Ex-Clinton aide criticizes Gillibrand after Franken's resignation

[flamingdem]

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/363901-former-clinton-aide-criticizes-kirsten-gillibrand-after

A former aide to Hillary Clinton criticized Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand on Thursday after the New York Democrat became the first of many senators to join a successful push to force the resignation of Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.).

Philippe Reines argued during an appearance on Fox News's "Tucker Carlson Tonight" that Gillibrand isn't sufficiently explaining why she called for the resignation of Franken this week and former President Clinton previously.

"She's not putting in context her rationale for who she calls for resignation and when," Reines said Thursday. "She two weeks ago called for Bill Clinton's resignation, or saying Bill Clinton should have resigned two decades ago."

"[She] didn't really say why, she never said say she regretted not speaking earlier, or taking the Clintons' support or money," Reines continued. "And then goes a few weeks without saying anything on Sen. Franken until yesterday."

Reines reiterated that he thought Gillibrand, a possible 2020 Democratic presidential contender, had not explained her "rationale" for demanding these figures' resignations.

"That's not to say her decision was wrong. She was joined by 29 other senators," he added. "But most people have been discussing this in a framework of, 'If someone does this, it's unacceptable and they should resign.' It's unclear in the way she's been, in describing her actions, what that rationale is."

Reines, who served under Hillary Clinton at the State Department, has repeatedly attacked Gillibrand in recent weeks, labeling her a "hypocrite" last month after she argued that Bill Clinton should have resigned for his sexual misconduct in the White House.

"Her point was strange to me because she probably didn't come to this feeling and thought and position yesterday," Reines said on Fox News in November.

"Why she wouldn't have in the last 20 years vocalized it is strange to me. Nothing was stopping her."

Gillibrand responded to Reines on MSNBC, calling the former adviser "ridiculous" and "wrong."

"Ridiculous, and he's wrong," Gillibrand said at the time. "Bill Clinton did very important things for this country. But my point is about this conversation we are having today, and that we need to have the highest standards for elected leaders, and we have to change what's happening throughout society, and we have to allow people to tell their stories." WHAT ABOUT FRANKEN'S STORY?

[brooklynite]

1. Franken told his story...

He said he "didn't remember things" the way his accuser did.

He apologized for any behavior which offended the women he was with.

What else did you expect him to say?

[flamingdem]

2. His story should have been put in the record via the Ethics committee

They jumped the shark by not allowing that to happen

[brooklynite]

3. And what would "putting it in the record" have achieved?

[flamingdem]

4. His exoneration!

The accusations were largely BS

[brooklynite]

5. Saying you're sorry sort of puts a crimp in that defense.

[flamingdem]

7. He's supports the #metoo movement and this was expected

He did exactly what he should have done and was attacked anyway.

[brooklynite]

9. He shouldn't have done it.....if he knew the actions didn't happen.

[flamingdem]

10. The rule of #metoo is not to undermine the accusers

so he was careful to consider their precious feelings while believing FALSELY that his senate friends would support him.

What a knife to the back.

[Qutzupalotl]

20. He only said his actions were inappropriate

NOT that they happened the way the accusers said. Apologizing for inappropriate behavior (such as jokes) is not the same as admitting to sexual assault.

Tweeden was quick to accept his apology and move on once Franken mentioned an ethics inquiry. Now we find out Stone had been coaching her. That says a lot about her credibility and motive.

[R B Garr]

22. He could have also explained in an investigation that saying he was sorry was his way of

giving the women space to explain their concerns without being a jackass and calling them histrionic liars. He was being respectful of them, and look where that got him. Seriously, to pack up and go home because some anonymous person says that they were traumatized while taking a picture with him, WTF, this triviality has gotten way out of hand. Why would you be fostering this? It completely takes away from the importance of real victims.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

6. It would have forced his accusers to recant, commit perjury or go away

[flamingdem]

8. The anonymous claims would have been examined

and the benefit would have been seeing the hit job taking place.

Plus, the #metoo movement needs some definition and boundaries or they'll take more of our best for nothing

[LisaL]

17. Exactly.

There are a number of anonymous accusations that people like Gillibrand were taking into account when counting the number of accusations.
Who are those anonymous people? Did what they claim actually took place? We don't know. They couldn't have remained anonymous during ethics investigation.

[stonecutter357]

11. K&R

[peequod]

12. Oh, the effrontery! How dare one defend him of herself against accusation.

Cannot wait until scandal splashes against Sen. Gillibrand's pumps; I will be there demanding her resignation.

[DRoseDARs]

13. That he went on not just Fox News, but onto Fucker Carlson's show is problematic...

...But that aside, Gillibrand really needs to sit down and shut up forever.

"Bill Clinton did very important things for this country. But my point is about this conversation we are having today, and that we need to have the highest standards for elected leaders, and we have to change what's happening throughout society, and we have to allow people to tell their stories."

Ok.

Are you fucking kidding me? First, Clinton "did very important things" but Franken is not doing the same? Is that your argument? Is that the bullshit argument you're going to trot out? Are? You? Fucking? Kidding? Me? And highest standards? I'm sorry, but do you envision YOURSELF as meeting that bar, senator? One of those standards is intelligence. That is a bar you have demonstrated that you do not meet. Conservative operatives conducted a ratfucking operation against Franken and you took the bait. Enthusiastically. And then there's the matter of letting people tell their stories. Really? Like how Franken pretty much kept his mouth shut, was careful not to attack or blame his accusers, and even requested an investigation into the matter? Clearly he was silencing all of these people with his "Letting them speak" tactic. Subversive AND brilliant!

Senator Gillibrand, you had your turn to speak. To paraphrase an ancient idiom, it would have better if you had remained silent and have people wonder if you were a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.

[scarletwoman]

14. Wonderful post! Thank you!

[DRoseDARs]

15. Now that the Franken Test Run has been successful, who's next? Obama? Gillibrand herself?

I've been afraid to tell MY story, but #MeToo. Before she was a senator, Kristen groped my penis through my pants. I expect her to announce her resignation on Monday. DON'T SILENCE ME, LET ME TELL MY STORY!!! (Obviously not a real occurrence.)

That's all it takes now, right senator? Highest standards. And it's not like YOU'RE doing anything important, well... besides doing your part to tear down one of our own at the behest of conservatives. And madame, you are no Bill Clinton. Now THERE'S someone who did important things for our country! Sure he dicked a few women who weren't his wife, but this is about the conversation we're having NOW so I don't know why you insist on bringing him up and how he did important things for our country. (I'm sorry to keep hammering that, but that statement of hers REALLY stuck in my craw, my eye even started twitching when I first read it it made me so mad. It has a certain je ne sais quoi about it that makes me want to scream. It's like how DARE you.)

The US is heading into a dark chapter and Quislings like Gillibrand are greasing the wheels. Fate dictates she'll get run over for her efforts.

[DeminPennswoods]

16. One of the important things Pres Clinton

did was help to get Gillibrand known and elected. Has she noted that yet?

[oasis]

18. She's far from the kind of presidential nominee I could get behind.

[flamingdem]

19. The lesson should be loud and clear for her

The responses on her twitter feed bear it out. 90% against what she did. She lost, not gained support attempting to co-op the metoo movement.

[dalton99a]

21. Kick

The last paragraph is telling

[R B Garr]

23. I'm so glad someone is holding her accountable for her hypocrisy, and

this needs to continue. Her judgment is in question here, as she was more than happy to accept the Clintons' endorsements to elevate her profile. Now it's a different story when she wants to jump on a twitter hashtag bandwagon. Reines is right -- she needs to explain how she went from accepting Clinton's help to saying he should have resigned twenty years ago. By her own standards, she should be the one resigning if she is being consistent.

THIS RIGHT HERE:

"[She] didn't really say why, she never said say she regretted not speaking earlier, or taking the Clintons' support or money," Reines continued. "And then goes a few weeks without saying anything on Sen. Franken until yesterday."