News site spies naughty pics on lawmaker's laptop
Summary
A Florida news site posted a video online in which a state senator in a Senate hearing definitely has something open on his laptop that involves partially unclothed women.
Topics
A Florida news and politics site called Sunshine State News has posted a video online in which a state senator in a Senate hearing definitely has something open on his laptop that involves partially unclothed women.
"On Thursday morning, Sunshine State News captured exclusive video of Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, looking at pornographic material on his state-issued computer on the Senate floor," the site explained breathlessly.
Bennett claimed to Sunshine State News that it was a link sent in an e-mail that unexpectedly popped up, catching him off guard. "I was just sitting there, bored as they were debating the abortion bill," Bennett told the news outlet. (Uh, great.) "I opened it up and said, 'Holy (expletive)! What's on my screen?' and clicked away from it right away."
For more on this story, read News site spies naughty pics on lawmaker's laptop on CNET News.
Talkback Most Recent of 18 Talkback(s)
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duh
that he just clicked on a random link in an email shows how much of an idiot he really is. but really, how stupid does he think we are to think that the public would buy a lame excuse like that?!
Mike Guerdon4th May 2010 -
Younger folks should be sitting in Washington
The old generation is screwing (us / up) too much.
TxM2xTx4th May 2010 -
Yeah, right ... Everybody Gets Older but Do They Get Wiser?
@TxM2xTx
Are you a robot or a "smart" toaster? Just wanted to know how you have stopped aging and forsaken critical thought. Besides that this rep is in FL. I'm yanking your chain a bit but you have to expand your research on what factors have put our nation into such a moral crisis that creates such instability and lack of confidence. Too me there are significant matters about this rep. He is disengaged from the legislative process by ignoring debate and not participating while on the taxpayer's dole (but probably is in other's pockets anyway). Possibly using a personal or non-controlled PC that could compromise public matters and privacy where the information could be distributed or carried along should he leave office. There are other concerns too but it is the proliferation of these types of reps and bureaucrats that is not just finanically bankrupting every level of administration but the moral conduct too. Wonder how FL residents will accept this?
It isn't age but personal development that determines what they choose to become. That person has to decide what they must accept or change from all they are personally taught and experience as well as the information provided by others. It's called trust. This man now is under scrutiny merely from this. He may have been a young rep upon being elected or since his time on the public dole but what has he become and what type of person will replace him?
donnydo77@...27th May 2010 -
Looks more like art than porn
Based on what I can see in this picture (Ctrl + to
magnify), this looks to me like a line of very white,
very chubby women, the likes of which I have seen hanging
in art museums. I'd hardly call it "pornographic", but I
guess everyone has their own definition of that term.
Is it appropriate to be looking at ART during an abortion
debate? No. Is it appropriate to be going through e-mail
just because you're bored with your job? No. So let's
slap his wrist for not paying attention and move on.
DittoHeadStL4th May 2010 -
I don't think it's either
The second from the right doesn't look chubby at all. They all look relatively young as well.
I think this is just a random picture of a group of girls who are topless. Not porn or art.
Think myspace / facebook.
midenginedrift4th May 2010 -
Useful excuse
He evidently heard the story of the Australian banker who was in a similar situation on TV recently and used almost that exact same excuse.
Lame attempt, Mr. Senator!
Then again, a good effort at recycling
d.s.williams4th May 2010 -
Leonard Nimoy book?
The Full Body Project
Probably a debate of porn versus art.
Dr_Zinj4th May 2010 -
RE: Vicious Attack on Bored Senator just to Gain Readership!
First of all ZDNet, why are we reading this kind of crap here? This is supposed to be a tech blog - Oh right, the poor bored senator was using a laptop to commit this heinous act of treason. I mean, come on - how many times have you opened an email and been surprised by it's unexpected content? It is very plain to see that Caroline McCarthy (CNET News) really got all her facts lined up before going to press with this story. If you view the video with an unbiased view point as I did, it's plain to see that yes the senator was viewing a bikini shot of some females that had been manipulated by video editing to appear that they 'could' have been nude, but the editing strongly attempts to lead you in the direction the 'news' crew would have you think. And if you take their manipulations and run with them, you come to their wanted conclusion: "News site spies naughty pics on lawmaker's laptop". A more fitting title might be, "Bored Senator checking email on laptop during debate - Not doing his job".
If he is so damn bored, then maybe he should be replaced with someone who will take the job seriously and take part in the debate instead of surfing on his laptop.
blc18394th May 2010 -
RE: News site spies naughty pics on lawmaker's laptop
I think his comments about being bored during the debate are far more damning than the picture. If he'd been reading a dilbert cartoon or surfing Fox News, it would have been equally inappropriate during a debate. Why not have a rule that all phones/laptops are off during the debate?
digit10014th May 2010 -
"the site explained breathlessly. "
It's a website, it does everything breathlessly.
klockheed4th May 2010 -
Uh huh, uh huh.
"and I was investigating child porn for a book I'm writing, so it was... um, research."
ejhonda4th May 2010 -
Senator needs a more exciting job
The CNET link gives more details but the excuse is just as lame. It did state that he quickly closed the message. It is a shame that he did not find his job interesting enough to put the laptop away and pay attention.
sboverie@...4th May 2010 -
My humble and accurate opinion
Well, giving him the benefit of the doubt, I used to get unsolicited spam like this, so I changed Outlook not to render HTML. Problem solved.
And my initial reaction was same as some others...he ought to be paying attention. But who hasn't been in a boring meeting and read email while someone was blathering on endlessly.
Nonetheless, since the issue being discussed is one of the defining issues of our time and the GOP has a clear stand on the issue, I'd think he'd be a little more alert to the proceedings. Maybe it's time for the conservatives of Bradenton to look for a more motivated candidate.
P.S. Should also serve as a warning to people using their computers in a public place. You probably shouldn't.
JimboNobody4th May 2010 -
RE: News site spies naughty pics on lawmaker's laptop
Who cares? He's looking at naked women? Who doesn't let the opposite sex catch their eye? Not to mention the number of people that do look at porn. A lot of you sure scrutinized that picture as well.
Also, how many of you are blogging this at work? If you're so damned bored with your job, you should be replaced by someone who will take it seriously.
fuguein_d@...4th May 2010 -
This is news?
Who cares?
Leave the guy alone.
x-windows user5th May 2010
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