Democrats to invite sex misconduct victims to Trumps State of the Union

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press


by JONATHAN ALLEN
JAN 10 2018, 8:55 PM ET

WASHINGTON — Some Democratic House members are planning to invite victims of sexual assault to President Donald Trump's State of the Union address later this month to highlight the issue, according to an aide to a lawmaker who has been a prominent voice on sexual misconduct.

"Some members will be bringing survivors of sexual assault and advocates as their guests," the aide to Rep. Lois Frankel, D-Fla., a leader of the Democratic Women's Working Group in the House, told NBC News.

Party leaders generally don't dictate who rank-and-file members can invite with the one guest ticket each lawmaker is given. And there's still some uncertainty within Democratic ranks over where to draw the line between addressing sexual misconduct and turning the topic into a partisan political war.

Earlier this week, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., pressured Frankel not to hold mock hearings with women who have accused Trump of sexual assault, an idea the Florida Democrat had floated at a private Democratic Steering and Policy Committee meeting Monday night.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/democrats-invite-sex-misconduct-victims-trump-s-state-union-n836656

[guillaumeb]

1. Recommended.

An excellent idea.

[no_hypocrisy]

2. I want Al Franken to be there, prominently seated.

[No Vested Interest]

4. +1. and I'd like him invited by and recognized by the Senator who replaced him. nt

[sheshe2]

3. K&R

[dhol82]

5. Dump wont recognize any of them

He is totally clueless
This is a worthless shame campaign. It would only work on someone with a functioning brain.

[RandomAccess]

6. I'm not really in favor of this

It's just--- not that effective, IMO, in pointing out the problem without bringing up the past (Bill Clinton's sins and Trump's ugly attempt to rattle Hillary).

[David__77]

7. The Clintons arent in office.

...

[RandomAccess]

8. So?

What's that got to do with this? I'm TIRED of hearing about the past -- and this, among other things, would bring it all up again. That's not my main objection, but it does figure in.

My main objection is more: it does too little to advance the agenda, and then figures in the ancient history angle.

[LoveMyCali]

15. I agree

I also think it's exploitive of the women.

[AlexSFCA]

9. women past 35 all look the same to him

I bet Melania is not his last wife

[L. Coyote]

10. Right on, justice is long past due.

[CrispyQ]

11. I want to address sexual misconduct as much as anyone else, but can we save our country first?

This tack is not going to take down Trump. If he survived the Access Hollywood tape. Sexual misconduct is not going to take Trump down, nor is it going to make a bit of difference to the GOP or Trump's base. I wish the dems were smarter.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

12. Oh...thought HIS victims

[LTG]

13. Im surprised he would deliver an address to Congress at all.

Given his past choices I would expect him to cancel the speech and send it over as a statement in writing.

He’s only obligated to send the State of the Union report to Congress. It doesn’t have to be live.

He gets to take his victory laps for his perceived wins and make a statement of his view of the country’s problems and his plans to MAGA.

He can then flesh them out at his pep rallies around the country.

No chance of awkward silences or disturbances. No broadcast of guests, or visible anger or responses.

A perfect cowards way out.

[7962]

16. But it would also make him look like a coward. So I doubt he'd do it. Is there any precedent? nt

[LTG]

17. Some precedent exists, but not since Reagan.

The State of the Union became a written report with Thomas Jefferson. This remained the practice until 1913 with Wison, although he provided the information in writing in 1919 and 1920.

Coolidge gave one speech and 6 written. Hoover gave all of them in writing.

Truman (twice), Eisenhower and Carter (once each) provided it in written only format.

Franklin Roosevelt and Dwight D Eisenhower both sent written messages while speaking directly to the people explaining their policies.

Nixon in 1973 sent the 6 written messages to Congress, an Overwiew and 5 covering 5 different public policies. Each of the 5 public policy statements were followed by a speech to the people explaining the statement.

The State of the Union is given by the President serving during the preceding year. The first address of a president shortly after inauguration is not actually a State of the Union Address.

Only 5 Presidents - Truman, Eisenhower, Johnson, Ford and Carter (written only) - chose to give a final message to the nation by way of a State of the Union Address shortly before leaving office.

[7962]

18. Thank you for the info

[LiberalFighter]

14. Maybe they should invite all the women that he has had relations with to the SOTU.

Like the one that the National Enquirer paid off.