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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsAl Franken Addresses Misconduct Scandal and 'Experience of Women in This Country' in Thanksgiving...
Al Franken Addresses Misconduct Scandal and Experience of Women in This Country in Thanksgiving Facebook PostAl Franken wrote a Thanksgiving post on Facebook addressing his scandalous retirement from the Senate as well as the experience of women in this country.
Franken resigned in December 2017 after seven women came forward to accuse him of groping or forcibly kissing them. The stunning fall of the Democrat from Minnesota seemingly came out of nowhere, and his resignation came after a series of his Senate allies turned their backs on him.
Ive always really loved Thanksgiving, Franken wrote on Facebook. Last Thanksgiving, though, wasnt much fun. I tried to be thankful for my family, my friends, and my health, but those weeks were incredibly difficult for us Frankens.
He went on to address the #MeToo movement, which preceded the allegations against him.
Ive also spent a lot of time over this past year thinking about the broader conversation weve been having about the experience of women in this country, he wrote. I know that, for so many people, this issue raises a lot of powerful and painful feelings. This conversation can also be incredibly complicated. I dont think its my place to weigh in on all the debates but I will continue to listen and learn.
Franken pointed out in the post that while hes not running for anything, hes not out of the public eye either: I still miss being in the fight every day, and while Im certainly not running for anything, I hope that, in the next year, Ill have the chance to help make a difference again.
https://www.mediaite.com/online/al-franken-addresses-senate-ouster-and-experience-of-women-in-this-country-in-thanksgiving-facebook-post/
Bradshaw3
(7,517 posts)MoonRiver
(36,926 posts)before the due process hearing he asked for had even begun.
Trumpocalypse
(6,143 posts)Franken asked for an ethics committee hearing which is not a determination of guilt or innocence but a finding if Franken had violated Congressional ethics rules. Plus does anyone really think Franken would have gotten a fair hearing with the GOP in control. It would have been a circus geared to humiliate Franken and the Democrats.
And it was Franken's choice to resign. No one held a gun to his head or railroaded him. He took one for the team and is a hero for it.
MoonRiver
(36,926 posts)Trumpocalypse
(6,143 posts)who control the Senate ethics committee would have given Franken a fair hearing? It would have been a circus designed to humiliate Franken.
MoonRiver
(36,926 posts)Trumpocalypse
(6,143 posts)Franken chose to resign. It was his decision. He took one for the team.
MoonRiver
(36,926 posts)Trumpocalypse
(6,143 posts)Did she put a gun to his head? Gillibrand doesn't have that much power or influence to force him or any other Senator to do anything.
MoonRiver
(36,926 posts)If she runs for president, she will have to answer for her actions in the primary, guaranteed.
Trumpocalypse
(6,143 posts)Most within a few hours and some within a few minutes. Did she also go back one day in time to force Franken to announce the press conference about his political future? And where and when did she say she was proud of it? Please provide link?
MoonRiver
(36,926 posts)This is my last response to you. I don't support Gillibrand for president. I will vote for her in the general, but don't think I'll have to. I understand you really like her, but we just disagree.
Trumpocalypse
(6,143 posts)I just think we should respect the facts and it is unfair to demonize one single person for what was a group effort that was obviously coordinated by leadership.
brooklynite
(94,520 posts)Outside of anonymous bloggers, very few Democratic Primary voters will care about this.
MoonRiver
(36,926 posts)But aside from the Franken issue, I find her very bland and not charismatic. IMO, there's no way she could win the primary.
brooklynite
(94,520 posts)MoonRiver
(36,926 posts)Trumpocalypse
(6,143 posts)Cuomo only got 59% same as Clinton in 2016, so she must be doing something right.
Kaleva
(36,298 posts)tammywammy
(26,582 posts)brooklynite
(94,520 posts)It has an equal number of Democrats and Republicans.
Franken chose to resign before availing himself of a Committee investigation. Nobody forced him too.
Trumpocalypse
(6,143 posts)But I still dont think it would have been a fair hearing. The republicans on that committee would have done everything possible to humiliate Franken.
LakeSuperiorView
(1,533 posts)Every, and I mean every, post that contains Franken's name, there you are to denigrate him. I can understand your apparent undying love for Gillbrand, but why the hate of Franken?
You posted multiple times on this OP and Gillibrand's name doesn't show up except after you posted.
pangaia
(24,324 posts)pazzyanne
(6,551 posts)I have noticed this also. I would appreciate an answer. Inquiring minds want to know.
Trumpocalypse
(6,143 posts)Trumpocalypse
(6,143 posts)Just because I'm not a Franken cultist doesn't mean I hate him. I just have a love of facts and fairness which seems to be missing in most of these Franken threads.
LakeSuperiorView
(1,533 posts)Do you do regular searches to find Franken posts that might otherwise slip by? Any post I click on (Franken was my senator) and there you are within an hour. You seem to be very one note. There is a whole world of posts that issues with facts and fairness, but you seem to be laser focused on repeating the same things on any post involving Franken. Most of the other anti-Franken cult have long since moved on to other things, but it seems like an obsession of yours to weigh in against Franken.
Did you see quote marks anywhere in my post? I haven't put any words in your mouth.
Trumpocalypse
(6,143 posts)I just believe in truth and fairness. There is too much misinformation in these Franken threads and most devoted to demonized a single Democratic Senator.
You say most of the other anti-Franken cult have moved on. But why hasnt the Franken must not be critized cult not moved on. This happened over 11 months ago and their are still these Franken was railroaded threads every week or so. Shouldnt they move on too? What is good for the goose is good for the gander.
And if you read all my Franken posts you would have read that Ive called him a hero who took one for the team and that he should run for Governor of Minnesota. But like the demonization of Gillibrand inconvenient facts are ignored.
And finally is there one thing Ive stated about the Franken affair that you can factually dispute? Please provide links.
Response to Trumpocalypse (Reply #32)
Post removed
Trumpocalypse
(6,143 posts)Is there anything that Ive posted that is factual incorrect? Please provide links.
As far as mellowing of late: https://www.democraticunderground.com/10029850032
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10029851249
pazzyanne
(6,551 posts)I have one question, "Why?" Ever wonder why all of the hoopla about Franken disappeared once he resigned? The timing was interesting. Not only that but Minnesotans had a second well timed accusation against another politician from our state: Keith Ellison. Two investigations later the only thing that was found was that the supposed video that was evidence had supposedly disappeared. The DNC turned their investigation result of unsubstantiated over to law enforcement. Law enforcement needed a sworn complaint filed by an accuser to begin their investigation. NO ONE FILED A COMPLAINT. Democrats need to be very aware of the "Roger Stone" dirty tricks and look carefully into these last minute scandals when they are released. As for the Democrats being excoriated by the Republicans over the Kavanaugh hearing, I have only one thing to say.
Kavanaugh refused to give permission to investigate Dr. Ford's allegation. Another "Why?"
Trumpocalypse
(6,143 posts)But in regard to Franken, there is just too much unfairness and ignoring of the actuals facts in most of these threads. For one thing, you mentioned Roger Stone. He was only involved in the first accusation. There were 7 additional accusations after that. Were they credible, I don't know.
still_one
(92,187 posts)As for him not being railroaded, bullshit
He had a large number of Democrats sign a petition for him to resign without the opportunity to defend himself. When you have a mob telling you to go away, it is s little difficult to reason with that, along with the media, and the republicans pushing it
Same thing was done to Hillary, the Swift boating of Kerry, the Howard Dean scream, and would have happened with Obama and Pelosi, but they were able to get ahead of it before it had a chance to take hold
Funny how Roger Stone knew all about this before anyone else
He was not pressured? He sure wa
Trumpocalypse
(6,143 posts)But this the first Im hearing about a petition. You have a link for that?
still_one
(92,187 posts)media by the majority of Democrats in the Senate for Franken to resign.
https://www.cnn.com/2017/12/06/politics/al-franken-democratic-senators-resign/index.html
However, Justice Democrats did circulate a petition at the time for Franken to resign:
https://now.justicedemocrats.com/petition/resign-franken?ref=em20171116tw
but it was the pressure of Franken's Senate colleague publicly calling for him to resign, why I suspect Franken decided not to fight it.
I usually don't respond to these Franken threads, and somewhat regret that I did this time.
I am of the view that its done, and you have to move forward. There is too much at stake to get bogged down with past battles
He was under tremendous pressure from his fellow Democratic Senators to resign, and because of that he really had little alternative but to resign.
Trumpocalypse
(6,143 posts)I cant disagree. Like said he took one for the team.
still_one
(92,187 posts)dlk
(11,561 posts)Whether you support Al Franken, or not (which by the way I do), he didn't receive due process or any type of fair hearing. This fact alone, not only harmed Franken, but will continue to harm women with legitimate claims of harassment. The bad guys won this one.
Trumpocalypse
(6,143 posts)with the GOP in control of the Senate Ethics Committee. And the term Due Process refers to the criminal justice system. It is highly inaccurate to use it in regard to Franken.
democratisphere
(17,235 posts)edhopper
(33,575 posts)they show zero tolerance to those accused, even with the questionable accusations of Franklin, and the Repukes will have to follow in kind.
Yeah, it worked with Kavinaugh, didn't it?
dem4decades
(11,288 posts)Response to left-of-center2012 (Original post)
Post removed
LakeArenal
(28,817 posts)Last edited Sat Nov 24, 2018, 12:59 PM - Edit history (2)
Here is a list of the Democratic senators and Independents who caucus with the Democrats urging Franken to step aside, as of 5:30 p.m.:
Kristen Gillibrand, New York
Chuck Schumer, New York
Claire McCaskill, Missouri
Patty Murray, Washington
Mazi Keiko Hirono, Hawaii
Maggie Hassan, New Hampshire
Kamala Harris, California
Bob Casey, Pennsylvania
Joe Donnelly, Indiana
Sherrod Brown, Ohio
Heidi Heitkamp, North Dakota
Debbie Stabenow, Michigan
Ed Markey, Massachusetts
Maria Cantwell, Washington
Tammy Baldwin, Wisconsin
Chris Murphy, Connecticut
Tom Udall, New Mexico
Dick Durbin, Illinois
Patrick Leahy, Vermont
Tom Carper, Delaware
Dianne Feinstein, California
Michael Bennet, Colorado
Martin Heinrich, New Mexico
Tammy Duckworth, Illinois
Jeff Merkley, Oregon
Ron Wyden, Oregon
Elizabeth Warren, Massachusetts
Cory Booker, New Jersey
Bernie Sanders.
Bfd
(1,406 posts)Hold Kristen Gillibrand as well as Bernie Sanders' feet to that fire.
LakeArenal
(28,817 posts)still_one
(92,187 posts)malaise
(268,968 posts)He got a raw deal
Bluepinky
(2,268 posts)Hes one of the few Senators who didnt have a law degree; hes an ex-comedian and very funny, which may be threatening to some of his colleagues.
Hes warm, genuine and relates well to other people, cant say the same about Gillibrand.
allgood33
(1,584 posts)brooklynite
(94,520 posts)Runs against an incumbent Democratic Senator?
(fun fact: I know his campaign team; they're working for Smith)