Posted on 11/17/2017 6:26:44 PM PST by markomalley
The admission of Al Franken’s sexual misconduct continues to reverberate around the Internet. His admitted impropriety with a female reporter in 2006, along with shockingly inappropriate photographs, has received universal backlash. While Franken faces a potential ethics hearing on the matter, his conduct may have had another unintended consequence. It may have helped save Roy Moore’s U.S. Senate bid. We examine.
In case you missed the unmissable, Minnesota Senator Al Franken (D-Min) was accused by news anchor Leeann Tweeden of sexual misconduct. She alleges that Franken, a comedian at the time, groped and forcibly kissed her without her consent. “I couldn’t believe it. He groped me, without my consent, while I was asleep.” (Source: “Photo: Journalist Leann Tweeden Accuses Sen. Al Franken of Fondling, Kissing Her Without Consent,” Breitbart, November 16, 2017.)
There’s even disturbing visual evidence corroborating the account.
You can read Tweeden’s full account on the KABC web site. (Source: “Senator Al Franken Kissed and Groped Me Without My Consent, And There’s Nothing Funny About It,” November 16, 2017.)
Al Franken, to his minor credit, admitted culpability right away. Considering the photographs, resorting to damage control was the only thing he could do politically. He posted an apology on Twitter, which reads as follows:
I want to apologize to Leeann Tweeden, to everyone who was part of the USO tour, to all who've worked for me, to all I represent, & to all who've considered me an ally & supporter & champion of women. I am sorry. https://t.co/vrLCIcggg6
— Sen. Al Franken (@SenFranken) November 16, 2017
In case any lingering questions about culpability remained, Franken even asked Congress to conduct an investigation into his own actions: “I am asking that an ethics investigation be undertaken, and I will gladly cooperate.” Case closed.
Franken’s impropriety comes on the heels of revelations that Congress has dished out at least $17.0 million over a 20-year period to settle sexual harassment and discrimination claims on Capitol Hill. From a public relations perspective, Franken’s revelations were the last thing Congress needed. (Source: “Congress paid out $17 million in settlements since 1990s,” ABC7-Detroit, November 16, 2017.)
Taken in isolation, Franken’s transgressions may come across as another celebrity abusing his status. It’s the exact type of deviance we’ve recently witnessed by other deviants in authority, most notably Hollywood movie producer Harvey Weinstein and Amazon Studios executive Roy Price. Sadly, this conduct has become so commonplace that it’s become almost expected, to a certain degree.
However, I believe Al Franken’s sexual misconduct case could have more widespread implications when looked at in a broader context. That context includes the embattled campaign of Alabama U.S. Senate hopeful Roy Moore.
Below are three important reasons how Al Franken might have inadvertently saved Roy Moore’s U.S. Senate bid.
This is the most immediate and impactful way Al Franken has helped Roy Moore’s campaign. It shifted the focus away from Moore’s alleged indiscretions, which have been drip-fed by political foes to inflict maximum damage. Moore now gets a reprieve from the 24/7 negative news cycle that has dogged his campaign; at least for a short while.
Now that Moore’s news cycle has been interrupted, the intensity of subsequent events will be less intense. Franken’s scandal shifts the focus away from Moore’s accusers specifically, and into a broader conversation about sexual misconduct among politicians in general.
Any way to make the conversation less personal is a win for Moore.
Following the Franken debacle, Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell issued a statement. But it wasn’t the one many conservatives were looking for. McConnell’s statement reads as follows:
As with all credible allegations of sexual harassment or assault, I believe the Ethics Committee should review the matter. I hope the Democratic Leader will join me on this. Regardless of party, harassment and assault are completely unacceptable—in the workplace or anywhere else.
Although McConnell’s condemnation is clear, many Roy Moore supporters are likely to be livid about the blatant hypocrisy. (Source: “Mitch McConnell calls for ethics review of Al Franken sexual assault accusation,” Washington Examiner, November 16, 2017.)
Here we have a sitting U.S. senator, admitting culpability for lewd sexual misconduct (along with shocking photo evidence), and yet McConnell is only asking for an Ethics Committee hearing.
In Roy Moore’s case, the evidence is much less clear. The four accounts of misconduct involve hearsay accusations, which are almost 40 years old. The allegations have all been made a month before a critical U.S. Senate race.
None have any physical evidence besides an alleged yearbook signature, which is quite possibly forged or doctored. In fact, liberal attorney Gloria Allred has admitted she hasn’t asked her client whether the signature is authentic. Roy Moore has strenuously denied all the accusations and denied even knowing some of the women. (Source: “Gloria Allred: ‘I Haven’t Asked’ Beverly Young Nelson If She Saw Roy Moore Sign Her Yearbook,” Breitbart, November 16, 2017.)
Yet, Mitch McConnell has demanded Roy Moore drop out of his U.S. Senate bid. McConnell, speaking at an event in Louisville on Monday, said he “believe[d] the women” and that Moore “should step aside.” He even floated the possibility of supporting a write-in candidate in lieu of Moore, which would be a guaranteed loser. (Source: “New sex assault allegation hits Moore; he calls it false,” Associated Press, November 14, 2017.)
So the big question on many Alabaman voters’ minds will be: Why is McConnell demanding Moore drop out but only requesting an Ethics hearing on Franken? This seems like the ultimate hypocrisy, considering Franken’s is a slam-dunk case while Moore’s is very possibly politically motivated (and unproven). Where’s the outrage?
This is an effort by Mitch McConnell and his cronies to steal this election from the people of Alabama and they will not stand for it! #ALSEN
— Judge Roy Moore (@MooreSenate) November 16, 2017
Alabaman voters will not lose sight of this fact.
Roy Moore’s U.S. Senate bid may be able to survive the GOP establishment throwing him under the bus, but not the president. With funding, field support, and public relations help pulled, Moore is already facing an uphill battle in a close race.
Until yesterday, Donald Trump had yet to officially weigh in. But no doubt he held Roy Moore’s U.S. Senate bid in the palm of his hand. If he followed the party line and disavowed Moore, that likely would have swung enough Trump Republicans against Moore to torpedo his bid.
Yes, it’s true that Luther Strange was crushed in the Alabama Senate primary by Roy Moore, despite being endorsed by President Trump. However, that was pre-scandal. Polls that had Moore way ahead of Democratic challenger Doug Jones have completely shifted as the accusations against Moore have taken their toll.
For example, the National Republican Senatorial Committee’s own internal polling shows Doug Jones ahead by 12 points. A new Fox News poll indicates Moore is eight points behind. (Source: “Poll: Moore trails Jones in Alabama Senate race,” Politico, November 16, 2017.)
Even if we take a skeptical approach and assume these polls are biased or unrepresentative of reality, the best-case scenario for Moore is that this race is tight. Trump disavowing him could have been the death-knell for a campaign once considered a sure thing.
Only that’s not what happened.
In a much anticipated White House release yesterday, Press Secretary Sara Huckabee Sanders said that although President Donald Trump thought the sexual misconduct accusations leveled against Roy Moore were “troubling,” he believed the voters of Alabama “should make the decision on who their next senator should be.” (Source: “WH Press Sec Sanders: Trump Thinks ‘People of Alabama Should Make the Decision on Who Their Next Senator Should Be’,” Breitbart, November 16, 2017.)
Huckabee Sanders’ statement came a couple hours after the Franken scandal become public knowledge. Coincidence? Maybe, maybe not. But the White House had avoided the topic upon Trump’s arrival back to the U.S. from his 12-day Asia tour on Tuesday. It provided the perfect opportunity for Trump to sidestep the issue (which he was probably inclined to do, anyway) and leave it to the voters of Alabama to decide. This was a huge win for Moore.
In the end, Al Franken’s misdeeds could get him ousted from Congress. But more than that, he might have inadvertently aided Roy Moore’s U.S. Senate bid, much to the chagrin of political foes. Call it a potential Alabama Hail Mary in the making.
Maybe McConnell will call you to testify in the Ethics Committee
against Moore if he wins.
You can get Frankenstein’s autograph too.
LOL.
Plus if he were guilty he wouldn't be fighting so hard and so confidant and putting it back in their face like he is.
The democrats could get a 100 rats to lie that are fame seeking money hungry scum.
Perfect!
Yaelle, I am surprised that you believe “all these people” who supposedly remember Moore hanging out in the mall with “lollipops”.
You don’t think they could possibly be lying? The manager of the mall said Moore wasn’t banned at all.
I took Moore’s hesitation in the Hannity thing as someone who was absolutely floored that these accusations were happening. Not as someone who was hiding anything. I am not someone who agrees with Moore about everything, but he’s infinitely better than the Dem, and he will vote well in the Senate. Thomas Wictor has done a lot of research into Moore which is very enlightening, I’ll try to post tommorrow, maybe as a vanity. Very surprising stuff.
wiener is in jail and holder is laying low..
No Wiener/Holder ticket either :(
Because FReepers all have to have the exact same opinions and all must by law think Moore is and has always been a virginal angel.
To be here you really just have to believe in the constitution and conservatism. So I’m good. I don’t have to believe Moore never tried to date teen girls in order to want him to hold that senate seat for the good side.
3 Supreme court nominees could be affected which is why the democrats paid these liars now to come out of the woodwork at this time. The democrats want a democrat elected to block Trump’s conservative Supreme Court nominees . This is why these women’s memories suddenly materialized
There is actual proof on Franken.
“...enough smoke to make me think he was once a creepy mall stalker of teen girls.”
**********************************************
Did he wear a trench coat that he could flash open? Carry lots of candy in his pockets?
What kind of smoke are you inhaling?
No. Gloria Allred did.
Sean Hannity is the new clock boy - nice to see more are seeing him for the phony he is. Nice to know when the chips are down he got his dagger ready - Attention whore - just nother pimp of punditry. 3 hours minus advertising of the pontificating question.
I don’t think people are pure just because they are conservative.
I want Moore or another conservative in the Senate seat.
I don’t defend bad behavior if they are on our team. I find that hypocritical. Something we always call the Dems out on, Like the ones saying Franken is worth it because he’s one of us, and they said the same about Bill Clinton.
Read my previous posts tonight - there are two reasons I believe Moore had an issue where he sought out teen girls. 1) he lied about the 17 year old and 2) too many people knew of this predilection.
I took Moore’s hesitation in the Hannity thing as someone who was absolutely floored that these accusations were happening. Not as someone who was hiding anything. I am not someone who agrees with Moore about everything, but he’s infinitely better than the Dem, and he will vote well in the Senate.
Nope, the questions were specific and careful. He admitted he remembered his teenaged friend when he was 32. BUT HE DID NOT REMEMBER IF HE DATED HER and that was dishonest. Because he did remember. Ask any 80 year old man (or woman) about someone he knew in his youth and still remembers, and he will be able to tell you if he was or was not interested in that person.
I knew people think I am a troll but I am not counting Allred or any specific claimant. I AM COUNTING HIS OWN RESPONSES that harmed him, his choice, to harm his reputation by his deceitful responses, dumb decision, and I do give credence to the sheer number of women. Mostly it’s his obfuscation that led me to take the opinion I have. If he’s on the ballot, may he win, though.
CLAIMS AGAINST MOORE DON”T HOLD UP
Never Trumpers and drive by media radio talk hosts are having a field day ignoring the fact that all of the accusers were of the age of legal consent. Including the one claiming when 14 years old. For her accusations are the juiciest. Which they gleefully relate and dwell on in a touchy feel-ly manner as if it came off of a police report yesterday. Not as a unsubstantiated recollection from 40 years ago. Because they know these are damaging accusations which will be almost impossible to disprove.
Despite that fact that it has been uncovered that two of his accusers are working for the Perversion Party and that their accusations are false and politically motivated. The drivebys and the nevers media are not reporting this but are mentioning one accuser is a “Republican” .
Here is background on two accusers. One works for the perverts that one knows the one who claimed she was 14. But was actually 17 at the time? http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3603606/posts
Latest charge : Grad book signature a forgery; http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3604591/posts
someone named Roy signed it Moore’s last name was added to it. Confirmed by Moore’s legal secretary when he was Circuit Court Judge who would place her initials DA on his rulings to verify his signature http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3605761/posts
I guess some kudo’s should go to ‘Ray’, for Ray had a hand in saving Roy!
The Perverts are crawling out of the woodwork
Congress payout sexual misconduct
https://www.axios.com/congress-payout-sexual-misconduct-2510322900.html?utm_source=sidebar
50 SEXUAL MISCONUCTS (D) GOV CANIDATE
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/leahbarkoukis/2017/11/17/bizarre-democratic-ohio-gov-candidate-brags-about-sexual-escapades-n2411041?utm_source=thdailypm&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=nl_pm&newsletterad=
SITTING SUPREME COURT JUSTICES BILL O’NEILS BRAGS ABOUT HIS 50 SEXUAL MISCONFUCTS
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/florida-democratic-party-chairman-stephen-bittel-resigns-over-creepiness/
White House on sex assault allegations: ‘Franken has admitted wrongdoing and the president hasn’t’
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/11/17/white-house-sex-assault-allegations-franken-has-admitted-wrongdoing-and-president-hasnt/875394001/
Workers on Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders Campaigns Claim Sexual Harassment
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/11/17/clinton-sanders-campaign-workers-claim-sexual-harassment/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=daily&utm_content=links&utm_campaign=20171117
Ned Ryun on Roy Moore: ‘I Strongly, Strongly Suspect Somebody out of the McConnell Camp Planted the Story’
http://www.breitbart.com/radio/2017/11/17/ryun-roy-moore-strongly-suspect-somebody-mcconnell-camp-planted-story/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=daily&utm_content=links&utm_campaign=20171117
Florida Democratic Party chairman Stephen Bittel resigns over creepiness
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/florida-democratic-party-chairman-stephen-bittel-resigns-over-creepiness/
Anti-LGBT politician resigns after being ‘caught having sex with man in his office’
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/lawmaker-wes-goodman-anti-lgbt-resigns-sex-man-office-caught-ohio-republican-christian-family-values-a8060631.html
The Senate Ethics Committee is a terrible place for sexual harassment investigations
https://thinkprogress.org/senate-ethics-committee-sexual-harassment-black-hole-34a0f600dac4/
‘Girls’ Producer Accused of Raping Teen Actress
https://pagesix.com/2017/11/17/girls-producer-accused-of-raping-teen-actress/?_ga=2.93701855.356246542.1510813113-478182232.1510690657
Sylvester Stallone Accused of Sexually Assaulting 16-Year-Old Girl
http://www.breitbart.com/big-hollywood/2017/11/16/sylvester-stallone-accused-assaulting-teenage-girl/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=daily&utm_content=links&utm_campaign=20171116
Old Vic London Theater Probe of Kevin Spacey Finds 20 Testimonies of ‘Inappropriate Behavior’
http://www.breitbart.com/big-hollywood/2017/11/16/london-theater-probe-kevin-spacey-finds-20-testimonies-inappropriate-behavior/
Networks Ignore Dem Candidate Arrested For Stalking
http://dailycaller.com/2017/11/15/networks-ignore-dem-candidate-arrested-for-stalking/
Days of Shrugging Off Sexual Misconduct at the Capitol May Be Over
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/17/us/politics/sexual-misconduct-capitol.html
UPDATE: Second Roy Moore Accuser Works For Michelle Obama Right NOW
http://www.dailynewposts.com/update-second-roy-moore-accuser-works-for-michelle-obama-right-now/
Roy Moore’s lawyer casts doubt on accuser’s story, yearbook inscription
http://www.cnn.com/2017/11/15/politics/roy-moore-alabama-senate/index.html
The Troll Smearing Roy Moore’s Accuser Stole a Dead Navy SEAL’s Identity
https://www.thedailybeast.com/troll-smearing-roy-moores-accuser-stole-dead-seals-identity
“....was clear it was a hit job by Yankees.”
That will be a major issue in many voters minds. The “Yankees” appear to have peaked to soon on this and I am expecting another volley or two against Moore. It is possible Allred jumped in the pool and screwed up the bigger plan by the swamp. Trust me the swamp had a long game to defeat Moore.
Why did you have to throw away all credibility with those last two words in your post? Also, I am trying to eat while reading FR. Your callous use of that phrase shows your disdain for all that is decent in the world. ; )
Roll Tide!
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