Al Franken's full statement. (Text)

[Control-Z]

“The first thing I want to do is apologize: to Leeann, to everyone else who was part of that tour, to everyone who has worked for me, to everyone I represent, and to everyone who counts on me to be an ally and supporter and champion of women. There's more I want to say, but the first and most important thing—and if it's the only thing you care to hear, that's fine—is: I'm sorry.

“I respect women. I don't respect men who don't. And the fact that my own actions have given people a good reason to doubt that makes me feel ashamed.

“But I want to say something else, too. Over the last few months, all of us—including and especially men who respect women—have been forced to take a good, hard look at our own actions and think (perhaps, shamefully, for the first time) about how those actions have affected women.

“For instance, that picture. I don't know what was in my head when I took that picture, and it doesn't matter. There's no excuse. I look at it now and I feel disgusted with myself. It isn't funny. It's completely inappropriate. It's obvious how Leeann would feel violated by that picture. And, what's more, I can see how millions of other women would feel violated by it—women who have had similar experiences in their own lives, women who fear having those experiences, women who look up to me, women who have counted on me.

“Coming from the world of comedy, I've told and written a lot of jokes that I once thought were funny but later came to realize were just plain offensive. But the intentions behind my actions aren't the point at all. It's the impact these jokes had on others that matters. And I'm sorry it's taken me so long to come to terms with that.

“While I don't remember the rehearsal for the skit as Leeann does, I understand why we need to listen to and believe women’s experiences.

“I am asking that an ethics investigation be undertaken, and I will gladly cooperate.

“And the truth is, what people think of me in light of this is far less important than what people think of women who continue to come forward to tell their stories. They deserve to be heard, and believed. And they deserve to know that I am their ally and supporter. I have let them down and am committed to making it up to them.”

[CousinIT]

1. I think he's handling this very well.

It's an appropriate response. MUCH better response than denial and lies we get from the Roy Moores of the world.

[Marthe48]

2. Well said.

I am a 65 year old woman. I used to tell ethnic jokes, because I heard my Dad tell them. I came to realize on my own that they were offensive. I used to have a lot less filters with men, because no one told me to be different. I learned on my own that I had to create boundaries and enforce them, keep men on the other side of those boundaries. It makes for better relationships. I keep learning how to be true to myself.

I don't think self-realization comes to men as easily as to women, because in general, they are not forced, not made to submit. Even a good man like Al Franken has not lived the full spectrum of subjection that women in general have. From having to step aside for men in the grocery aisle to waiting to go through an intersection on my green light while male drivers run the red light, to being interrupted, talked over, ignored, belittled in a conversation about anything, to being touched, however much in a friendly way, I see in my own life every day, that I have to give way and the men I give way to assume that I should. I don't doubt that Al Franken has been shamed. He is Jewish and there is an undying hatred out there for Jews. So he knows. But he is also a man, so he doesn't know it entirely. But the good thing is, he is trying. At least he is trying.