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In reply to the discussion: Kirsten Gillibrand, two words as to why you went nowhere [View all]delisen
(6,043 posts)The ringleader of demanding Franken's resignation was the Senate Minority Leader, Chuck Schumer-the most powerful Democratic Senator.
he has tools at his service to getting other senators in the Democratic Caucus to do his bidding.
Al Franken himself has laid the blame for his getting stampeded out of the senate at Schumer's doorstep.
Now let's look at the senators whom Schumer pressured to demand Franken resignation.
Corey Booker, Bernie Sanders, Kamela Harris, Elizabeth Warren-all still in the race.
The majority of the Democratic caucus demanded Franken resign-some since have been murmuring regret but the fact is when the pressure was on they turned away from Franken and followed their leader (who has some power over their careers).
Gillibrand has never hidden her stand on the sexual abuse issues and response. She is the ranking senator on Armed Forces Committee and has battled the military on behalf of women, transgender, and gay persons. Her call for Franken to resign was the first but it was consistent with her principles.
I personally wrote to Franken asking him to not resign-I believe Franken was denied due process and he resigned only due to the pressure of having his leader and the majority of his peers turn against him
However I am also opposed to the isolating and attacking the woman who acted in accordance with her own previously demonstrated principles, and then giving a pass to the mob and the mob leader.
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/363682-schumer-called-met-with-franken-and-told-him-to-resign-report
Asked if he now regrets resigning, Franken responded, "Oh, yeah. Absolutely."
Franken said he wishes he had been able to appear before a Senate Ethics Committee hearing, but he tells The New Yorker that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) demanded he resign or else he would organize the whole Democratic caucus to demand his resignation. A spokesperson for Schumer denied this threat was made.
"I'm angry at my colleagues who did this," Franken said, going on to say he "became clinically depressed" after leaving the Senate. He also placed blame on Schumer, saying, "Look, the Leader is called the Leader for a reason."
Schumer has the chance to demonstrate leadership. He didn't. The majority of the Democratic caucus had the opportiunity to behave differently-they didn't.
Finding one woman to guilty for the actions of a mob, led by a male ringleader, and then declaring "justice has been done is an old story our society.
As old as the witchcraft trials in Salem and all the anti-female crap of wester civilization which has never served us well.
Personally I prefer to face reality and change it.