[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 142 (Wednesday, September 13, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H8890]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


            DOUBLE STANDARD APPLIED TO PEOPLE IN GOVERNMENT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Burton] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, an unfortunate incident occurred 
this past week. A distinguished Member of the other body resigned from 
the Congress of the United States because of alleged sexual 
improprieties and advances toward members of the staff of the Congress 
of the United States. I think people who watched what happened in the 
news media over the past year to 2 years agree that that was the right 
thing for him to do, to resign.
  Mr. Speaker, one of the things that concerns me is that other cases 
of this kind have occurred in the past and nothing has been done about 
them. For instance, a former Governor of the State of Arkansas 
allegedly had a young State employee come up to his hotel room and not 
only made sexual advances, but they were very, very overt sexual 
advances. That gentleman has now advanced to a very high office in this 
land, and there has been almost no investigation. The lady in question 
has asked that her case be taken to court and because of this 
gentleman's position in our Government, she cannot even get a court 
case. That is not the only instance that happened with this individual.
  So I would just like to say to my friends in the media, and I think 
they probably know to whom I am referring, Mr. Packwood resigned, he 
should have resigned, he did something that should not have been done, 
obviously. But why, I ask, are we excusing or ignoring similar 
behavior?


                announcement by the speaker pro tempore

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman is reminded not to make 
remarks about particular Members of the Senate.
  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. I stand corrected. But I would just like to 
ask the question, why is there this double standard? This double 
standard should not occur. People who are held to a high standard in 
one body of this government should not be singled out when people in 
other areas of our Government are able to get away with these things, 
or at least not be allowed, the people who accuse them, to have their 
day in court or have hearings on the alleged improprieties.
  The media in this country in my opinion should show some balance. No 
one, regardless of what party they serve, no one, regardless of what 
branch of government they serve, should be allowed to get away with 
these alleged sexual improprieties, and yet it is obvious to me, and I 
think to other Members of this body, that a double standard does exist.


                announcement by the speaker pro tempore

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman is also reminded that he is 
not to make personal references to the President as well.
  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. I did not make any reference to the President, 
I do not believe, did I?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Any obvious references to the person are not 
to be made.
  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. I would ask for you to read the Record then 
and show me the obvious reference.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman made references that could 
only apply to the President.
  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. I think that if you check, you would find that 
I did not make any direct reference to the President.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair will check the Record.
  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Be that as it may, Mr. Speaker, I think there 
is a double standard and it should be reviewed.


                          ____________________