Al Franken accused of kissing and groping radio host. Will resign.

[bshole]

No man, just no. Who she kisses as her choice is her fucking business, and has zero to do with what Franken is alleged to have done. She clearly chose to kiss this guy, she did not, per her story choose to have Franken's tongue in her mouth.

Um actually no. Who she kisses is NOT her choice, it is a joint decision. If the guy did not want the kiss, she sexually assaulted him on camera. We should track down the guy and ask him.

 

[FIVR]

Um actually no. Who she kisses is NOT her choice, it is a joint decision. If the guy did not want the kiss, she sexually assaulted him on camera. We should track down the guy and ask him.

Where does this end? Does eventually all unwanted or nonconsensual physical contact become sexual assault? How did I know that the guy who bumped me in line at McDonalds wasn't getting sexual gratification? Was I raped? It trivializes real sexual assault and makes everyone into victims.

 

[KMFJD]

Uh oh...

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-42056869

alleged picture....

 

[Starbuck1975]

No? but again: was she part of the club at the time? context!

According to her accusations, she was not.

This is why such matters demand due process. Social media is causing these situations to play out in the court of public opinion, which to me is the most dangerous aspect of these "scandals".

Democrat or Republican, men or women, deserve the opportunity to clear their names against such allegations given the implications.

 

[BigDH01]

Where does this end? Does eventually all unwanted or nonconsensual physical contact become sexual assault?

Seems like we are on that path, doesn't it.

How did I know that the guy who bumped me in line at McDonalds wasn't getting sexual gratification?

You don't.

Was I raped?

Legally? No. In the court of public opinion? All in the eye of the beholder.

It trivializes real sexual assault and makes everyone into victims.

Everyone has a different definition of real sexual assault depending on their own biases. And in case you haven't noticed, we live in a "victim culture." Meanwhile, there's a female in my life that's suffering right now because she can't afford 1.3k/mo in healthcare costs through her state's failing Obamacare exchange. But it appears that Franken allegedly grabbing a woman's butt is a more important problem for the country.

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

Um actually no. Who she kisses is NOT her choice, it is a joint decision. If the guy did not want the kiss, she sexually assaulted him on camera. We should track down the guy and ask him.

You're smart enough to know exactly what I was saying.

 

[Jaskalas]

A woman grabbed my leg once. Am I a victim of sexual assault? Should I have yelled for the police?!
No.

I knew when I spoke of the first "case" that Franken was a sleaze. That's not necessarily a criminal. And if he's not a criminal, then maybe the voters should decide next election. So on the case of grabbing someone during a photo, my position has not changed.

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

You don't have a hall pass girl?

Salma Hayek, and that's as likely as my dog becoming president. But yes, Salma Hayek

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

By his reaction not sure the guy consented. Isn't that her accusation of Frankin??

It is, and we can address both of them should that soldier feel a need to step forward and state he was sexually assaulted by her. No, I am not joking. What allegedly happened with Franken is one issue, what possibly happened with this soldier is an entirely different incident.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

Salma Hayek, and that's as likely as my dog becoming president. But yes, Salma Hayek

Good choice. I have Jenny McCarthy.

 

[bshole]

So this woman accuses Franken of grabbing her ass while her husband took a photo. Question: WHY THE FUCK DIDN'T SHE SAY SOMETHING WHILE HER HUSBAND IS RIGHT THERE!?!!!!?!!! If someone of Franken's stature did that to my wife in front of me, they would be picking up their teeth. I am not buying what this woman is selling.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/20/...ses-al-franken-of-inappropriate-touching.html

 

[FIVR]

I think Al Franken is going to get pushed out of the Senate. It will be called a "great victory" for women and the democrats will placate all the people screaming "both sides". Roger Stone will laugh and Donald Trump will tweet about it.


But don't expect Roy Moore or Donald Trump to hold themselves to the same standard and don't expect republican or independent voters to hold them to account in the same manner.


Wouldn't it be great if Franken was gone and Moore was a senator? Wouldn't that be a huge victory for women? Roger Stone thinks so, and he needs our help to eat our own.

 

[Blackjack200]

Where does this end? Does eventually all unwanted or nonconsensual physical contact become sexual assault? How did I know that the guy who bumped me in line at McDonalds wasn't getting sexual gratification? Was I raped? It trivializes real sexual assault and makes everyone into victims.

The people that grabbed your butt shouldn't have grabbed your butt. Whatever term you want to use for it is fine with me.

To me, if you're flirting with someone, and then try to initiate contact, but stop as soon as the other person signals that it's not welcome, you've done nothing wrong. On the other hand, if you just try to grab a handful of something while you're standing close to a random person, that's wrong and should not be done. I don't think it's that's a difficult distinction to understand.

 

[FIVR]

This is why the democrats lose. We refuse to play hardball and constantly hold ourselves to a "higher standard" which nobody on the other side does nor do they care. Then we wonder why the country is run by psychos and idiots.

 

[bshole]

I think Al Franken is going to get pushed out of the Senate. It will be called a "great victory" for women and the democrats will placate all the people screaming "both sides". Roger Stone will laugh and Donald Trump will tweet about it.
.

Yea he is probably gone. The Republicans did score a pretty strong political victory with him. Good gawd the right wing pundits are having a field day with it.

 

[bshole]

The people that grabbed your butt shouldn't have grabbed your butt. Whatever term you want to use for it is fine with me.

To me, if you're flirting with someone, and then try to initiate contact, but stop as soon as the other person signals that it's not welcome, you've done nothing wrong. On the other hand, if you just try to grab a handful of something while you're standing close to a random person, that's wrong and should not be done. I don't think it's that's a difficult distinction to understand.

The problem is that you can say it happened even if it didn't. How many woman would allow a man to grab their ass right in front of their husband and say nothing to their husband right there? That is sooo bizarre as to be completely unbelievable.

 

[fskimospy]

Yea he is probably gone. The Republicans did score a pretty strong political victory with him. Good gawd the right wing pundits are having a field day with it.

It's pretty funny that the 'moral values' party is banking their political strategy on the hopes that Democrats aren't the same sort of shameless liars and hypocrites that they are. Pretty gross.

 

[FIVR]

The people that grabbed your butt shouldn't have grabbed your butt. Whatever term you want to use for it is fine with me.

To me, if you're flirting with someone, and then try to initiate contact, but stop as soon as the other person signals that it's not welcome, you've done nothing wrong. On the other hand, if you just try to grab a handful of something while you're standing close to a random person, that's wrong and should not be done. I don't think it's that's a difficult distinction to understand.

So if I could somehow find a photo of that altercation in Las Vegas, you think I would be in my rights to go to that woman's employer and get her fired and if she was famous go on the news and get her humiliated in front of all of america? She deserves that for slapping my butt when I wasn't looking?


I took it as a compliment at the time (she whistled and smacked my butt) but I guess I should've felt sexually harassed and victimized.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

Guys Mitt Romney said it best about Roy Moore and it applies here too. This is not a trial you are not presumed innocent, this is an election.
Admittedly that is a summary of what Mitt said and Franken is not up for re-election at the moment. Everyone just calm the fuck down. Let voters decide if they want Franken as a representative.

 

[Blackjack200]

So this woman accuses Franken of grabbing her ass while her husband took a photo. Question: WHY THE FUCK DIDN'T SHE SAY SOMETHING WHILE HER HUSBAND IS RIGHT THERE!?!!!!?!!! If someone of Franken's stature did that to my wife in front of me, they would be picking up their teeth. I am not buying what this woman is selling.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/20/us/politics/a-second-woman-accuses-al-franken-of-inappropriate-touching.html

The allegation is not suspect because she didn't make it immediately.

I think Al Franken is going to get pushed out of the Senate. It will be called a "great victory" for women and the democrats will placate all the people screaming "both sides". Roger Stone will laugh and Donald Trump will tweet about it.


But don't expect Roy Moore or Donald Trump to hold themselves to the same standard and don't expect republican or independent voters to hold them to account in the same manner.


Wouldn't it be great if Franken was gone and Moore was a senator? Wouldn't that be a huge victory for women? Roger Stone thinks so, and he needs our help to eat our own.

Just so I know, how much sexual assault should public officials be allowed to get away with if I agree with their views?

This is why the democrats lose. We refuse to play hardball and constantly hold ourselves to a "higher standard" which nobody on the other side does nor do they care. Then we wonder why the country is run by psychos and idiots.

Really? Bill Clinton is a higher standard? Bob Menendez is a higher standard? Stop excusing shitty behavior because you think the other side is worse. I don't see anyone here suggesting that what Franken did is as bad as what Moore did. That doesn't mean he gets a pass.

 

[Maxima1]

The problem is that you can say it happened even if it didn't. How many woman would allow a man to grab their ass right in front of their husband and say nothing to their husband right there? That is sooo bizarre as to be completely unbelievable.

They're stunned by it or don't want to make it even more awkward, etc. On CNN, they say there's a facebook post about it at the time:

"Menz posted the photo with Franken on Facebook at the time, on August 27, 2010. Her sister, Cari Thunker, commented under the photo: "Sorry, but you two aren't Bibles (sic) width apart" -- a reference, Thunker explained to CNN, to how physically close Menz and Franken were in the photo.
Menz responded to her sister on Facebook: "Dude -- Al Franken TOTALLY molested me! Creeper!" (The exchange is visible to Menz's Facebook friends.)"

 

[jmagg]

This is why the democrats lose. We refuse to play hardball and constantly hold ourselves to a "higher standard" which nobody on the other side does nor do they care. Then we wonder why the country is run by psychos and idiots.

This higher standard Democrat?
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/20/business/media/glenn-thrush-sexual-misconduct.html

 

[bshole]

They're stunned by it or don't want to make it even more awkward, etc. On CNN, they say there's a facebook post about it at the time:

"Menz posted the photo with Franken on Facebook at the time, on August 27, 2010. Her sister, Cari Thunker, commented under the photo: "Sorry, but you two aren't Bibles (sic) width apart" -- a reference, Thunker explained to CNN, to how physically close Menz and Franken were in the photo.
Menz responded to her sister on Facebook: "Dude -- Al Franken TOTALLY molested me! Creeper!" (The exchange is visible to Menz's Facebook friends.)"

Didn't know that. Might have back down my assertion.

 

[Blackjack200]

The problem is that you can say it happened even if it didn't. How many woman would allow a man to grab their ass right in front of their husband and say nothing to their husband right there? That is sooo bizarre as to be completely unbelievable.

Yeah, and Al Franken can say it didn't happen. By the way, that's exactly what I'd do if I was in Franken's shoes because my memory is good enough to say with 100% certainty that I've never used a photo op to grab a woman's ass. Weird that Franken doesn't remember. Seems like he has Jeff Sessions's memory.

So if I could somehow find a photo of that altercation in Las Vegas, you think I would be in my rights to go to that woman's employer and get her fired and if she was famous go on the news and get her humiliated in front of all of america? She deserves that for slapping my butt when I wasn't looking?

Of course you would be within your rights, and no photo is necessary if you feel violated and decide that you want to let people know. You think that people shouldn't have the right to do that? What she "deserves" is another matter completely.

I took it as a compliment at the time (she whistled and smacked my butt) but I guess I should've felt sexually harassed and victimized.

Who is telling you how you should have felt?

They're stunned by it or don't want to make it even more awkward, etc. On CNN, they say there's a facebook post about it at the time:

"Menz posted the photo with Franken on Facebook at the time, on August 27, 2010. Her sister, Cari Thunker, commented under the photo: "Sorry, but you two aren't Bibles (sic) width apart" -- a reference, Thunker explained to CNN, to how physically close Menz and Franken were in the photo.
Menz responded to her sister on Facebook: "Dude -- Al Franken TOTALLY molested me! Creeper!" (The exchange is visible to Menz's Facebook friends.)"

Thanks, I wonder how much more evidence will be needed.

 

[FIVR]

The allegation is not suspect because she didn't make it immediately.



Just so I know, how much sexual assault should public officials be allowed to get away with if I agree with their views?



Really? Bill Clinton is a higher standard? Bob Menendez is a higher standard? Stop excusing shitty behavior because you think the other side is worse. I don't see anyone here suggesting that what Franken did is as bad as what Moore did. That doesn't mean he gets a pass.

It's pretty simple.

Grabbing clothed butts decades ago or too much tongue in your agreed-to rehearsal kiss are not reasons people should be prosecuted or removed from politics .


Raping people or molesting underage girls are reasons people should be prosecuted and removed from politics.

It also appears that the justice department agrees, seeing that Weinstein is under criminal investigation while GHW Bush and Leeanne Tweeden are not.