Al Gore has been accused of sexual assault. He has not been charged with anything at this stage, and may or may not be in the future. But a Portland woman has accused him of sexual assault, and according to the National Enquirer, it’s possible two other women are making similar accusations. Gore recently met with Portland police in regard to the allegations.

From CBS News:

Portland police questioned former U.S. Vice President Al Gore in San Francisco Thursday regarding renewed allegations that he sexually assaulted massage therapist Molly Hagerty in 2006, according to TV station KATU.

This sentence accurately and clearly states the situation (note: Hagerty has gone public with her name). Others are using the term “sexual abuse” rather than or along with sexual assault.

Now let’s see how many ways Lloyd Grove of The Daily Beast can translate the terms “sexual assault” or “sexual abuse” in a story about how Gore is handling the allegations from a PR stand point:

“behaved inappropriately”

“the problem”

“the unpleasantness”

“inappropriate touching”

“seamy sexual allegations that rival those once leveled at his former boss, Bill Clinton”

“the toxic fallout polluting his once-gleaming image”

“the ugly charges”

“latest public crucible”

“made unwanted sexual advances”

“take liberties during massage”

“the problems of a former vice president”

The entire article is in the same joking manner, except for the part where Groves describes that “Gore allegedly tried to force her hand down his crotch and repeatedly touched her sexually during a three-hour session.”

But that still doesn’t stop Grove from comparing the alleged sexual assault charges against Gore as being the equal to Bill Clinton’s affair with Monica Lewinsky and Eliot Spitzer’s trysts with prostitutes.

Again, Al Gore has been accused of sexual assault. But you wouldn’t know that if you read Grove’s story. He never uses the term. While there is obviously controversy around said allegations, the allegations have been made. And the allegations are – say it with me Lloyd – that Gore committed sexual assault. There’s no reason to do cartwheels trying to avoid using the term.

–WKW

Crossposted at William K. Wolfrum Chronicles