Senator Al Franken?

I don't know the specifics of Franken's case, but it does seem that more women are speaking out en masse lately...perhaps he just got caught up in the crossfire. He admitted his mistakes right away, however. We need good Democrats in office to counter the Republican menace.

Well, we can forget about him running for POTUS in 2020. Kinda shot down any chance of that.

Just now noticed this thread, haven't had a chance to read it yet, here's my quick take.Franken was a comedian at the time, and he was helping put on a show to a young and bawdy audience. After such a show on the way back this photo probably seemed funny: If he's not touching her, it's just a poor attempt at humor and he should keep his job. If he's touching her that's unforgivable molestation and he should resign.But Franken admits thrusting his tongue into Tweeden's mouth during a rehearsed kiss. That's unforgivable and he should resign.--Percy

There's always the option of running as a Republican....

Alas, I saw somewhere that the incident(s) happened in Dec. 2006. He announced his Senate candidacy in Feb. 2007.I don't know what psychosis Al was going through at the time. It really seems to be a case of loss of sanity.We shall see what further information comes out. But I'm not ready to advocate "ex-Senator Franken" yet. Regardless of how distasteful the incident(s) were, it yet seems like a very brief anomaly in what seems to be an otherwise fine Senate career. I certainly hope there is nothing further bad to come out.Moose

It appears that there is more to the story that what has been initially reported ...

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New Information On Franken’s Accuser Proves MSM Is Botching This Story

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Accusing someone of sexual assault is not an easy task, especially when the accused is in a major position of power. Ever since the #MeToo movement swept the nation, more and more woman are coming out and revealing their abusers. But here’s the thing: not everyone accused of sexual assault is always guilty. Moreover, it’s probably best to thoroughly report on a major sexual allegation.

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Yesterday’s news of Senator Franken (D-MN) allegedly engaging in sexual misconduct during a USO trip caused a firestorm on Twitter. But Franken, being a gentleman and totally unlike creepo Roy Moore, immediately apologized to Leeann Tweeden, the woman pictured in the photo at the USO tour.

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Perhaps in a rush to beat other networks to the punch in their shaming of Franken, the MSM has been completely reckless in covering this story. Firstly, they didn’t even bother to contact the photographer and get some context behind the photo that shows Franken apparently groping a sleeping Tweeden. Oddly enough, Tweeden was wearing a kevlar vest, military helmet, and sitting upright in a chair. The photographer has since spoken up.

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But the bigger issue is how the MSM has completely failed to report on Tweeden’s fishy connections to right-wing media, which may or may not show Tweeden as trying to humiliate someone with whom she disagrees with politically.

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Tweeden, for example, is no neutral party.

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... Tweeden on Fox News’ Hannity calling Shirley Sherrod a racist Remember, Sherrod was attacked and set up by bogus journalism by Breitbart. To be clear, Tweeden was a participant in the right-wing echo chamber, amplifying and reinforcing the message of Breitbart.

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Samantha Sanderson‏ @SamSanderson123
Replying to @danacbell @owillis

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Al Franken isn't going to resign. He has two witnesses ... he had an escort/bodyguard who never left his side and says this didn't happen and the photographer saying she was in on the staging .. also @LeeannTweeden is on Hannity's show constantly ...

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It was a comedy skit in poor taste and nobody is making apologies for Franken’s behavior. But that Tweeden is a Trump supporter with a history of appearing on decidedly right-wing news shows, makes this whole thing smell like a rotting corpse. Franken, of course, didn’t respond to her accusation by attacking her like Roy Moore did; he apologized and Tweeden accepted.

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In contrast with Roy Scumbag Moore, Franken has requested an ethics inquiry ...Enjoy

More evidence that Tweeden's claim is politically motivated and misinformation:

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Newly Released Photos And Videos Just Cast Doubt On The Claims Of Al Franken’s Accuser

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In the tumultuous aftermath of Leeann Tweeden’s accusations against Al Franken during a 2006 USO trip to Kuwait, Iraq, and Afghanistan, new photos and videos have emerged that cast doubt on her account.

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During the very same USO tour in question, Tweeden can be seen blatantly groping the backside of a male performer and kissing another.

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While the details surrounding the rest of Tweeden’s interactions on this tour are still unclear, the images and videos of a woman who is not nearly as prim and puritanical as she has let on are striking, to say the least.

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This USO tour is not the only time that Tweeden has put her sexually aggressive behavior on display. At one point, she even did so with the iconic, late Robin Williams.

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It should also be noted that Tweeden just signed a book deal with Sinclair Broadcasting Group, which has also inked deals with prominent conservative voices, including Sebastian Gorka, Steve Bannon, and the Mercers.

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As evidence has begun to spread that perhaps Tweeden had a political agenda behind her decision to name Franken, a growing movement of support has coalesced behind the Minnesota Senator.

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If it is revealed that she perverted the important #MeToo campaign to launch a smear job on a Senator who has been a vital advocate for women, it would be a major blow to victims of sexual harassment and assault across the country.

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So it looks like she owes Franken an apology, and also one to all the real victims of sexual assault as this ploy weakens the #metoo movement, and it gives perverts like Roy Moore a window to claim the women are just doing it for attention .. like Tweeden.Curious that this claim of hers only came out now that Roy Moore is in trouble because of sexually assaulting girls.Curious that it emanates from Faux Noise Nutwerk where she serves as part of the echo chamber.Enjoy

Another woman comes forward. From CNN: Woman says Franken inappropriately touched her in 2010Where there's fire there's inevitably many more little fires. This instance at the Minnesota State Fair must be just the tip of the iceberg. Franken has undoubtedly been pulling stunts like this for years. We know this, whether any more women decide to come forward or not.And what do you know, more fires are emerging, just came across this: Leeann Tweeden was hardly Franken’s first groping victim. Apparently Franken and Davis used their comedy act to publicly take advantage of very young women. That's despicable.About this: The photographer is identified as "Photographer". Yeah, I'm convinced. Oh, look at this, it's already been revealed as bogus: Al Franken’s Photographer Saying Groping Image Of Leeann Tweeden Was Staged Is A Fake QuoteIn case it hasn't been reported here yet, Tweeden started as a sports reporter, she worked on-air at Fox Sports News for a while, she once appeared on Sean Hannity's show, and she's appeared nude in Playboy. Nothing in that makes her fair game for molestation, and I'll use the word despicable again, this time to describe attacks on victims of molestation.I like Al Franken. I liked him as a comedian and I like him as a politician. But we can't tolerate sexual predators, and especially not in positions of considerable responsibility. Franken's gotta go.I liked this tweet found further down the page about the photographer quote being fake:: "The people defending Al Franken are as pathetic as you defending Roy Moore. You all make this country so much worse." We can't be the kind of people who say, "Sure he's a creep, but he's our creep." We're better than that.--Percy

Draining the swamp should begin with the public. If the stories can be validated, I agree that Franken should go, as should Roy Moore. Politics should have nothing to do with any of this, but I suspect that it has a lot to do with it.And I won't take sides.add by Edit: The whole issue of media being truthful and verifiable is the real issue in this whole affair, as well as with Roy Moore. Our culture is involved in a war of ideas, beliefs, ideologies, and politics. The question is how do we get to the truth amidst so much information, accusal, and counter defense?Edited by Phat, : added thought

I am very saddened by the news regarding Al Franken, but I won't react by differently to what seem to be attempts at shaming the victim regardless whether it is Moore's supporters or Franken's supporters who are doing it. I am a long time fan of Franken's. and I have admired his work in the US Senate.Tweeden was seen kissing another performer? That certainly doesn't discredit her in my eyes. Tweeden groped another performer? Did that turn out to be unwanted? I'd need to hear that before I'd even consider these kinds of stories in any way.And this:

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If it is revealed that she perverted the important #MeToo campaign to launch a smear job on a Senator

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"If it is revealed"? Yeah, let me know when you've got something other than innuendo. Edited by NoNukes, : No reason given.

Is that the standard now? Gropers will applaud. She's done her job, and now they can vote for Roy Moore? Remember her complaint is that Franken kissed her, a kiss was part of the act (there is footage), and there was no actual groping (just staged "bathroom humor" pretend to grope gag and she was in on it).In other words, she was doing exactly what she complained Franken was doing ... do we have one standard for men and a different one for women? Not for me.It was a USO show and some bawdiness was expected ... as is tradition (look at old Bob Hope footage ... or do we have to classify HIM as a groper now ...) So question the source of the story (the Faux Noise echo chamber of which she is a active member), question the accuracy of the claim (does any of the footage support it), question the politics (she is an ardent Trump supporter), and question the timing of the claim (why now when Roy Moore is in the headlines) ... does the claim pass the smell test?Personally I think it stinks.Enjoy

Yes. The standard for whether sexual contact between adults is even a problem is strictly based on consent. You are saying that she kissed somebody and that she grabbed somebody else's butt. Absent those folks having a problem with it, or those folks being intimidated by her, you haven't shown me a problem yet. Roy Moore is scum. That is completely independent of whether or not Al Franken groped anyone. I am addressing an attack on her that has a completely different basis. The attack I am rejecting seems to be based on either the accuser being a slut or having participated in sexual misconduct or her own. No. If she did what she was accused of, that does not get Al Franken off, in my opinion.I think I was pretty clear about my objection. I don't recognize any attempt to address what I actually said in my post here. If someone other than you had made this response, I probably would not give them the benefit of the doubt.Edited by NoNukes, : No reason given.

I had a longer message that got lost to a computer malfunction. The shorter version:I think the photo clearly is staged, maybe or maybe not with Tweeden's awake participation. The photo documented a variety of "bad taste humor" but does not document a groping.I find it implausible that Tweeden was sleeping in her full combat gear costume, but maybe she was.Per her other accusations - I do think that her other journalism work with Fox News, indeed her mere association with Fox News, is a serious negative towards her credibility. Maybe she is telling the truth, but would one find the statement "Fox News corespondent lies to make liberal politician look bad" implausable?MooseAdded by edit:Photographer Said Franken Image Was Staged?

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Did Franken Photog Say Groping Image Was Staged?
A fake quote ostensibly uttered by the photographer who took the infamous image of Senator Al Franken and Leeann Tweeden was circulated in November 2017.

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CLAIM

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The photographer of the infamous Al Franken image said that the moment was staged, that Leeann Tweeden "was playing dead," and that "she wanted him to ‘revive’ her."

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RATING
FALSE

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ORIGIN
How do you defend the indefensible? One way, apparently, is to make up a fake quote.

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In an apparent effort to discredit Leaann Tweeden, the woman who accused Senator Al Franken of groping her during her 2006 USO tour, a quote ostensibly uttered by the photographer who snapped the infamous image was circulated on social media: ...

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I think the quote source may indeed be false, but some variation of the "quote" content is still plausible.Edited by Minnemooseus, : Added by edit.

The question was about post kiss "consent" not prior ... you seem to say it is okay if it is post kiss consented. I don't.And context is important -- this occurred during the same show, it was part of the whole routine, and such routines are rehearsed, so the time to object is during the rehearsal. Additionally the Al Franken kiss is a prelude to her calling a soldier up to kiss. We can take this as the purpose of the skit: kiss a random serviceman as a proxy for all the soldiers. It's entertainment.Personally I think you are reacting exactly the way this issue was raised to do: distract from Roy Moore and gaslight people into stepping down the 50 shades of grey between a stage kiss and a statutory rape. One is disappointing at worst while the other is absolutely deplorable and the perp should be in jail. And yet you are talking about Franken and not Moore. Like I said, the publication of this issue at this time is for the purpose of distraction and gaslighting, and it looks like job done. Except that it was staged, and both occurred on stage during the skit. Taking it as anything else is like quote-mining: taking it out of context to make it seem different than it was.We also have the curious incident of the party celebrating Franken's election ... and she was there and all smiles and congratulations, etc ... the incident was not used then to discredit Franken before the election, which would have been a more appropriate timing than now, when Franken is not up for election and Roy Moore is.Franken has asked for a senate ethics investigation, not a normal course from someone who is guilty.Enjoy

Now consider that the purpose is not to make Franken look bad, but it is aired now to distract attention from Roy Moore sexual predator ... that the purpose is to create false equivalence between a stage kiss and statutory rape.That goal seems to be accomplished.Enjoy