Marcus Jones Resigns From Senate
Marcus Jones has resigned from his position in the Senate, Opposition Leader Cole Simons has just confirmed.
This follows after Mr Jones made comments about teen dating abuse yesterday in the Senate, where he made statements including, but not limited to, “I am not saying they deserve the bad abuse, they shouldn’t, we all agree with that. But I do believe that our young people are inviting this type of behaviour because they are ignorantly getting on social media and putting themselves up, and putting themselves in harm’s way.”
Extract of part of the Q&A in the Senate yesterday
His statement in the Senate was criticized on social media, with comments made suggesting that he should be removed. Mr Jones, who stood as a candidate for the OBA in the 2020 Election, was previously the subject of some criticism back in 2021 for his comments about Donald Trump.
In a statement today, OBA Leader Cole Simons said, “Today has been a whirlwind of a day. As the island waits to learn of its fiscal future, I have been dealing with a serious issue that needs immediate attention, the comment made by Senator Marcus Jones in the Upper House during Wednesday’s Senate session.
“To say I am saddened by the comments made by Senator Jones is an understatement. While it was not his intent to offend anyone, his words were perceived by some as hurtful towards young people, females, and victims of assault.
“As previously stated, I do not believe that he intended to be offensive, but as public servants, we are all accountable for the words we speak, whether they were well-intended, they are not always received as such.
“In the past, the One Bermuda Alliance has levied criticism against public servants who have used inappropriate language, and our position has not changed. As a result, for the sake of Bermuda, Senator Jones has offered me his resignation, and with regret, I have accepted it.
“I have found him to be a man of principle and at this time, I would like to thank him for his time and commitment to the country and for the good work he has done in the Upper House.
“I will appoint his replacement in the near future so that our work for the betterment of this country can continue.
“At this critical point in time, it is vital that we focus on tomorrow’s Budget without distraction.”
He gave an opinion with no substantial verified evidence So what is the real story?
The real story is that expressing a reasonable opinion is not acceptable. If a politician accepts free flights and hotel rooms from businessmen who want something in return: that’s fine. No one says much about that. But if someone expresses the view that you need to be careful about your own online presence, some people don’t want to hear it. It’s an excuse to be offended.
He should have already been removed for expressing support for a foreign political candidate and saying it while on the job.
Wasn’t that in a FB post?
Amen!
His choice of words were appalling. Thank goodness he is gone. Well done Senator Simmons for being a champion for the young.
Bye Bye So Long!
I voted for you. I am glad you didn’t get in.
Maybe it was your choice of ‘understanding’ that was appalling.
I knew exactly what he was saying but the perpetually offended will never change .
Well he got FIRED by Cole Simmons good job OBA. Toodle if you believe he resigned off own free will you believe in Santa Clause. Burt should’ve done this to Curtis.
So… what, exactly, was he saying?
I heard him say that he believes that inappropriate behavior by young persons on social media (and we all know it’s happening what with all this cyber bullying stuff) has a risk of putting them in a place where there could be negative outcomes.
I did NOT hear him say that people get what they deserve.
His doubling-down with the 20-dollar bill reference is perceived by many, particularly the younger voting base, as equivalent to a young woman in a bikini inviting herself to be sexually harassed or worse.
It was really the last thing the OBA needed hanging around their necks when it came to trying to pull support from a public clearly dissatisfied with politics and both parties.
Personally , I didn’t think the $20 bill thing was the best analogy either .
Laying the blame for abuse on the victims – in ANY way, no matter what they do, even if they behave inappropriately on social media – is victim shaming and is saying that they get what they deserve.
It’s not the victim’s fault.
You , and some others ,seem to have the same perceptions as Lindsay Simmons.
Where exactly did he say it was the victim’s fault or that they ‘get what they deserve’?
He didn’t !
He said that the behavior sets them up to possibly be in a bad place .
Where did he say it?
“… I do believe that our young people are inviting this type of behaviour…”
Right there. That’s where he said it.
Nothing that ANY woman does invites rape or sexual assault. Ever.
To even imply that they do is disgusting.
He didn’t get anywhere close to saying that anyone’s actions “invited rape and sexual assault”. That’s a total straw man.
They were talking about online abuse, and he went out of his way to say “I am not saying they deserve the bad abuse, they shouldn’t, we all agree with that.”
Any counselling of young people about social media revolves around making sure they understand how to minimise the risk that their online activity makes them vulnerable. That was what he was talking about.
Ah. So it’s ok to invite online abuse.
Got it.
And he LITERALLY said “I do believe that our young people are inviting this type of behaviour…” referring to “the bad abuse” he spoke of earlier.
But you go ahead. The folks who “invited this type of behaviour” see who’s defending this garbage.
No one said it’s ‘ok to invite online abuse’. I don’t even really know what your line of argument is here.
Presumably you are against advising young people to take care how they present themselves online in order to minimise their risk. Fine. We disagree. I think it’s good advice; you think it’s ‘blaming the victim’.
My interpretation is that the behavior risks putting them in a potentially bad place.
Your interpretation is they get what they deserve.
I’m pretty sure that Mr Jones isn’t stupid enough to make that implication in this day and age.
Your interpretation of “I believe that our your people are inviting this type of behaviour” is that the behaviour risks putting them in a bad place.
Meaning that they are responsible for being “in a bad place”.
Do you not see how putting ANY responsibility on young people for being abused is wrong?
Sorry Mike , in the past you’ve had my fullest support on unpopular issues but on this one I stand by my belief.
I see no victim blaming , just a cautious piece of advice , and an important one IMO .
Look at the two following statements and tell me which one most closely relates to what Mr Jones said .
‘Playing with fire is dangerous and you could get burnt.’
‘If you play with fire and get burnt you deserve it.’
Fire isn’t a person.
Abusers are.
And they are solely responsible for abuse.
The victim isn’t.
No matter what they do, the victim isn’t.
His words where not appalling and he is correct in what he says. You could just look on Tic Toc and see how women young and old present themselves to the world. Once again the offended have silenced truth.
How has he been silenced? He resigned of his volition (or was encouraged to do so by the OBA).
So… are you saying that if women “present themselves” in a certain way, that they are somehow responsible for being abused or assaulted?
If not, how am I misreading this?
Funny…an island that tells its gays to leave, since they don’t deserve the same rights as everyone else.
hypocritical snowflakes…with nothing else to offer.
He buried himself. Now his name will ve stamped to pieces for a year then he will disappear after a year never to be heard again until he writes his memoirs “Did I always speak with my foot in my mouth.”
I’d like to commend Junior Minister, Senator Lindsay Simmons for holding her ground and holding former Senator Jones accountable for his words.
hit the road Marcus.no one needs this is politics.they need to put dawayne back in the senate.he was someone with morals.i hope you have learned a lesson.
Marcus gone.
Now lets see who Cole brings back. He had 30 losers in the last election so lets see who he elevates to Senate status.
The only losers from the last election were the people of Bermuda.
Agreed, Portia.
The problem is that those Bermudians who might make a difference will not stand in front of the PLP wrecking machine and be torn to pieces. That is the political environment in which we now live.
You got that right.
The PLP. Failing Bermudians since 1998.
Politics has been failing Bermuda period. Are you that naïve to think the UBP, OBA where any better. Stop supporting one party over the other and start demanding good governance regardless of who is in power.
Look at economic statics over the last 24 years, and then see when the growth occurred.
You are wrong. The PLP have failed Bermuda since 1998
Unfortunately, that premise doesn’t seem to apply to the ruling Party supporters. If it did we wouldn’t be in this massive mess we find ourselves in these days.
Bermuda politics is a case study for what happens when there is no accountability for politicians by the electorate.
Until the 2000s, any Bermudian that wanted them could have two jobs. There was no unemployment. People could afford to buy or rent a house, go on vacation and shopping trips, and save for their future. The government had zero debt, taxes were reasonable, and pensions were funded.
The PLP has abolished every one of these things. We have thousands unemployed, derelict hotels, a pension system with no money, a government that has no financial flexibility, having borrowed every penny it can. And the one competent PLP government minister has resigned in disgust.
Why do you support the PLP so vehemently and enthusiastically ? What exactly have they achieved that has improved the lives of Bermudians? Honestly reading your daily cheerleading comments on this site gives the impression you’re just a simple minded sycophant sheep of a political supporter.
The easily offended & looking for excuses to be offended have successfully made a mountain out of a molehill.
I have not seen anyone contest the content of the message. In the entire animal world, of which humans are a part, one or other of the sexes makes efforts to attract the other. More often it is the male that has the plumage, is bigger, battles other males, does something to attract the female.
In humans the roles seem to be reversed. It has long been the case of the female to make herself more attractive to the male. Males put on clothing that is generally necessary for the weather & what they are doing. Females put on clothing, makeup, hair, nails etc. to ‘decorate’ themselves. Ladies as a male we thank you for what you do. What young woman does not try on a pair of jeans in the fitting room & spin around to see how she looks? Man goes in, pulls up those jeans, if the waist size is right we are good to go. We don’t care how they fit anywhere else.
Go into any department store. Take a look at how much space is devoted to clothing, makeup, jewelry etc. for females vs how much floorspace is devoted to males. Go into a store like DSW & see how many aisles are devoted to mens shoes vs womens. It is a simple fact.
So, ladies, keep doing what you do. By the clothing that you wear you are well aware of how much attention you are getting from the opposite sex. Don’t give us the fake indignation or offence. If you think that you can rock that thong on the beach, go for it. Appreciative eyes will appreciate the exposure. The rest? Too bad. Let them be envious, offended, repulsed, whatever.