What has DU come to we have numerous posts excusing alleged sexual misconduct

[stevenleser]

107. I think your OP is a straw-man. I haven't seen any posts excusing sexual misconduct.

I have seen many posts suggesting they don't believe it occurred. That is different from "Excusing sexual misconduct"

There are also complications in that, there are suggestions that all of the items that are alleged were consensual. The kiss in particular was alleged to be part of a rehearsal between actors. The alleged 'victim' herself indicates she said "OK". To assert this or wonder if this is the case is not excusing sexual misconduct because if those things are true there was no sexual misconduct.

Regarding the photograph, there is a real question as to whether or not she was actually touched and that makes a huge difference. It also makes a difference that Franken was a comedian at the time and was taking the picture as a joke and that there is an allegation that she was aware of the idea of taking the picture and was pretending to be asleep.

So there are many valid issues and questions here that go to the heart of whether any sexual misconduct occurred at all.