Journalist Paula Broadwell opened up about the gendered differences in the fallout over her affair with David Petraeus, the highest-profile general from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, in a New York Times profile published Saturday.
Broadwell, Petraeus’ official biographer, claimed that she was painted as a conniving “mistress” who sunk the career of a military hero after the FBI discovered evidence of their affair in 2012, prompting Petraeus’ resignation as CIA director.
“I’m the first to admit I screwed up,” Broadwell told the Times. “Really badly, I know that. But how long does a person pay for their mistake?”
Petraeus was ordered to two years probation and faced a $100,000 fine for mishandling classified material by sharing it with Broadwell, but he has since found a new gig as a partner in a New York private equity firm. He’s also advised the Obama administration on the war against ISIL, according to the Times.
Broadwell said that she lost her military security clearance as a result of the scandal, withdrew from her Ph.D. program and was told in at least one job interview that her name made her unhireable despite her qualifications.
She has founded a nonprofit called Think Broader focused on fighting gender bias in the press, and launched a campaign to stop media outlets from using the word “mistress.” Broadwell has so far convinced Politico, The Associated Press, and The Charlotte Observer to stop using the word in acknowledgment that affairs require two participants.
Wow! She wants to forbid the word “mistress” when caught up screwing the man of whom she was authoring his autobiography. How objective is her outlook regarding the subject of her book?
Get real girlfriend!!!
“Screwed UP?”
She’s a power bottom?
Interesting word choice, especially considering she’a a writer.
How long do you have Paula?
Better yet, let’s ask Jill Kelley that question and see how she responds…
“Screwed” being the operative word in her statement.