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In reply to the discussion: Breaking: Franken pic metadata proves Tweeden is LYING [View all]tonedevil
(3,022 posts)5. You can give it a read...
"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 thingand if it's the only thing you care to hear, that's fineis: 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 usincluding and especially men who respect womenhave 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 itwomen 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."
I think it really matters what you think "it" was.
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That statement is what separates us from them, willing to admit our mistakes, apologize, and grow
Canoe52
Nov 2017
#32
He did say that he doesn't remember things like the kiss the same that she does.
Honeycombe8
Nov 2017
#46
Somewhere I read Ms. Tweeden accepted Franken's apology... do I have that right?
InAbLuEsTaTe
Nov 2017
#151
I'm wondering if the apology may be kind of an attempt to temporarily appease her and her alt-right
brewens
Nov 2017
#88
it doesn't matter to them. dems let them have 1500 radio stations w/out protest
certainot
Nov 2017
#64
Since we are parsing statements, does anyone else find it a bit odd that the alleged security escort
Marengo
Nov 2017
#71
The escort was talking about the forced kiss Tweeden claimed took place during a rehearsal,
trc
Nov 2017
#78
In that context, the statement makes sense. It seems others on DU were suggesting the comments
Marengo
Nov 2017
#86
I do not believe the "escort" has been identified...or proven to exist beyond some twitter posts.
trc
Nov 2017
#87
If it was staged, Franken would have said just that. He didn't. Because it wasn't.
7962
Nov 2017
#96
What are you talking about? He apologized for participating in a gag photo of poor taste.
brush
Nov 2017
#29
He's apologizing for an uncouth, disrespectful punk pic...but not groping.
Honeycombe8
Nov 2017
#155
the picture might have happened but sounds like it was doctored to make it look even worse
womanofthehills
Nov 2017
#159
Do some critical thinking. Her claim that he groped her in the photo is false. He is not touching...
brush
Nov 2017
#51
Wouldn't the military also have logs of who was in the plane and where it was going?
Initech
Nov 2017
#20
Wasn't there a topic here earlier about her posing for playboy and some images?
keithbvadu2
Nov 2017
#36
Okay, you're not going to answer that question. Maybe I'm going about this in the wrong way.
Iggo
Nov 2017
#110
Id believe it, except I remember this exact defense of Weiners twitter pics.
MadDAsHell
Nov 2017
#53
I'm guessing you weren't here when people were claiming the metadata exonerated Anthony Weiner
brooklynite
Nov 2017
#82
Obviously he's assaulting her here with his mind - his gaze is bouncing into
bagelsforbreakfast
Nov 2017
#102
interesting to see timeline how RWs fox-breibart edits metadata to create smear conflated stories
Sunlei
Nov 2017
#100
You're assuming she was familiar with this as "part of his USO act for years".
Denzil_DC
Nov 2017
#108
there must be a large number of women who have done this skit with him then. what do they say about
blimablam
Nov 2017
#165
I hope this is sent to every Democrat in DC. They need to be told and on alert. N/T
SleeplessinSoCal
Nov 2017
#132
i guess that is why the country as a whole ignored the theft of seiglemans election in 2002
questionseverything
Nov 2017
#152