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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsNew England Elected Official Says Al Franken Tried to Give Her A 'Wet, Open-Mouthed Kiss' Onstage
In recent weeks, five women have said Franken touched them inappropriately, most notably broadcaster and model Leeann Tweeden, who described him forcibly kissing her with tongue during a USO tour and jokingly groping her breasts for a photo while she slept. Four women have also said that Franken groped them during photo ops, including the latest, Stephanie Kemplin, on Thursday morning. (Three women say Franken groped them while taking campaign photos, while Kemplin says he touched her breast while posing for a photo during a USO tour in 2003.) After a brief apology tour, Franken returned to work in the Senate on Monday.
The New England woman told Jezebel she came forward in an effort to encourage Franken to take responsbility for his actions, but didnt wish to be named.
I want my name associated with my own accomplishments, she told us, and not publicly linked to a mans bad behavior.
More: https://theslot.jezebel.com/new-england-elected-official-says-al-franken-tried-to-g-1820849687
LexVegas
(6,959 posts)Demsrule86
(71,542 posts)No doubt a right winger or paid. Boy...they are really making an effort with Franken...he must be really effective.
lagomorph777
(30,613 posts)Cracklin Charlie
(12,904 posts)I think the right wing animosity to Franken is at the least at a level 6 on the Clinton scale.
Theyre terrified of Al Franken. For some reason.
angstlessk
(11,862 posts)A coordinated effort is EXACTLY that COORDINATED...3 anonymous women and three REPUBLICAN WOMEN...do the math!
They are trying to cover for moore AND trump!
P.S. OH, and two of the photos each claims as proof shows both women UNMOLESTED and GRINNING! The third was a PRANK by a comedian!
Champion Jack
(5,378 posts)Demsrule86
(71,542 posts)fact to me, it proves it is all a big fat right wing lie.
BannonsLiver
(20,595 posts)grantcart
(53,061 posts)BannonsLiver
(20,595 posts)Demsrule86
(71,542 posts)trueblue2007
(19,251 posts)We don't need bashing our Dems.
LBM20
(1,580 posts)This is getting STUPID. Such BULLSHIT. My god, enough of this nonsense. These are FAKE complaints.
InAbLuEsTaTe
(25,518 posts)C'mon.
JustAnotherGen
(38,054 posts)If Trump stays - conyers and franken get to stay. done.
rockfordfile
(8,742 posts)highmindedhavi
(355 posts)nt
wryter2000
(47,940 posts)What molester does it on stage in front of an audience? Get a grip, people.
R B Garr
(17,984 posts)And pictures. Pictures in front of other people, in front of husbands.
Demit
(11,238 posts)I mean, that reaction doesn't sound plausible to me. It sounds tailored to fit the current climate.
angstlessk
(11,862 posts)Conyers and Feanken should resign, but NOTHING about moore or trump?
mythology
(9,527 posts)Plenty of site search results for Roy Moore including yesterday.
angstlessk
(11,862 posts)Loki Liesmith
(4,602 posts)rainin
(3,246 posts)Throw out so much sh*t that people don't know who to believe. Confuse everybody. This is playbook stuff here. Franken is the target for one reason: He is one of our strongest members.
L. Coyote
(51,134 posts)bluestarone
(22,179 posts)that is the fucking truth!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LenaBaby61
(6,991 posts)Anonymous accusation stuff.
Franken DESERVES to know who his accusers are, and ESPECIALLY so after that right-winged coup attempt sting that the Washington Post foiled concerning Project Veritas, James O'Keefe & that lying Phillips woman.
Dems WILL and ARE being targeted by right-wingers looking to pick them off. NO doubt about it.
Guilded Lilly
(5,591 posts)Senators reputation.
One who is particularly effective at destroying the bullshit of Republican vermin.
To the anonymous claimant: You claim it, give it your name. Take responsibility for YOUR actions.
MineralMan
(151,269 posts)As far as I know, that has always been the rule. If this person is not willing to openly accuse as herself, then we should pay no attention whatever to what she says.
In a rational society, anonymous accusations are ignored.
TexasBushwhacker
(21,204 posts)WhiskeyGrinder
(26,955 posts)Demsrule86
(71,542 posts)WE have to support Franken. Conyers is not running again so as long as Trump and Moore and the other Texas GOP asshat with the nudies are in office...leave Conyers alone.
WhiskeyGrinder
(26,955 posts)as something "the GOP" is "doing." There are plenty of handsy jerks, narcissistic opportunists and charming predators on "our side," because that's how toxic masculinity works, and the sooner we come to terms with it, the sooner we can address it and move on. There's no "good time" to do it.
Loki Liesmith
(4,602 posts)Demsrule86
(71,542 posts)And Franken is not a charming predator...and the things he is accused of are laughable...three are anonymous.
Sophia4
(3,515 posts)Otherwise, even if something happened, we are justified in suspecting they are exaggerating or lying.
Accusing someone of sexual impropriety is a serious matter. If it was just some overzealous, over-reaching and there was no sexual innuendo involved, it is one thing. If it was even a small action that was done for a sexual purpose, it is another.
We need to know because we went through years of Hillary bashing over Benghazi, an event that was in no way her fault.
ornotna
(11,482 posts)Dig up any other crap on Senator Franken?
R B Garr
(17,984 posts)ornotna
(11,482 posts)pintobean
(18,101 posts)It's just an article up for discussion. Attacking the messenger won't change the fact that there's another accusation.
Sure. Ok
Demsrule86
(71,542 posts)Demit
(11,238 posts)Coming forward is a brave act. Staying in the shadows to make accusations is not.
pintobean
(18,101 posts)Demsrule86
(71,542 posts)we will have a target on our backs...none of our elected will be safe...and you immediately assume an anonymous accuser with no other details is a 'victim'. Really? Why would you do that?
pintobean
(18,101 posts)I replied to this statement - "Coming forward is a brave act. Staying in the shadows to make accusations is not."
Pay attention.
kcr
(15,522 posts)Do you remember what thread you're in? The topic of the discussion? Because that is relevant.
R B Garr
(17,984 posts)from those so concerned about something that happens to a "victim" on stage.
Demsrule86
(71,542 posts)another employer who used the "N" word. Even with witnesses, the bosses said they didn't believe him. He resigned and will find a new job. He is finishing up college. I was so angry. This is a nice young man and he is treated like dirt by these racist scum sucking asshat bosses and some fellow employees. This isn't the first time either. In his previous job, no one (all white ) spoke to him. This is what we must fight...and these women are not believable...it is a right wing operation ...they want to take down Franken and we need to fight like hell to stop them. I think my daughters fiance gets treated worse than some because he is in college and they think he thinks he is better than them. Well he is better than they are...my dog is better than they are. ...so angry, I want to fight them.
R B Garr
(17,984 posts)there is a whole atmosphere of heightened racial tension because of what Trump has ushered in, but that's stating the obvious at this point.
That's one thing I love about the Los Angeles area. For instance, when I go into the Ikea in Burbank, you can hear multiple languages from all over the world just walking through there, and the diversity is just a given. I know it's not the same in most of the Midwest, so it's a shame that a young man has to endure that. Sounds like he just wants to work and get ahead and has to put up with those ignorant attacks. I don't blame you for wanting to give them a piece of your mind.
Demsrule86
(71,542 posts)I think they will end up in Cleveland.
Bettie
(19,704 posts)that was actually a kiss on the cheek.
Nothingburger. And yet, there are a lot of folks around here who are all too ready to toss Franken under the bus.
Demit
(11,238 posts)oberliner
(58,724 posts)And their motives are questioned.
Demit
(11,238 posts)A kiss on the cheek in front of a live theater audience...why should anyone *not* raise an eyebrow, that a benign act like that is being represented as lecherous 11 years later?
oberliner
(58,724 posts)Your first reaction is to question their motives?
oberliner
(58,724 posts)It is much appreciated.
Demit
(11,238 posts)still_one
(98,883 posts)anti-minority, anti-women bigotry
I also have a problem with "anonymous" accusers. That is Joe McCarthy garbage
Franken is calling for a Congressional investigation of himself. Will they do it? I sincerely doubt it, because people will have to testify before Congress, and lying to Congress is a crime.
Except for the Twendem, Franken has clearly stated that if he did any inappropriate touching it was unintentional. He also FLATLY denied one of the "anonymous" accusers who said he propositioned her to go to the restroom with her.
Let me ask you a question Obe. Do you believe it is out of the realm of possibility that this could be a republican hit job on him?
Let's ask John Kerry and the Swift Boaters about that. Let's ask Dan Rather? How about the 25-30% of the American populace that believe that President Obama is NOT an American? Let's ask John McCain about the South Carolina primary, and how many people there believed he had an illegitimate African American child. Let's ask how many people believe that CNN is "fake news", and Hillary should be locked up for Benghazi, the emails, or killing Vince Foster.
Lee Atwater is alive and well in the republican party.
Why am I skeptical?
Let's ask James O'keefe, Dinesh D'Souza, Roger Stone, and Karl Rove.
Ashley Todd is the poster child for this type of activity:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashley_Todd_mugging_hoax
The recent Project Veritas attempted con-job to setup the Washington Post to print a made up story in order to say Roy Moore's accusers were not credible highlights just how dishonest THEY ARE.
Drahthaardogs
(6,843 posts)The question is, why are you defending someone who obviously and unarguably lied to discredit a Democratic Senator?
The 2003 skit on TAPE clearly PROVES no skit was written so "Al could kiss her" as she claims.
That is unless Al has mastered time travel (he is pretty smart).
Why do you continue to defend lies made by a Republican Operative against a Democratic Senator?
oberliner
(58,724 posts)It is reasonable to think that part of the motivation behind writing such a skit would be so that he could kiss beautiful women.
The fact that Franken is a Democratic Senator is the reason why these now six different allegations are especially troubling.
Drahthaardogs
(6,843 posts)She SPECIFICALLY said he was WRITING the skit because he wanted an excuse to kiss her.
So, answer the question
R B Garr
(17,984 posts)"part of the motivation behind writing such a skit would be so that he could kiss beautiful women."
angstlessk
(11,862 posts)we should take THEM at their word and IGNORE ALL the women who came to his defense?
HE wants an investigation to put them ALL under oath!
oberliner
(58,724 posts)Hopefully everyone here would agree with that.
Horse with no Name
(34,239 posts)However, there seems to be a coordinated attack happening.
ollie10
(2,091 posts)However, there is such a thing as due process, and we don't assume that just because something is not OK that everyone accussed of it is therefore guilty.....
Just sayin'
oberliner
(58,724 posts)Last edited Thu Nov 30, 2017, 03:07 PM - Edit history (1)
But in this case, there was an investigation and the company determined there was grounds to fire this very high-profile individual.
Edit to add: Oops - the above comment was with respect to Matt Lauer - mixed up posts. Apologies.
ollie10
(2,091 posts)oberliner
(58,724 posts)I will amend accordingly.
OilemFirchen
(7,288 posts)What the hell are you talking about?
oberliner
(58,724 posts)Have edited accordingly.
OilemFirchen
(7,288 posts)The_Casual_Observer
(27,742 posts)spanone
(141,615 posts)if that's the case, hang in there Al.
blimablam
(121 posts)demand they resign.
maxrandb
(17,428 posts)The Nazis know that in order to get their fucked up shit done, THEY NEED THE VOTES. If we keep going the way this country is going in 2017...SOON THEY WON'T EVEN NEED THE VOTES
Hell, they already act like they have some kind of super fucking mandate to do 100% of whatever the fuck they want to do.
Jesus H Fucking Christ.
Facts:
- Some men are scum when it comes to their sex lives
- Some great leaders in American History...hell, in all of history...have had shitty personal lives
- Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment ARE NEVER OK, OR SHOULD BE EXCUSED
- People that are "morally bankrupt" in their personal lives, CAN AND DO HAVE PROFESSIONAL ETHICS
- Bill Clinton was a philanderer. I'd take him every time over Bob Dole, or John McCain when it comes to actually doing shit to make woman's equality, empowerment and protection from harassment the law of the land
- JKF slept around, but I'd choose him 1,000,000 over Nixon during the Cuban Missile Crisis
- FDR was rumored to sleep around, and Eleanor was rumored to be a lesbian, but I'd take them over any god damned Republicans for getting shit done to empower and protect the Middle Class, Working Poor and discarded in our society.
And I was abused at the age of 9 (I mean real abuse, not someone's hand brushed my ass during a photo shoot), by a friend of my older brothers...and that abuse lasted 2 years until I found the courage to stop it,
so any of you fuckers say some shit about me "supporting abusers", please take the advise of Donnie Short Fingers and GO FUCK YOURSELVES.
In order to stop this fucking train wreck and save our country, WE NEED TO WIN ELECTIONS. We don't do that by throwing good people overboard because of some anonymous claim.
Every God Damned thread that starts with a "Franken accused of _____" should be responded to with; "When are the Trump victims going to get justice"
Short of that, all you're doing by posting these "anonymous" claims is harming and demeaning those that actually HAVE experienced abuse.
bigtree
(94,263 posts)...what?
MFM008
(20,042 posts)Anonymous claims.
L. Coyote
(51,134 posts)Fundamentalists are getting away with sexual assault and assault on liberal politicians. Wake me up when one of these accusers calls on trump to resign.
beaglelover
(4,466 posts)Don't sweat it Al.
msongs
(73,754 posts)kcr
(15,522 posts)Please. Why are we even paying attention to an anonymous claim of a kiss on a cheek onstage, to Jezebel?
Mandos the Judge
(24 posts)Because the people at Jezebel would readily believe the story and print it.
Nanjeanne
(6,589 posts)Onstage in front of an audience . . . Franken put his opened mouth on yours and what????? Forced his wet slimy tongue into your closed mouth? Licked you? Why didn't you offer him your cheek? How'd he get so close to your mouth? Were you being introduced to him and instead of shaking your hand - he slimed you? She said he landed his big open mouth kiss on her cheek and she felt "put in her place"?
Dear Heavens! That woman needs a fainting couch.
These accusations are seriously reaching the point of absurdity and, while I can't speak for real victims of abuse as I am not one - I do feel as if the Franken accusations diminish the impact of those victims of true sexual harrassment and assault.
Oh - and as for you Ms. Tweeden . . . as a former actor - I have rehearsed any number of scenes with male actors that have attempted to actually try to force an open-mouthed tongue kiss on me. I never felt powerless or frightened -- and I was always capable of saying - "Whoa . . . stick it back in your mouth buddy".
spooky3
(38,634 posts)A Republican elected official, and the photos taken, and eyewitnesses at the time provide NO evidence in support of the claim.
Like the other accusers who claimed to be liberal she is unnamed.
The accusers in the cases of Trump, Moore, Conyers, etc. are far more credible.
OilemFirchen
(7,288 posts)BootinUp
(51,323 posts)Some really bad comedy. I was quite upset for some time after.
Demsrule86
(71,542 posts)stonecutter357
(13,045 posts)magicarpet
(18,511 posts)..... be former New Hampshire rabid Rethug Senator Kelly Ayotte ?
Who reports this sort of thing to Jezebel, why not report to the grocery tabloid Star, Globe, or National Inquirer ? Jezebel is a right wing smut web site.
BoneyardDem
(1,202 posts)that's just wierd.
GeorgeGist
(25,570 posts)and lying.
JustABozoOnThisBus
(24,681 posts)And don't call me Shirley
left-of-center2012
(34,195 posts)Why is this even newsworthy?
Am I allowed to say 'bullsht'?
VOX
(22,976 posts)Russians are experts at this technique: flood the media with waves (in calculated, coordinated attacks) of negative messaging. Keep it coming, relentlessly. Make noise with it. Break down morale. Make it difficult to separate truth from the lie. Eventually, even a reasonable person can give in, if only to make the brain-fogging messaging stop.
The Russians screwed with our election (one of several national elections in which theyve meddled, along with Brexit). They havent gone away. Theyre still open for business. This is an arena of conflict in which they excel. And the Al Franken stories are rolling out in measured intervals, to keep up the heat.
I can see right through most propaganda, but even Im feeling disappointed with Franken (although I IMPLORE him to stand fast). Thats how effective this technique really is in sowing doubt and distrust.
Kimchijeon
(1,606 posts)Ninga
(9,012 posts)give credence to anonymous and Republican claims.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10029903146#post24
maxrandb
(17,428 posts)MODs, I know it's a pain in the ass, but if the media is not going to do a better job of researching and vetting stories like this, I think the DU Mods will need to do the job.
This is the second one of these posts about Franken that were published in "questionable" blogs, twitter feeds, or sources that have ABSO-FUCKING-LUTELY nothing but an anonymous person's claim.
Are we going to have to see posts from every "potato-chips-for-the-brain.com" website that has someone contact them saying "hey, he did this...I've got nothing but my word, but 'believe me', he did this"
Just because someone pulls a story from the internet, it doesn't mean that it warrants space on DU.
It would be like me saying "I shot JFK from the Grassy Knoll", and then someone posting a story that "Maxrandb admits to shooting JFK...told his brother about it at the time"
and then have 400 responses to the thread, 197 that are "sure I did it", and 203 that say it's bullshit.
Guess what...the 203 are RIGHT!
pintobean
(18,101 posts)The OP here is the original source.
And, we haven't had mods here since 2011, but it was never their job to fact check the media. .
jalan48
(14,914 posts)blimablam
(121 posts)Last edited Thu Nov 30, 2017, 06:38 PM - Edit history (1)
marble falls
(71,926 posts)Nevernose
(13,081 posts)The WP investigates Moore for months. Both outlets approached the victims; they didnt arise from nowhere.
Conyers was well documented by the Congress bureaucracy, so there was plenty of proof.
The NYT investigated Weinstein for months before reporting on him (and it was a detail in a story mainly about the NYC DA).
Frankens case isnt like the others, and not all accusations are the same. Its entirely possible theyre entirely true, but its all very coincidental and not journalistic best practices.
Mandos the Judge
(24 posts)Another anonymous accusation? Let me quote Trajan here:
"... Sine auctore vero propositi libelli in nullo crimine locum habere debent. Nam et pessimi exempli nec nostri saeculi est..."
"...But anonymously posted accusations ought to have no place in any prosecution. For this is both a dangerous kind of precedent and out of keeping with the spirit of our age..."
Even in the second century AD people knew anonymous accusations are bullshit, so I see absolutely no reason to starting paying attention to them now.
Farmer-Rick
(12,667 posts)Next up spirit accusations and magical truth tellers.
This is so ridiculous. We got an admitted serial sexual assaulter as the president and leader of the RepubliCONS but that's ok. It's sketchy vague accusations against a Democratic senator that we are concerned about.
Unless Trump is held accountable, all the rest is window dressing.
Generic Other
(29,080 posts)This is getting stupid. Anonymous accusations now?
Blue_Tires
(57,596 posts)should be easy enough to verify
.99center
(1,237 posts)Are they located in Hollywood?
RhodeIslandOne
(5,042 posts)Is this an SNL character?????
Caliman73
(11,767 posts)I think that accusations of misconduct and assault should be taken very seriously. We have to start from a place of respecting potential victims, unlike in the past where they were simply ignored or attacked. We also need to expend effort to find out as much fact and evidence as we can, for both accuser and accused. That is due process. Finally, I also think that anonymous accusations have no place in the discussion.
This mysterious official said that she did not want her name associated with a man's bad behaviors, that she wanted to go by her own merits, well, calling out sexual misconduct and facing your attacker is of merit and will help people now and future generations of women and men to find courage to do so. Making anonymous accusations sends a bad message in this time frame where many powerful people are actually being held accountable because women and men are actually exposing themselves to attack by coming out into the open to tell their stories.
I think that if the stories of Franken and his inappropriate behaviors are true, then he is not fit to be a leader in Congress, but he is continuing to ask for the investigation and is willing to face the consequences, and that says a great deal.
pangaia
(24,324 posts)But, I refuse to give my name.
"You can callll meee Aaaal. Baaa bop bop ... bop...... baaaa bop bop... bop"
Deb
(3,744 posts)and I don't even know what/who that is.
Vilis Veritas
(2,405 posts)whilst they role us for all we got, offshore their winnings and send us off to fight the New American Centuries perpetual war for Dominion.
Nice.