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* It won’t be long now…
Senator Franken’s behavior was wrong. He has admitted to what he did. He should resign from the Senate.
— Senator Dick Durbin (@SenatorDurbin) December 6, 2017
Sen. Tammy Duckworth has not yet spoken up.
*** UPDATE *** And there it is…
NEW: Sen. Duckworth calls for @SenFranken to resign #sexualharassment #Congress
— Mary Ann Ahern (@MaryAnnAhernNBC) December 6, 2017
…Adding… Full statement is here.
* Related…
* Another woman says Franken tried to forcibly kiss her - The Minnesota senator is accused of making an unwanted sexual advance after a taping of his radio show in 2006. He denies the allegation.
* Senate Democrats call on Franken to resign amid further allegations of sexual harassment: More than a dozen Senate Democrats called Wednesday for Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) to resign amid mounting allegations of sexual harassment, raising the possibility he will become the second lawmaker to step aside over recent accusations of inappropriate behavior. In a campaign started by Democratic women, senators said Franken should leave Capitol Hill. Franken faces multiple accusations of inappropriate touching and unwanted advances. He has denied intentional wrongdoing and has apologized… The other senators urging Franken to resign were Mazie Hirono (Hawaii), Claire McCaskill (Mo.), Maggie Hassan (N.H.), Kamala D. Harris (Calif.), Tammy Baldwin (Wis.), Debbie Stabenow (Mich.), Heidi Heitkamp (N.D.), Maria Cantwell (Wash.) and Patty Murray (Wash.), the highest-ranking woman among Senate Democrats, along with Joe Donnelly (Ind.), Robert P. Casey Jr. (Pa.), Sherrod Brown (Ohio) and Senate Democratic Whip Richard J. Durbin (Ill.).
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Dec 6, 17 @ 12:31 pm
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He hasn’t admitted/confessed to all of the allegations. With this much smoke I don’t see any way of it all being made up, and I agree he should, but Durbin putting that line in, about admitting it, confuses me.
Comment by Perrid Wednesday, Dec 6, 17 @ 12:37 pm
Aside from being the right thing to do, this is also setting up the fallout that is going to happen if Roy Moore becomes a US Senator.
Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Dec 6, 17 @ 12:39 pm
Next fall, MN will elect two US Senators and all statewide constitutional offices. Rich, perhaps a satellite MinnFax would be profitable.
Comment by Reality Check Wednesday, Dec 6, 17 @ 12:47 pm
This is depressing as heck — Franken had previously struck me as one of the good ones. But I agree with Durbin, he needs to go. First, because this shows a lack of character, and second, if the dems are going to credibly be the anti-harassment, pro-women party, they can’t have this albatross around their necks.
Comment by Actual Red Wednesday, Dec 6, 17 @ 12:51 pm
Interesting. The Dems go after one of their own while the GOP supports their own.
Comment by Winnin’ Wednesday, Dec 6, 17 @ 12:52 pm
Stick a fork in him.
Dems can’t credibly criticize Roy Moore and his GOP enablers while covering for their own sexual harassers.
Comment by anon2 Wednesday, Dec 6, 17 @ 12:54 pm
Need to hear Durbin et al just as loudly call for Trump to resign for the same reasons.
Comment by Winnin’ Wednesday, Dec 6, 17 @ 12:54 pm
This moment in history is too rich in irony to hardly process.
The progressive left, who for years have promoted for fewer and fewer values of moral boundary, are attempting to reconcile years of bad behavior with their new found high ground.
Good luck with that./s
(Examples of this irony are the various reports about the network roasts of Lauer and Zucker, yet this same group of network heavyweights led the charge to vilify Trump for his “locker room talk” that was no where near as vile as what was said during these roasts.)
Comment by cdog Wednesday, Dec 6, 17 @ 12:56 pm
Can anyone remember what Durbin said about all the Clinton allegations. Was this sort of behavior ok back then?
Comment by Blue dog dem Wednesday, Dec 6, 17 @ 12:58 pm
I’m surprised there haven’t been more names out of DC (as of yet).
That town is crawling with egomaniac power-trippers with delusions of grandeur and warped senses of entitlement.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Dec 6, 17 @ 1:01 pm
Leave it up to the electorate
Comment by DuPage Saint Wednesday, Dec 6, 17 @ 1:02 pm
It’s a roll call at this point.
Comment by A guy Wednesday, Dec 6, 17 @ 1:05 pm
The Democrats are cleaning house. Meanwhile, Republicans in Alabama are preparing to send a pedophile to the Senate, with the enthusiastic endorsement of the President and the national GOP.
Comment by Nick Name Wednesday, Dec 6, 17 @ 1:07 pm
@cdog
“The progressive left, who for years have promoted for fewer and fewer values of moral boundary, are attempting to reconcile years of bad behavior with their new found high ground.”
If you’re a dog does it hurt your ears when you blow that whistle?
To the post:
Better late than never. I’m glad they’re stepping up.
Comment by Chicago_Downstater Wednesday, Dec 6, 17 @ 1:10 pm
I agree with Winnin. Let the voters decide. Franken can resign, say he is sorry and it is a thing of the past, and then run in 2018.
Comment by Uptown Progressive Wednesday, Dec 6, 17 @ 1:12 pm
I think it’s too late now. National Dem leadership obviously still are hoping to prevent a Moore win. But it’s Alabama and Moore despite his uh, flaws, is apparently way ahead. That is because Jones is not an acceptable second choice for many voters there. Dems covering for both Conyers and Franken gave Moore a couple weeks of free cover in the meantime as well. When Franken resigns he’ll be replaced by a Dem. If Moore wins and is then expelled he’ll be replaced by a REP. That’s the politics of it.
Comment by Responsa Wednesday, Dec 6, 17 @ 1:15 pm
I certainly don’t condone what Franken did and I do believe that he’s lost significant credibility and should resign. But there is a huge false equivalency here. What Franken did was awful, what Moore did was criminal. The Senate shouldn’t allow Moore to take his seat. And if Franken has to resign for seven accusations and one photograph, then Trump should have to resign for at least 15 accusations and one hot mic recording of bragging about sexual assault.
Comment by Steve Rogers Wednesday, Dec 6, 17 @ 1:17 pm
Taking the moral high ground should be bi-partisan. And while I believe that the actions of Roy Moore are far more serious and significant than those of Al Franken, the Democrats won’t have a leg to stand on if Franken doesn’t step aside. Arguing over the varying degrees of harassment is a losing argument.
Comment by Pundent Wednesday, Dec 6, 17 @ 1:17 pm
–This moment in history is too rich in irony to hardly process. –
From your posts, you have that problem a lot.
You seem to equate virtue with political positions. How did you come to land there? A cursory review of the human experience should disabuse you of that notion pretty quickly.
I suppose making a lot of noise praying and posting the Ten Commandments in your courtroom is a sign of virtue?
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Dec 6, 17 @ 1:18 pm
“….everyone needs to be believed at first till they are disbelieved…” quote from a 2016 presidential candidate not named Donald.
Comment by Blue dog dem Wednesday, Dec 6, 17 @ 1:28 pm
-The progressive left, who for years have promoted for fewer and fewer values of moral boundary, are attempting to reconcile years of bad behavior with their new found high ground.-
You’re really not getting the extent of this problem are you? This is far past right and left and old social conservative vs. liberal arguments. This is different and requires different lessons to be learned than your tired old talking points.
Comment by Signal and Noise Wednesday, Dec 6, 17 @ 1:38 pm
Franken and Moore both need to be put in a padded room and cared for by large ugly men.
Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Dec 6, 17 @ 1:46 pm
My party is a bunch of chumps. We’re going to lose Franken and still have to endure Moore, and Trump, and David Vitter, and on and on and on.
Only one party has anything resembling a sense of shame, and it is our Achilles heel. We need to fight using Republican rules, not the rule of normal society. There is no reward for doing the right thing.
Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Dec 6, 17 @ 2:31 pm
What about the Alabama pedophile that is infatuated with fairytales?
Comment by Ron Wednesday, Dec 6, 17 @ 2:31 pm
=== The progressive left, who for years have promoted for fewer and fewer values of moral boundary, are attempting to reconcile years of bad behavior with their new found high ground.===
The religious right, who for years has promoted itself as the defender of family values, is now defending an accused child molestor and a serial sexual harrasser with their new found low ground.
Fixed it.
Comment by anon2 Wednesday, Dec 6, 17 @ 2:40 pm
–There is no reward for doing the right thing.–
There’s not supposed to be. You do it because it’s right.
No one’s irreplaceable. Somehow, I think we’ll muddle through without Al Franken.
Those that want to stand with Moore, that’s their problem. I’m glad it ain’t mine.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Dec 6, 17 @ 2:51 pm
===I’m glad it ain’t mine.===
If you don’t think it’s your problem too, you’re kidding yourself.
Yes, virtue is its own reward. That and 51 votes can erase some of the damage of the Trump regime. We can all feel swell about doing the right thing and the march to authoritarianism goes on unabated and uninterrupted.
When good people stood by and let Mitch McConnel deny the President his constitutional right and obligation to appoint a justice of the Supreme Court, the coup was open and obvious.
Roy Moore is your problem Word. It’s every citizen’s problem.
Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Dec 6, 17 @ 3:01 pm
–We can all feel swell about doing the right thing and the march to authoritarianism goes on unabated and uninterrupted.–
If Franken resigns, the DFL governor of Minnesota will appoint his replacement. I doubt that person will be a marching authoritarian.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Dec 6, 17 @ 3:15 pm
47th,
I think keeping Franken (and Conyers) around hurts the dems more than it helps. The potential blue wave we need in 2017 depends on an extremely motivated democratic base — something Trump (and Moore) have basically handed their opponents.
Appearing to compromise on issues that are supposedly central to the dem platform is not a good way to keep that fire hot — see all the young voters who stayed home because Hillary was too close to wall street, too bellicose, etc.
That Alabama seat is likely red one way or another, but taking the high ground makes Moore an anchor around the GOP’s neck. Giving in to partisan feeling and not cleaning the dems own house makes that less possible.
Even from a purely cynically strategic perspective, it’s the right move.
Comment by Actual Red Wednesday, Dec 6, 17 @ 3:18 pm
===Those that want to stand with Moore, that’s their problem===
Ask yourself why so many Alabamans, according to polling data, as well as the RNC, are standing with Moore. Then tell yourself it’s not your problem.
Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Dec 6, 17 @ 3:23 pm
–Ask yourself why so many Alabamans, according to polling data, as well as the RNC, are standing with Moore. Then tell yourself it’s not your problem.–
It’s not my problem in the sense that I won’t have to bear the moral stain of supporting a child molester for political expediency.
I can and will continue to oppose reactionaries and racists in the public arena.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Dec 6, 17 @ 3:27 pm
AR, I get the politics, truly I do. Conyers stayed about 20 years past his expiration date, and Al Franken is a womanizing pig. Of course they had to go, and there are plenty of others who should follow.
One political party is following the Marquess de Queensbeery rules and other is fighting like it’s a prison riot.
I don’t doubt that MN will send another Democratic vote to the Senate. That’s not my point. My point is the Republicans are morally bankrupt and no one holds them accountable.
Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Dec 6, 17 @ 3:31 pm
We have been on a roll lately. Accusations equal guilt and all are convicted without due process. We know some are guilty, pictures are hard to disprove, some have paid off victims with taxpayer dollars, there is still our concept of due process that was only offered for person, but that went away quick.
I don’t like where we are going as a society where an accusation is the all we need. I know probably most accused are actually guilty of the acts, but I still believe in due process. I didn’t know I was the only one who did.
Comment by FormerParatrooper Wednesday, Dec 6, 17 @ 4:25 pm
==This moment in history is too rich in irony to hardly process.==
It takes a lot of mental gymnastics to watch the left’s actions in regards to Franken and the right’s actions in regard to Trump and Moore and conclude that the problem here lies with the left. And yet, here we are.
Comment by Nacho Wednesday, Dec 6, 17 @ 4:45 pm
Nacho, conservatives have always lived by a different set of rules.
Comment by Ron Wednesday, Dec 6, 17 @ 4:55 pm
= I know probably most accused are actually guilty of the acts, but I still believe in due process.=
Due process is reserved for the court of law, not the court of public opinion. Serving in the Senate is a privilege and not a right. There’s enough evidence presented against Franken and Moore that they don’t deserve that privilege.
Comment by Pundent Wednesday, Dec 6, 17 @ 5:16 pm
Pundent, have you considered that there is a possibly any of the charges are false against either? How about the next person accused? What if there comes a politically motivated accuser who makes a false allegation to hurt someone? These are things I think about, and I don’t see them as far flung ideas, just a reality of how people operate. Public opinion has been wrong many times, so that is not an effective argument.
Comment by FormerParatrooper Wednesday, Dec 6, 17 @ 6:37 pm
Well, don’t worry, trooper, because no one can make anyone resign or make anyone drop out of a race. There is no due process for that.
What do you really want to get rid of? People coming forward?
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Dec 6, 17 @ 6:40 pm
Not wanting anyone to stop coming forward, to think that is a stretch.
I want to get rid of the mentality that if accused you are guilty.
Comment by FormerParatrooper Wednesday, Dec 6, 17 @ 9:34 pm
Of course it’s possible to be wrongly accused. But there comes a point in time when there’s enough credible evidence to reach logical conclusions. That’s the case with both Moore and Franken. This notion that multiple woman wake up one day with an axe to grind against one man is absurd.
Comment by Pundent Wednesday, Dec 6, 17 @ 9:36 pm
Dems are well “trained”
They were told to abandon Franken even if he was wrongly accused.
This is about controlling the news cycle - Mueller team is falling apart - FBI is under fire - Dems are masters of the MSM
Comment by cannon649 Wednesday, Dec 6, 17 @ 9:55 pm
Cannon - it’s hard to be wrongly accused when there’s a photo. And Franken has admitted his behavior was wrong. Mueller and the FBI aren’t falling apart, they’re making Trump very nervous. Mueller is dong just fine.
Comment by Pundent Wednesday, Dec 6, 17 @ 10:26 pm
Cannon, get help. Please. Before it’s too late.
Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Dec 6, 17 @ 10:30 pm
===Dems are well “trained”
===They were told to abandon Franken even if he was wrongly accused.
Yes, Mike Madigan sent us our marching orders.
Women are in far more leadership positions in the Democratic Party from activist to elected officials. They didn’t need to be told.
Comment by ArchPundit Wednesday, Dec 6, 17 @ 11:02 pm