George Galloway wades into Julian Assange row – and creates a storm

The Guardian ^ | 08/21/2012 | Robert Booth

[SeekAndFind]

Anti-rape campaigners have accused George Galloway of a "deeply disturbing and disappointing" attitude towards sexual violence after he claimed a rape allegation levelled at the WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange had no basis because having sex with a woman when she is asleep is not rape.

In an extraordinary and graphic speech made through a weekly online video broadcast called Good Night with George Galloway, the Respect party MP for Bradford West addressed allegations of rape, sexual molestation and unlawful coercion made by two women – known as woman A and woman B – Assange met on a visit to Stockholm in August 2010, including having sex with one of them while she was asleep. Assange strongly denies the allegations.

"Even taken at its worst, if the allegations made by these two women were true, 100% true, and even if a camera in the room captured them, they don't constitute rape," Galloway said. "At least not rape as anyone with any sense can possibly recognise it. And somebody has to say this.

"Woman A met Julian Assange, invited him back to her flat, gave him dinner, went to bed with him, had consensual sex with him, claims that she woke up to him having sex with her again. This is something which can happen, you know. I mean, not everybody needs to be asked prior to each insertion."

Lawyers and anti-rape campaigners said Galloway was wrong and the law is clear that consent is required every time someone has sex.

Galloway said he was speaking out because "a reign of intellectual terror has descended in Britain" on this issue and he believed the sexual assault claims were part of a "setup" intended to deliver Assange into the hands of the US authorities angered at his publication of state secrets.

[trapped_in_LA]

Finally someone speaks some common sense, I expect him to be promptly drawn and quartered for such an offense in short order.

[Oberon]

I have been in that position, lo these many years ago. Fortunately I was not accused of rape, although I was thanked.

[wideawake]

(1) There are morons on this board supporting Galloway's line of "reasoning" - which is that if a woman gives you permission to sleep with her once, it is an unlimited ticket to further intercourse whether or not she is willing or even conscious.

That mindset is beneath contempt. It is not "politically incorrect", it is not "conservative" - it is ungentlemanly and morally bankrupt.

(2) It is not up to Julian Assange to decide whether or not he should be questioned. A woman lodged a complaint and it needs to be investigated.

(3) Assange is not a journalist, a freedom-fighter or a hero. He is a thief and a grifter on the make.

(4) His alliance with the government of Ecuador - a country that imprisons and harasses journalists for daring to publish commentary critical of the government - shows his true colors.

(5) Assange ceaselessly publicizes his case and solicits donations for his defense - yet he rarely talks about Bradley Manning, even though Manning believed his nonsense and will die in prison for it. Assange has raised multiple millions of dollars on the back of Manning's crime and has not contributed one dollar of it to manning's legal defense.

(6) Wikileaks has leaked basically one thing of any notoriety - Manning's stolen material. Wikileaks as a concept and as a reality is a complete joke and a scam for Assange to hoodwink true believers.

[wideawake]

The fact that you consider this nonsense to be “common sense” is sickening.

[SnakeDoctor]

I would agree only insofar as there are situations where I believe consent is presumed unless specifically withdrawn.

For instance — in most marriages, there is a state of standing consent. There are lots things you can do to your spouse (flash, goose, grope, wake-up call, etc.) that would easily be assault or rape if done to anyone else. They’re not only not-assault when done to your spouse, they’re usually called “spicing things up”.

I disagree completely that this is one of those cases. Consent can’t be presumed or implied with sleeping strangers. Assange raped this girl.

SnakeDoc

[Buckeye McFrog]

in related news, George Galloway throws his hat into the ring for a Missouri Senate seat...

[Da Coyote]

The Brits have managed to bring someone to the forefront that is even more stupid than Biden.

However, Slow Joe is at least likeable.

Gallaway is - if this is possible - even more disgusting than is the Obamadork.

[edcoil]

“Anti-rape campaigners”

Isn’t that normal society?

Are there any pro-rape campaigners?

[Buckeye McFrog]

Are there any pro-rape campaigners?

NAMBLA? The 90's era Clinton Enablers?

[Oztrich Boy]

Actually, it;s more amusing in that that post may be the first time Galloway has been accused of speaking common sense.

Basically he hates America and will supoport any opponent of America

[Vinnie]

Recalling Galloway’s political positions in the past, I’m sure he approves sex with women up to 4 hrs. after her death also.
He’s a Muzzie lovin’, America hating ba@#ard.

[trapped_in_LA]

“The fact that you consider this nonsense to be “common sense” is sickening.”

How so? Both actors are grossly immoral in their behavior of “hooking up” for a one night stand. Why would you not assume implied consent after spending the night doing the “wild thing”. I don’t see why him waking up and continuing where they both left off that night as any big deal, and if she doesn’t want to continue she’ll let him know. No big deal, not like she hasn’t already done it with him. Kind of a no harm no foul and I don’t see where the “harm” is in what was alleged to have occurred.