Petraeus Scandal Widens, And The Mistress-Shaming Begins

Why The Women Of The Petraeus Scandal Are Getting Roasted
Jill Kelley leaves her home Monday, Nov 12, 2012 in Tampa, Fla. Kelley is identified as the woman who allegedly received harassing emails from Gen. David Petraeus' paramour, Paula Broadwell. She serves as an unpaid social liaison to MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, where the military's Central Command and Special Operations Command are located. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Jill Kelley leaves her home Monday, Nov 12, 2012 in Tampa, Fla. Kelley is identified as the woman who allegedly received harassing emails from Gen. David Petraeus' paramour, Paula Broadwell. She serves as an unpaid social liaison to MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, where the military's Central Command and Special Operations Command are located. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

This Reuters article does something pretty annoying in my view. It tries to piecemeal a triangle between Paula Broadwell, Jill Kelley and Holly Petraeus, struggling to cobble a narrative arc ultimately leading us down the path to absolve David Petraeus as if Guido Anselmi in Felini’s 8 1/2.

Somehow, this episode of marital infidelity all became Broadwell’s fault. The former leader of the Iraq and Afghanistan command and CIA Director was so overcome, so seduced by Broadwell’s feminine wiles. That she destroyed the career of a great man. A great military mind that led our troops who was easily beguiled by flesh. That’s the narrative we want to go with? Are you serious, America? And Kate Sheppard pointed out yesterday, subtle and not so subtle, slut shaming rhetoric is infused in the reporting of this story:

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