General Discussion

Yuorik57

(19 posts)

136. Franken's picture effectively destroyed him

Wed Jan 3, 2018, 03:26 PM

Jan 2018

Posing for a photo in which he appeared to be smiling while groping a sleeping woman was political kryptonite.

Even assuming that Franken's seat was safe, the picture would have been used nationally in close elections combined with the allegations of other women to accuse Democrat candidates of hypocrisy if he remained in the Senate. Combine his photo with his multiple accusers and the party's loyalty to President Clinton and we would have to play defense on an issue where we can usually claim the high moral ground.

By coming forward and being the first to call fro a resignation, Gillibrand hopefully cauterized the wound and allows us to move on. Franken apparently understands this and thus resigned. Supporting him at this point will not help win in 2018

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Most Democratic Senators, including 11 women and Bernie Sanders, signed the letter [View all] pnwmom Jan 2018 OP

+1 NCTraveler Jan 2018 #1

Al Franken rolled over on his colleagues and constituents? REALLY? Eliot Rosewater Jan 2018 #27

Absolutely. NCTraveler Jan 2018 #119

Not at all what happened. Eliot Rosewater Jan 2018 #122

It's exactly what happened. NCTraveler Jan 2018 #129

Didnt fight? What would he have done, called the women liars? Eliot Rosewater Jan 2018 #131

Have to admit, I'm also a little disappointed in Al Franken's concession, BUT InAbLuEsTaTe Jan 2018 #103

Of course. nycbos Jan 2018 #2

Well, she started it! mcar Jan 2018 #3

It used to be called WhiteTara Jan 2018 #15

She and only she is responsible mcar Jan 2018 #18

No - it is not swiftboating karynnj Jan 2018 #44

+1 Lucinda Jan 2018 #86

But why is she, and only she, singled out for criticism? mcar Jan 2018 #112

Franken devoted his political career to wasupaloopa Jan 2018 #57

You said all the senators mcar Jan 2018 #59

Yeah, bugs me too marylandblue Jan 2018 #4

Democratic Majority Leader Schumer would have been in charge delisen Jan 2018 #6

Amazing; Schumer gets beaten up here for putting politics ahead of principle... brooklynite Jan 2018 #95

She certainly led the charge, however TheCowsCameHome Jan 2018 #5

The way the others all immediately followed suggests this was planned in advance marylandblue Jan 2018 #7

I disagree, but it makes little difference now. TheCowsCameHome Jan 2018 #12

100pc Alice11111 Jan 2018 #78

She started it! mcar Jan 2018 #19

Post removed Post removed Jan 2018 #20

Thank you for proving my point mcar Jan 2018 #21

What point was that? TheCowsCameHome Jan 2018 #23

Read what you said - "against Bush" -- the equivalent was "against Trump" karynnj Jan 2018 #46

You wouldn't have seen anything in the general mcar Jan 2018 #115

Kerry was trashed here during the primaries for the vote as much as Clinton and he also was called a karynnj Jan 2018 #121

Nope, Kerry was constantly excoriated on DU emulatorloo Jan 2018 #128

Were you here in 2004? dansolo Jan 2018 #110

I've been here since 2002 mcar Jan 2018 #134

She didn't lead any charge oberliner Jan 2018 #105

The "vitriol" is aimed at the ones with presidentail aspirations question everything Jan 2018 #8

Point to the vitriol aimed at Harris, Warren and Sanders. brooklynite Jan 2018 #96

OK, it is, will be during the primaries, my vitriol question everything Jan 2018 #124

There has been zero vitrol directed at Harris, Warren, or Sanders oberliner Jan 2018 #106

I think that at the beginning Harris was included since she appeard with Gillibrand question everything Jan 2018 #126

She has led the charge in addressing sexual assault as a senator loyalsister Jan 2018 #9

Fair point I did enjoy watching her make the Military Leaders squirm during several Senate hearings. irisblue Jan 2018 #22

I hate to see him go loyalsister Jan 2018 #36

I totally agree with you here. Democratic female politicians are on new ground here irisblue Jan 2018 #38

Keeping the women voters is essential loyalsister Jan 2018 #56

We Democrats are consistent in that behavior. Nt Anny61 Jan 2018 #10

No matter who signed what letter, in the end, the decision to resign was Al Sophia4 Jan 2018 #11

At least two women did not sign it. spooky3 Jan 2018 #13

It would have been inappropriate for the women on the ethics committee to sign any letter pnwmom Jan 2018 #17

Possibly, but your assertion about all is incorrect. spooky3 Jan 2018 #24

That list is outdated. Klobuchar did sign. pnwmom Jan 2018 #34

I have no idea what that website is that you are linking to. spooky3 Jan 2018 #40

Sen Klobuchar was his senate partner. She could not do that politically irisblue Jan 2018 #35

It doesnt matter. The point is that not all female spooky3 Jan 2018 #39

I am not disputing a fact. I am pointing out that Sen Klobauchar has responsibilities to her state irisblue Jan 2018 #42

Klobuchar agreed that Franken resigning was the 'right thing' onenote Jan 2018 #54

Sen Frankens' 1st public accusation was 11/16. Sen Klobachur made a statement that same day irisblue Jan 2018 #65

Here's what she said on the day before he announced. The same day the letter was released onenote Jan 2018 #68

Thank you for showing this. I had not seen it. irisblue Jan 2018 #72

Bullshit. NanceGreggs Jan 2018 #14

Exactly Owl Jan 2018 #25

Right elleng Jan 2018 #28

You got it in the first word Nance. n/t rzemanfl Jan 2018 #31

No doubt about it Nance it was a political calculation, and the other Senators jumping on the band still_one Jan 2018 #32

The thing is NanceGreggs Jan 2018 #43

I agree with everything you said. There could be another school of thought, that pushing Franken to still_one Jan 2018 #52

"That fairness was not extended to Franken." NanceGreggs Jan 2018 #58

Without Fairness Me Too Is A Joke SeaDoo77 Jan 2018 #85

Its the media and the optics RhodeIslandOne Jan 2018 #98

Agree. Nt spooky3 Jan 2018 #41

EXACTLY! nt Raine Jan 2018 #74

Gillibrand is a champion of women oberliner Jan 2018 #107

I consistently see that allegation/talking-point, but I never see the hard evidence supporting it. LanternWaste Jan 2018 #108

Who said evidence is needed to demonize someone. nt Trumpocalypse Jan 2018 #133

it seems to me (IMHO only) that the media whipped the accusations into a frenzy, then Al, being a diva77 Jan 2018 #16

because she ran with it; her choice. elleng Jan 2018 #26

So did Bernie and all the rest. Their choice. n/t pnwmom Jan 2018 #30

Several male senators called for Franken's resignation. Casey, Donnelly, Brown, Markey, Bennet diva77 Jan 2018 #75

Bernie is much higher profile than Gillibrand or the other names you mention, pnwmom Jan 2018 #76

Full list: Schumer and majority of Democratic senators call for Franken to resign diva77 Jan 2018 #79

Bernie also issued his own separate statement. They didn't all do that. pnwmom Jan 2018 #81

I'm not sure what your point is. I'm done with this exchange. nt diva77 Jan 2018 #82

Same point as it always is melman Jan 2018 #84

I would be gratified if there were someone who would investigate LeeAnn Tweeden dhol82 Jan 2018 #29

For once blaming Gilli has NOTHING to do with her being a woman. LakeArenal Jan 2018 #33

Yes. Thanks. elleng Jan 2018 #37

Exactly. NanceGreggs Jan 2018 #45

Oh the irony GaryCnf Jan 2018 #47

Can you explain this this, please? I really don't get what you are trying to say here. lunamagica Jan 2018 #50

I'm not sure how to clarify this GaryCnf Jan 2018 #71

Perhaps the fact that she she accepted support, endorsements and money from the Clintons lunamagica Jan 2018 #73

So it is all about the Clintons GaryCnf Jan 2018 #87

Seriously? No, this is about Gillibrand, and the way she acted in the Franken matter and her lunamagica Jan 2018 #90

I await the equal vitiol GaryCnf Jan 2018 #91

Speaking for myself, I feel the same about the rest of them lunamagica Jan 2018 #92

I accept that and applaud your consistency GaryCnf Jan 2018 #97

Oh geez LakeArenal Jan 2018 #117

Just one small question GaryCnf Jan 2018 #140

Some one said it before.... LakeArenal Jan 2018 #141

As I said to another member GaryCnf Jan 2018 #142

I dont think the others are getting a free pass LakeArenal Jan 2018 #143

Ding... ding.. disillusioned73 Jan 2018 #100

Yes. Please explain further. LakeArenal Jan 2018 #69

Because she led it. Same reason bernie gets blamed for lack of substance for bills he calls for JI7 Jan 2018 #48

That is true. I think she was the first and that is why. Demsrule86 Jan 2018 #49

She was the ringleader Bettie Jan 2018 #51

How do you know she wasn't the front woman, delegated by the group for the role? nt pnwmom Jan 2018 #53

If that was the case, it was a either stupid decision Bettie Jan 2018 #67

Well, if your pure speculation actually turned out to be fact, that would be different. kcr Jan 2018 #104

Bernie Sanders is NOT a Democrat. The woman toward whom the vitriol is directed asked for it. Glorfindel Jan 2018 #55

Why is that Democratic woman singled out over all the others who signed it, including Bernie pnwmom Jan 2018 #64

There have been over 60 responses to that question... LakeArenal Jan 2018 #70

There obviously is interest in the topic. n/t pnwmom Jan 2018 #77

How many answers do you need? LakeArenal Jan 2018 #116

Do you think I am in control of how many people respond? That's an odd thought. nt pnwmom Jan 2018 #125

No but you might by the high number of responses LakeArenal Jan 2018 #146

Yep...its pretty transparent. nt LexVegas Jan 2018 #60

Post removed Post removed Jan 2018 #61

+100. N/t obnoxiousdrunk Jan 2018 #62

my two senators KT2000 Jan 2018 #63

This is what happens when you act like a leader. aikoaiko Jan 2018 #66

Everyone who signed the letter is responsible for their assent, not just Gillibrand. n/t pnwmom Jan 2018 #80

This message was self-deleted by its author melman Jan 2018 #94

She didn't act like a leader oberliner Jan 2018 #109

KG led the way. aikoaiko Jan 2018 #111

Chuck Schumer is the Democratic party leader in the Senate oberliner Jan 2018 #113

ok, if you say KG isn't a leader on this issue than so be it. aikoaiko Jan 2018 #114

First among equals oberliner Jan 2018 #120

Sure, I can live with first among equals, but that, in my mind,... aikoaiko Jan 2018 #127

I'm very unhappy MFM008 Jan 2018 #83

Hubris, vanity and callous political ambition Cosmocat Jan 2018 #88

Unfortunately too many here cling to a cult of personality Trumpocalypse Jan 2018 #89

They all suck! GeorgeGist Jan 2018 #93

Most of them are back benchers wholl never be on the big stage RhodeIslandOne Jan 2018 #99

Bernie is not a Democrat. Drahthaardogs Jan 2018 #101

Not exactly blue cat Jan 2018 #102

Post removed Post removed Jan 2018 #118

Yes. LakeArenal Jan 2018 #123

Message auto-removed Name removed Jan 2018 #130

Very well said Trumpocalypse Jan 2018 #132

Typical mysogonist tact. Blue_true Jan 2018 #135

Franken's picture effectively destroyed him Yuorik57 Jan 2018 #136

Nah, not at all. Eliot Rosewater Jan 2018 #137

Was she? Yuorik57 Jan 2018 #138

I don't think it was ever clear whether she was sleeping or feigning sleep in the picture. pnwmom Jan 2018 #145

"Democrat candidates"? Really? And what does President Clinton have to do with this? George II Jan 2018 #147

She was the ring leader. Ligyron Jan 2018 #139

Yes, and.... uhm... I'd say more but that's the tea right there. JHan Jan 2018 #144