Franken issues Thanksgiving Day apology, pledges to regain constituents' trust

[brooklynite]

Source: Politico

Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) said on Thursday he feels "terribly that he could make women feel so badly," and he has learned that for "some women" his actions in encounters with constituents and fans "crossed the line."

"I've met tens of thousands of people and taken thousands of photographs, often in crowded and chaotic situations. I'm a warm person, I hug people," Franken said in a Thanksgiving Day statement released to the Minnesota Star Tribune. "I've learned from recent stories that in some of those encounters, I crossed the line for some women -- and I know that any number is too many."

...snip...

Franken apologized to his constituents and the entire state for the scandal.

"And let me say again to Minnesotans that I’m sorry for putting them through this and I’m committed to regaining their trust.”

Read more: https://www.politico.com/story/2017/11/23/al-franken-apology-thanksgiving-259603

---

My take: is he sexist and intolerant of women? No. Is he innocent and the subject of a RW/Russian "set-up"? No.

[bagelsforbreakfast]

1. There are already at least 2 other posts on this - Curious why

you felt a pressing need to start another one?

[brooklynite]

2. ...because nobody felt the need to post this in the news section?

[bagelsforbreakfast]

3. Perhaps they felt since there were already 3 threads on it that

it wasn't exactly "LATEST BREAKING NEWS" ???

[former9thward]

4. If it happened within the last 24 hours it is LBN

Look at the DU rules for the thread. Why don't you want to see it here?

[bagelsforbreakfast]

8. Perhaps you should have a look at the rules - "No duplicates."

Why are you so intent to see multiple posts of the same anti-Franken news?

[former9thward]

9. The rules say "No duplicates" in LBN.

And the OP was the only posting in LBN. The rules do not say "no duplicates" of anything on DU. General Discussion is full of duplicates and triplicates and everything else with various subjects on any given day. If you are going to complain about rule violations then you have to live by the rules no matter whether you agree with posts or not.

[bagelsforbreakfast]

10. Then you should look at little hard on LBN unless the rules are to be

interpreted as you can make a new post on the same news every 24 hours?

[MFM008]

5. You can be overly warm

And not molest anyone.
Unfortunately some people are very
touchy about being
Touched. I grew up in such a family.
I don't believe he "grabbed" anyone's ass.
Especially in front of their husbands and I sure as hell
Don't believe in anonymous tipsters that could be easily
Be bots.
This reeks of right wing garbage tactics.

[The Wizard]

6. yes

Too many Democrats are too quick to curl up in a corner and hope Republicans won't say mean things about them. It's time to stand up to the liars and kick them in the stomach. And when they're down keep kicking them.

[treestar]

7. Exactly, quit caving to their nasty tactics

Teach them to quit using those tactics.

[tenderfoot]

11. Is he innocent and the subject of a RW/Russian "set-up"? No.

Do explain.

[brooklynite]

13. Simple...

...by apologizing to the first accuser, and apologizing to the people of Minnesota and the women who were the 2nd, 3rd and 4th, he has set aside the "it never happened" mantra that people people were expressing when this story broke. Additionally, this occured in a window of time when women were coming forth with stories about a range of people, not just Roy Moore.

I don't believe he felt he was acting inappropriately (I think part of this comes from his origins as a comedian, where being slightly outrageous is sometimes expected). But neither do I think he was completely innocent and the subject of a "set up" from the RW.

[tenderfoot]

15. Even if the allegations started the day after he grilled Jeff Sessions

And that the first "victim" didn't want an ethics investigation because it would prove she was making shit up.

Naw, nothing to see there.

[brooklynite]

17. So, no reason to apologize?

[brooklynite]

36. That would be the Jeff Session that Trump and Bannon don't like?

[whathehell]

28. There's an "in between" response to this that avoids resignation

The possibility of "censure" had been raised...Not sure exactly what that consists of, but it doesn't include resignation. Hell, if David Vitter could hold his seat, Al should be able to as well.

[brooklynite]

29. Nobody of significance is calling for resgnation...

[whathehell]

30. Not yet..

but I'm afraid there will be, and if that happens, I'll be glad if there's an alternative.

[ucrdem]

12. I dunno.

I'm guessing he's innocent and subject of a routine RW hit job because:

1 - He's innocent of a crime if none of these were workplace encounters. That's assuming his USO contributions were voluntary, at least technically, for example if he was paid for expenses only.

2 - Hit job because the claims and claimants appear to have been searched out and prepped in advance, starting with the media personality in the USO pic, which has probably been bouncing around VRWC-land for years.

3 - One of the Facebook claimants apparently wrote "Franken totally molested me" under her pic, probably as a joke, meaning someone probably searched FB databases using "Franken + molest*"

4 - Holidays are good for hit jobs as there's not much else going on and it gives dinner guests something to talk about.

5 - HuffPo

[brooklynite]

14. "He's innocent of a crime if none of these were workplace encounters."

Nobody's saying he committed a crime.

[ucrdem]

16. What does that leave?

If he's not being accused of harassment?

[brooklynite]

18. Inappropriate behavior frequently doesnt rise to the level of a crime.

[ucrdem]

19. Then his apologies have no legal significance either.

He's basically saying have a nice day, which is very thoughtful .

[brooklynite]

25. Of course they have no legal significance; they're not intended to...

...they're intended to have political significance. He's up for re-election next year.

[LudwigPastorius]

20. "... in some of those encounters, I crossed the line for some women..."

WTF, Al?

That's like an "I'm sorry if you were offended" non-apology. Either deny this behavior or own it.

[Skid Rogue]

21. Butt grabber, or not...

his principles will not let him "own" this behavior. What do you expect him to say, "Ah, to hell with you women! I've touched you in inappropriate ways and I'm proud of it?" LOL If he did it, he knows it was wrong. I'm sure of that. It's that "knowing" that makes me give him a second chance.

[LudwigPastorius]

22. "What do you expect him to say,..."

How about, "Yes, I touched their butts without their consent" for starters?

His statement implies that unwanted ass-grabbing doesn't cross the line "for some women".

[Skid Rogue]

23. Okay...

I guess you're right. To "own" and "be proud of" are 2 different things. I just have this tiny hope that he wasn't conscious of his actions.

[Irish_Dem]

31. I agree, either deny or own it. nt

[oberliner]

24. What line did he cross?

I am still confused by what he means there.

[GatoGordo]

35. I'm pretty sure he has lawyers who crafted this vague political apology

Apologize for being misunderstood and for hurt feelings, but not for actual bad behavior.

[wryter2000]

26. Maybe he should apologize for the weather next

Or why some Thanksgiving turkeys were overcooked.

[50 Shades Of Blue]

27. "...often in crowded and chaotic situations" - has what to do with grabbing asses, exactly?

Lame.

[GatoGordo]

34. I know that when I am in crowds and chaotic situations

I can't help but grab a few asses and say a few lewd things.

Mr. Franken has shown that he thinks grabbing boobies and butts is "high comedy". (See Leeann Tweeden, Ari Huffington pics) And as more women come forward, we are seeing a pattern of bad behavior.

His apologies are non-apology apologies and victim blaming. "I'm sorry I made you feel bad"? Really? REALLY??? No, Mr. Franken... you are sorry that you got called out and now your job is on the line.

This doesn't bode well for the DFL in Minnesota. The Republicans are itching to hang this around the neck of Democrats in some very tight races, including governor and in the First District (where I live). An actual APOLOGY for his bad behavior (instead of apologizing for making women "feel badly" would go a long way, IMO)

[Lunabell]

32. It's enough for me.

At least he apologized.

[GatoGordo]

33. Instead of feeling terrible that he "made women feel bad"

I am holding out hope that Mr. Franken will apologize for his bad behavior. That would go a long way to regaining this Minnesotan's trust.

I am quite honestly tired of the euphemisms and victim blaming.