It seems like people here want to give Al Franken a pass

[serbbral]

I like Al Franken, but why is his situation any different than John Conyers? Don't get me wrong, I think Conyers should have gone home awhile ago, given his age. However, his age and possible dementia (so I've heard) are not the subject here (at least that's what they are saying out in the open), it's sexual harassment or sexual misconduct. Both, were accused of it, so why should he not step down as well? Let's discuss. Please explain.

[demmiblue]

1. ...

[hlthe2b]

2. That is ALL that HAS been discussed the past 72 hours... Simply peruse the COUNTLESS threads in GD

By the way, I find your title to be highly inflammatory and suspect others do too.

[Lint Head]

5. I agree.

[janterry]

14. I respect AL

and agree with you. I don't give anyone a pass, and
I still support him.

[spooky3]

3. Your answer is summarized here and detailed in the WaPo link:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=9938796

[Agschmid]

4. Nobody is giving him a pass.

I think people would like to see everyone be held accountable in the same way.

This is all DU has talked about now for two days.

[hlthe2b]

6. why would anyone who truly "wanted" to understand DU positions post such an inflammatory/accusatory

subject line, I'd surely like to know. though I have a hunch....

[solara]

16. I'm with you there

I also have a hunch

I'm so sick of this

[Agschmid]

20. Same.

[demmiblue]

24. 2008:227:6

That's why.

[ChubbyStar]

29. Boom! This is the third time today I've seen this situation

Posters with no activity for YEARS are all the sudden very busy.

[serbbral]

34. And some want to use censorship to shut us up. Sigh......

[ChubbyStar]

36. Censorship? The Drama club is being held on a different site today

[serbbral]

38. Some want to use terms like "drama club" to shut us up

But no one provides much of an explanation as to why this man should get a pass and Conyers should not.

[LuvLoogie]

37. I don't think that word means what you think it means

You are free to spew whatever B.S comes to mind, TOS violations excluded. And people are free to call you on that bullshit.

[ChubbyStar]

41. Beautifully stated!

[serbbral]

44. Why must when someone wants to challenge and ask a question, you have to get hostile?

Why is what I am saying 'BS?' I just do not see the difference. BOTH are accused of sexual misconduct, you can slice the dice anyway you want and try to 'pet Al up'. I just do not see why Al should go free and Conyers goes home. I just don't.

[rainy]

7. Mainly Al never hit on the women or

asked for sexual favors in a power position. He was clowning around as comedians like to do, during photo shoots. He learned he wasn’t funny but offensive and insensitive. Not crimes, no pay offs!

[solara]

18. True

I agree with you 100%

[bdamomma]

28. also Franken

didn't push down a girls head down to his groin either, there is a big difference here.

[serbbral]

46. At first I felt that way too, but some came forward more recently when he was NOT a comedian.

But a senator.

[arthritisR_US]

8. What ever happened to due process? I hardly think hes getting a free pass!

[solara]

19. Absolutely

PINO trump, moore & farenthold - THEY are getting a free pass.

[serbbral]

47. Ironically

I think that is what's happening here. Unfortunately.

[Willie Pep]

9. There should have been an ethics investigation.

Trial by media is unfair and sets a bad precedent and ultimately devalues the issue of sexual harassment by reducing it to a media circus and political "gotcha" game. There seemed to be some evidence that the allegations against Franken might have been politically motivated so there was good cause to at least have an ethics investigation.

[solara]

21. Hear! Hear!

Sen Boxer said an ethics investigation would be too distracting.. so obviously it's much much better to lose one of our strongest, most important, ethical and balanced voices in the Senate instead.

But not a word against trump, moore or farenthold not a word - they are the ones getting a pass.

Nothing makes any sense..nothing since before November 2016

[Willie Pep]

25. Even if it would be distracting I think Sen. Franken was owed at least an ethics investigation.

I just don't understand why the other Democratic politicians rushed to demand Franken's resignation when an ethics investigation seemed fair to both the accusers and Sen. Franken.

[solara]

31. Totally agree

Looks like they panicked and a rush to judgment was all they could manage, they wanted to show they were taking the "high" road.. as if the Vichy GOP would even notice or care.

The Dems in Congress need to get a freaking spine or we are lost

[Lint Head]

10. End the hypocrisy! Trump must resign now!

[serbbral]

48. I agree.

[madaboutharry]

11. I do not think people want to give him a pass.

I think people wanted Due Process. People wanted the facts. I think most here would think a resignation was warranted if things were shown to be true.

Former Sen. Barbara Boxer just said on MSNBC that the Ethics Committee would have been brutal and it would have been a distraction and so it's better he's gone. That is nonsensical and is not a valid reason to force a resignation.

[CatMor]

26. I'm sure Senator Franken knows it would be tough

with the Ethics Committee and was still willing to do it. I hardly think it's right to ruin someone's career because it would be a distraction.

[solara]

32. Hear! Hear!

But our esteemed Democratic Senators panicked

[Demsrule86]

12. Al Franken was attacked by right wing...with two rightie

liars...one who works with a bestie of Sean Hannity...and anonymous people...so it is total bullshit...and Democrats need to get tough or we will never win...it is now open season on Democrats..we have to fight for the seat in 20...total crap...worst outcome. There is serious doubt if McConnell will seat any replacement too.

[enough]

13. No, we want to have an investigation of the accusations, not a pass. NT

[brush]

15. NO! All we wanted to give him was a hearing. Perhaps you've heard of due process?

[randr]

17. There are women who have been brutally raped and abused

who can not get justice while women who have had their asses pinched are bringing down a Senator that serves our nation in a time of need.
I am curious who the real victims are?

[CentralMass]

22. He deserves due process.

[hexola]

23. Read this and get back to us...

https://twitter.com/search?q=%20%E2%80%98donaldtrumpjr%E2%80%99%20from%3Aleeanntweeden%20&src=typd&lang=en&lang=en

[msongs]

27. didnt give him "a pass" - he was scheduled to have a hearing on his alleged conduct but

kirsten and mitch wanted him out pronto

[VOX]

30. By denying him his voice, its therefore a bloodless assassination.

It would have been proper (and truly American) to allow Al to tell his story to an ethics committee, instead of merely banishing him outright, without due process of any kind.

[kcr]

33. Really? Does it seem that way to you?

Please.

[serbbral]

35. Yes, it does.

[Stinky The Clown]

39. Let's say he is guilty of everything alleged.

How about some fucking proportionality?

The WORST of what he did doesn't approach what Trump has bragged about. Doesn't come even CLOSE to pedophilia. Doesn't involve $83,000 of TAXPAYER money to keep a victim silent.

If we can use legal terms, Franken would be guilty of misdemeanors as compared to Class A felonies.

So . . . . no need for a pass. A formal rebuke and we move on.

[treestar]

40. I don't think most of it was true, but where it was

it was not enough for a resignation, especially when the Dolt in the WH has done much worse.

[oasis]

42. It appears Franken was targeted. Democrats got played on this

big time, by Bannon/Breitbart.

[DeminPennswoods]

43. The charges are laughably flimsy

We have a joke photo, a kiss that part of a skit rehersal, 3 women who asked for pictures to be taken then after the fact didn't like it that Franken didn't have his arms at his side during the photo op with them. Oh, and the one accuser who claimed Franken tried to "kiss" her even though she says she didn't really know what was happening.

This is the sum of the "harrassment" committed by Sen Franken.

[Vinca]

45. We don't want to give Al Franken a pass, we want to give him a fair hearing.

He's been tried and convicted in the court of public opinion ginned up by the media and, sadly, his fellow Democrats. There is plenty to suspect about his accusers, even the ones who haven't hidden behind anonymity. If his resignation had come at the end of an ethics investigation and the conclusion had been "guilty as charged," I'd help him pack his bags.

[libtodeath]

49. Lets not,am sick of surrendering to the repuke fucks that consider women property.

Sen Franken is a honorable and good person.