Does anyone else here even care about any of this? I thought he was at least a sort-of OK guy, and now he does all this. What’s even more upsetting is how so many other people have reacted. The whole accusations of double-standards and hypocrisy and the partisanship is just so predictable. Usually when something like this happens I think “I wish there were a video or something of it happening.” This time there’s a photo but it still doesn’t seem to have resolved anything. I’m feeling even more disgusted with people than usual tonight.
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Yup. I makes me do a quick mental scan of any person I’ve ever met and interacted with. Will my name find it’s way to YouTube because I touched that lady’s shoulder? I swear it was an accident. I was reaching for my hat behind her!! Will I be sued and tossed into the abuser/harasser category?
He’s a well-liked politician on his side of the aisle, and he used to be a halfway decent comedian. The first thing precludes him from trustworthiness, in my assessment, and the second thing makes me chuckle occasionally when he makes the words with his whistle-blower. Now if everyone on both sides of the aisle disliked him, but still grudgingly respected him, I’d say he wins in both categories. As it is, though, it would seem our government is in the throes of trying to resurrect the cold-war witch-hunts of yore. Al Franken is a super easy target given his background. There’s just so much material to work with.
I don’t think Al Franken is in the same category as the other child molesters, rapists and serial sexual assaulters like Roy Moore, Roger Ailes, Harvey Weinstein, Bill Cosby, etc. Kissing her without consent was wrong, not excusing him, but at least he didn’t drug her or rape her or groped a dozen women or held them captive in a hotel room. So far it’s 1 woman and a forced kiss. I’m not throwing him under the bus yet. The others, hell yeah.
A forced kiss, AND him grabbing at her breasts while she was sleeping. True, only one woman is complaining so far, but I seriously doubt she was the only one. Guys who do things like this usually do them repeatedly. There are plenty of jobs where you could get fired for acting this way, and people in high office should be held to a high standard. What makes it different for me personally is that I never had positive feelings about any of the other men you list, with the possible exception of Cosby.
It was a pic he took as a joke and posted it so get laughs, he did not actually grab her. Big difference.
We only have his word for it that he didn’t actually grab her. He certainly came very close to it. Be that as it may, this “joke” isn’t funny.
To be perfectly blunt, At least means shit.
Why is it always a competition?
Hey, it could have been way worse, so count your luck and suck it up. You have a problem with it? Aw, too bad.
Don’t focus on identity – focus on actions.
My guess is when you first heard of Al Franken, you got a favourable impression, so you put him in the “good guys” category. Then you discover some less palatable actions of his, and now he’s a “bad guy”.
The point is, most people aren’t really good or bad, we all do good things and bad things. To take an extreme example, Hitler ruled as a dictator, started the Second World War, and murdered 6 million Jews. He was also a vegetarian. I’m not making excuses for Hitler, I’m just reminding you that reality is more complex than good/bad.
I wish the whole of society would practise this, because there is SO much identity politics happening at the moment, and it just polarizes people.
Another benefit is that you avoid idolizing people because of their public image, then discovering something unsavoury about them, and turning around and demonizing them. Neither of which is helpful.
Thanks, muspelhem. That’s actually helpful.