Some politicians know how to take a photo without raising questions...

[brooklynite]

It's not rocket science.

[brooklynite]

2. Care to point to any allegation of inappropriate conduct by President Obama?

I recall he wasn't very popular by the Republicans.

[woolldog]

4. It's very easy to launch an anonymous allegation.

Stay tuned. The GOP is going to weaponise this, if they haven't already

[brooklynite]

5. And yet, they didn't with President Obama.

[LisaL]

7. Yes, he was just accused of not being born in the US.

Which obviously would disqualify him from being President, if true. So no big deal.

[woolldog]

8. the "me too" movement hadn't caught on yet, obviously.

This is a recent trend that's happened since Weinstein

[Willie Pep]

21. If Obama was running for office today accusers would be coming out of the woodwork.

I think you are right, nobody saw much potential for weaponizing sexual harassment accusations at the time. The problem with the Me Too movement is that it has made trial by Twitter acceptable. When Republicans tried to destroy Bill Clinton they had to through formal procedures and rely on old media. Now social media makes public opinion lynchings easier.

Americans have a tendency to take laudable causes like opposition to sexual harassment and then completely abuse them by allowing moral panics to set in. Something similar happened in the 1980s when a greater awareness of the problem of child abuse gave an opening for cranks to claim that Satanists were abusing children at daycare centers. Plenty of lives were ruined by those accusations.

I had a feeling that the Me Too movement would eventually become politicized. Another gift to Roger Stone and Steve Bannon.

[OnDoutside]

14. If they'd known it was this easy, I'm sure they would have.

[Kimchijeon]

12. Well they don't need to bother "taking down" Obama, he's no longer in Office

Franken on the other hand...

And yes, I'm sure others will enjoy the same treatment. Perhaps a flurry of "Bernie squeezed my waist while we took a photo" accusations will come up next, etc. Anyone is fair game who is a thorn in the side of the fascists. They know that dems are eager to please and willing to self-suicide over anonymous flakey horseshit, so they are laughing their asses off right now, for good reason.

[unc70]

3. It is easier if you are nearly a foot taller

I am slightly taller than Obama. In a photo op situation, my hands are naturally at shoulder height for most women, for all but the very tallest. If I were 8-10” shorter, then I would have to be more aware and careful — though now the waist is also a big concern.

[woolldog]

6. Looks like this photo catches Obama in the act

of groping that woman's shoulder. Did she give her consent?

[Kimchijeon]

13. lol oh dear! he should resign, for sure

...oh, wait

[JI7]

9. Leeann Tweeden and others accusing Franken say he was born in Kenya

[R B Garr]

11. LOL!

Yup..... That puts it in perspective.

[JI7]

10. Franken is shorter than Obama. Fucking stupid post

[brooklynite]

15. After vigorous experimentation, I have determined that I could place my hand a foot above my head...

...if called to do so.

[OilemFirchen]

16. You mean like this?

This?



This?



What's your point?

[OilemFirchen]

17. Oh my!

Off with his head!

[OilemFirchen]

18. Goodness sakes!

This woman looks absolutely horrified!

[secondwind]

19. Al is only 55. He isnt very tall. :-(

[Skittles]

20. WE GET IT, YOU HATE FRANKEN