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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsAl Franken's Resignation - the Lose/Lose Trap
Regardless of how we handled the accusations against Senator Franken, the Democrats were going to be tarred-and-feathered by the Republicans.
Had we told the GOP to clean up their own house first (i.e. by ridding themselves of Trump and Moore), we would be labelled as hypocrites who refused to take allegations of sexual misconduct seriously when it was one of ours.
Had we pressured Franken into resigning (as the party has now done), we would be labelled (as we now have been) as a party that turns on its own without affording him an opportunity to defend himself against allegations that may or may not have any basis in fact.
Either way, we were going to wind up in the same place a place where wed be damned if we did, and equally damned if we didnt. Either way, we were going to be forced to engage in the same battle defending our position to stand with Senator Franken, or defending our position not to do so.
This is one of the many troubling aspects of the partys decision to effectively oust Franken the fact that the outcome of not so doing would be almost the same as if we had.
Surely no one on our side was naïve enough to believe that if we threw Franken on the sacrificial altar, the Republicans would laud us for having done the right thing. Surely no one was short-sighted enough to think that Frankens resignation would put an end to the matter, and wed all walk away from the funeral pyre as sadder-but-wiser victors.
But there is one major difference in the outcome as to how things have now played out, which is why I say it would be almost the same had we taken a different stance and that difference is that although we are now still facing the same battle against the Republicans, we are doing it less one valiant warrior, one less voice that has more than proven its worth, one less man who has never wavered in defending the rights of women and advancing their cause.
Lets keep in mind that Senator Frankens lengthy career as a comedy writer and performer, as well as his political career has never been blemished by accusations of sexual impropriety until the GOP decided to run a credibly-accused child molester for the senate. Lets remember that the allegations against Franken have been oh-so-conveniently levelled at a time when the Republicans only avenue of defence was to play offence, in hopes that the cries of both sides do it would be heard and believed.
Lets remember that while the allegations against Roy Moore have substance such as his being barred from a mall for inappropriately approaching teen-aged girls when he was in his thirties the allegations against Senator Franken are as flimsy as tissue paper, and his accusers have been shown to have political ties that render their accusations suspect, to say the very least.
The Democrats who have called for Frankens resignation did so without any consideration of his heretofore unsullied reputation, and without any regard for the facts underlying the accusations against him. Instead, they acted just as the Republicans hoped they would sacrificing a lamb in order to placate rabid wolves that were going to stay hungry one way or the other.
In the end, we have gained nothing, and we have lost much including the support of many Democrats who are now seeing our party as willing to give up one of our best-and-brightest rather than stand up and fight not only on his behalf, but on our own.
There is no higher ground here that has been won; there is no moral superiority that has been demonstrated. There are no voters who have been persuaded to support Democrats because they turned on Franken; there are no voters among those who elected a self-admitted pussy-grabber that have been persuaded by our partys position that accusations alone are sufficient evidence to judge, convict, and punish.
What we are left with is the sad truth that some among us are more than willing to respond to Republican commands that we jump not by asking why we should, but by asking how high.
leftofcool
(19,460 posts)flamingdem
(39,319 posts)Not only do we lose a seat as you say, we may well lose a senator in 2020.
Critical votes could be lost due to that, including those that impact women.
LisaL
(44,974 posts)Whoever is appointed instead of Franken or somebody else will have to run in 2018. Yes, there is real danger of losing the seat.
flamingdem
(39,319 posts)even sooner
Lokilooney
(322 posts)In 2018's special election will have to run again in 2020 as that's when Franken's term was to expire. We will also be getting a new Governor in 18' as Mark Dayton is retiring and with the house firmly (R)...Republicans will have everything to gain and Democrats everything to loose...
BlueCaliDem
(15,438 posts)sign of unity amongst elected Democrats--but is that really so? Is that really why they made this ultra-rare appearance?
I don't know.
Why haven't these noble Democrats come out as one against serial rapist/pedophile tRUmp, or Pajama-Farenthold, or Trent "$5-million-if-I-can-put-my-baby-inside-you" Franks? Why haven't these 32-33 Democrats called for a presser and demand that GOP denounce their support for Pedophile-Moore?
This just doesn't smell right to me.
c-rational
(2,595 posts)Binkie The Clown
(7,911 posts)we seem content to let them get away with anything they want.
rainy
(6,092 posts)Why republicans can listen to their base and do and why democrats cant and dont :
Republican base can shout, be racist, anti-science, anti health care, anti decency: it doesnt harm the bottom line of powerful monied donors, infact it benefits them both to keep the country divided over hate and environmental and other issues.
Democrats on the other hand have to ignor their base because what they, we, want will definitely hurt the donor power structure bottom line like clean air, health care for all, state of the art free education etc:
This is why the narrative always goes against the good efforts of the Democratic Party!
Case in point is the whole Al Franken ordeal: damned if we do damned if we dont. Notice now all the discussion is about due process for Moore and Trump. That was not the narrative when press et al were destroyed the good name of one of our best!!!
Sneederbunk
(14,298 posts)If Moore wins, Franken is not going anywhere unless and until Moore is expelled. If Moore stays, Franken stays.
LisaL
(44,974 posts)Franken didn't say he will resign only if Moore isn't elected.
stevenleser
(32,886 posts)... or refuse to seat him, there is going to be pressure to have Franken stay on.
NanceGreggs
(27,817 posts)Why should Franken's position be dependent on anything other than his own actions?
It is once again a matter of some Dems saying we'll defend you or oust you depending on how Roy Moore's election goes, rather than on the merits of your own case.
Franken is either guilty of what he has been accused of, or he's not. When Democrats start basing their own positions and actions on what the "other side" does, we are no better than they are.
kcr
(15,318 posts)I think there is a perception that this should happen. This was so knee-jerk and short-sighted that the Dems really painted themselves into a corner. There will be no payoff with this decision.
McCamy Taylor
(19,240 posts)It's a classic story. One of the Greatest Ever Told if you catch my drift.
Mme. Defarge
(8,040 posts)Amaryllis
(9,525 posts)Lets keep in mind that Senator Frankens lengthy career as a comedy writer and performer, as well as his political career has never been blemished by accusations of sexual impropriety until the GOP decided to run a credibly-accused child molester for the senate
Demsrule86
(68,643 posts)BlancheSplanchnik
(20,219 posts)except that we would still have his powerful voice that cuts so well through repuke perjuries.
As for the Dems who helped kneecap the great progressive Senator Franken, in spite of the flimsy accusations, suspicious accusers & their rw connections, my trust is broken.
DUE PROCESS, not PurityLynchings.
horvath
(259 posts)mr_liberal
(1,017 posts)so why keep doing it? People vote on the issues, not on a candidate's personal life. Republicans learned that with Bill Clinton.
Franken was an opportunity to stop the hysteria and be reasonable about what is sexual harassment, be for due process,... and get back to being about the issues.
People like Gillibrand need to be called out, the witch hunting has to stop.
PatrickforO
(14,586 posts)By and large, Americans are too intellectually lazy to think much beyond the tips of their noses, which is why we are in the straits we're in.
Awsi Dooger
(14,565 posts)He's guaranteed to create another unnecessary controversy or area of attack within weeks. Therefore there's no need to evaluate the current landscape or variables under the typical measures. This Weinstein stuff has carried abnormal duration by Trump standards. Big deal. By next November and probably by March we'll have 5 or 6 topics that will equal or dwarf sexual harrassment in terms of public preoccupation.
I basically don't pay attention day to day during presidential years because I know that none of it matters. The outcome is decided by foundational aspects from years earlier. The problem with so many politicians is that they do feel a need to pay attention, and react, day to day. Far preferable to yawn and do your job. Unfortunately we've got idiots like Pelosi and Schumer who think the lesson from Dukakis '88 is to run to the microphone and respond/overreact to everything.
spooky3
(34,467 posts)I believe I saw evidence here on DU that Norm Coleman did bring up writings etc from Frankens past, eg a satirical article in Playboy, during his first campaign.
hurple
(1,306 posts)Has already devolved in pure McCarthy-ism.
All a person has to do is be accused, anonymously, of just thinking impure thoughts and suddenly they find themselves a black-balled pariah without even a chance at a defense.
Pure McCarthy-ism bullshit!
dalton99a
(81,566 posts)cwydro
(51,308 posts)Spot on.
Egnever
(21,506 posts)I get what you are saying and largely agree but..
Been thinking about this all day and I wonder was there not another path? Could they not have distanced themselves from Franken by saying they were looking forward to the ethics committee with I assume a republican chair. Saying we are the responsible party we hold our representatives accountable!
Would that not have attained the same message as the choice they made but with much better outcome? If it came out in committee that he was actually a sexual assaulter they could have washed their hands cleanly of him. If on the other hand he was not then they would not have been backed into a corner they could not get out of.
They still would have held the high ground, and they could have used the ethics investigation to continually beat Roy Moore if he got in and Trump. Even if it was going badly. He will be held responsible blah blah will your people do the same? If you are innocent Trump why will you not do the same...
Yea I don't know something just does not sit right here.
rainin
(3,011 posts)We need them to know how angry we are. This can be made right.
ProfessorPlum
(11,272 posts)democratic cowardice knows no limit.
good post, by the way. Just disgusted with how my party allows the GOP to dominate the terms of the conversation.