Here's something else no one is considering --

This, this situation with Tara Reade, is very damaging to the professional prospects of young women.

I was flamed when I pointed this out before but...

1/

When Congress went into session last year, I posted that some friends on the Hill- Sr staffers, including a COS - told me at dinner how no one was hiring any single women under 30.

No, not because "men can't control themselves" but because they are considered a liability.

2/

They worry that someone will overreact and cause trouble for everybody.

People were furious at me, said I should have yelled at my friends, or try to get them fired... it was ridiculous, I should try to do dig it up.

3/

Of course it's terrible. It's tragic.

But it's not my fault, just like it's not their fault, or their bosses' fault. It's no one's fault. It's basic risk assessment.

I don't have it in me right now to do a whole thread about how compensating for MeToo hurts women, but...

4/

On top of everything else, this Tara Reade situation reinforces that fear-

the fear that some low-level staffer you don't even remember is going to pop up decades later with some crazy story and there won't be any way to defend yourself.

Because that's exactly what Tara did
5/

The Pence Rule- where he won't be alone with women or be around alcohol if his wife isn't there- was considered super creepy, even among GOP.

But after the Kavanaugh hearings, people started saying it was genius, and now it's pretty standard. It's for their own protection.

6/

If a staffer can't be alone with her boss, it seriously hinders her ability to be taken seriously, do her job, and advance in her field.

Maybe I'll pick this up later. I have countless stories of how this attitude affected me and my friends. It's probably a lot worse today.

7/