominent and public - especially after such a man has made a clear conservative statement publicly and the left would benefit from him being smeared.
For men, being accused of certain things is enough to doom you in the eyes of all too many who are halfway convinced all men are brutes and scum anyway. Don’t join them, being accused is not even partially evidence of being guilty.
For the same reason I’m very cautious to condemn Michael Jackson of anything other than being really unwise in how he treated and acted with children.
Mere accusations of rape, abuse, and sexual harassment are often enough to sink a man’s career, reputation, and validity in the eyes of all too many people, and it’s neither fair nor proper.
Comment by Christopher Taylor — 02.23.05 @ 1:04 pm
Cosby admitted having sex with Autumn Jackson’s mother and the woman who claimed he drugged her.
Comment by La Shawn — 02.23.05 @ 1:10 pm
Beltway Traffic Jam
The daily linkfest:
Jim Geraghty defends John Hinderaker from the lefty lynch mob.
David Skinner discusses the complexities of putting out a new magazine.
Wizbang’s Paul is going on hiatus.
These guys are going to hell.
Joe Carter has take…
Trackback by Outside The Beltway — 02.23.05 @ 4:00 pm
…I’m saddened by what’s happening to Cosby. It’s always sad to have your icons destroyed. But no matter how wrong you are, when you’re right … you’re right.
Part of a post I made a while back.
Comment by Steel — 02.23.05 @ 7:03 pm
Pat’sRick©: “The only outrage during the Clinton affair that the MSM exhibited was towards the ‘intolerant’ right who couldn’t just leave Bill alone in the privacy of the Oval Office.”
Not so. The San Francisco Chronicle is part of the mainstream media — if anything, considered relatively liberal. The San Francisco Chronicle editorialized Sept. 25, 1998: “Clinton’s behavior and his persistence in a lie caused incalculable damage to himself, his family, his staff and supporters — as well as the American presidency.” This was one of many outraged criticisms of Clinton on the Chronicle’s editorial page.
The New York Times is as mainstream as it gets. New York Times liberal columnist Maureen Dowd wrote a pulitzer prize winning column September 16, 1998 in which she said: “He is like the cursed girl in the fairy tale: Every time he opens his mouth, a toad jumps out…. When he drains meaning from words, he jeopardizes his ability to govern. He has made Washington Orwellian. His corrupt language corrupts thought.” And she was even more critical in other columns.
These are just two of millions of examples of mainstream media outrage against President Clinton’s affair. It is a complete distortion to suggest that the mainstream media failed to express outrage over Clinton’s affair.
By the way, LaShawn, your blog is great, but there is one annoying problem. If one accidentally presses the esc key while entering a blog comment, the whole comment is lost. Would there be any way to fix that, please?
Comment by Anomalocaris — 02.23.05 @ 7:08 pm
Anom.
I don’t know about just 2 of millions of examples of MSM outrage against Clinton. Seems more like just 2 of hundreds drowned out by thousands of outrage against the “persecution”. Could it be that the MSM threw out a few token “outrage against Clinton” as an alibi? Talk about playing both sides.
I was in Germany all during that time and never once did I see CNN international anchors and talking heads express outrage against Clinton. The only time that happened was when they brought in a fundie so they could gang up on him and accuse him of intolerance. NPR wasn’t much better. As for the print, International Herald, WSJ and other sources was heavily biased against the witch hunt.
Linda trip certainly got the full measure of luv from MSM. Where was NOW and other Femnazis to defend her from the VLWC out to protect POTUS’s abuse of power?
The Euro-attitude was so what? If a Prez wants to play around that’s just his perogative. In fact, having a mistress or two just shows what a stud he is. Ruler by day, lover by night, a veritable James Bond of the political class.
Best way to fix the problem is to not hit the Escape Key which literally does what you ask, escape.
Comment by Andy — 02.23.05 @ 8:02 pm
I have no idea about Cosby’s indiscretions or lack there of, but his message is Right On, for that I am thankful!
Is he forgiven for his discretions, by God, I assure you he is, to be judged by me, No way!!
I live in a “Glass House!” Do I approve, Hell no, but I cannot hold myself up as a prime example either!! Many things I have done in my past that I’m not all that proud of!
Comment by mike — 02.23.05 @ 8:56 pm
“I don’t know about just 2 of millions of examples of MSM outrage against Clinton. Seems more like just 2 of hundreds drowned out by thousands of outrage against the “persecution”. Could it be that the MSM threw out a few token “outrage against Clinton” as an alibi? Talk about playing both sides.”
Read: I don’t care how many examples you show, I’m going to believe what I want to about this one. Why even bother pointing out that the MSM beat Clinton up for a long, long time about it? No one will concede even a logical, factually supported argument when faced with the liberal media boogeyman.
Plus, the guy commenting on that was in Germany, and thus not exposed to local papers (who were also outraged).
Eh, forget it.
Comment by tvd — 02.23.05 @ 9:58 pm
I’m not sure it’s even hypocrisy unless the kind of responsibility he was talking about included responsibility to one’s marriage vows. As far as I know, he was only talking about the way people talk, how they spend their money, how they seek to acquire money, what their life goals are, and their attitude toward white people. Not one of those requires anything one way or the other about adultery or faithfulness in marriage. What he did was immoral, but I don’t see how it renders his statements hypocritical.
Comment by Jeremy Pierce — 02.23.05 @ 11:11 pm
tvd,
Note, I asked “could” it be that the MSM threw out a few token outrages.
you missed the point that I had access to CNN International — Not the same as CNN Domestic. But I also picked up NBC as well as BBC World. Down at the PX I could pick up any of the current news magazines, etc. Tho Stars & Stripes did a pretty good job of lambasting the idiot Commander-in-Chief.
And on Sundays (Monday actually) I could get LA Times, NYT, if I wanted to. But why buy paper when I had access to unlimited internet (we had enough T1 lines to drive a semi thru it). So you see, it was like the next best thing to being here. I certainly didn’t see millions of hits on Alta Vista nor on Northern lights, thru which I subscribed to a few alerts including the “travails of Slick”.
But the outrage must have really been something since Slick stayed on and as polls would have us believe that he was “popular” as ever.
I also seem to remember donks lambasting Reagan at every turn, but once he passed away, they came rushing in to claim pieces of his mantle like Jesse Jackson annoiting himself with MLK’s blood.
I get it, you were against him before you were for him.
Go ahead and whitewash your history, you ain’t bamboozling me.
Comment by Andy — 02.23.05 @ 11:24 pm
“I don’t recall any significant outrage that Jesse Jackson, or B.J. Clinton’s extramarital activity diminished their messages.”
I would say clinton’s message was quite diminished by the outrage over his affairs.
Comment by actus — 02.24.05 @ 12:09 am
I agree with tvd, who says that no matter how much evidence is provided, true believers are “going to believe what [they] want to.” But I will rebut Andy’s point by counterexample, as best I can.
Andy: “…never once did I see CNN international anchors and talking heads express outrage against Clinton.”
I searched the CNN website for the word “Lewinsky” and found “about 1,761″ hits — that’s a LOT of coverage. CNN’s archive doesn’t seem to have punditry on it — it’s news, not editorial. The news stories pull no punches and lay bare all the gory details. In story after story, Clinton is said to have lied, to have misled, to have engaged in intimately-described forms of hanky-panky, and so on.
Here is one CNN story that shows Democrats expressing outrage against Clinton:
http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1998/09/14/starr.report/index.html
Daschle said, “There is a basic understanding of the standard of truthfulness that the president failed to meet.” …
Gephardt said Clinton “had a wholly inappropriate sexual relationship with a young White House intern and failed to be truthful about it. …
—–
CNN had over 1,700 stories with the word “Lewinsky.” CNN had on some days more than 10 stories all critical of President Clinton. CNN reported that Senate and House Democratic leaders and less-senior legislators castigated Clinton. Back in 1998, the news was Clinton and Lewinsky, 24/7. I was there. I listened to it every day. It was rough.
(But, opinion polls showed that a majority of Americans, knowing all the gory details, did not feel that impeachment was justified.)
In any case, it’s complete fiction to allege, seven years later, as Andy does, that the press or the pundits went easy on Clinton. I shall not be troubled to debate this point further.
Comment by Anomalocaris — 02.24.05 @ 12:42 am
I said CNN International, you don’t get it unless you’re overseas. Most of the anchors are based in London. Of course they reported the news and updates as events unfolded. The bias was in the talking heads implying that it was all overblown. While they reported the news, the real effort by the MSM was to salvage and spin Clinton’s infidelities as being personal business between himself and family and promoting the moral equivalence that everyone does it, with Schroeder & Chirac as sterling examples.
With everyone I was talking to over there, their impression was “so what if he’s induluges in a little side action”. My point was that it ain’t about the man, rather the office.
In most companies, Clinton would have been fired for exploiting his position of power, irregardless of if Monica wanted it.
Clinton was supposed to be a leader, a real leader will often deny himself certain “privileges” or self-gratification in order to lead by example. A leader should avoid anything that hints of corruption.
In spite of his indiscretions, if Clinton had been a MAN and accepted responsibility, that could have been the end of it, but he had to go obfusticating to the point of perjuring himself.
In the end, poetic justice will prevail, the legacy that Clinton got is temporal and a generation or two out, his accomplishments in 8 years will be but a footnote in history — a president elected with one of lowest % of the popular vote in history, thanks to Perot diverting at least 10% from Bush 1 — yes I voted for Perot to teach Bush 1 a lesson. Clinton’s ranking will end up in the bottom half, probably to be eclipsed by the likes of Andrew Jackson & Grant.
For sure, he will be seen as the one of the worst in the 20th Century, if not THE worst, altho LBJ ranks pretty close. Rawanda, Somolia, Bosnia, Kosovo, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Iraq, Afghanistan & N. Korea will seal his fate as a miserable failure.
Comment by Andy — 02.24.05 @ 12:47 pm
Sorry, La Shawn and group.
If the only “proof” that Bill Cosby had sex with another woman is her word, it didn’t happen.
Even a pay-off doesn’t mean much; a man in Cosby’s position may pay a woman just to leave him alone.
Comment by Frank Zavisca — 02.24.05 @ 1:37 pm
Cosby ADMITTED having sex with the woman who accused him of drugging her, Frank. He denied the drugging, not the sex.
Comment by La Shawn — 02.24.05 @ 1:47 pm
The old saying goes: “Do as I say not as I do” is still a thought to ponder. Since Coz spoke about personal responsibility it seems that he opened “Pandora’s box”. If you are in the public, there will always be a positive and negative story about your life. This goes with the status of being a star in the media spotlight. His message has truth, but the person delivering the message has become the focus rather than the former.
Comment by Andre — 02.25.05 @ 2:03 am
BLOG: Quick Links 2/25/05
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Trackback by Baseball Crank — 02.25.05 @ 8:20 am
“Goon-gate” Strikes College Basketball: The Downfall of John Chaney.
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Trackback by WILLisms.com — 02.27.05 @ 5:16 pm
I have loved Bill Cosby’s comedy since I was a kid. I remember my sister bringing one of his albums home 30 years ago (I was 11). I never laughed so hard. Today, I bought the same album for my 10 year old. We sat in the car and laughed our butts off! His personal life is his business. If he cheated on his wife, that is her problem to deal with. To be accused of a crime is one thing, to be guilty is a whole different ballgame.
Comment by wolfgang — 03.12.05 @ 5:01 pm