Media Matters confirms student at center of Fox fueled Jennings controversy was of legal age

[FreeState]

http://mediamatters.org/blog/200910020020

EXCLUSIVE: Media Matters confirms student at center of Fox fueled Jennings controversy was of legal age
October 02, 2009 1:40 pm ET by Karl Frisch

For several days now conservatives in the media have been on a witch-hunt for Kevin Jennings, the U.S. Department of Education's director of the Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools. Led by Fox News, the right-wing media have claimed that 21 years ago, when Jennings was a 24-year-old teacher at Concord Academy in Massachusetts, he "cover up statutory rape" by not reporting to authorities a conversation he had with a student who told him about being involved with an "older man."

They have attacked Jennings with homophobic, anti-gay rhetoric, falsely accused him of covering up or encouraging "statutory rape" and asked for his resignation or firing.

Media Matters for America has exclusively obtained the Massachusetts drivers' license of the student confirming that at the time of the incident, he was at least sixteen years of age -- the legal age of consent in Massachusetts.

Jennings' 2006 memoir, Mama's Boy, Preachers Son, makes clear that he began teaching at Concord Academy, the student in questions school, in late August or September 1987.

[GMA]

1. Seriously?

Is that a defense?

[FreeState]

2. Hu? What do you mean?

Fox was saying he should have reported it because of statutory rape. He was of age, meaning its not rape. Two contenting adults its not rape.

Here is an update as well (he never even had sex in the first place!)

http://mediamatters.org/blog/200910020029

EXCLUSIVE: Statement from former student at center of Fox-fueled Jennings controversy
October 02, 2009 4:05 pm ET by Karl Frisch

The former student at the center of the Fox News fueled Jennings controversy has provided Media Matters for America with the following statement:

In 1988, I had taken a bus home for the weekend, and on the return trip met someone who was also gay. The next day, I had a conversation with Mr. Jennings about it. I had no sexual contact with anybody at the time, though I was entirely legally free to do so. I was a sixteen year-old going through something most of us have experienced: adolescence. I find it regrettable that the people who have the compassion and integrity to protect our nation's students are themselves in need of protection from homophobic smear attacks. Were it not for Mr. Jennings' courage and concern for my well-being at that time in my life, I doubt I'd be the proud gay man that I am today.

- Brewster

What do you think he should have done? Outed the kid to his parents because he met someone who was gay and didn't have sex with him?

[FreeState]

3. Kick ;)

[Emit]

4. FreeState

Thanks for posting.