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Long after smear has been discredited, Fox News still claiming student in Jennings controversy was 15

October 06, 2009 7:54 pm ET

From the October 6 edition of Fox News' Special Report with Bret Baier:

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Previously:

Fox News tirelessly advanced false accusation that Jennings covered up "statutory rape"

Byron York runs with discredited Fox smear, falsely asserts that student Jennings counseled was 15

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    • Author by mmfa.fan (October 06, 2009 8:04 pm ET)
         
      Next they'll be comparing him to Hitler.
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    • Author by DAWUSS (October 06, 2009 8:07 pm ET)
      1  
      They're trying to convince themselves the lie is true.
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    • Author by dimes (October 06, 2009 10:34 pm ET)
      1  
      By continuing to air false information that's detrimental to both the teacher and the former student, doesn't Fox open itself to defamation suits from either or both?
      Report Abuse
      • Author by fairliberal (October 07, 2009 12:19 am ET)
          5
        Of course not, they are only repeating what Jennings himself has said. And nothing to the contrary has been proven, a blocked out driver's license and an anonymous "statement" prove nothing. That "proof" would never be accepted by the left if the issue involved a conservative, never in a million years.

        But this is a false issue, Jennings did nothing wrong, even if the kid was only 15.

        But , why if Brewster is grateful to Jennings for helping him become "the proud gay man" he is today, why won't he come foward publicly and return the favor and help out the guy who helped him? I know I would.
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        • Author by Lane (October 07, 2009 6:36 am ET)
             
          a blocked out driver's license and an anonymous "statement" prove nothing.



          I bet you also thought it was a fantastic idea for FOX to air the Jersey school children without their faces blurred.
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          • Author by fairliberal (October 07, 2009 4:02 pm ET)
              2
            What does that have to do with anything? Is "Brewster" still an underage school child. There is no comparison at all. In fact , the argument is that he wasn't even underage then.

            But what is interesting is that while I have stated quite clearly that Jennings did nothing wrong in my opinion, that is lost on the progressive thinkers here. They still want to take issue with my disputing their acceptance of the so called "proof". Proof they would never accept if the situation were reversed. Can you imagine what would have been said if Pres Bush had presented a statement from "Sgt Brewster" that supported the fact that he did attend his meetings. A statement with no individual present. The left would have had a field day.
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            • Author by tisnsc9523 (October 07, 2009 5:56 pm ET)
                 
              No one is considering the fact that Jennings himself says the kid was 15, and it is very possible that the story took place in 1987 - BEFORE he turned 16 that summer. According to the bio on his website, he graduated college in 1985 and began teaching high school after that. That means he would have been teaching the 1986-1987 school year. Plus, the kids' story doesn't jive, either, since he says the year was 1988, not 1987.
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        • Author by bintx (October 07, 2009 10:33 am ET)
          1  
          Fairliberal, you believe the BS that you are fed on Fox with no proof EVER. You buy it hook, line and sinker WITHOUT QUESTION.

          BTW, Brewster had a dialogue with a Fox employee . . . guess you missed that one, huh?
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          • Author by carlh (October 07, 2009 10:58 am ET)
               
            Yeah how often do the Fox talking heads say "from an ANONYMOUS SOURCE" and go on blathering as if it were written in stone from on high?
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        • Author by mmfa.fan (October 07, 2009 1:41 pm ET)
             
          a blocked out driver's license and an anonymous "statement" prove nothing.


          Sounds like what birther G. Gordon Liddy said about Obama's birth certificate, which had to be partially redacted for TV viewing. Talk about clutching at straws.

          p.s. Why the Orwellian username?
          Report Abuse
    • Author by Bud (October 06, 2009 10:45 pm ET)
        3
      Statutory Rape or not, what's a high school counselor doing arranging sex for students of any age? Somehow 15 vs 16 makes it ok?
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      • Author by bintx (October 07, 2009 10:36 am ET)
        2  
        What are you talking about? Jennings was a counselor [age 24 at the time]. . . Brewster came to him for advice regarding a situation Brewster had found himself in. All Jennings did was advise the young man to use a condom if he decided to put himself in the situation again. Jennings, upon reflection and after years of experience, simply questioned if he should have given Brewster better advice.

        Boy, you need to find better sources of information and news.
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        • Author by tisnsc9523 (October 07, 2009 5:59 pm ET)
             
          He should have delved a little further. I mean, a kid that young trolling for sex in bathrooms in the age of AIDS - come on, that's not too good and an indication there is something wrong. What would you say to a young girl who was sleeping around? Hope you use a condom to be safe? No, you would want to talk with her to find out what's going on in her life, is there something she wants to talk about, etc.

          I just cannot believe that people seem to find it OK that he really did nothing more than talk about the issue of safe sex.
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      • Author by mmfa.fan (October 07, 2009 2:58 pm ET)
        1  
        He never "arranged" anything, that's a complete distortion.
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    • Author by tisnsc9523 (October 07, 2009 5:48 pm ET)
         
      OK, everyone is assuming the kid was 16 at the time. Let's look at the facts. His birthdate - according to the driver's license media matters had a few days ago - shows a birthdate in July 1971. Jennings said it happened in 1987. The school year spanning 1986 to 1987 would have ended BEFORE the kid turned 16. Most sophomores start out at age 15 and end the school year at 16. Therefore, it is entirely possible that the kid really WAS only 15 during the school year this happened. Even the kids' story doesn't jive. Here is what he supposedly said; it was on Media Matters on 10/2:

      "Since I was of legal consent at the time, the fifteen-minute conversation I had with Mr. Jennings twenty-one years ago is of nobody's concern but his and mine. However, since the Republican noise machine is so concerned about my "well-being" and that of America's students, they'll be relieved to know that I was not "inducted" into homosexuality, assaulted, raped, or sold into sexual slavery.

      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."

      The problem with his story? Jennings said it was 1987, and based on the kids' birthday, he would not have been 16 in 1988. This statement also sounds like a prepared press statement. Furthermore, Jennings himself said the kid was 15 so why suddenly are you telling Mr. Jennings he is wrong?

      And besides, what difference does it make if the kid was 16? Jennings did nothing in response to this report. Tell me, the next time a young woman reports having sex with an older man, are you liberals all going to give him a pass on the basis that 16 is old enough? In fact, I find it rather hypocritical that the libs basically drove the Florida Congressman out of office for what they feel were riske e-mails with an intern older than the kid in this story. I am trying to figure out your moral compass when you find Jennings behavior OK.

      You will go to any length to protect and prop up Obama and anything associated with him. I suppose you don't find a problem with his czar who believes animals have rights and should be able to sue?

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