DNC chair: Al Franken should resign from the Senate

[DonViejo]

Source: The Hill




BY JOHN BOWDEN - 12/06/17 12:30 PM EST

DNC Chairman Thomas Perez on Wednesday called for the resignation of Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) over a growing number of sexual misconduct allegations centered around the senator.

Perez issued a statement on Twitter shortly after several Democratic women senators called for Franken's resignation in a series of statements. On Wednesday, a seventh woman came forward to accuse the Minnesota Democrat of sexual misconduct.

"Sen. Al Franken should step down," Perez wrote on Twitter. "Everyone must share the responsibility of building a culture of trust and respect for women in every industry and workplace, and that includes our party."

Link to tweet

Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/363558-dnc-chair-al-franken-should-resign-from-the-senate

[stonecutter357]

1. bull shit....

[mahina]

12. Right. DNCs phone is 202-863-8000

My call went right to voice mail, so I left them a very clear but polite statement.

[Bayard]

53. Thanks for the number

I called and left them a very impolite message. I've also called Franken's office, and sent him a message via Facebook.

Don't bail, Al. I call bullshit on these unsubstantiated claims that are meant to divide and conquer. And its WORKING, dammitt! Even here on DU.

Perez, lets hear what you have to say when you're the next stop on the smear campaign trail. Chuck and Nancy: You have disappointed me greatly.

[mahina]

58. +1

Mahalo.

[mac56]

2. Ready, fire, aim.

[Crabby Appleton]

4. Sherrod Brown has come out in favor of Franken resignation.

added:

Twelve Democratic senators -- including Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown -- called on Sen. Al Franken to resign Wednesday, marking the first time any senator has called on the Minnesota Democrat to leave office as allegations of sexual harassment against him continue to mount.

Franken is expected to make an announcement on Thursday, multiple outlets reported.

In a statement on Facebook, New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand wrote: "While Senator Franken is entitled to have the Ethics Committee conclude its review, I believe it would be better for our country if he sent a clear message that any kind of mistreatment of women in our society isn't acceptable by stepping aside to let someone else serve."

http://www.wcpo.com/news/national/report-seventh-woman-accuses-sen-franken-of-misconduct

Link to tweet

I have listened to them. I have listened to my female colleagues, to women I work with and women in my life. And I agree the time has come for Senator Franken to step aside.
9:16 AM - 6 Dec 2017

[Duppers]

46. +100

[questionseverything]

51. brown and bernie are the 2 i am really dissapointed in

when I heard on msnbc that Bernie had joined the list it broke my heart

acorn all over again

[blueinredohio]

57. He's my senator I USED to like will call him tomorrow

and in 2018 he's gonna have a hard run and all the money he can get

[jalan48]

5. Unfortunately, I think Franken is done.

Have all those who are calling for Franken to resign because of sexual misconduct allegations also called for Trump to resign for the same thing? If not, why?

[dchill]

17. Do all those calling for Al Frankenstein to resign...

have Presidential ambitions in 2020? I submit that for the most part, the answer is yes. Otherwise, surrender monkeys.

[jalan48]

32. You could be right.

[ancianita]

19. I detest this peer pressure group attack. It's high school. We women know Franken is an ally.

If Franken is done, I'm done with supporting this party that doesn't know the goddamn difference between the slip of an ally and actual predators.

This is a Koch/Trump/Roger Stone campaign to get Franken off a very important Senate committee.

[jalan48]

23. I agree. It bothers me that someone can be presumed guilty on anonymous allegations.

I don't think Franken should resign, however, too many Democrats are coming forward making it inevitable.

[djg21]

35. Huh?

I am pretty comfortable concluding that Moore is sexual predator who has systematically preyed on girls and young women based on similar allegations made my many women. I also am happy to conclude that Trump is a sexual predator based on allegations made against him (and his own admission of guilt).

What’s sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander, and we can’t have it both ways. I’m sorry, but as much as Franken has been a great Senator, he has become a distraction and at least a number of the women making allegations against him seem fairly credible. We cannot Attack the GOP for sheltering sexual predators and pedophiles if the Democratic Party doesn’t take a strong position with respect to its own members who have transgresssed.

[jalan48]

37. Anonymous people can say anything.

[djg21]

38. I agree.

And I got castigated by the DU purity-of-thought police for saying as much.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=1911323

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=1924897

Like I said, we can’t have it both ways. Alllegations are not more credible because they are made against a member of one political party or the other.

[ollie10]

31. The lesson is clear....

If you want to set up a Democratic Senator who is causing too much grief for Republicans......this will work every time! And, the best thing of all is the Democrats will do the bidding of the Republicans every time!

What we have against Franken is really lame. There is not a single credible accusation of sexual harrassment.

It would be one thing if there was credibility to the acussations. All of us would support his resignation, or more.

But we have to separate the lame stuff from the genuine.....otherwise, the real losers will be women.

I am sad for our party.

Where are the calls for Trump to resign? Trump did much worse and there ARE credible accusers for him.

Oh, I see, Kamala and company.....it's only Democrats who should resign.

Bullshit.

[onit2day]

39. He was a comedian at a time when these things were funny and more disrespectful and

unlike republicans accused of sexual misconduct he not only admits but apologizes and demonstrates his respect for women. What was his misconduct and when. Unlike republicans this man has done so much good while in office that to demand his resignation is like hanging a man for shoplifting a pack of gum. Please Call and tell DNC we stand by Franken and support his remaining in office. Please Al do not step down. We need you.

[Corgigal]

6. So now guilty

until proven innocent. We just now just trust anyone word on anything?

Explains how Trump screwed over so many people and banks. You just don't trust, you let the evidence stack up and a investigation done properly.

Lord, what country do I live in?

[DFW]

10. I couldn't agree more

I don't see any concrete evidence of anything or accusations with credible names behind them. I hope Franken rides out this storm. With the evidence now on hand, started by a Republican operative with an agenda, there isn't enough to convict a third grader of stealing a stick of chewing gum. If they get Franken, who's next? Some key Democratic Senators in vulnerable elections next year in swing states maybe?

Ready, fire, aim, indeed!

[hamsterjill]

7. This is why Republicans win all the time.

Democrats are willing to splinter the party to make sure they look "politically correct". IF ANYTHING, this issue should be handled privately within the party and not made for public spectacle.

It burns me up when Dems hand fodder that will be used against us to Repukes.

[Blue_Tires]

34. +1

[Paladin]

8. But that's the whole point, Perez:

Everybody ISN'T sharing that responsibility. Republicans aren't even being required to lift a finger. So what's the end result of this? Roy Moore gets a Bannon-assisted Senate seat with no consequences, trump gets to continue his presidency with his accusers continuing to be ignored---and Al Franken gets booted out, with a mumbled "Thanks for your service" good-bye? Fuck this shit.

[ancianita]

22. Damn right. It's pathologically neurotic for Dems to self-impose such standards. Fuck this shit.

[bucolic_frolic]

9. It's a chorus

me thinks we're cleaning our baggage because something bigger looms on the horizon
that doesn't involve us

[RussBLib]

43. It's a lynch mob

Al has been contrite and his offenses are not that extreme at all

[Bayard]

55. We think its hilarious when Rethugs eat their own

Right now, they're slapping each other on the back and laughing their asses off.

[MsLeopard]

11. Perez, I think you should resign too

It's almost as if Debbie W-S was still running the show. Disgusting.

[stonecutter357]

14. Nothing wrong with Perez are Debbie ........

[Demit]

13. He's as much as admitting that Franken has to agree to be a scapegoat,

by saying everyone must share the responsibility. Truth doesn't matter to this Democratic Party, only perceptions.

I've never felt ashamed to be a Democrat before. This is just wrong.

[dalton99a]

15. Meanwhile

[FakeNoose]

16. If Cheeto resigns FIRST, we'll concede Franken

Is that a deal?

[Lifelong Protester]

26. I agree with you!

[ancianita]

18. Nope. Never. Franken is a female ally and the party needs to stop this stupid, purist attack.

[rtracey]

20. and

And because Tom Perez decided to allow the right wing and the media walk all over our party, I demand that TOM PEREZ STEP DOWN AS DNC CHAIR and let a true democrat run it. If this is what this party is all about. If this party refuses to allow an investigation before pronouncing guilt, if this party does not stand up too the right and if this party does keep trying to ruin elections because of members eating each other alive. I WILL QUIT THIS PARTY AND NEVER LOOK BACK.

TOM PEREZ......YOU ARE NOT A TRUE DEMOCRAT AND YOU MUST RESIGN

[CanonRay]

21. Idiots

[sinkingfeeling]

24. If Al is forced to resign, I'm done with the DNC.

[charliea]

48. I joined the Democratic Party last year.

So I could vote for Bernie in my state's primary. Sad to say I will quit if Franken is railroaded out of the Senate, before Blake Farenthold leaves the House, before any ethics investigation is done.

I had hoped the Democratic party would believe in "presumed innocence", and "due process" but it looks like a targeted attack on one of the most progressive Senators, without knowing any facts. I don't understand why they'd do that unless they're all Koch-bots.

Hell Tweeden accepted his apology

[link:http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/al-franken-accuser-accepts-his-apology/article/2640931|

[sinkingfeeling]

49. I've been a Democrat for over 50 years, but I'm leaving if he resigns tomorrow.

[dembotoz]

25. Have a friend who voted for Stein mostly cause the Hrc folks crapped all over her

It was pretty awful.
But I have been trying to bring her back in because we have a special election next month and she has a shitload of contacts in the are where the election is..
She has a special hatred of the DNC.
And she has a profound admiration for franken

I can hear her laughing 2 towns over

[Lotusflower70]

27. Seriously?

That is straight up bs. He said he would undergo an ethics investigation. This plays right into the GOP. Trump is still pissed at Franken about Sessions.

[janterry]

28. But he said she is lying

He has been honest in the past, I believe him now.

[Lifelong Protester]

29. One of the reasons I don't support the DNC.

[Wwcd]

30. If Franken goes, the "Rape Fantasy" author goes as well.

He was 30, same age as Moore.

If enough is truly enough, then they should ALL step down.

Thpse writings are a trigger for many, everytime they see his face.

[DeminPennswoods]

33. Disappointed in Sen Casey, too

This is absolutely a rw hit job on Franken. He should just become an Independent and be done with the Dems in the senate.

Sen Casey might think he's squeaky clean, but it would only take 1 liar to put him in the same boat.

[bonniebgood]

36. Just left a message. first time in my life of voting D for 30 years. I

told them if Franken steps down, NEVER another vote for a Dem. Perez should step down. John Edwards, Anthony Weiner, now AL fraken ? HELL TO THE NO! I HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF SPINELESS DEMOCRATS.

[question everything]

40. Never trusted him

And to think that I was considering donating to the DNC. Not so far.

[Ferrets are Cool]

41. FU to hell, Perez, you weak ass sack of shit

[BlueIdaho]

44. Called the DNC

No money from me until they start respecting EVERYONES rights, and that includes the due process rights of a sitting Senator...

Fucking idiots...

[Rollo]

45. This is sad...

I have tremendous respect for Al Franken. His cross examination of Sessions was pure genius. He puts check marks on all the right items.

And I don't think what he's been accused of is even remotely as heinous as the things Trump has bragged about, and which Moore is alleged to have done.

Still, if the allegations against Franken are true, and I have no idea if they are, but if they are, he kind of blew it, don't you all think? I mean, his work for the common good stands to be torpedoed by this growing scandal.

I hope he hangs in there for the ethics investigation. But if he doesn't, he'll still be one of my favorite pundits.

[rockfordfile]

47. This is why it was so easy with help from the Russians to take down Clinton

[spotthebird]

50. Well I came back because Trump scared me

This reminds me of why I will leave again, forever.

[GaryCnf]

52. This has always been a top down scheme

We are still pandering to the same demographic that we started with in 1992 and has never come through for us while at the same time telling those of us who always come through about binary elections.

[ClarendonDem]

54. food for thought

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2017/12/the_republicans_have_built_an_uneven_playing_field_of_morality.html

[pansypoo53219]

56. STOP BEING DEFENSIVE! innocent until PROVEN GUILTY.

[Tatiana]

59. Well that seals the deal. Really regretting that he ended up as DNC chair.

Not a leader at all.

Apparently Gillibrand et. al are bullying all the other Democratic Senators and leaders to denounce Franken. Do they really believe he is a sexual harasser? Or is their ambition leading them to call for his resignation?

What about an investigation? Has Franken admitted something to them?

This makes no sense unless Franken has admitted to sexual harassment or to something that has yet to be publicized.

[RandiFan1290]

60. They are the 1% at the end of the day

Don't forget how hard they fought to make the Bush tax cuts permanent when Dems controlled WH/House/Senate in 2010.

They want their tax cuts and they don't care if SS and Medicare/aid are cut. They can just sit back and threaten that we will lose more of our safety net if we don't support them next time.