Minn. state Rep. Kerry Gauthier is being urged to end his re-election bid following a sex scandal involving a 17-year-old boy.
Police reports say that Gauthier, 56, had used Craigslist to arrange a meeting at a Duluth-area rest stop with the boy on July 22. The two reportedly engaged in oral sex behind a pavilion at the rest stop. The age of consent in Minnesota is 16, and no charges were filed in the incident. However, Democrat party leaders in the state, including House minority leader Paul Thissen and party chair Ken Martin, are urging Gauthier to end his re-election campaign.
Let us not forget that just last week @kenmartin73 "didn't want to jump to conclusions" http://t.co/Cb6TBVTU What did he find out? #gauthier
— Andy Aplikowski ??? (@AAARF) August 20, 2012
The escalation of calls for Gauthier’s resignation comes on a day when U.S. Rep. Todd Akin has dominated national headlines with his televised comments on “legitimate rape.” Reports of Gauthier’s scandal were released by police last week but have barely made it past local media outlets. Is the difference in coverage due to the fact that Gauthier is merely a state representative?
https://twitter.com/JustAnotherMo/status/237694390942969857
https://twitter.com/kfcochran/status/237697716375916544
Minnesota male Democrat Kerry Gauthier reportedly had sexual encounter with 17 year old boy at rest stop – media silent http://t.co/yTAEWbAq
— Palmer (@Jonijam) August 20, 2012
And the Obama campaign has still not weighed in on Kerry Gauthier getting caught tooting a 17yo at a freeway rest stop. What does it mean?
— Crosspatch (@VictorB123) August 20, 2012
What time will Kerry Gauthier be on Piers Morgan tonight?
— Cameron Gray (@Cameron_Gray) August 20, 2012
https://twitter.com/rovibe71/status/237710053879209984
http://t.co/44GETZeA So, where is the media on this? Not worse than skinny-dipping in the Sea of Galilee? Double standard anyone? #ofcourse
— Mare (@broodcow) August 21, 2012
https://twitter.com/STU_GBP/status/237724459673481216
Despite near-universal outrage over Akin’s comments, including from Mitt Romney, liberals have used Akin as a broad brush to paint all conservatives.
"The real positions of the Republican party have now been unveiled." @janschakowsky
on the Republican party after @ToddAkin's comments.— Piers Morgan Live (@PiersMorganLive) August 21, 2012
Is Gauthier, therefore, representative of all Democrats? And will the national media agonize over that question at length?
Ok, you want to associate Akin's words with the entire GOP? Fine, lefties, you get associated with Kerry Gauthier. #liblogic
— Greg (@senatorgreg) August 20, 2012
Join the conversation as a VIP Member