this post was submitted on 07 Nov 2023
673 points (98.3% liked)

politics

18672 readers
2747 users here now

Welcome to the discussion of US Politics!

Rules:

  1. Post only links to articles, Title must fairly describe link contents. If your title differs from the site’s, it should only be to add context or be more descriptive. Do not post entire articles in the body or in the comments.
  2. Articles must be relevant to politics. Links must be to quality and original content. Articles should be worth reading. Clickbait, stub articles, and rehosted or stolen content are not allowed. Check your source for Reliability and Bias here.
  3. Be civil, No violations of TOS. It’s OK to say the subject of an article is behaving like a (pejorative, pejorative). It’s NOT OK to say another USER is (pejorative). Strong language is fine, just not directed at other members. Engage in good-faith and with respect! This includes accusing another user of being a bot or paid actor. Trolling is uncivil and is grounds for removal and/or a community ban.
  4. No memes, trolling, or low-effort comments. Reposts, misinformation, off-topic, trolling, or offensive.
  5. Vote based on comment quality, not agreement. This community aims to foster discussion; please reward people for putting effort into articulating their viewpoint, even if you disagree with it.
  6. No hate speech, slurs, celebrating death, advocating violence, or abusive language. This will result in a ban. Usernames containing racist, or inappropriate slurs will be banned without warning

We ask that the users report any comment or post that violate the rules, to use critical thinking when reading, posting or commenting. Users that post off-topic spam, advocate violence, have multiple comments or posts removed, weaponize reports or violate the code of conduct will be banned.

All posts and comments will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. This means that some content that violates the rules may be allowed, while other content that does not violate the rules may be removed. The moderators retain the right to remove any content and ban users.

That's all the rules!

Civic Links

Register To Vote

Citizenship Resource Center

Congressional Awards Program

Federal Government Agencies

Library of Congress Legislative Resources

The White House

U.S. House of Representatives

U.S. Senate

Partnered Communities:

News

World News

Business News

Political Discussion

Ask Politics

Military News

Global Politics

Moderate Politics

Progressive Politics

UK Politics

Canadian Politics

Australian Politics

New Zealand Politics

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
 

A Texas Republican city council candidate is facing felony child pornography charges after being arrested just hours before the elections.

Brad Benson, a candidate for Place #4 on the city council of Granbury, located just southwest of Fort Worth, was arrested on November 6. "I can confirm he was arrested by the District Attorney's Office yesterday and charged with two felony child pornography charges, he should have a bond set today," Hood County Sheriff Roger Deeds told Newsweek.

The Republican Party of Hood County (RPHC) withdrew its support for Benson after more details about the charges emerged.

top 50 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] [email protected] 208 points 9 months ago (3 children)

Yet another not a drag queen caught

[–] [email protected] 56 points 9 months ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 17 points 9 months ago

He’s a gay man, I’m sure the right will use this to fuel their bullshit argument that gay people are pedos.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (2 children)

They are just rlly hard to catch, they run rlly fast /s

load more comments (2 replies)
[–] [email protected] 114 points 9 months ago (3 children)

Always a Republican/Conservative. I wonder what the odds are this guy still wins.

[–] [email protected] 34 points 9 months ago (1 children)

This will probable earn him even more votes.

[–] [email protected] 26 points 9 months ago (1 children)

"Sounds like leftist spin. He just loves the children!" - Avg. Texan Republican voter.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 9 months ago

We all prefer he "love the children" from behind bars under 24/7 armed guard.

[–] [email protected] 94 points 9 months ago (4 children)

The Republican Party of Hood County (RPHC) withdrew its support for Benson after more details about the charges emerged.

Honestly, this is the most shocking part

[–] [email protected] 27 points 9 months ago (1 children)

You know they had to think about it for a while, they didn't just make that call immediately

[–] [email protected] 20 points 9 months ago

That’s what they said. “After more details emerged”.

As in the initial story came out, RPHC just said “now hold on there, this may not be that bad. Let’s just see how it plays out”.

load more comments (2 replies)
[–] [email protected] 75 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (3 children)

Repub plot lines getting repetitive AF. Where’s that guy that posts that long-ass list of republican perverts?

[–] [email protected] 13 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Did they make it over to Lemmy? If not, someone may have to take up the mantle.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 9 months ago

Coulda swore I’ve seen him here somewhere.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 9 months ago (1 children)
load more comments (1 replies)
load more comments (1 replies)
[–] [email protected] 54 points 9 months ago

Wait is this one of those gay democrat drag queens?

[–] [email protected] 40 points 9 months ago (2 children)

A GOP member, a Catholic priest, and a boy scout walk into a bar. I mean daycare.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 9 months ago

A GOP member, priest, and serial child rapist walks into a bar. He sits down and says "One drink please. "

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] [email protected] 36 points 9 months ago (4 children)

His website: https://www.bradbenson.org/about

I’m sure the right will basically blame this on him being a gay man.

I am not your ordinary political candidate, however. Besides being a long time Granbury resident and business owner, I’m a genuine conservative, both fiscally and ideologically. That said, I am also a gay man with a partner of nearly 10 years. He’s as conservative as I am—both of us believing that private lives should remain private. I strongly believe that sexuality is a topic that should be handled within your own family, not in public schools or flaunted in parades.

I’m a graduate of Tarleton State University; My Bachelors degree is in Management with a Masters of Public Administration currently in process at Tarleton. I never expected to “need” a college degree in life, but as I’ve aged, I have found it does open doors. Going back to college to work on my masters has been eye opening and challenging, but it’s a personal goal that I intend to complete.

I regularly attend Stonewater Church in Granbury and participate in small groups. A leap of faith by both the Bensons and the Whites back in about 2004 made our movie theater Stonewater’s first real home, supercharged the church’s growth, and both still have a strong "synergy" with each other today!

Away from the fire department, church, and work, my interests and hobbies include the lake (recently having tried wake surfing), hunting, fishing, spending time with my Labrador Brody, and movies (of course!) I am a commercial pilot and flight instructor and spent many past summers flying small planes around Alaska. I have many wild tales and a few close calls from those adventurous times--flying hunters, miners, and tourists around the Last Frontier and the highest mountain on the continent: Denali.

[–] funkless_eck 25 points 9 months ago (2 children)

I am a gay man

sexuality shouldn't be flaunted in parades

just on websites?

come on man, if a "parade" is flaunting, so is a fucking website. have some fucking consistency in your ass backwards shit for brains beliefs

[–] [email protected] 10 points 9 months ago (1 children)

First of all, fuck that guy.

But a parade is pretty much the definition of flaunting. It's intentionally in your face and hard to ignore, unlike a web site. It's entirely justified flaunting IMHO, and also not what homophobes are generally referring to when they accuse LGBT+ people of flaunting their sexuality, but I don't see what's gained by saying it's not flaunting.

[–] funkless_eck 10 points 9 months ago

I'd argue that writing something unencrypted and ungated on a website for the purpose of someone else to read meets a certain definition of "flaunt."

It's a different kind, but also - unless you carry a sign with your name on it, being in a parade is anonymous, this was "flaunted" on a site directly related to this person and their political career, so the expectation is for it to be publicly available and to be read by others by the author - again, a different but valid definition of "flaunt."

[–] [email protected] 8 points 9 months ago

I'm sure he is equally disgusted by the displays of heterosexuality in most parades, or maybe he is blind to that because that's "normal".

[–] [email protected] 22 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I strongly believe that sexuality is a topic that should be handled within your own family, not in public schools or flaunted in parades.

Really? Really??

[–] [email protected] 7 points 9 months ago (1 children)

No worries, I’m sure he handled all the CSAM in the privacy of his own home. That counts, right? /s

[–] [email protected] 6 points 9 months ago

As long as there is parental supervision. /S

[–] [email protected] 12 points 9 months ago

Sure. When it's just another hetero Republican guy with a beard who commits a crime, they completely ignore it. If they can score points because someone who commits a crime is gay, liberal or trans, they'll act as if those are the only people who ever commit whatever crime.

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] [email protected] 30 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

"Republican charged with" always is followed one or more of the following

  • election fraud
  • Fraud
  • Child pornography
  • child rape, preferably their own
  • child abuse in general
  • sexual misconduct
  • drug abuse
  • ...

I should start a bingo card

[–] [email protected] 13 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

Indecent exposure and Trafficking a minor

Are two more that come to mind

[–] [email protected] 23 points 9 months ago (1 children)

arrested just hours before the elections

?? But Trumpie said you CAN'T get prosecuted for anything when you're running for office! Election Interference!!

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] [email protected] 20 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Average Republican Politician

[–] [email protected] 8 points 9 months ago (1 children)

They are pretty obsessed with kids genetalia.

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] [email protected] 18 points 9 months ago

republican voters be like: that cinches it. he's got my vote

[–] [email protected] 17 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Looks like the qtards have studiously been looking everywhere but inside their own house.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 9 months ago

Wonder who owns a pizza parlor with a basement, we should probably check them out just to be safe.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 9 months ago

At this point, every republican should already be on a watch list.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 9 months ago (1 children)

HeS aNtIfA!- Jim Bob Smith, Slack-jawed yokel

[–] [email protected] 17 points 9 months ago

Even as dumb as many of the base are, I still think it is very telling that the right has made being, ahem, against fascism a bad thing.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 9 months ago

surprise! repressed guy with no empathy does crimes against small people.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 9 months ago

Very good to see. No place for that in politics.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 9 months ago

This is the best summary I could come up with:


A Texas Republican city council candidate is facing felony child pornography charges after being arrested just hours before the elections.

"The executive committee has conferred, spoken with law enforcement, confirmed more substantial information, and unanimously withdraws their support for Mr. Benson," the statement added.

"We sincerely hope that the grace and peace of our merciful God comes upon all the children and families involved and that healing, repentance, and restoration will be seen in personal lives, along with our beloved community."

According to the United States Sentencing Commission (USSC), in 2022 there were 41 child pornography offenders in the Northern District of Texas where Granbury is located.

"I pray for all the children who may have been hurt as a result of Brad Benson's actions if true," said Charles Beard, an army veteran who is standing for Place 4 on the city council.

Rhonda Williams, who is standing in the separate November 7 Granbury ISD school board election, said of the allegations: "As a mom and grandmother, my heart is broken for all the innocent children hurt by this, if the charges are true.


The original article contains 635 words, the summary contains 184 words. Saved 71%. I'm a bot and I'm open source!

load more comments
view more: next ›