OPINION
Premium

A Salacious Sex Scandal Rocks the Senate, and the Press Collectively Chooses to Avoid

Brad Slager
Brad Slager  |  Dec 18, 2023
The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Townhall.com.

This weekend, it was revealed that a junior staffer for Senator Ben Cardin was discovered to have had sex in the Senate hearing chambers, videotaped his tryst, and uploaded it to a gay chat site. After The Daily Caller broke this story, the media response has been…widespread, let's say.

12.18.23 

News Avoidance Syndrome – VARIOUS OUTLETS 

  • A Democrat was involved?! Well, you better run pieces on Trump and DeSantis and the Republicans and… 

To grasp the significance of the interpretational aspect of this story, let's flashback to September. That was when Rep. Lauren Boebert was caught getting a little grabby, a little handsy, with her male companion while seated in the audience of a stage production of "Beetlejuice" in Colorado. The press ran that story for days, replete with video and condemnation for her actions. Yet, with a major sex scandal of this caliber taking place inside the Capitol, we see mostly radio silence. 

Low Octane Gas Lighting – POLITICO 

Recommended

Politico's Headline Says the Quiet Part Out Loud About How Dems Feel About Hurricane Helene Matt Vespa
CNN’s Top Legal Analyst to Jack Smith: You Violated the Cardinal Rule of a Federal Prosecutor Matt Vespa
  • It is hard to go this soft on a story of this nature. 

Of the few outlets daring to probe this story, they are decidedly evasive. Politico looked at this sex scandal and, upon realizing it was a Democrat involved, did its best to diminish the thrust of the piece. They chose to say that the staffer was only "linked to" the sex tape despite being portrayed on camera. The man's guilt was rather evident as well, given once his name went public, it was only a matter of hours before Senator Cardin fired him. Even this had to be diluted by the outlet, as they only would say "leaves Senate" to describe the fighting following the reveal. 

Blue-Anon – THE INTERCEPT 

  • The more outlandish the theory, the more likely the distraction. 

Journalist Austin Ahlman looked over the disturbing case of a congressional staffer having graphic sex on camera while inside Senate chambers and came to a conclusion – I need to blame Republicans somehow! 

The desperation to clear Democratic culpability led to this wild conspiracy: Republicans did this as a case of revenge for the Israeli war with Hamas! How, you might ask? Well…allow us to try explaining Austin's position. 

It is said that this same staffer recently confronted Congressman Max Miller and shouted "Free Palestine" in response to Miller's support of Israel. As a result, The Daily Caller report, which ostensibly was sitting on this video to use IN CASE a junior staffer ever shouted something objectionable in the Rotunda or something. 

That someone of this lowly stature in D.C. is not likely to move the needle politically is of little consequence; clearly, the conservatives wanted retribution! 

Presentation Paradox – NBC NEWS 

  • There they go, NOTICING again! 

It is tough to come up (sorry) with the worst take on the Senate sexcapades, but NBC News must at least be a finalist. Just the fact that the staffer who was seen on tape – and issued no denial when addressing the story – was said to be "alleged" to have filmed his sex act is all the sign needed that they want to excuse this. To then declare this is alleged to have happened "by conservative outlets" takes things to a desperate level. He was fired by his Democratic boss, but sure, let's blame this on those on the right. 

Artisanally-Crafted Narratives – NBC NEWS 

  • Hmmm, you almost make it sound like this kind of content is unacceptable… Maybe there was a directive sent out by NBC News producers?

Content editor Ben Goggin came up with another neutered attempt at deflection, suggesting the possibility The Daily Caller was guilty of distributing gay porn or something akin to this. Now…if that is somehow considered a negative, would not the content – filmed in Senate chambers – ALSO be considered negative, Ben?!