Sometimes a Snake is Just a Snake

[reflection]

I have to admit, when I first read about this, I was sufficiently creeped out.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/weigel/2013/03/01/sometimes_a_snake_is_just_a_snake.html

But it looks as if this guy might have just made an innocent joke. Is there anyone in Hewett's district that knows him? Either he has lost his leadership role in a tragic rush to judgment, or he has gotten off lightly and should be drummed out of office. I'm leaning toward the former, seeing as how he apologized to both the girl and her family, and they say they believe him to be sincere.

[hedgehog]

1. Sorry, but unless he actually had possesion of a legless reptile, what he said

to that girl was totally out of line.

[reflection]

3. Definitely out of line,

but it hinges on whether he was just being goofy/awkward or pervy. If the girl had said she was afraid of dogs, and he said "I've got a live dog under my desk" it would not have resonated so strongly.

[upaloopa]

2. It doesn't sound like an innocent joke to me.

He meant his penis I think and was talking about a 17 year old girl who said she use to be shy.
Unless I am wrong, that is sexual harassment even if the girl did not hear it. Far from a joke.
On edit she is a minor.

[arcane1]

4. It sounded to me more like "if you're shy, then I'm King Midas" or some such

A remark about her lack of shyness, in the context of the snake-filled discussion. A terribly poor choice of words, but not a sexual remark, IMHO.

[Voice for Peace]

6. I think you got it right.

[d_r]

5. based on that

dude didnt say6 anything wrong.

didnt mean penis.

good lord the girl was talking about used to be shy but after working at aquarium she wasnt. she was talking about working with snakes. vshe was testifying in front of committee. he was joking she wasnt shy anymore. if your shy then i got a snake under my xdesk. ot takesz a creepy person to think this was sexual.

[WinkyDink]

7. It would have been sexual had he said, "Then I've got a DEAD snake underneath...."

The original meaning, as quoted, is: "Because you are not being truthful with me, I'm going to say something also unbelievable."

Presumably Mr. Hewitt's metaphorical snake ain't dead.

[dipsydoodle]

8. Sounds to me like he was refering to

Percy the one eyed trouser snake.

[madinmaryland]

9. If it is on a plane, then i think it a bit more than just a snake...

[Initech]

11. Get these motherfucking snakes out of this motherfucking town hall meeting

[femmedem]

10. I live in his district and have met him many times.

Listening to the audio and how his remark followed what the student said, I don't believe he intended the sexual innuendo. Out of context (and especially how it was initially mis-reported as a "live snake&quot , it sounds awful. But I believe it was just a gaffe.

But there are reasons his female colleagues in Hartford were ready to believe the worst, and reasons this has had traction. A much more damning quote is in today's Courant, where he explains why he doesn't want female interns:

"Asked about the lawmakers' comments later Friday, Hewett denied he has a history or a problem. For example, he said, "I purposely will not have female interns. My intern now is a male. I want to keep it like that. I've had female interns in the past that sit in my office all day. I thought it was totally weird and I didn't want another.

"As a matter of fact, I went four, maybe six years without having an intern at all because of stuff like that. I have a male intern, the last two I've had were male."

Asked if he chose to only have males, he said, "I don't get to choose. That's why I was so leery about staying away from interns. I don't know what they're going to give me. They may give me a female, but I don't want a female intern. That may sound sexist but I really don't. That way that keeps me good and that keeps everybody else good."

http://www.courant.com/news/politics/hc-hewett-comments-0302-20130301,0,344858.story?page=2

I think politically he's a dead man walking.