Posted on 12/16/2017 6:22:26 AM PST by Oshkalaboomboom
Activist Zephyr Teachout, who ran for governor in 2014 and Congress in 2016; she lost both times, is troubled by Sen. Al Franken’s (D-MN) resignation. Mind you, the Minnesota Democrat has not packed up his bags and left. He said he would resign in the near future. It was one of the most soporific and non-introspective resignation speeches—and it wasn’t just conservatives who noted this. Some journalists noted that Franken never apologized for his actions. True. He also called his accusers liars, which is also true. The man didn’t want to go, possibly because he thought his party affiliation could save him, as it did with William Jefferson Clinton. If Democrats want to wonder why it took almost a month for a groundswell of Democrats to ask for Stuart Smalley to get the hell out of town, well look no further that the party’s rape culture tolerance that occurred in the 1990s.
Franken has been accused by at least eight women of groping them, some include being forcibly kissed. Rep. John Conyers (D-MI), who actually paid $27,000 to settle a sexual harassment claim in 2015, has already left in disgrace. Oh, that that’s our money that they used to sweep this under the rug. So, what’s Teachout’s issue? It’s not your typical circle the wagon around Franken because he’s a liberal Democrat, though undoubtedly that may factor into this, it’s because he didn’t get due process. Yeah—you heard that right (via NYT):
I care passionately about #MeToo. Women are routinely demeaned, dismissed, discouraged and assaulted. Too many women’s careers are stymied or ended because of harassment and abuse. In politics, where I have worked much of my adult life, this behavior is rampant.
I also believe in zero tolerance. And yet, a lot of women I know — myself included — were left with a sense that something went wrong last week with the effective ouster of Al Franken from the United States Senate. He resigned after a groundswell of his own Democratic colleagues called for him to step down.
Zero tolerance should go hand in hand with two other things: due process and proportionality. As citizens, we need a way to make sense of accusations that does not depend only on what we read or see in the news or on social media.
Due process means a fair, full investigation, with a chance for the accused to respond. And proportionality means that while all forms of inappropriate sexual behavior should be addressed, the response should be based on the nature of the transgressions.
Both were missing in the hasty call for Senator Franken’s resignation. Some might point out, rightly, that Congress doesn’t have good procedures for dealing with harassment accusations. In fact, the congressional process to date has gone something like this: Lift up the rug and sweep the accusations underneath. It’s delay, deny, pay hush money and avoid the consequences.
Of course, due process should be applied. Yes, Congress has a shoddy system of dealing with these issues. And yes, the creeps have to go. There should be zero tolerance of such behavior. Proportionality is something that will come from this as well, but let’s cut through the bull here. I’m going to take Ms. Teachout at her word, but it seems she misses the obvious political goal with Conyers and Franken’s ouster: it wasn’t meant to create a culture of accountability; it was done so they could attack Republicans again. For a month, their attacks on Roy Moore, the Alabama Senate candidate who had some serious allegations of sexual misconduct with women who were teenagers at the time, fell flat. Why? Well, some on the Left started to come to terms with their side’s bad behavior on this issue, namely defending Bill Clinton. The reckoning is not one-sided. There are plenty of Republicans who have behaved badly. But this Franken push was done, so the Left could redirect their attacks on Moore and eventually the president. That’s their grand prize. Donald Trump has been accused of sexual misconduct. It’s hard to direct an attack campaign when some in your ranks have misbehaved. Conyers facilitated the Franken extraction. So, while all of these things are rather apolitical and in the realm of what’s reasonable and just, I think it’s incredibly naïve to think that Democrats are doing this because they had a come to Jesus moment on sexual harassment/assault. For the Left, it’s not about the victims, the truth, or the cause of justice; it’s all about maintaining a narrative. This was all done so that Democrats could have a clean slate from which they could attack the Trump White House. Spare me the pious speeches about changing the culture. They just want Trump to be impeached. So, while Teachout’s points are fine, they’re going to be casualties of politics.
Also, on a side note, the Left is now all about due process now. That’s rich.
Now that Moore has lost the gop-e should be pounding on their desks for Al to resign....you know....do the right thing.
Al Franken is still drawing a paycheck.
The sole purpose of Franken’s resignation was to allow the Dems to claim moral superiority over Senator Moore. No Senator Moore means no need for the resignation. Franken’s not gone yet so he might still not resign.
...NYT Op-Ed: Franken Shouldn’t Have Resigned...
That’s OK. He didnt
> substitute the name Moore for Franken and listen to the screams of the Left <
The author is very clever; he talks about “proportionality”. That’s the loophole that clears Franken, but condemns Moore. And who gets to judge this “proportionality”? The Left, of course.
Franken has to leave to create the false premise of fairness to base their attack on Trump. I think he’ll stay and the left will rant and bluster for naught.
Sen. FrankenSmalley has NOT yet resigned, yet the Minnesota governor has appointed his replacement. Lt. Gov. Tina Smith.
Hmmm... if StuartAl reneges and refuses to resign... what would the DemWits do? This could be fun to watch. Moral superiority my butt!
He didn’t resign. What any democrat says and what any democrat does are two different things.
He hasn’t... there’s time for him to pull it back.
Moore shouldn’t concede either.
Franken hasn’t yet, has he?
It allows you to call the Lefty Commie hypocrites out in REAL TIME:
Here's Zephyr, the lying sack o' Mitt, on November 21, 2017:
As a former criminal defense lawyer, I don't think it's good practice to believe accusations immediately, absent overwhelming corroborated non-political evidence. That doesn't mean they shouldn't be taken seriously. In cases of Rose & Moore & Weinstein, overwhelming evidence.
12:56 PM - 21 Nov 2017
https://twitter.com/ZephyrTeachout/status/933076556578205696
Notice that "allegations" against Roy Moore trump actual pictures in the case of Franken.
Negan & Lucille need to interview Zephyr...
Al doesn’t get to decide whether he leaves or stays.
Seems the people of Minnessota have spoken.....the state’s Governor onamed Al’s replacement few days ago.
Al has to leave whether he wants to or not.
The people want him out.
No, these people quitting over sexual harassment are the second tier of people they are draining. The 1st tier are retiring to spend time with the family. 2nd tier want to destroy the reputations of before sending home as part of their deal. They get into trouble for lesser charge which they admit to, which will probably result in a monetary lawsuit against them and no ability to return. The last tier which we are about to get to, because of all the preparing of the people with leaks this las week, are going to court and maybe prison.
Franklin and others, might be bitter today but they are going to be very glad next year he was given this option, especially when Americans learn how fake our elections and government were.
Just did a Google search. Just when did Al Franken resign?
Notice Moore fought his allegations while these others are not?
Al Franken DID NOT RESIGN. .. He said he would look at resigning in the next few weeks.
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