There would be a lot of empty seats in the House and Senate...
...if everyone who was ever a complete ass about something at some point in their lives were barred from Congress.
I'm disgusted with Franken, as he obviously is with himself. The photo puts a black spot on his image that can't be erased. He did all he could -- expressed his disgust and his recognition of how destructive such conduct is. All he can do now is continue to live his life, serve with integrity, and demonstrate by his actions the extent to which he is reformed.
Given how deeply ingrained racism and misogyny are in our culture, sometimes I think that there are only three groups:
(1) Victims of racism/misogyny,
(2) Unapologetic racists/misogynists, and
(3) People who are struggling to confront their failings, and doing battle with racist and misogynistic attitudes, thinking, and conduct.
If anyone in group 3, who was once in group 2, were barred from serving in Congress, I think there would be an awful lot of empty seats in the House and Senate.
One thing we must be clear about is that there is NO parallel between Franken’s disgusting demonstration of attitudes that pervade our culture, and the history of criminally abusive conduct that, rightfully, brought an end to the careers of people like Robert Packwood or Brock Adams (or that will bring an end to the career of Roy Moore).
