Did I just hear Al Franken correctly? About Lindsey?

[Goodheart]

"Lindsey Graham is a shoplifter. It's a compulsion. I've been with him when he goes into a pottery store and takes things. And he's on tape."

WTF

[KentuckyWoman]

1. True or not it's funny as hell.

Franken hasn't lost his touch.

[Sugar Smack]

2. That caught me totally by surprise!

Like you said, true or not, it's funny as hell. Great delivery.

[JGug1]

28. True Or Not

Franken cannot be making statements like that if they aren't true. He would find himself in court.

[ChubbyStar]

36. Welcome back!

[Sugar Smack]

38. Within the context that *comedy* has been his bread & butter,

I would also expect him to say such things. He can have a dry sense of humor. And he's famous for it.

[comradebillyboy]

41. I don't think Lindsey is going to sue him...

[Merlot]

80. People make untrue statements about public figures all the time

[Me.]

3. Never In A Million Tears Would I Have Guessed That

I was thinking, like a lot of people I'd guess, that it had something to do with sex. This needs to be spread around.

[TheBlackAdder]

45. Lindsey taking pottery and tchotchkes wouldn't surprise me, it sounds too plausible.

[Me.]

50. Nothing On Google About It

so we'll see. But would be so delicious...yes?

[cwydro]

4. Where was he when he said this?

Is there a link?

[Ilsa]

71. His radio show or podcast. Spoke of him taking pottery.

He was asked what trump has on LG. AF said LG is a shoplifter. Said they would be out and he'd lift a piece of nice pottery or a dish or something.

[jmbar2]

5. be wary of that story

Just did a quick search on it - there was a woman of the same name arrested for shoplifting. If it ain't true, don't pass it on.

[TruckFump]

51. Yep, in Cleveland, OH, I think. EOM

[NoMoreRepugs]

6. "And he's on tape" is the key phrase here.

We may not be talking about shoplifting in a pottery store.

[Kingofalldems]

11. BOOM!

[Funtatlaguy]

18. Adult Book Store maybe? D battery 🔋 toys ?

[sandensea]

26. His favorite

To each his own.

[wnylib]

7. 3 questions about this statement from Franken.

1. When would Al Franken and Lindsey Graham have gone shopping together?

2. If true, who would have paid people to destroy the tapes or give them to Graham and how much?

3. Does Franken have insurance to cover slander charges or does he have evidence to back up his claim?

If this is true, it could be used to bring Graham down. Dirty politics, but I'm sure the R's would do that about s Dem.' OTOH, he would only be replaced by someone just as vile.

I'd want to see evidence befire taking this at face value and would not repeat it without evidence.

[safeinOhio]

9. No longer a Senator, now a comedian.

It's a joke.

[wnylib]

29. I know he's a comedian. But a little care is

necessary in what even a comedian says and how he says it. There"s no context in the OP.

If it's an obvious joke in tone and context, no problem. But in print here with no context, it's open to being taken at face value.

[BannonsLiver]

34. Um no it's not. Not with public figures.

[wnylib]

40. It is very difficult for public figures to

win libel or slander suits but not impossble. The bar is very high due to freedom of speech, but if it is met, a pybluc figure is able to sue and win.

In this case, with Franken and Graham, Graham would probably not pursue a case, or win it if he did pursue it.

[rusty fender]

14. In today's politics,

can a petty crime take Lindsey down? Perhaps if it was a very expensive item that could make his crime a felony, but otherwise it it appears to be wishful thinking.

I would love this to be so, but shit, if you are a Repuke today, you need to commit a much bigger crime to be taken down and out

[wnylib]

30. Probably not, unless an opponent used it

mercilessly to ridicule him.

But as this probably did not happen anyway, it's moot.

[BannonsLiver]

33. Calm down

Sigh...nobody seems to know the slander laws in this country so here’s a refresher. Graham is a public figure and Franken is satirist. The end.

[wnylib]

43. Yes, Franken is a satirist and would probably

win if a lawsuit was filed. Graham would probably not bother to file one.

But, no, public figures are not exempted from filing slander or libel suits. Due to their position and to freedom of speech, it is very difficult for them to win a libel or slander suit. But if the claims in their suit meet the high bar of criteria, they can sue and win.

They have to prove malicious intent on the part of the person they accuse and document losses and/or the loss of the ability to maintain their career due to a proven untruth by the accused. Since comedians use satire, and parody, they have a wide lattitude in what they can say or write. Malicious intent is very hard to establish.

More pertinent to this board is the fact that the OP does not give context or a link. It poses a question in a way that could easily be taken at face value, as happened with some posters who might have believed and repeated the shoplifting story, only to look and feel foolish.

The OP shows us the need for caution and skepticism in responding to and reacting to an OP or other post on face value without context or link.

[malaise]

8. Is that what the Con has over him?

[Hekate]

10. Source, please, or self-delete

[cwydro]

13. Fake news seems to be all the rage here today.

I never have seen it this bad on this site.

[Hekate]

15. What's the appropriate Alert selection? Because DU is not going to become "them."

[cwydro]

22. I really think we need an alert for fake news.

But otherwise, I guess the “right wing sources” section or the “loony, fringe, conspiracy” section.

Usually they fall into both.

Yes, I really fear we are becoming “them,” and I have to wonder at the intention of those posting this nonsense.

[jberryhill]

31. Notice how certain people embroider it with additional speculation

I’m starting to think it might be organized.

[cwydro]

46. Yes, I've noticed.

I think you might be right.

I don’t remember it being this bad in the past.

[Goodheart]

59. Nonsense? I think you should apologize.

It's not "fake news" that Al Franken said it. Al Franken said as much on his radio show this morning.

So, tell me... why did you assume the worst?

[cwydro]

61. It was a joke. And you should present it as such.

Sadly, there are plenty of gullible folks even here.

[Goodheart]

63. I didn't know it was a joke when I heard it.

Now back off.

[cwydro]

64. Wow, so you believed that crap?

Whoa.

[Goodheart]

66. Can you even read?

I didn't say I believed it. I didn't say I disbelieved it. I asked if I had heard Al Franken correctly.

[Goodheart]

60. I'll accept your apology now for insinuating that I'm like "them".

[cwydro]

65. That poster was talking about the sudden penchant here for fake shit being posted.

I can’t speak for that poster, but I sure as hell don’t think they owe you an apology.

Your OP was irresponsible and not worthy of DU standards, or at least what I think DU standards are.

Many of our longtime DUers post funny or satiric posts...they use emojis or something to make it clear that’s what it is. Sadly, so may take things at face value.

[Goodheart]

67. Get this through your head: it's NOT fake news that Al Franken said such a thing.

Nor did I personally accuse, support, or validate that Lindsey Graham is a shoplifter.

I'll ask again: can you even read?

Both you and that poster owe me an apology.

[cwydro]

69. Oh dear.

Settle down now.

And no one owes you an apology.

[Goodheart]

57. Don't tell me what to do.

Al has a radio program. I specifically asked if I had heard Al correctly. I made no accusation against anybody. Just because you feel left out for not having listened doesn't mean I should self-delete.

[panader0]

12. So Al and Lindsey walk into a pottery store together.....

Edit to add: I used to know a compulsive shop lifter. He was a rich kid and
didn't need to steal--it was a thrill thing.
Lindsey needs something to give him a thrill.

[Sugar Smack]

16. I think the absurdity of stealing *POTTERY* makes this a joke.

I've been trying to imagine this relatively small man trying to jam crockery and plates as quietly as possible into his pants or jacket. The idea of pottery clattering around on his person, and the suggestion that Lindsey Graham such a compulsive recidivist, just makes it impossible for me to think Al Franken is serious.

[Sugar Smack]

17. Also, the whole idea that they'd go pottery shopping together,

more than once.

[cwydro]

47. Yes, and obviously you have the capacity for critical thinking.

It appears some here simply do not.

[Maraya1969]

21. Yes! It is absurd but I love it!

[Sugar Smack]

37. That's why I laughed.

Last edited Sat Dec 21, 2019, 05:42 PM - Edit history (1)

Al Franken's been well-known as a comedian.

[cwydro]

24. Oh yeah, that's just freaking hilarious Panty hose! Oh you're a card, you are

Because of course we ALL know that gay men wear panty hose, amirite?



Sarcasm for those thusly impaired.

[stopdiggin]

39. so your gay friends are OK with "outing" political figures

as humor? Hmmm.

[cwydro]

48. And he's been "hit on by pedophiles." Wtf?

Something off here.

[cwydro]

44. Please don't put pedophiles in the same sentence with gay people.

Your use of flamers is interesting.

[KSNY]

20. Perhaps Franken is acting "presidential"

by just making up absurd accusations of crimes by those he disagrees with. I think that is the joke.

[Sugar Smack]

54. Come to think of it, that also makes sense.

Good angle. "And it's on tape".

[Time2Breathe70]

23. been caught stealing!

[TrunKated]

52. LOL

Good song

[Paladin]

25. I sincerely hope it's true. (nt)

[orangecrush]

27. It's a joke.

[BannonsLiver]

35. Wow there are a lot of humor challenged people in this thread

It’s a JOKE people. Calm yourselves FFS. Lindsey’s going to be okay.

[Polybius]

42. Probably because it didn't seem like a joke from the OP

I originally thought the person was serious, but it's all good now.

[scipan]

49. fake news

I googled and there's nothing about this. Another Lindsey Graham was arrested (or involved) in shoplifting at a Walmart in Cleveland.

doesn't read like a joke to me. Why did you post this?

[Goodheart]

62. "Why did you post this?"

SERIOUSLY?

I was quite specific why I posted it. I wanted to be sure I had heard Al Franken correctly.

[cwydro]

70. But you already said you heard it.

So that’s just a wee bit disingenuous, doncha think?

[DFW]

53. It is typical of Al's dry humor

I'm sure he is just WAITING for Republicans (including Graham) to come trying to skin him alive for this. Who do you think would look sillier if this actually came to a trial? Al or Graham? (Hint, it's not Al, so that should narrow the choice down somewhat).

[Polybius]

74. This is why I loath dry humor

I never get it, and often at times I think it's serious. Wet humor like 3 Stooges and Austin Powers is the way to go.

[DFW]

75. LOL!!

The Three Stooges, eh?

Suggestion and warning--don't EVER visit England!

[Duppers]

81. Seriously.

I learned.

[Polybius]

82. Well, they have Benny Hill

As wet as it comes!

[Sugar Smack]

55. Hey, Goodheart. Where'd ya hear this again, dear?

Don't be shy.

[Goodheart]

56. You may not be aware that Al Franken has a Saturday morning Sirius radio show.

That's where he said it.

[Sugar Smack]

58. I wasn't aware of it.

Thanks for the tip, Goodheart.

[Kingofalldems]

68. Kick and rec for the gatekeepers.

[Ilsa]

72. I'd rather Al Franken and others put this on Facebook to show how vile

Facebook is, like the politician in CA that is running a deep fake of McConnell on fb.

[Steelrolled]

77. I understand the benefits of Facebook to many people

But it is also very toxic, and it feeds bad elements in people. I tuned out a few years ago.

[OnDoutside]

73. Wow, amazing how gullible people are !

[Bayard]

76. How do you hide pottery upon your person?

[Rollo]

79. In his bra...

[scardycat]

78. Well now I'm pictureing Lyndsey G wearing pottery on his head n/t