Instead of taking others' word for what Roberts said, here is what actually went down, from the program transcript. We begin with host Martha Raddatz:
And what about Conyers and Franken? Nothing's happened since. What happens to them?This is followed by quite a bit of back and forth cynical comment by panelists Palmer, Klein, and Roberts about the relaxed culture of Congress vis-a-vis sexual harassment, with no names mentioned. Then Roberts says:
Don't get in the elevator with him, you know, and the whole every female in the press corps knew that, right, don't get in elevator with him. Now people are saying it out loud. And I think that does make a difference.It isn't clear if Roberts speaks about Conyers specifically, or about any number of dirty old men in Congress. You could conclude either. My guess is she meant Conyers, but now regrets her candor.
I wouldn't necessarily take Roberts' word for her intent, after she's had an opportunity to reflect on the non-PC impact of her words. She hasn't kept a decades-long relationship with left-wing NPR by being tough on Democrats.
