General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsRatfucking vs Facts vs Political Hysteria
Let's consider two cases: Franken and Northam.
The Franken allegations were quickly shown to be ratfucking, even as a live person was the original declarant, and quickly found to be a right wing provocateur. The later allegations were mostly weak or clearly groundless. The photographic evidence showed what was clearly a joke, not a breast groping as alleged. Contemporaneous accounts from others demonstrate an ongoing pattern of joking between the parties. Then there was the MeToo climate that prevailed at the time. The right wing ratfuckers timed the allegations perfectly.
This was a case where the calls for Franken's resignation came loud and swift from our side. They were, in my view, premature. Franken's self defense was clear but muted, even as they were sane and reasoned. I believe this was a rush to judgement, and quite likely a political calculation on the part of those calling for his resignation. And dumb on our part.
The Northam accusations are a whole other matter. Yes, the initial allegations were from a right wing source bent on fucking Democrats, but the "Coonman" thing and the blackface/KKK images are there. Northam made things worse by his initial admission, then denial, then identifying another blackface event. All that leaves us in political limbo. Did he or didn't he and if he didn't, he sure makes it hard to believe he didn't. So he either did a racist thing or he is a political idiot. In either case, he is hurting Democrats in Virginia and across the country. We are now at a point where facts do NOT matter. He needs to go.
As a follow-on are the new accusations by the same source that Justin Fairfax is a sexual abuser. No corroboration. No evidence. WaPo looked at this a year ago and dismissed it. I think we should, too.
The hard part is making decisions about these things fast. The news moves at light speed. The RW is even faster to throw shit at us. We need to make decisions - fast - and stand by them.
Longer term, we need to oppo our own candidates and make harsh examples of those who are shown to be hiding things or lying. The DNC needs to have a hand in this.
msongs
(67,441 posts)jodymarie aimee
(3,975 posts)colleagues who stabbed you in the back? When I quit a job once in the 1970s I could not bear to even drive by the bldg for years. Bad juju...
dalton99a
(81,570 posts)And oh, Gym Jordan
manor321
(3,344 posts)peggysue2
(10,839 posts)the speed at which these 'reveals' turn over. We've barely caught our breath with the Northam revelation when the accusations against Justin Fairfax hit the headlines. I think it's pretty clear this is a purposeful rollout to enhance the chaos. The same was true for the Franken accusations--a very swift rollout and a rush to judgment by Party leadership to cleanse any political liability.
The hard part is making decisions/judgments about these issues in a blink of an eye, particularly when it comes to accusations of racism or sexual misconduct. We have knee-jerk/emotional reactions too frequently before the evidence is really looked at carefully.
In Northam's case, he damned himself by not addressing why/how those photos were on his page, then switching his story and finally holding an appalling presser. And sorry, the nickname 'Coonman' was a double whammy. Fairfax, I think, was wise to jump right on these recent allegations and swat them down. With Franken? He was out the door before anyone really investigated the veracity of the accusations against him. We were simply told they were 'credible.' Really?
There is an emerging pattern here. Forewarned is forearmed.
Stinky The Clown
(67,818 posts). . . . is to die, politically.
The DNC - not candidates or local party apparatchiks - needs to create, populate, empower, and FUND a rapid response squad to fight this shit the very moment it starts.
That includes swift action against any of our own who lie. Zero tolerance. We are in a war and we are losing.
We also need to look around at our "friends" - wherever we find them, MAYBE even here in DU - who are in on the ratfucking.
denverbill
(11,489 posts)Franken should never have resigned and I'm still almost as hurt by his resignation as Wellstone's death. Meanwhile, Arnold Schwarzenegger admitted to groping one or more female actresses during his movie career and dismissed them as just being part of 'a rowdy movie set' or something similar.
We know almost nothing about Northam's case yet. Virtually every characterization of the KKK I've seen in the last 50 years has ridiculed them. Even assuming it was Northam, we don't know if this was in a skit ridiculing the KKK. We've gotten no confirmation from any classmates as of yet who recalled this incident. I would assume most yearbooks would not publish offensive photos, so I would tend to think whatever it was wasn't deemed offensive enough to ban from the yearbook.
This whole thing stinks to me of ratfucking too. It would be a shame to railroad someone for a non-crime they might have committed 30 years ago, and end up with a Republican governor who would almost certainly try to disenfranchise black voters.
Stinky The Clown
(67,818 posts). . . . . his own goose by his idiotic statements, contradictions and just plan weak statements.
Edit to add the word "not" in the comment title
Trumpocalypse
(6,143 posts)is there any evidence that the 7 other women were all lying?
http://time.com/5042931/al-franken-accusers/
Stinky The Clown
(67,818 posts)Trumpocalypse
(6,143 posts)But can you answer the question?
Stinky The Clown
(67,818 posts)Just curious.
You getting any snow where you are?
Trumpocalypse
(6,143 posts)Can you answer the question or not?
Stinky The Clown
(67,818 posts)But nice dodge.
-5C?
Trumpocalypse
(6,143 posts)I'm simply asking you to prove it. Can you or not?
Stinky The Clown
(67,818 posts)Trumpocalypse
(6,143 posts)Have a nice evening.
apnu
(8,758 posts)Sen. Al Franken's accusers and their allegations against him: https://abcnews.go.com/US/sen-al-frankens-accusers-accusations-made/story?id=51406862
1. Leeann Tweeden
2. Lindsay Menz
3. Anonymous Accuser No. 1
4. Anonymous Accuser No. 2
5. Stephanie Kemplin
6. Anonymous Accuser No. 3, an elected official
7. Anonymous Accuser No. 4, a former congressional aide
8. Tina Dupuy
Of them, only Leeann Tweeden has a known ulterior motive and contacts with Republican dirty tricks players that I am aware of.