General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Everyone Seems to Be in a Big Hurry to Write Off Sen. Franken. Why? [View all]Ms. Toad
(34,055 posts)Ironically, I talked with my daughter for the first time about the incident with my friend (which occurred before she was born). My daughter looked at me like I had just suggested the earth was flat or that the moon was made of blue cheese when I explained to her that I am convinced that he did not know his behavior was offensive. That surprised me a bit, because I know she takes sexual interaction much more casually than I do.
My concern is that (at least on DU) all the energy is going into trying to prove it didn't happen (attacks on Tweeden, attacks on the delayed reporting of the new accusers, attacks on the fact that one of the recent accusers is smilng in the photo). The focus is on: It didn't happen (because the unspoken corollary is that if it did, we ndeed to dump him). I don't believe the corollary.
What we need to focus on is the nature of the offense, and on Franken's response - both of which distinguish these incidents from Moore. We're all a work in progress. His behavior was relatively minor, and his response indicates a light bulb going on. Moore, on the other hand, is still in the current DU mode of denying it happened.