I remember when sexual assault victims used to prefer to keep silent...

[cynatnite]

Oh, wait they still do!

They're still called liars, sluts, whores, accused of being paid to lie, etc.

[mythology]

1. Sadly this is still true.

[Skittles]

2. are you seriously saying

ALL accusations must be believed, no questions asked?

[cynatnite]

3. I'm seriously saying that women have good reason for not coming forward...

Or identifying themselves.

When you've been a victim once from an assault by a man in a position of power, why would you subject yourself to being victimized once again?

I've been there. The vulnerability I felt was frightening as hell, not to mention the powerlessness, too.

[Skittles]

4. I understand that

but does not mean people cannot be unfairly TARGETED, especially in this atmosphere

it's like we have gone from one extreme to the other

[cynatnite]

6. I'm not saying people can't be targeted...

What I am saying is that we shouldn't turn into the tRump mob who calls every Moore accuser the same exact names being called here, ranting about fake news and all that.

This is exactly what I'm reading here.

The Dems are the better party, but they're not perfect either. We should be able to come down as hard on one of our own as we do on assholes like tRump and Moore who commit the same, if not worse, acts on women.

And not be dicks about it, too.

[Skittles]

10. come down hard IF IT IS BELIEVABLE

[TCJ70]

11. In regards to this:

What I am saying is that we shouldn't turn into the tRump mob who calls every Moore accuser the same exact names being called here, ranting about fake news and all that.

When we have a situation where Roger Stone tweets about this stuff before it comes out, the first accuser is a frequent Hannity guest who also pushed birther garbage, then it seen on the same USO tour engaging in sexually charged behavior, it becomes a little difficult to take it seriously.

The rest of it has been either anonymous accusations (unconfirmable) and pictures that don't show what the accuser is suggesting, only that they were in the same room together.

I'm fine putting the hammer down on sexual harassers/assaulters...but this stuff doesn't pass any kind of critical review.

[cynatnite]

13. I get what you're saying...

I'm not ready to discount it so easily.

I think the truth will be in what Franken says tomorrow. I think he'll resign, say it's for the good of the party, the country and that he can't effectively serve. I also think there will be an emotional apology as well.

If he comes out fighting against the accusations and evidence on his side, then I have no problem saying I'm wrong. Wouldn't be the first time.

I'm just not willing to put on blinders.

[Fozzledick]

5. I remember when Republicans launched organized smear campaigns against leading Democrats

using classic Machiavellian tactics of falsely projecting their own vices on to their target while vilifying them for their actual virtues, and using the Nazis' Big Lie technique to try to make their lies seem credible through constant repetition and a steady stream of false accusations by paid provocateurs meant to create the appearance of multiple accusers.

Oh, wait they still do!

[cynatnite]

9. We shouldn't be dismiss accusers out of hand...

when they try to protect themselves or when said accusations tarnish a beloved member of congress. We should be just as hard on them as we are on assholes like tRump and Moore.

[Fozzledick]

19. We should judge each case on the actual evidence and not presume that all accusations must be true.

I am deeply troubled by the credible accusations made against John Conyers by women in his own office who have worked with him for years, but the accusations against Al Franken by known paid Republican propagandists appear false and malicious on their face, directly contradicted by the very photographs presented as evidence and multiple independent witnesses giving consistent accounts that what they claimed never happened, and aggravated by anonymous insubstantial accusations that appear to be just throwing mud to see if it will stick. On closer examination it appears to be an organized campaign originating from Roger Stone's swift-boat organization with pre-programmed support from Putin's troll farms.

[jalan48]

7. Are you saying Al Franken is going to call them liars and sluts? Seriously?

[cynatnite]

8. No, I was talking about some here at DU. n/t

[jalan48]

14. I didn't see that in your post-I read it as being more general. I was making it specifically about

Franken-do you think he is the type of person to do this?

[cynatnite]

15. Sadly,yes.

I don't think he's a bad guy. He used terrible judgment, but it's just too late for him, IMO.

[jalan48]

18. It could be the case. Why not let the ethics investigation play out?

[loyalsister]

12. Yep

When the impulse to protect the good guys using the standard smear tactics rather than listening to a woman who wants to tell her story, the violation is continued cause of distress if not trauma. Are some men really so sacred that we will protect the system that protects them all.

[ProfessorGAC]

16. Only One Problem Sis!

All but one of the Franken accusers are anonymous. It begs the question, do they really want to be listened to, or are they just piling on owing to some other agenda?

In the case of Moore, those women aren't anonymous. They're putting their name to the accusations, and not one of them appear to have anything to gain, aside from personal success in calling out an abuser.

Sort of apples and oranges, to me.

[loyalsister]

17. Anita Hill wanted to remain anonymous

For good reason. She knew that colleagues loyal to Thomas, and even the general public would inflict the smear tactics that are used to protect men who are accused.

[ProfessorGAC]

20. But Millions Believed Her

So, yeah, the R's did their best to smear her, but she was believed by MANY, MANY people who were quite certain Thomas was a snake of the first order.