Al Franken's Saturday Night Live era was full of jokes disparaging women

[Squinch]

47. I understand what you are saying, oberliner, I really do. And you're taking a lot of shit for it

which is unfortunate.

But two things bring me to a different conclusion than the one I think you have reached.

Yes he was piggish. I DO have a problem with that joke with Tweeden, regardless of who she is and regardless of the fact that he didn't touch her. And I understand your disgust with the report of the forced kiss, though he is denying it happened. I think we owe him as much benefit of the doubt as we owe her, especially since his body man says it didn't happen.

So my first thing is this: This kind of thing, as your OP shows, was considered humorous in past years. Yes, he engaged in that kind of humor. But I think his apology was sincere, and I believe him when he says that he is now disgusted by his own behavior. Many here are saying, "It was a joke! He never touched her! He didn't do anything wrong!" You and I both know the joke was wrong, but his apology makes it clear that he knows it too. That makes him valuable to us as a voice that says, "You aren't getting it. That JOKE was harassment. I did it, and I was wrong."

My second thing is this: The kiss is a "he said, she said" situation. What is the best scenario we can hope for when that happens, a scenario that respects the rights of both the accuser and the accused? I think it is this: the accused apologizes, treats the accuser with the utmost respect, and a hearing takes place in which both can freely state their cases. Once each presents their case, we will have more information on which to base an opinion on what we should push for going forward. Before we get that information, it would be a disservice to BOTH of them if we say, "he's wrong" or "she's wrong." I am gratified that Franken has himself called for the investigation. Now we let it take place and we go where it takes us. In the meantime, he stays where he is, because if he's driven out without a hearing, it's really just a witch hunt.