Would you say the same for Moore’s accusers? He insists it’s all a political hack job, and the crimes he’s accused of happened decades ago behind closed doors. Innocent until proven guilty, amirite?
Meanwhile, Franken says, “I look at it now and I feel disgusted with myself. It isn’t funny. It’s completely inappropriate. It’s obvious how Leeann would feel violated by that picture.”
Franken also says, “While I don’t remember the rehearsal for the skit as Leeann does, I understand why we need to listen to and believe women’s experiences.”
I accept everything she said as 100% true. So evidently did Franken based on his second statement on the matter. His behavior was reprehensible, and he admitted it.
A senate investigation has already been announced. His apology was accepted by Tweeden (who has not called for him to step down).
As reprehensible as the incident was, it pales–absolutely pales–in comparison to most of the other stories we’ve heard lately and there’s been no indication there was a pattern of this behavior. It’s an overreaction to call for him to resign unless other incidents come to light. There’s a difference between circling the wagons and simply calling for an appropriate response.
There’s a difference between a single accuser and multiple corroborating accounts, also the degree of the offence is obviously far greater in the Moore case. I’d have said the same about Cosby and Weinstein as well, had there only been a single allegation, but it soon became clear it was a pattern of abuse. I’m sure if Franken really is a piece of shit we’ll hear more about it soon enough. Or maybe he just made a childish goof one time and that’ll be the sum total of it.
Franken says, “For instance, that picture. I don’t know what was in my head when I took that picture, and it doesn’t matter. There’s no excuse. I look at it now and I feel disgusted with myself. It isn’t funny. It’s completely inappropriate. It’s obvious how Leeann would feel violated by that picture. And, what’s more, I can see how millions of other women would feel violated by it—women who have had similar experiences in their own lives, women who fear having those experiences, women who look up to me, women who have counted on me.”
Why are you guys still insisting this is somehow ok, or just her word against his? It’s both of their word.
What do you mean by ‘ok’? The question is whether this is something he needs to simply apologise for, or whether he needs to not be a senator any more. Either way what he did was not ‘ok’, but there are obviously degrees of ‘not ok’ here.
I wasn’t denying the account of the photo. Until somebody provides some substance to the claim that it happened differently, I accept that she was asleep and the photo was taken without her knowledge.
I however, unfortunately, do see a tactical reason for Franken to lie about this to his own seeming detriment.
Yup, and Franken in particular is well versed in the jargon. We shouldn’t trust politicians when they’re telling us what we want to hear, we should be just as skeptical when they’re telling us what we don’t want to hear. What ‘plays well’ is the bottom line for them, and this applies to Franken as much as anyone else, even if he’s likely far from the worst of them.
Is anyone else bothered by the timing of this thing? I mean, aside from any discussion about tolerance toward sexual assault, doesn’t it seem funny that this comes out now, when we’re all talking about sexual assault and the power dynamic in the senate in the near future is uncertain? Does anyone else feel slightly manipulated or pressured into accepting this evidence as true (I’m not saying it is either way) given a strong social prior to do so and react in a particular way? How would one know if this is a concerted social manipulation effort?
I think that’s veering into whataboutism, since the GOP aren’t generally trying to pass laws that benefit everday Americans.
It’s my understanding the victim has accepted Franken’s apology, so personally I think it would be a bit mansplainy for me to call for his resignation.
If you think we should override the victim at the risk of harm to other women and people of color, you’re certainly free to take that view.
‘These Women Are Only Discrediting Me Now Because Shifting Sociocultural Norms Have Created An Environment In Which Assault Allegations Are Taken Seriously’
I certainly wouldn’t be shocked to discover that Republicans are actively digging up dirt on Democrats in a counterattack against what they view as a coordinated attempt to undermine their position via sexual scandals. Because we all know whom this ultimately leads to.
But I don’t really view that as something illegitimate, in and of itself.
Like the man said. Senate seats are, “A f***ing valuable thing; you just don’t give it away for nothing.” Tactically speaking, Franken’s apology is the best way for him to stay in office.
People at the top in this country get away with terrible, reprehensible behavior. I don’t think we should tolerate it. We’re all worried what will happen if Franken goes. Maybe he could resign and put his effort into campaigning for his successor. Anything would be better than leaving him in. If he stays, every Republican baby-eater will point to him and say, “but Franken!”
