I’ve decided it’s time to tell my story. #MeToohttps://t.co/TqTgfvzkZg
— Leeann Tweeden (@LeeannTweeden) November 16, 2017
Radio host Leeann Tweeden is telling her story about Senator Al Franken assaulting her during a USO trip. You can read her story at the link, above. [New York Magazine]
I told you that Bella Hadid & The Weeknd would get back together. [Wonderwall]
The Koch Brothers are looking to purchase People Magazine. Ugh. [LaineyGossip]
John Stamos is ready to have babies with his fiancee. [Dlisted]
Armie Hammer can wear the hell out of some clothes. [OMG Blog]
Ana De Armas is apparently a rising star. [Moe Jackson]
Johnny Depp looks like an a–hole in the first image from Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. Ugh. [Pajiba]
Blake Shelton is on The Ellen Show today. [JustJared]
Richard Gere & Salma Hayek cozy up together. [Seriously OMG WTF]
Just got a response from @alfranken: "I certainly don’t remember the rehearsal for the skit in the same way, but I send my sincerest apologies to Leeann. As to the photo, it was clearly intended to be funny but wasn't. I shouldn't have done it."
— Asher Klein (@kleinstar) November 16, 2017
THIS IS WHY WE CAN’T HAVE NICE THINGS.
+1
The great predator purge of 2017!
We are coming for you next Trumpy!
Remember Jeffery Epstein case? Sexual and physical violence against underage Maria?
Lots of other rich men who like young girls were caught up in it too.
Including Bill Clinton. Up to his eyeballs with Epstein.
You know what? I’m kind of done with defending men who are guilty of sexual harassment, just because they have a (D) after their name. I used to, but not anymore.
Twenty-two trips on the Lolita Express was not a good look for Slick Willy. He shouldn’t have done it, but he did it anyways because he wanted to and he knew that people like me would make excuses for him.
As long as we make excuses for predatory abusive behaviors because it’s one of our own doing it, NOTHING will ever change. And it’s time for a change. I’m fed up. Enough is enough.
Add Stallone to the list… no words.
Yes! Clinton, Alan Dershowitz, Bill Richardson ECT!
Women have been under attack for too long! Time to harvest all the bad guys!
You said it!
I saw this on the news at the gym and all I could think was “Damn! Damn! Damn!”
He was one of the ‘good’ ones in Congress who was trying to help us.
There seems to be no good ones left.
One of the good ones? The guy who stole his election? LOL!
If you look at the picture, Franken didn’t grope her. She said he forcefully kissed her.
Having said that, he was inappropriate and disgusting. However, he did apologize and invited an ethics investigation. Let’s see what happens from here before we all pile on like on dailykos today, demanding his resignation.
And there are also matters of degrees. So far, we have a disgusting picture with no touching, and a kiss, while Trump walked in on 15 year old teen beauty pageants undressing and 20 women have accused him, and Moore is a pedophile. Until Trump is gone, and Clarence Thomas resigns, Franken should NOT resign. We do love to eat our own.
I would love him to explain what he thought, at the time, was funny about that picture and the scene it portrayed. Explain what goes on in the mind of someone who does that, honestly and specifically. Exactly what is funny about it? If he is truly sorry and ashamed now, then explain. That could be helpful going forward, for education and prevention. Because personally, it’s not funny to me.
@maren – they weren’t two friends clowning around. This was work.
“We do love to eat our own?” LOL. Examples–even a single one–of this? When “our own” are corrupt, you’re damn right they should be called on it, not excused b/c they are supposedly “on our side.”
Um…that photo captures one split second in time. Using that to say he didn’t grope her is beyond ridiculous. Franken SHOULD resign.
I’m so heart broken!
same. I was proud to have him as my senator. This one hurts.
He is nasty! Yuck. Hope he resigns.
Why should he resign? Look at our 45th President’s track record:
1. Jessica Leeds (1980s)
2. Kristin Anderson (1990s)
3. Cathy Heller (1997)
4. Temple Taggart McDowell (1997)
5. Karena Virginia (1998)
6. Mindy McGillivray (2003)
7. Rachel Crooks (2005)
8. Natasha Stoynoff (2005)
9. Jessica Drake (2006)
10. Ninni Laaksonen (2006)
11. Summer Zervos (2007)
12. Burnett’s unnamed friend (2010)
13. Cassandra Searles (2013)
I mean..it didn’t affect Trump why should it affect Franken?
Or are you saying that they should BOTH be held accountable?
They both should be held accountable. And McConnell should get a ton of flack for launching an ethics investigation into one but not the other.
Uh oh, Kitten is playing the “what about…” game in order to cover for Franken. Not cool.
Nope not at all, which is why I typed “OR ARE YOU SAYING THEY SHOULD BOTH BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE?” at the bottom.
But yeah, my larger point stands that if we have a sexual assaulter in the highest office in all the land, the example that is set is one that not only condones sexual assault, but REWARDS it.
So if Franken should resign then so should Trump. Won’t happen in either case though.
Eh, Kitten, I know your heart’s in the right place on this one, but think about how much it makes you want to bang your face against the wall when the answer to any of these accusations is always, “but what about Bill Clinton???”
You are dead right, Trump needs to be held accountable, but it’s okay to go after Franken here, separately. He was in the wrong. No need to redirect the conversation elsewhere.
It’s not an attempt at “whataboutism” guys and honestly, I resent the implication. I’m simply trying to make the point that if America made the decision to elect a man who has a history of sexual misconduct how can we as a country then expect that those who are BELOW him in terms of position and power be held to a higher standard? And it’s not “redirecting the conversation” at all. We can walk and chew gum at the same time, guys.
And no I will never, EVER miss a chance to bring up the fact that we elected a man with a history of sexual assault allegations against him to run our country. Honestly, the collective conversation about sexual assault will always circle back to the highest office I the country because HOW THE F*CK COULD IT NOT?
I think it worth mentioning every single time about Trump. His wife accused him of rape. A 13-year-old accused him of rape. He walked in on young beauty contestants. The entire list of women who came out and were ignored and he won anyway.
If political resignations are on the table for sexual harassment and assault, then we should be consistent. Starting with 45 since he is one of the worst offenders and has the most powerful position.
Al Franken’s behavior was terrible and should be called out. Everyone should be. But resignations are ridiculous when 45 is still in office. It would be like keeping Harvey Weinstein but firing Ben Affleck.
I agree Kitten and magnoliarose. The same GOP politicians who are rightly talking about Roy Moore are in many cases silent about Trump. Or supportive. The Democrats are either not doing enough to remind people of Trump’s past, or they are and it’s not getting media coverage. And Trump, unlike others, can be heard boasting about it. But I am really pissed off that Al Franken (mis)behaved like this.
I just want to make sure that each and every allegation receives its due, and that this one doesn’t get buried beneath Trump’s more egregious one. I also want to make sure it is crystal clear that those on the left are not going to let this slide just because Franken is one of “ours.”
That said, Kitten and magnoliarose, your point is taken that we can’t hold one man accountable for his actions when his boss has not been held accountable for similar actions. But on the same token, we can’t let a guilty man off the hook just because his boss was, either.
Yes, both should be held accountable. Republicans don’t, and won’t, follow through. They protect each other and seem to think it’s their right to dismiss women and vulnerable people/animals however they want. Franken is participating in the investigation and will likely go down, while predator-in-chief will stay.
Amen!!! Franken should resign right after Trump resigns, and Clarence Thomas resigns also.
Let’s not eat our own for lesser offenses.
“I am so glad my assailant was a Democrat (Republican)!” —said no woman ever,
Jesus Effin Christ On A Stick, Stop politicizing abuse. Stop the what about ism. Stop the “But his was worse.”
Stop defending sexual misconduct and stop the witch hunt using political party as your yard stick. Hold all the MFers accountable. Start now. Start here.
@Kitten: I completely agree with everything you’ve said in this thread. I have nothing to add; you covered it all.
Franken called for his own ethics investigation. That’s the difference here. Trump and Moore are still lying and gaslighting.
I agree. Additionally, his full apology holds himself very accountable for the harm he has done.
his second apology was legit the best I’ve ever seen.
OMG, you are really buying that BS? He KNOWS what he did–there is nothing to investigate. GMAB.
Nope. He’s calling for his own investigation to try to deflect blame. He needs to resign.
He should not resign. If that is your belief then right after 45 and a block of Moore. There are others on both sides of the aisle. It is about the issue, not politics but of course, in the climate it is.
Frankly, I’d like to see any person who has had credible allegations of sexual misconduct be held accountable — Moore, Franken, Trump, et all. We should be demanding that no one in a position of authority be allowed to get away with an abuse of power. May more brave women come forward with their stories and may more of the perpetrators be exposed.
I’ll probably get roasted for saying this, but more D’s should have spoken out against Bill Clinton. Even if it was “consensual”, he was using his position of authority to get sexual favors from a 21 YO intern. Same goes for GHW Bush and other past presidents for whom their assaults and indiscretions were known. I don’t care what political party they represent, their sexual orientation, or their gender — wrong is wrong, and should be declared as such. I’m sick of the tribalism that I see around me — on the right and the left.
Bonzo: the Clinton/Lewinsky affair was all sorts of extraordinaryly stupid. But she initiated it, and I clearly remember Dems speaking out about his behavior. Both during the investigation, impeachment and after. This belief that they didn’t is wrong. What they objected to was the obvious partisan nature of the Starr investigation and the impeachment.
Bill Clinton has been accused of rape, not just having sex with an intern. I feel like that accusation doesn’t get the same attention that others do, and I’m not really sure why.
Yes. Did you see the Atlantic article about Bill Clinton?
I just read The Atlantic article, thanks for the tip.
The bigger problem is the allegations of Juanita Broaddrick, Paula Jones and Kathleen Willey, who all have accused him of sexual harassment and in Juanita’s case, rape. It wasn’t just that he had a little indiscretion (blaming Lewinsky? really??)
NYT has written about this as well. Dems are long overdue for a reckoning for their justification of Clinton’s misconduct. This isn’t a problem with one political party. It’s just seems more egregious when evangelicals are willing to support literally *anyone* if they are anti-abortion.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/15/us/politics/bill-clinton-sexual-misconduct-debate.html?smid=tw-share&_r=0
CR – Saying that Lewinsky initiated the affair is the same as saying Harvey Weinstein’s victims were somewhat guilty by continuing to star in his films or take jobs from him or return to follow up meetings after they have been assaulted. Monica was a low ranking intern. Bill was the goddamn President. Abuse of power be it a movie studio head or politician is abuse of power. Bill has been given a pass for FAR too many years. It’s time for him to be called out along with all of Hollywood being called out now. I love my girl Hilary too but she knew all about his actions and stood by him which makes her complicit. So those calling out co-workers who allowed Harvey to wreck havoc for years need to call her out too. Bill took advantage of Monica. Period. Just like Kevin Spacey and Harvey took advantage for years of their lower ranking peers.
The problem is that Lewinsky doesn’t think she is a victim. She doesn’t blame him, and she was used as a political pawn. You can’t force her to feel a way she does not feel. She has said they were flirty and it was consensual. She deserves to be able to move on if she wants to.
Because the Clinton issue was used as a smear tactic and wasn’t brought up in an attempt to help the women it makes it nearly impossible to understand all the conflicting information. Money became involved, and motives became questionable.
That is politicizing. David Vitter had problems and Hastert. I don’t know that anything would change. If the GOP had not spent 30 years using it as a weapon, then we could discuss it, but they did.
If some new information or accuser comes forward, then it is worth investigating, but it has been litigated to death as it stands today.
I would like to focus on the people we can do something about without politics playing a role in it.
He should resign. I’m sure there are a number of great Democratic women that are much more deserving. Why is anyone defending this pig? How can we condemn the GOP for Trump and Moore if we don’t hold our elected officials to higher standards?
When 45 resigns, we can demand it until then that is unfair.
If you mean Al Franken, he is absolutely not a pig. And he has called for his own investigation. Is anyone else doing that?
It’s time to start demanding Trump’s resignation on this alone.
You’re saying we can’t call for Franken’s resignation until Trump resigns? Shouldn’t we be leading by example? Creeps should pay the price for being creeps and they should both be gone. End of story.
He forcibly french kissed a woman and pretended to grope her for laughs. He no longer has the moral high ground and he should go. Women need to be taking the jobs of these men.
ETA: Where there is one story, there are usually a dozen. The woman said today she’s already heard from another woman with a similar Franken story to hers. What if there are more accusers? Then can we call for his resignation? Or not til Trump is gone?
OR we could let the investigation play out before we officially tank the career of a guy who has been a great asset for the Dem party and who up to this point, has never been accused of any improprieties.
If more women come forward then he has to resign. Unquestionably.
Well – one story is enough. He admitted doing what he did, so there’s nothing to investigate. It was wrong, he knows it. However, I’m glad he will submit to what is obviously a way of buying time to keep another Democratic vote in the Senate.
If we just keep breathing, there’ll be more, on both sides. I guess we have to hope that more Republicans than Democrats have to go, but accountability is accountability.
I like Al Franken, I do. But I just have no more tolerance for these men who just take whatever they want with no thought to the feelings of women.
How many of these entitled creeps are taking Congressional jobs that could go to more badass women like Kamala Harris and Maxine Walters?
He’s obviously not the same as Roy Moore or Donald Trump, but are those our standards? You have to molest children or rape women to receive our disgust? The Democratic Party is better than that.
As someone said on twitter this probably tip of the iceberg and 2/3 of congress is probably guilty of impropriety, harassment and assault. They’ve been paying out big sums of money secretly for harassment claims for years.
He should absolutely resign, right after Trump, who walked in on 15 year old teen beauty pageants undressing and 20 women have accused him of assault, resigns and after Moore, who is a pedophile, leaves the race. Then Clarence Thomas needs to resign. Then we can talk about Franken’s resignation. Sure.
KBB
I was in a rush when I responded so I should be more explicit.
One of the reasons I did not want 45 as president was because his morals and character is so low that it is hard to demand others to be better than him to keep their positions. They have paid out 15 million to women who have complained about members of Congress, but since they signed NDAs, we won’t know who they are. Should they get to stay and he goes?
If that is the case, then there should be a clean sweep. It shouldn’t come down to who has been clever and who has a base that doesn’t care. While 45 is in office, this is our standard.
I’m devastated about Franken, but wrong is wrong. I have watched one of my favorite actors, Spacey, be exposed for the predator he is. This Franken episode will be harder, but I cannot condemn one man and not another for the same behavior. Sadly, the Republicans will use this as a distraction from Roy Moore, and the media will be glad to be on to a hot new story, but women will still have been humiliated and damaged by this behavior. A lot is going to be burned down before any change can happen.
Ditto to all of this, Third Ginger.
It’s so upsetting. It’s a bit less than delightful, living in this time of everything coming out but I truly believe something better is on the other side. Eventually.
I would prefer than it was just right wing idiots, but…..
Change is hard, isn’t it. {sigh} Franken is a tough one, but wrong is wrong. He and my former husband were in an elevator once together, and my ex took the opportunity to tell him how much he admired his work and how pleased he was to have the chance to tell him. Franken was a total asshole to him, and he was crushed. This was in the early 1980s and I’ve never looked at Franken in quite the same way. But this, sadly, is a whole different kind of offensive action.
Dems always eat their own. The Republicans has a sex offender as their leader, and want to send their pedophile to the Senate, but yes, let’s force Franken to resign right this very second. Doesn’t matter that he called for an investigation. Doesn’t matter that the charges are far less serious than those against Trump and Moore. Let’s get rid of this guy right NOW, this guy that is a strong voice against Republicans who, if they had their way, would:
– take away our healthcare
– take our $$$ and give it to billionaires
– take away kids’ healthcare
– put Muslims in camps
– kill every elephant on the damn planet
– throw every immigrant, legal or illegal, out of the country
– put Hillary in jail
– throw reporters in jail
You know what this is like???
“But her emails!!!!!”
Sorry but what is the equivalence between Spacey and Franken’s actions again? I don’t see it yet? Maybe if more info comes out. But not at this point.
third ginger: I agree w you completely. And to say, Well, look at Trump, he hasn’t resigned, so Franken shouldn’t have to, is inane. So many of you say you hold yourselves, as Democrats, to “higher standards,” and yet propose that until Trump is impeached, “your own” shouldn’t have to resign. Hypocrisy at it’s highest: willful blindness.
maggie, the comparison was about two men I admired, not the charges. My post was about how hard it is to see idols fall. You completely misread the post.
maren, I never said Franken has to resign. I just do not want to live with a double standard.
OH JESUS GOD NO.
FFS all men are officially cancelled.
My feelings exactly!!!
A CNN talking head is blaming Mitch McConnell for the Franken story to shut Dems up about Roy Moore. If true, that’s some Republican logic for you. Leftie wrongdoing doesn’t excuse Moore. Come on. And at this point we all understand harassment and assault isn’t partisan.
McConnell is making it partisan. He has launched an ethics investigation into Franken, for conduct prior to his election to the Senate, but not into the broader allegations that all of Congress is a den of predators or into Trump’s behavior. I do believe Franken should be investigated but he’s not the only one who should be investigated and McConnell’s refusal to call out Trump just stinks.
I don’t think it’s comparable to Moore, personally. I think you can say that what Al Franken did was gross and inappropriate but also say that it’s not on the same level as molesting and preying upon a string of underage girls.
That pic is juvenile and offensive even if he isn’t physically touching her. Like WTF would possess him to do that?
Just so wrong. And his apology is lame AF, too, but at least he addressed it. Still waiting for Trump to publicly condemn Moore…
agree 100%
He just released a better apology and called for his own ethics investigation. At least he is owning up to it. His behavior was reprehensible but l am willing to see how he makes amends.
I agree.
Agree! Wrong, VERY, but not comparable.
I agree.
Yes what Franken did was toxic and disgusting but I don’t think it’s in the Roy Moore category. Let’s sit for a moment and see if other women come forward but if this really is the worst of it I’m ready to go after actual rapists and child molesters before Franken. He’s definitely lost my respect though.
Cosign. His second apology was much better. I truly believe that there is an enormous difference between a single (incredibly stupid, offensive, and patently terrible) incident like this and an ongoing stream of women (underaged or not, with underaged being especially disgusting and problematic) telling of predatory incidents spanning years.
I am not prepared to “cancel” anyone on the basis of a one-time mistake, if it is demonstrated that remorse is genuine, personal growth has occurred, and the person recognizes that what they did was wrong and attempts to make genuine amends to the wronged party. I said similar on the Jeffrey Tambor thread last week. I am not perfect, I have done hurtful things in my life, and I approach my assessment of other people with that in mind. NPR just reported that Leeanne Tweeden accepted Sen. Franken’s apology. I believe in using a scalpel, not a machete.
@AMA You eloquently stated my feelings as well on this.
As others have pointed out, he issued a better statement and has called for an investigation. This is different from both the Moore and Trump scenarios, not defending it, what he did was wrong but it is different. Also, there are punishments in place for members of Congress who engage in bad behavior and resignation allows the person to escape the punishments. It also allows the person to escape the wrath of the constituents. We’ve had situations here in MA where are congressional members faced the punishments. Barney Frank was censured because, after realizing that his partner Steve Gobie was operating a prostitution ring out of his home, Frank called for an investigation. Frank was cleared of any wrongdoing in the prostitution ring but improperly fixed parking tickets (a lot of parking tickets) for Gobie. He took his punishment & then faced his constituents to let them decide. Gerry Studds was investigated for an affair with a congressional page (above the age of consent) and he was censured & than faced his constituents. The weekend after Chappaquidic, Ted Kennedy asked his constituents for forgiveness and their input on whether he should resign or stay in the Senate and provided a phone number & address for responses. Local media monitored the response and constituents said “stay.”
I favor people facing the punishments in place and their constituents decisions
I forgot about that scandal with Barney Frank, LP.
“I am not prepared to “cancel” anyone on the basis of a one-time mistake, if it is demonstrated that remorse is genuine, personal growth has occurred, and the person recognizes that what they did was wrong and attempts to make genuine amends to the wronged party.”
I think this is the fairest approach. If other women come forward though, all bets are off.
Also, I did read Franken’s second statement and it was one of the better apologies I’ve read from the accused. Actually, probably the best I’ve read this far. Let’s hope he really means it because I can’t take yet another disappointment.
Agree 100%. As intelligent people, there are matter of degrees. I tend to think that we are going to have to start measuring behaviors, cause it seems like a lot of guys have done stuff like this.
What Franken did with that picture was dumb and poorly thought out on his part.
I really question the credibility of his accuser. If you look far enough back on her Twitter account, she’s expressed pro-birther views and has been a guest on Sean Hannity’s radio show. Even in the incriminating picture, it seems that all parties involved, including her are play acting and hamming it up for the camera.
Her reaction to his apologies and statements today was odd to say the least. She said she didn’t want him to resign over this, which makes you wonder, then why did you chose to come forward at this time? Was she promised something in return for smearing the name of a high profile Democrat who has stood up the the Trump administration?
I don’t think it’s a coincidence that this came out during the middle of the whole Roy Moore fiasco. Franken’s admitted in both interviews and his own writing that he’s made mistakes and hasn’t been a good husband or father at times, especially during the time he used cocaine. His own articles were used somewhat successfully against him by Norm Coleman during the 2008 election. It took an ad with his wife Franni describing how he stood by her during her struggles with alcoholism a couple weeks before the election that turned his polling numbers around.
The problem of those super predators is that they alter the perception. Of course forcing a kiss on a woman is not as bad as raping children but its still a crime. What Louis CK did was also not rape but again still a crime. Next to Weinstein he looks like a little lamb, that screws up the perception.
Talking about Dems I wonder when Biden will go down. There must be something, there are sooo many creepy pictures like literally in womens and little girls faces and I still remember it was gaining traction a couple of years ago but then it somehow died down and with Obama in the later stages of the admin he even became the cool Biden Bro in a lot of peoples eyes.
I don’t think Franken is a super predator. I really don’t. I think he thought he was funny in the picture (stupid, but he wasn’t even touching her) and the kissing was gross. But a crime?? Is it?? If I had every guy who shoved his tongue down my throat over the years arrested, there would be a LOT of guys in jail. It was gross, but I never thought of it as criminal.
I dont know if I wasnt clear. I also dont think that Franken was a super predator (from what we know of now, of course) My point was that next to super predators a “run of the mill” sexual assaulter will look tame. Thats a problem I wanted to point out. Same with Louis CK. If we didnt hear about Weinstein and Tobak Louis would look worse. Because we dont really evulate the action itself but our perception waters it down.
And yes, I do think forcing a kiss is a crime. I also think its absolutely wrong to do that in a bar when you have been flirting but this was a professional situation.
Jeez blow the whole thing up!
It’s a shame we can’t make a list of all the men who haven’t sexually harassed a female. I bet it would be short.
Lin-Manuel. I hope, hope, hope.🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻
I have been wondering the same about any existing decent men, especially in Hollywood. Keanu Reeves? John Oliver? I don’t know. I wouldn’t even venture a guess at this point. My mind and head are done in and I am wondering strange things. Like, what is the true percentage of men, if, given the chance and could get away with it, who do this stuff. I had many many experiences as a young teen, even at twelve, with middle age men creeping on me. And I was not especially pretty, and I was sort of a frumpy kid. So all these years, I thought it was me. Something about me. But no, it is ubiquitous. It seems utterly hopeless if I’m honest. Oh, and that picture of Al Franken is disgusting, makes me want to punch him right in the face. Thanks Al. We so needed this at this time. Thanks for your input. By the way your apology sucked Al.
One word: PIG!
Oh, AL!!!! Not you too! NOOOOO!
Very, very disappointed in my senator. Voted for him twice, and really liked him, but he needs to go. No double standards!
I follow a lot of liberal MN politicians, writers, pundits, etc on Twitter and not one of them is defending Franken. Pay attention to that, Moore supporters.
Nobody on Twitter is defending him and a number of very vocal liberal voices are calling for his resignation. Meanwhile, conservative voices are pretending that liberals are defending Franken. They aren’t
But many people here seem to be defending Franken. Painful fact: politicians in BOTH PARTIES are corrupt. It’s idealistic think otherwise, but not realistic. I can guarantee you that the Democratic Party has as many male pigs as the GOP.
I said this above, but I think we need to think about this. We Dems always eat their own. The Republicans has a sex offender as their leader, and want to send their pedophile to the Senate, but yes, let’s force Franken to resign right this very second. Doesn’t matter that he called for an investigation. Doesn’t matter that the charges are far less serious than those against Trump and Moore. Let’s get rid of this guy right NOW, this guy that is a strong voice against Republicans who, if they had their way, would:
– take away our healthcare
– take our $$$ and give it to billionaires
– take away kids’ healthcare
– put Muslims in camps
– kill every elephant on the damn planet
– throw every immigrant, legal or illegal, out of the country
– put Hillary in jail
– throw reporters in jail
You know what this is like???
“But her emails!!!!!”
Good grief, Maren, what on earth are you smoking? Your list is absolutely ridiculous.
Gross. I’m sure this is not the only one, either. He needs to resign so the people in his state can elect someone who treats women with respect. And while I’m at it, can everyone stop lionizing creepy handsy Joe Biden as the next big thing in Democratic presidential candidates? We won’t move forward as women unless we can burn all of our idols.
I know; those “groping” compilations of him pawing women and children have been out there for a couple years now.
Yes, I saw one of those compilation videos recently and was horrified. Joe Biden gropes every woman age 3 to 93 who was within reach, including Hillary Clinton. Couldn’t believe that all this inappropriate touching and harassment has been happening in public for years and I wasn’t aware of it.
We need to do better.
I always thought that’s why Joe Biden didn’t run against Hillary. He’s just been too inappropriate with women throughout the years, and it would come out. I don’t think anyone could foresee that Trump was going to be the candidate and 1000x worse, but two wrongs don’t make a right I guess. Uncle Joe is right.
I’m not sad for Franken; I’m happy that his hypocritical ass has been exposed. Thankfully he’s likely to be replaced by a democrat, so his departure isn’t going to hurt the party as much as it could. He is very senior and so it may hurt somewhat to lose that seniority, but c’est la vie.
Power causes brain damage. Google that; there’s a recent Atlantic article that discusses the studies showing that powerful people lose their capacity for empathy and become less risk averse (because they think they’re always right). It’s very interesting and explains why they feel more free to sexually harrass.
I think there will be more women to come forward about him.
It will hurt a lot to lose his seniority. He does a very good job on the committee grilling Trumpian liars.
I think we should see where the investigation goes and what he says during it, and of course if others come forward with similar stories. I want to hear what he thinks of his 2006 self in this. He caused more damage than he may have realized, judging from his first statement, because men really are that clueless. It was a kissing scene they were rehearsing and he might have thought he was just goofing around but it certainly didn’t feel that way to her (wouldn’t to me, either) and that’s what counts. This is why this kind of behavior has to be addressed right away in a culture that takes it seriously. Men don’t pick up on subtle hints, you often have to hit them with a brick to get their attention in such matters (figuratively speaking).
The Republicans will be too jubilant to chuck Franken to take the heat off Trump’s people in the Russia investigation. So far, the one accuser has said she accepts his apology and doesn’t think he should resign. That should be taken in consideration.
And we need to hear from his constituents as well. Actually, I think the same about Moore – yuck though he is, as long as he hasn’t been convicted, it really should be up to the people who vote for him. I think the statute of limitations is in his favor, yes? Or is he in danger of being finally dragged into court? We can only hope the no longer secret open secret about Moore will get his Democratic opponent elected. If not, well I suppose perv-supporters deserve representation too…
Was he that powerful at the time of the incident? He wasn’t in politics. He was a comedian that I only knew from his bits on SNL. I wouldn’t have named him as one of the world’s most powerful comedians even… He was sort of funny, but not that funny. He’s actually funnier as a Senator.
I thought that was odd to say he was powerful. Randi Rhodes had another take on it, but I will wait and see.
I liked Franken. *sigh*
I get that he was trying to be funny, but its a type of humor that isnt at all appropriate in evolved times.
To be honest what Trump has done to women and admitted to- I will be so angry if Franken goes while Tiny Hands sits on his trone proudly counting all the women he has groped on his tiny fingers.
If Democrats don’t hold their own accountable on allegations like this, they have no moral high ground to call for Trump’s resignation on his allegations.
Olive- read the previous comments on this.
@Trillion I get it. After the last election I felt like Dems try so much to have the moral high ground, while Republicans have no standards at all, and for all we tried to be the bigger person, Trump and his ilk won. So what good did it do? And what good will it do to lose Franken while Trump refuses to admit any wrongdoing and is still prez?
I still think he should go. And judging by social media today, most every other Democrat Minnesotan agrees. We don’t want people like that representing us.
Olive, I didnt mean to imply that Franken shouldnt be held accountable. I was just worrying that Trump would call for his downfall spite being guilty of so much groping himself.
Franken is i trouble and he should be, no question.
The Dems haven’t had moral high ground on this for decades. Bill Clinton, and before him, JFK, were serial sexual predators. The press didn’t expose JFK for what he was, and while Clinton’s assaults were much better known, the media and the Dems gave him a total pass.
He is canceled
He’s not touching her in that picture.
Still, that’s a violation and not a very funny one, Al.
He forcibly French kissed her
Yes Franken should face discipline and likely resign…and so should the US president.
On a “lighter” note I can see Depp phoning in his performance from here. The first one was mediocre, and this actually lowers my already zero interest in the series to negative 20. Also Redmayne may be a good actor but he’s a very dull blockbuster lead. Painfully dull.
And to add: Franken has requested an Ethics Committee investigation into himself.
I’m willing to believe her AND wait for further info on this one.
There it is: Roger Stone knew this news was going to drop last night.
I still believe her, but hmmmmm to the situation.
Did he know about this allegation specifically? Because I would find that concerning.
There’s another Conservative woman that supposedly has a story about Franken, but I don’t know the details of it.
She is also best friends with Sean Hannity.
Well that changes things now doesn’t it? Sigh. Why make this political.
The House and Senate will be bogged down with these ethics investigations throughout 2018, I have no doubt…the dam is about to break. And it’s going to be even uglier than it is now.
If someone’s asleep, that’s really taking advantage. She’s doing this USO tour to give something back, and instead some creep gropes her when she can’t consent.
Imagine if someone did this to your daughter/mother/sister/roommate on a Greyhound or a train and took a picture like it was hilarious. Wouldn’t it make you a little angry?
Good. Call them ALL out. The more men from all arenas of public life~ politicians, celebrities, athletes, Democrats, Republicans~ are exposed, the harder it is to claim that sexual assault allegations are just a partisan witch hunt. I know some people still will, but f*ck them.
FULLY AGREE! You can add “Academics” to that list: see recent story of Tariq Ramadan, a celebrated Oxford prof that has been accused of rape and MULTIPLE sexual assaults… here are two links for anyone who wants more info on this next d-bag…
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/07/oxford-university-places-tariq-ramadan-on-leave-amid-claims
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/22/feminist-campaigner-accuses-oxford-professor-tariq-ramadan
Academia is horrible. I read about women in research and how they are victimized by men in power.
The most notable case in the US is Geoff Marcy at UC-Berkeley who was forced out 2 years ago.
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2015/10/15/berkeley-astronomer-resigns-over-sexual-harassment-investigation
Tariq Ramadan accepted a position at Notre Dame in 2004, but never taught there because his visa was revoked by the State Department for giving donations to charities linked to Hamas.
I think that sexual harassment is a silent epidemic in academia. For those, both male and female, that speak out the consequences of their lack of silence included losing funding at their institution and potentially not getting jobs post PhD. Given the job market, they have more to lose if they speak out and name their abusers.
Gosh, yes. I have been in the academic world for 37 years. It’s true.
I haven’t had time to read all the comments so I am probably repeating things said already upthread, but ugh. This is really sad to me. I think he should resign to be honest. It’s the right thing to do.
The part of me that has turned into a hardened realpolitik partisan cynic at this point in time, though, feels like this is how the left loses and loses. We keep trying to play by the rules, we operate under the assumption that in a democracy we have reasoned debates among people who might disagree but still adhere to common decency and the rules of order etc. And meanwhile the right is out to play as dirty as they can, to ignore the rules of decency, and to kneecap the left with a lead pipe at every opportunity.
How do you win a fight when you’re always fighting fair and the other side is NEVER fighting fair.
But still. He should resign. I believe her.
@Lindy this 100%. I said something similar above. I hate watching Dems lose over and over like this but we have to make it clear there are no double standards.
Ugh, you are so right, Lindy.
I dream of a This is the End type movie scenario where a giant hole opens up and sucks all of the politicians into a flaming pit…
If this is a one off for Franken, he shouldn’t resign. He wasn’t a senator yet. If it’s a pattern he needs to go. The kiss was in the script so she knew it was coming and could have objected before the rehearsal. The groping is soooo gross and wrong but he is clearly trying to “joke around”, not rape her. Who took the photo? Who else was watching? They are as culpable. I don’t think there is a man alive who hasn’t done or said something creepy at some point in his life, or egged on a friend to do something gross. I’m serious. EVERY MAN, ever. Can we fire every man, from every job? Either we form a woman’s only state and secede or we say no more, and get some perspective on what we will forgive and what we won’t. We live in the real world, and need to be reasonable.
“The kiss was in the script so she knew it was coming and could have objected before the rehearsal.”
–> She says it was a forcible french kiss, so presumably she did object, either before or during.
Wanted to add the following from Tweeden’s account of what happened:
“On the day of the show Franken and I were alone backstage going over our lines one last time. He said to me, “We need to rehearse the kiss.” I laughed and ignored him. Then he said it again. I said something like, ‘Relax Al, this isn’t SNL…we don’t need to rehearse the kiss.’
“He continued to insist, and I was beginning to get uncomfortable.
“He repeated that actors really need to rehearse everything and that we must practice the kiss. I said ‘OK’ so he would stop badgering me. We did the line leading up to the kiss and then he came at me, put his hand on the back of my head, mashed his lips against mine and aggressively stuck his tongue in my mouth.
“I immediately pushed him away with both of my hands against his chest and told him if he ever did that to me again I wouldn’t be so nice about it the next time.”
So it’s clear she DID OBJECT, he ignored her and basically pressured her into it and forced himself on her.
Yeah, I keep hearing this defense of “the picture wasn’t funny, but he didn’t actually grope her.” He sexually assaulted her when he forcibly stuck his tongue in her mouth.
NOOOOOO!!!! Stop the ride, I want to get off.
I use to be very jaded, borderline bitter as any seasoned New Yorker. My mom use to tell me that I couldn’t go through life assuming everyone is a piece of shit.
I argued that is how you survive, you can’t go around thinking anyone has your best interest in mind. This isn’t Candyland
So I go about trying to change my outlook on life. And you know what? I was right all along. Everyone IS pretty much a POS in their own way. The key is still being happy even though you know everyone is god damn terrible.
Well, we knew this would happen sooner or later.
Because of Roy Moore and 45, the right plans to weaponize this moment to smear Dems. The accuser, in this case, is very right wing and cozy with the Breitbart crowd and known for right-wing stunts. It is helpful to realize this when they launch their campaigns aided by the bots. I am not saying she is lying but Roger Stone knowing ahead of time is very suspicious. The photo is still wrong though. This could be why he wants an investigation.
There is no low for these people. They are taking this moment of change and women being believed for political gain. It doesn’t matter they hurt the cause. Just as long as they can make Roy Moore look better, they don’t care about the consequences.
“I am not saying she is lying?” Of course she’s not, he admitted it and apologized! I’m a republican and I’m not against one certain predator. Both sides are bad and wrong is wrong. Please don’t tell me what I believe. Poor Juanita Broderick never got heard.
I don’t know what you are talking about when you say I am telling you what you believe. An apology is not an admission of guilt, and some people don’t believe her, so I was clear.
Juanita Broderick has been heard. She has been on TV and all over the media. Several times. I am familiar with her case.
Her case is precisely why political operatives should have nothing to do with an accuser or an accusation. Period. When they do become involved, it removes the argument that there is no motive and nothing to gain. That is the most substantial basis used to believe the victims.
She made conflicting statements under oath, and I guess some shady stuff with a witness that in my mind doesn’t prove he is innocent.
If she had not been used to smear Hilary in bad faith, there would not be any wariness toward her. Breitbart flew her to the debate to pull a political stunt along with the others but not against Bill but his wife. I despise that kind of thing, and she hurt her credibility when she did that. Using something this serious to score political points is shameful and low.
I was too young to remember it at the time and by the time I could vote Clinton was no longer president. All that aside I am by no means a Clinton fan. I am not even a Democrat. I wasn’t even an HRC supporter until she was the nominee.
I am on the side of women and not political operatives or parties.
And Sarah, do you believe the women who accused Trump? I would be ashamed if I supported the party of President Pussy Grabber. I would not want that man representing me and my views.
So because you don’t like her politics, the timing is suspicious? A lot more suspicious is that none of Moore’s accusers came forward before the primary, their stories only became public after it was too late to get his name off the ballot. Doesn’t mean that they are lying, of course, but the timing certainly indicates manipulation of when their stories would be made public.
What is suspicious is Roger Stone and people with a political agenda being involved and tweeting shady stuff the night before the press conference.
If that had been Paul Begala, Lawrence O’Donnell and Charles Blow tweeting the night before a victim did the same thing against Tom Cotton and she was the host of a progressive radio show don’t tell me you would say Ok nothing to see. Not worth noting. I absolutely know Fox propaganda would be in overdrive.
As for Roy Moore, the accusers are mostly Trump supporters and Republicans. Nine victims and all the people saying he was known for being a lecher is different from 1 person. It doesn’t matter when the stories come out as much as if they are true. Moore was of no interest to the rest of the country until he became the nominee so naturally someone would investigate him.
He doesn’t belong in DC. It would be a global embarrassment to have a pedophile elected to a distinguished office.
Roy Moore is insane. The minute he turns on Trump, he’ll become Trump’s second love: Roy Cohn. Love Karma, God’s girlfriend. She’s busy during the 2017 closeout season.
In the interests of softness and sweet levity during times like these, please let’s all go see Armie and Timothee Chalamet in “Call Me By Your Name”? By its trailer alone, I can feel it is just what we all might need right now. Opens NY and LA the 24th, tentatively everywhere else Dec 22. And, yes — Armie can wear the hell out of anything.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rgO_TyyOoU
I’ve seen it in Edinburgh, it’s lovely, Armie is great, Timothee is outstanding and should get Oscar nominated.