Miami lawmakers’ affair should not impact careers

Alhi Leconte/ Staff Writer

The first Florida legislative session of 2018 was filled with controversy that has overshadowed the political conversations that took place. The extramarital affair between two Miami lawmakers has garnered the most media coverage from the meeting. However, their sexual misconduct in their personal lives shouldn’t impact their careers.

Now deleted website, floresbraynonaffair.com, contained videos allegedly showing Southwest Miami-Dade Republican Anitere Flores staying the night at Miami Gardens Democrat Oscar Braynon’s apartment.

Florida International University and University of Florida alumna Flores is chair of the Florida Senate Banking and Insurance Committee, and Florida State University alumnus Braynon is the minority leader of the Florida Senate. Both senators are married with children.

There is currently a national dialogue about about sexual harassment in the workplace due to power and authority. This case is different and is of two consenting adults regrettably choosing to affect their personal lives, their marriages and their families. There was no power imbalance and their affair has not changed their politics or policies.

Flores and Braynon released a joint statement apologizing for their affair before the Senate session began so that “gossip and rumors” wouldn’t draw attention away from important work — battling Florida’s opioid epidemic and the ongoing destruction Hurricane Irma caused in September of last year.

Many people have called for the senators to resign, but that seems senseless since their relationship did not hinder their ability to do their jobs. Their credibility has been called into question, which is understandable, but there has not been proof of this affair altering the lives of anyone other than theirs and possibly their loved ones.

Flores and Braynon’s antics should not take away from what they do professionally and should not diminish their careers.

Current social media culture gives approving attention to funny commentary. Coming down harder on a woman for committing the same indiscretion as a man is not funny. The most insulting and offensive comments are being sent to Flores on Twitter. Awarding likes and retweets to sexist commentary is also not funny. They committed the same acts and should both receive the same level of criticism.

Flores and Braynon’s sexual misadventures may have unleashed chaos in their personal lives, but not enough to have to leave their jobs in public office. If there’s anyone in politics whose scandals should warrant any resignation, look no further than the President of the United States.

Public opinion has been political and personal. There were jokes of bipartisanship, referencing Flores and Braynon’s different political ideologies, and unfortunate jokes that were sexist. The public scrutiny these senators are receiving seems justified given their actions.

However, there has been a double standard in the public response to this scandal. Flores has sadly gotten stronger criticism because people find that shaming a woman is funnier than giving equal criticism to the pair.

 

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The opinions presented within this page do not represent the views of Panther Press Editorial Board. These views are separate from editorials and reflect individual perspectives of contributing writers and/or members of the University community.

 

Photo by Ben White on Unsplash.