Kelly File: Duggar Interview Part 2 2015.06.05

[farmgal4]

It made me sad that Jessa didn't reach out to comfort Jill after she broke down crying. You'd think she would have held her hand or put an arm around her but she didn't move a muscle.
It annoyed me when Megyn kept interrupting them. It also annoyed me when Jill and Jessa said they didn't care whether or not the show continued. I call shenanigans on that one.

I'm pretty sure that Jessa was absent the day that God handed out tender hearts. Edited June 6, 2015 by aethera
fixing broken quote :)

[Soup333]

Horrifying. I need to watch something (else) off the wall stupid before I go to bed. Why don't their stories match up with the police report at all? Maybe they should have read it before constructing their narrative so that some facts could have been the same or at least similar to the report. 

[BulldogAreGreat]

I didn't watch. I watched on Wednesday, but knew I would not be able to watch the girls. 

 

One thing I have been wondering about is why do they think that since the girls were asleep and apparently had no clue what went on, is some sort of justification and doesn't make it that bad. To me, that almost makes it all worse. That is completely taking advantage. With the girls being asleep, he knew there would be no resisting. That is predator behavior to me. 

[sleekandchic]

Tonight, Jill and Jessa said (contrary to the police report) that they slept through Josh's molestations, and only became aware of what happened when their parents sat them down to reveal the awful truth.

Yet, in the next breath, when they spoke of talking to the investigators, Jessa said we told them everything, we told them our story.

Are they saying they repeated what their parents told them, or are they saying they suddenly remembered Josh's actions?

And whoa! InTouch is owned by a major porn provider? Exploiting women? Maybe that's true, I don't know, but there's NO QUESTION these Duggar sisters were mightily prepped and rehearsed for the interview.

Megyn Kelly seems intelligent and discerning. Why did she play along tonight, strongly implying the survivors are victims of the media? Its a callous and calculated stand. Megyn Kelly, what is YOUR agenda?

[Katydid]

I find it odd that there have been absolutely no questions involving how Josh is taking the controversy ("Have you talked to him? This must be hard on him- how's he handling it?", etc.). Nothing.

[graefin]

One thing that was interesting was that when they were asked whether Josh stayed in the home after the incidents happened or left right away, and whether they felt uncomfortable in his presence during that time, they really faltered for several moments and then stumbled over their answers. Jessa said something like "he left really quickly," but *one year* can not possibly be perceived by anyone, young or not, as "quickly," can it?

[Marigny]

 

 

I’m really skeptical that they won’t be upset if TLC cancels. 

 

 

 

They'll all sit in the living room and cry as JB announces it. Then they'll blame it all on the "liberal agenda."

[fliptopbox]

What are the odds that two women who were not coached in their answers would be in lockstep with respect to their emotional responses to such a traumatic incidence in their lives?

Exactly. I would have believed them much more individually if their stories differed even slightly. Like, Jessa saying it laid on her heart for awhile, but in the end she was able to forgive after some therapy and soul searching. Or some other such fundie-speak bullshit. But insisting they forgave Josh instantly and totally forgot about it since it was so not a big deal...that strikes me as strange. Girls who are raised to think the only man who's ever gonna touch them intimately is their husband, while anything else is a sin and God will punish them for it. I'm sure that was a bit of a mindfuck for them to process. I believe Jessa may have moved on and gotten through it, but I am not sure Jill has entirely. Her tears struck me as genuine, so maybe the interview was stirring those feelings up again for her. I hope Derick is able to comfort her more than her stone cold sister. Jessa didn't even so much as put an arm around her while she cried. Very icy.

[farmgal4]

I'm surprised she was able to maintain her composure to come off so even-keeled in the interview itself, because in that segment where she's questioning the "experts" directly following, she is practically spitting venom.

I don't watch Fox, so I'm not familiar with M. Kelly but there is something about her that made me dislike her a lot.

[Morgalisa]

For a family that doesn't consume media, they sure know a lot about what has been written about them. Stay off the internet girls!

[CoolMom]

But the kicker was when one of the J's said that as a mom, they hope that they can put up those safeguards in their own home? Excuse me...why would you need these safeguards if you don't have a child molester living with you?

 

I do not have a molester in my home but as a victim of abuse as a child believe me there are safeguards in my home.  My kids are mostly grown but the rules I had were strict and we did not bend them.  EVER.

 

ETA: Removed quote because it was misread and did not apply to this situation. 

Edited June 6, 2015 by CoolMom

[natyxg]

I said it on freejinger, and ill say it here. That is absolutely not in the script at all! Gotta keep re-hashing the lines, no time for distractions.

 

OMG, yes.  Like the interviewer said "so you are going on the record as Josh's victims. Does it feel strange to use that word?" and Jill just started with how they didn't choose to come out, but saw the headlines and decided themselves to do the interview, etc etc... when that was not what the interviewer asked at all.

[graefin]

And whoa! InTouch is owned by a major porn provider? Exploiting women?

That's really rich coming from people who live in a culture steeped in overwhelming patriarchy. Then again, they don't seem to understand the definition of hypocrisy.

[Joe Jitsu913]

If Jessa , Jill and the rest of the cult can minimize something as serious as molestation, what else are they rationalizing and making excuses for? They act like this was a glitch and that "every family" goes through this.

I am worried about Jill's mental and emotional state at the moment. She's very sheltered, uneducated and fragile. I hope she has a licensed therapist or mental health professional (not a Gothard approved quack) to help her process these emotions. She also just had a baby so her hormones are in overdrive right now. I am seriously concerned, as someone who suffers from mental illness and depression, I really sense Jill is not well.

As for their attitude of forgiveness, I call BULLSHIT. They can forgive Josh, the molester but they can't forgive the person or persons who released the police report? I guess forgiveness only extends to their fellow cult members. They're possibly seeking legal action over a police report? How about that forgiveness? Hmmm...

Jessa doesn't like her pictures on magazines unless it's positive, ass-kissing attention. You can't have it both ways. Fame is a double edged sword. She chose to put herself out there from the moment she was courting/engaged/married and now pregnant. It's the nature of the beast. As for Jessa being okay with the show ending...we'll see about that once the love offerings from leghumpers dry up.

Jill: Talking about how some parents delay reporting sexual abuse to the authorities but the Duggars dealt with it right away. Uh-huh. Again, she's in major denial...about life.

Edited June 6, 2015 by Joe Jitsu913

[Schmoopy]

One thing that was interesting was that when they were asked whether Josh stayed in the home after the incidents happened or left right away, and whether they felt uncomfortable in his presence during that time, they really faltered for several moments and then stumbled over their answers. Jessa said something like "he left really quickly," but *one year* can not possibly be perceived by anyone, young or not, as "quickly," can it?

 

 

Yes that was the moment when they looked at each other like "Oh shit, we didnt go over an answer for this question"

[Kiss my mutt]

I want to know what these lies Jessa is referring to? Is she disputing the facts in this case?

Also, they kept saying that Josh was changed or seemed different when he came back from treatment. Was he outwardly acting like a perv before or just overall seemed different? I want to know what they mean by this too.

[Fallacy]

I do believe that they had chosen to pretend this never happened so that they could continue to be one big happy family. I believe that they are angry and devastated that they are being forced to deal with it again, especially now at the height of their own happiness. I believe they would be very happy if they and the show continued on as if these last two weeks never happened.

And I do agree with them that In Touch magazine did not publish that report in an attempt to protect the victims. They published it for money.

I hate that Megyn Kelly spent the reminder of her show talking with an expert about how unlikely it is that Josh will ever repeat his behavior and to confirm that the parents did the best they could.

I don't know if the girls will get their wish to move on and continue to be on tv though. It's almost like they were asking their audience to move on if we truly care about them

Edited June 6, 2015 by Fallacy

[wjb1492]

It's not 2/3 but it is really high based on this report I found.  Full disclosure, I know nothing about the website I just googled and this came up.  A study conducted in 1986 found that 63% of women who had suffered sexual abuse by a family member also reported a rape or attempted rape after the age of 14. Recent studies in 2000, 2002, and 2005 have all concluded similar results (page 8).  The typical statistic I see is 1 in 5 women have experienced sexual abuse. Honestly, in my circle of friends it's higher. Which makes me wonder if the statistic is off because so many girls still don't report and when they do it's brushed off like this case.

I don't think that's saying the same thing at all.  It doesn't say that 63% of women suffer sexual abuse by a family member - it's limiting the statistic to only women who did suffer sexual abuse by a family member.  And 1 in 5 is only 20% - I have seem some cite 1 in 4, but that's for all sexual abuse, so in-family abuse would have to be lower than that.

[graefin]

OMG, yes.  Like the interviewer said "so you are going on the record as Josh's victims. Does it feel strange to use that word?" and Jill just started with how they didn't choose to come out, but saw the headlines and decided themselves to do the interview, etc etc... when that was not what the interviewer asked at all.

I noticed she did that a few times, like she was unable to understand the question being asked. Her parents did it too.

[galax-arena]

A study conducted in 1986 found that 63% of women who had suffered sexual abuse by a family member also reported a rape or attempted rape after the age of 14. Recent studies in 2000, 2002, and 2005 have all concluded similar results (page 8).

That doesn't really say anything about how prevalent sibling-on-sibling abuse is, though. It just says that the majority of women who suffer from incestuous sexual abuse are at risk of being assaulted later on as well, which sadly isn't surprising; people who are victimized once are often at risk of being victimized again. 

 

I definitely think that the "2/3 of families" stat that the girls said was pulled out of their ass. 

[BradandJanet]

I didn't say too much during the JimBob and Michelle debacle, which I could watch only for about 20 minutes, but seeing Jill and Jessa on camera to prop up the sinking Duggar media empire is just beyond awful. There's no rest for these poor soldiers in the Duggar army of fame and fortune. Pull yourself up by your homeskooled bootstraps and get to work, you defrauding females. 

[wjb1492]

That's really rich coming from people who live in a culture steeped in overwhelming patriarchy. Then again, they don't seem to understand the definition of hypocrisy.

I don't think of In Touch as serious journism at all - but attacking the magazine for being owned by a legal business that Jessa disapproves of is nowhere near the same thing as saying that In Touch was wrong.  They collectively have acknowledged that In Touch was right, but let's go ahead and attack the source anyway.

[HumblePi]

I think media will skewer them less than their parents, because it would be inappropriate. But I really hope someone touches on this.

 

NO, this is not normal.  I think Erin Merynn had some statistics that said something like 2% of families experience sexual assault by siblings.  Of course, the number of women who are at some point sexually violated was very high (men lower, but still too high.)  But this is -NOT- a normal thing Jessa.  This is even more unusual than not wearing pants. 

Jess takes her statistics from the same websites as Michelle does I think. Remember when Michelle said "Did you know that if every single human being in the world stood shoulder-to-shoulder they would fit within the city limits of Jacksonville, Fla.?"

 

Well, hate to tell you Michelle, but if everyone had 19 children, we would need 5 planet Earths to hold us all.

[spidermiss2426]

Earlier I said I didn't know what to say or how to say it.  I can say this though:  I feel like there are bird droppings on me, having watched the interview.  How anyone can find this normal is beyond me.  The family thing.  Parroting what Jim Bob said about most of the families of their church deal with this stuff or worse.  I wonder what he considers worse?

 

EDIT: Did not read statistics above by another member.  But TRIGGER, my Mom was molested by more than one of her stepfathers, and her brother raped her sister.. so I know there are worse things.  But I don't consider my Mom's family normal.

Edited June 6, 2015 by spidermiss2426

[Cherrio]

More canned responses.

 

Where is Josh?      (loved the pic above btw)

 

Two things that stand out for me.   1.   Every single interview and all the pundits and host refer to the Duggars as Christians. They DON'T specify that they are FAR from mainstream and have raised and imposed some very strange and imo damaging beliefs.   Not ONE time has anyone brought up their blaming of girls and women. The constant sexual talk from the parents, humping at the Putt Putt.    You guys know the rest and the list is endless.

 2,     No mention of Josh suing ?      They claim everything was fine, its all over, you are wonderful parents, have a nice life.   So, if it was the case, then why the suit?

 

Edited to add:  Isn't it clear the Duggars "waited" until the statues of limitations ran out ?      Oh and JB would not let Josh be interviewed. 

Edited June 6, 2015 by Cherrio

[Churchhoney]

Horrifying. I need to watch something (else) off the wall stupid before I go to bed. Why don't their stories match up with the police report at all? Maybe they should have read it before constructing their narrative so that some facts could have been the same or at least similar to the report. 

 

Oh, but that would have required reading. These are the Duggars. Who put the "home" in homeschooling but left the "schooling" outside the door.

[graefin]

Two things that stand out for me.   1.   Every single interview and all the pundits and host refer to the Duggars as Christians. They DON'T specify that they are FAR from mainstream and have raised and imposed some very strange and imo damaging beliefs.  

Keith Ablow self-identified as conservative but stated (loudly) in his segment with Hannity that the Duggars are bizarre because they forbid hand holding.

[Lolabelle]

 

You can't have it both ways. Fame is a double edged sword. She chose to put herself out there from the moment she was courting/engaged/married and now pregnant. It's the nature of the beast.

Like others have said before, I find it appalling that they seem so quick to attack the media but Josh basically got immediate forgiveness   No compassion there.

 

Newsflash guys, you can't make a fortune off being on the cover of tabloids and being on a reality show, then get pissed at them when they show you in a negative light   That's the territory it comes with   They will build you up but they will tear you down quicker.   

 

Edited to add that I have PR experience and good Lord if their goal was to get the public against them then they're doing a great job!

Edited June 6, 2015 by Lolabelle

[HumblePi]

I felt that Jill was coached in making a point in telling Megyn that the people who interviewed them in the beginning of all this, told her over and over what wonderful parents she has. She repeated that a few times. I don't doubt that they are basically good parents but they definitely have some skewed and twisted methods for raising children.

[Sew Sumi]

They were able to get most of the same talking points in as Jim Bob did. It almost sounded as if the parents coached them as to what happened to them and the girls were led to believe they were asleep and didn't know.

When Jill went, word for word, into JB's spiel: "Nice to meet you. And here's my history..." with her hand out to shake, I knew this interview was doomed. 

 

As someone else said, four people can NOT have the same experience. Even if was "over the clothes" or whatever. They neglected to mention the times it was not. I actually liveblogged this and the times I heard, word for word, a catchphrase from the interview the other night, I pseudo-drank. It was eerie. 

 

I have sympathy for the victims' plight. however, at this time, but I no longer have any sympathy for Jessa or Jill as people. They were playing parts to get their TV show - ie. their livelihood - back. Jessa flat out lied when she said that she wouldn't be affected either way. So says the girl who got a European honeymoon and much of her wedding comped. Now more than ever, I think Jill is using jargon ("re-victimization") when her tears are really more about the fact that her future has been put in flux. If they weren't really victimized, as they claim, why cry about it now? Oh wait, that's not what the girls told the police....THEY KNEW!!!!! Even the five year old knew! Stop lying to us, Duggars. The parents never had any credibility with me because they had countless kids and raised them in a cult, but I could sympathize with the kids. Every adult Duggar spawn who continues to spew party line loses credibility with me. The truth would be nice, but they're obviously afraid of it. I don't know why, but that's really the story. Why lie, especially when people have read the police report (have to have read it to know about how the names were redacted. DUH!). I don't think the girls read it. If they are so "over it," it shouldn't trigger anything, right? I don't think any Duggar has read it, tbh.

 

I also never heard what counseling the girls got, despite Megyn saying this would be revealed. I wonder if the answer was edited out because it turned out to be JTTH? That certainly wouldn't fly, given how people are reacting to Josh's "counseling." 

Edited June 6, 2015 by Sew Sumi

[Temperance]

I feel very sorry for these girls. I only saw a quick portion of the interview. 

1) Jill was crying. I noticed this, but couldn't tell why. Something seemed off to me. She could be crying, because of the abuse. She could be crying, because she's overwhelmed as both a new mother and having to deal with the past abuse. She could be crying, because she feels everyone is attacking her family and she is losing her reality show. I honestly am not sure why she was crying. It broke my heart. 

2) These two women have the most interesting lives of all the girls. Even if Jessa is financially dependent on JB and show, she and Jill are starting their own lives. They're married; one has a baby and one is pregnant. These are two most likely to get a spinoff. 

3) This is not a family known for being overly physically affectionate towards each other. People learn to show affection as children by receiving it from parents, siblings, friends, extended family, etc. Jessa seems cold, like a lot of her family. Particularly the older people.

 

Jess takes her statistics from the same websites as Michelle does I think. Remember when Michelle said "Did you know that if every single human being in the world stood shoulder-to-shoulder they would fit within the city limits of Jacksonville, Fla.?"

 

Well, hate to tell you Michelle, but if everyone had 19 children, we would need 5 planet Earths to hold us all.

The Jacksonville idea comes from Gothard himself. It's one of his ideas. I've heard JimBob say it. 

Edited June 6, 2015 by Temperance

[Marigny]

Jill's emotions seemed off to me, but it could still be postpartum issues. I did notice she said I called my husband, never using his name. Think maybe Derick is distancing himself from this madness, wondering if maybe his step-dad was right?

 

What did his step-dad say?

[Maizie131]

Also very irritating was hearing both of them - at least twice - state how the DHS or whoever (we really don't know that, either, do we?) that treated them told their parents that they did a great job handling the whole situation.  Uh-huh. 

[Cherrio]

That doesn't really say anything about how prevalent sibling-on-sibling abuse is, though. It just says that the majority of women who suffer from incestuous sexual abuse are at risk of being assaulted later on as well, which sadly isn't surprising; people who are victimized once are often at risk of being victimized again. 

 

I definitely think that the "2/3 of families" stat that the girls said was pulled out of their ass. 

Well, consider the company they keep and their leader.  Doesn't he like young girls and toes? So, it could very well be a cesspool of abuse and molestation.

[drafan]

That was sooooooo creepy. Jessa and Jill were smiling and animated and happy the whole time they were talking about the Josh story. Then they went to serious bitch-face (Jessa) and hormonal weeping (Jill) when the topic turned to the media. The fact that they said that the media outing  recently was "1000 x worse" than what actually happened 12 years ago was quite telling.

Jessa remembered to say "accredited counseling" (something like that, maybe "licensed?") , but the way she said it really fast made me feel like 1) she was told to say it and and just remembered she was supposed to , 2) she was lying, so she said it fast and continued on, 3) she flew through that whole part so there would be no additional questions, and 4) she didn't know what she was talking about.

I still think the only reason Josh was taken to any authorities is because it had now moved to someone outside of the home and they were terrified of him being arrested, and that it was still going on after he came back from whatever his "rehab' was.....so JB decided to scare him with the police-friend.

I think Pa Keller and perhaps even Anna knew the whole story about Josh, since JB was shopping him around for a wife to "cure" his behavior. I have a feeling she was several notches down in the pecking order.

JB is the ultimate huckster.....just gross. Maybe his next TV gig can be selling those "But WAIT!!!!......" things late at night.

So now that they have proclaimed to be so forgiving, guess the next step is to lay it on their hearts to forgive the press for releasing the police report.

 

ETA: They really shouldn't be all that concerned or even KNOW about what was in the media, since THEY DON"T WATCH TV OR GO ON THE INTERNET!!!!!!!!!

Edited June 6, 2015 by drafan

[Cherrio]

Keith Ablow self-identified as conservative but stated (loudly) in his segment with Hannity that the Duggars are bizarre because they forbid hand holding.

That pastor from Texas who was on too.   He gave me the willies.  Bad bad vibes from him.  

[luckykat]

My thoughts:

1.  Jill repeatedly stated the girls' decisions to forgive Josh were completely voluntary.  Really?  Can a 10 or 12 year old child really understand the profundity of forgiveness?  Can a 5 year old?  I wonder if these children were ever truly afforded the opportunity to  process their feelings, to be angry, frustrated or hurt, or whether they were expected to toe the Biblical line and express forgiveness immediately upon request.

 

2.  The parents encouraged the girls to tell the DHS workers the entire story.  What story?  From their perspective they had no story to tell.  They had no first-hand knowledge of what Josh had done.  This doesn't add up.

 

3.  I didn't see the part about what kind of counseling they received, but I don't understand why the counselor(s) were not mandated reporters under Ark law.  I'm left to wonder whether the counselor(s) was/were really, in fact, a licensed professional(s), or whether this purported counseling occurred on or after the 2006 police report.  In either case, it's woefully insufficient in my opinion.

[MsDiva2007]

I think what bugs me is Jessa & Jill are getting the same bad treatment rape victims get. Not being believed when they tell their version of the story, People  wondering why they did not say anything sooner. Its their story to tell let them tell it and not be judged and considered stupid or backwards. Its just wrong to belittle them for their own personal way of dealing with something that should not have been up for public fodder!

[Cherrio]

What did his step-dad say?

Those bleep, bleep, bleepin, sons of, mother.....Duggars?

[graefin]

1.  Jill repeatedly stated the girls' decisions to forgive Josh were completely voluntary.  Really? 

Just like Jana's decision to "forgive" Jessa for kicking her bed repeatedly by giving her her most prized possession was voluntary?

[OnlyMeSuz]

I actually came out of longtime lurkdom from both here and twop to comment on this interview. But, first let me say what a group of articulate and sincere people you all are. Anyway, did anyone notice how Jessa was quick to say they took care of it through "licensed" counseling (you know, the counseling that Josh paid for himself) , stressing the "licensed" because they know no one believes they went to real therapy?

Edited June 6, 2015 by OnlyMeSuz

[EarlGreyTea]

Josh needs to speak for himself instead of letting his family bear that burden. 

 

This is the crux of it for me. I was out so I didn't see today's interview, just that snippet they showed on Wednesday. That was enough for me. I was deeply disturbed at how distressed Jill looked. She's just had a baby, difficult labor, and now all of this. How dare Josh let the other members of the family bear this incredible burden. I guess having to live with himself and the hell he has wrought is punishment enough in his eyes.

 

I know he'd be a PR disaster, but really, how much more do these girls have to shoulder for this family? Their childhoods weren't enough?

Edited June 6, 2015 by EarlGreyTea

[Maizie131]

Question:  Does anyone here know the time-line re: the Harpo cancellation of the Duggars on the Oprah show? (i.e., had the Duggars already done a special?)  Another question:  What do you suppose Harpo TOLD Jim Bob & Michelle as to WHY they would not be featuring them on Oprah (despite the fact they flew them all to Chicago, put 'em up in a hotel, etc.)???  We'll never know the answer to that one, will we? 

[cmr2014]

But the kicker was when one of the J's said that as a mom, they hope that they can put up those safeguards in their own home? Excuse me...why would you need these safeguards if you don't have a child molester living with you?

 

Wow! That is completely deranged. I hope that Derick/Ben will give them some time and some space, but I do hope that they will eventually have a conversation where they say "No, we are not locking our children in their rooms at night. Our children will sleep in pajamas. Our children will be able to hug each other, and hug us, and hug their (paternal) grandparents." etc.

 

I agree that we have to take Jill and Jessa at their word that they are over the whole thing and have forgiven Josh. Still, I wish MK had asked them "As an aunt, as a mother (or mother-to-be) yourself, and as a fellow human being, are you completely okay with Josh being alone with Makenzie? Would you leave him alone with your own daughter?"

[Ms Lark]

I kept waiting for Megyn to ask "In keeping with the Gothard teachings, did your parents blame you for 'defrauding' your brother, leading him to act this way? Did you have to ask him to forgive you for tempting him into sin with your immodest dress?" I knew it wouldn't happen, but I sure wish she had!

[ZoloftBlob]

And I also thought it was very strange that Jessa did absolutely nothing to comfort Jill when she was crying -- maybe I'm wrong and thinking of the wrong sisters but I thought they had been physically affectionate with each other -- here, Jessa did nothing, not even a hand out to her sister . . .

 

I am going to throw Jessa a small bone here. She's been raised in a home where touching is strictly regulated. Also even in "normal" homes, some people aren't raised to hug. Gotta be honest, I would be uncomfortable to my breaking point if I had to hug my crying sister on camera in good circumstances.

[BradandJanet]

Jill says she hopes to put the same "safeguards" in her home as her parents did--no hide and seek and locks on the bedroom doors at night--now that she's a mom. I'm a mom, Jill, and I never had to lock my kids in at night to protect them from a predator I knew was loose in my house. Jill, it's not normal to expect your children to be molested by one of their siblings. Jill, your parents failed you. 

[photo fox]

Agreed, ZB.  Not everyone is a hugger.  If my sister were crying, I would want to hug her, and she would be "WTF?" if I tried it.  lol

[EarlGreyTea]

I am going to throw Jessa a small bone here. She's been raised in a home where touching is strictly regulated. Also even in "normal" homes, some people aren't raised to hug. Gotta be honest, I would be uncomfortable to my breaking point if I had to hug my crying sister on camera in good circumstances.

I wonder if it's not just a reaction to doing so many THs over the years. On Sister Wives, there's been plenty of times where they're all doing a TH together and one of them starts crying and the other three just sit there awkwardly. It seems to be common across reality shows for whatever reason.

[bencr]

It seems to me the Duggars are employing a four-pronged strategy:

 

1. Diminish the severity of the offense -- it was light petting, it was through the clothing, the children slept through it, etc. Because the offense really wasn't that serious, it was not that hard to forgive Josh. Really, within a short period of time everything returned to normal.
2. Praise the parents -- They reacted proportionally to the offense.
3. Blame the liberal media -- They've blown this all out of proportion to serve their agenda.
4. Say that everything is hunky dory -- Josh is cured and forgiven, the girls are just fine thank you, the family is closer to God than ever before, etc.