If there is one piece of criticism to be lobbed against Jack Conway, it's that he underplayed the hazing issue.
Hazing kills.
In 1983, hazing was considered part of a "harmless" joining ritual. The senseless death tolls made hazing practices illegal in 44 states. Baylor enacted anti-hazing policies in accordance with Texas law around 2000; about 17 years after Rand Paul was a student at Baylor. At least 1 college student has died every year related to hazing since 1970. Baylor has had more than their share of hazing deaths.
The woman involved in the incident says it's been blown out of proportion. She also says that incident ended her relationship with Rand Paul. This wasn't a benign "prank". There's more to the story or she wouldn't have said:
"I just know I never saw Randy after that—for understandable reasons, I think."
She also says the depictions of the aqua Buddha are accurate.
Geez 'O Pete!
I don't care if Paul's behavior was "legal" in 1983; I question the wisdom of mixing pot, blindfolds, bondage and a creek with running water! ....and so should every voter in Kentucky.
Most state's anti-hazing laws don't allow for consent. In other words, those subjected to the hazing cannot consent to it, because the "consent" is given under duress. Hazing is about power and humiliation. Hazing is a form of bullying. After every hazing death there's usually a law suit with a sad, but big pay day at the end. It's not about the money. It's about getting the attention of the schools and school organizations; to get them to stop students from hazing.
Hazing is Hazardous to Your Mental Health
This woman is a clinical psychologist and wants to remain anonymous, but she down plays her hazing experience. She knows why hazing is severely restricted today. It's a mental health issue.
Silly Prank? Normal Behavior?
As a health care professional, I find a clinical psychologist who would down play the hazing puzzling. I also find her playing up Rand Paul's association with NoZe brotherhood, a group with a documented history of mocking Christianity more puzzling. Then again, if we're to accept Rand Paul as a "devout" Christian; do we accept his documented and undenied behavior that he bound and blindfolded a woman, tried to drug her and then took her to a creek with running water to mockingly worship a "false god"? How is that an example of Christian behavior? WWJD?
Rand Paul is Not a Victim
Rand Paul can't have it both ways. He can't claim his past behavior was a meaningless prank and then claim he's continuously had a devout Christian faith today. He can't dismiss his obnoxious behavior 27 years ago as "harmless" and then claim being a victim today. The Debate between Jack Conway and Rand Paul had Paul playing the "poor victim", but that's bullcrap. He's not the victim. He was the bully in the hazing incident. He mocked his religion during that incident. If it was a stupid prank done in his salad years, then he should admit it and admit to regretting his actions. If he's a "devout" Chistian, then he needs to admit he toyed with his faith during his college years. Many Christians go through years of not taking their faith seriously. His "devoutness" now without contrition of his past "unchristian" behavior reminds me of a child crying crocodile tears.
Chris Matthews Attacks Jack Conway
I was disgusted with Tweety yesterday while he grilled Jack Conway over this recent ad. It never occurred to Chris Matthews, that hazing is dangerous. It went right over Tweety's head that blindfolding someone, tying someone up, trying (unsuccessfully) to get them to smoke pot; then, in that condition, taking them to a flowing creek is pretty stupid. Matthews tried to dismiss this as something "everyone does while in college". Well, no, Chris, not everyone is that stupid. Matthews actually defended Rand Paul's behavior as "harmless" and normal. It wasn't that harmless.
"I just know I never saw Randy after that—for understandable reasons, I think."
Jack Conway defended himself well, he kept the focus on Paul's actions and poor judgment aside from this incident, but he didn't drill down on the hazing. Hazing is wrong and illegal. That incident would not be considered acceptable at most universities.
The point lost on Matthews was that what happened in Baylor wasn't going to stay in Baylor. Rand Paul's defensiveness, denials, hedging and counter attacks tells us how he handles problems. (Remember, Senator Byrd acknowledged his previous racism as wrong.) Rand Paul isn't admitting to any regrets. He's crying "foul". That speaks to his judgment and (lack of) character; his inability to accept responsibility for his past behavior. This is a good indicator of how he'll behave as a United States Senator. Kentucky will do better with Jack Conway as U.S. Senator.