Sexual harrasment allegations should be taken seriously,

[Eko]

respected and investigated. You should not question the motive of the accuser, you should not question their lifestyle choices. But, nothing in that means they must be believed at face value. In fact Belief on either side should be suspended until an investigation is done.
Eko.

[msongs]

1. unless they are anonymous in which case they can be suspect nt

[Eko]

3. Nope.

If anonymous people were reporting that the police were beating them up and stealing from them the exact same thing should happen. Respect, dont question motives and actions, investigate. Same thing as sexual harassment. But, once again, there is no reason to jump on the bandwagon either way without enough facts to make a decision.

[MLAA]

2. +1

[VMA131Marine]

4. If you are talking about criminal prosecution, I agree.

But, when you get a number of independent complaints that are supported by contemporary witnesses then it's game over in terms of maintaining a position in public office.

By resigning Franken and Conyers can do the decent thing and set an example that Dems can point to in the future. Franken will get replaced by another Dem.

If the GOP insists on seating Roy Moore if he is elected to the Senate the we need to hang it around their necks in every election from here on out. They may prevail in Alabama, but this won't go down well almost anywhere else.

[Eko]

5. I thought we were the party of facts.

[VMA131Marine]

13. The facts are that Franken has been credibly accused of groping the butts

of three women during photo ops. I have some doubts about Leeann Tweeden's story, but even without her there's enough to irreparably damage Franken. If he refuses to step down then we risk the seat going to a Republican in the next election. In fact, it's a near certainty to happen if Franken is still there.

Franken has been a great senator and it pains me greatly that I think he should step down. But, he has let us and the Democratic Party down. It's his fault and he needs to get out of the way so we can pick up the pieces and try to salvage the seat.

[Eko]

15. Accusations are not facts.

[VMA131Marine]

18. Point out where I said they were.

Fact: three women have credibly accused Franken of groping them. That means it's not just their word, there is contemporary corroborating evidence (i.e. More facts).

There is not ever going to be ironclad proof that the accusations are true, and indeed that would not be the legal standard for conviction in a court of law. People have been convicted and certainly sued successfully (see: Swift, Taylor just recently), with less evidence than this.

[Eko]

20. Point out where I said

you said they weren't. You keep using this word "credibly". It sounds very much like your opinion.

[VMA131Marine]

16. Because sexual assault allegations are funny???

If you ignore your principles when they are inconvenient the you don't have principles.

[ChubbyStar]

19. Don't put words in my mouth

Thanks!

[BootinUp]

7. So you r saying we should stop discussing it?

[Eko]

8. Hmmmm,,,let me look,,,,

nope, not there,,,,,,,,nope,,,,,,nope,,,,,hmmm, start back at beginning,,,,,,,,,,,nope, I dont see where I said that.

[Generic Brad]

9. Even the ones generated by Russian provocateurs?

Because they are working OT right now dropping false charges.

[Eko]

10. They are?

Is this something you believe or do you have proof for that? It certainly is possible, but I don't believe things without facts.

[Generic Brad]

11. Anonymous accusations are not proof either

Just saying.

[Eko]

12. Was there something in this that made you believe

I said they are? "But, nothing in that means they must be believed at face value. In fact Belief on either side should be suspended until an investigation is done. "

[VMA131Marine]

14. Not proof, but certainly evidence

Even in a court of law under certain circumstances.

[Meowmee]

17. Disagree

Motives and any other relevant facts should be questioned and come into play. Not just in these allegations but in any accusation/ allegation. People lie all the time about all sorts of things in order to malign others.