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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsKirsten Gillibrand wants Al Franken, Bill Clinton to resign
Source: RawStory
BRAD REED
06 DEC 2017 AT 11:36 ET
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) on Wednesday said that it was time for her embattled colleague, Sen. Al Franken (D-MN), to resign.
In a Facebook post published on Wednesday, Gillibrand said that, while she had long considered Franken a friend and a first-rate colleague, she could no longer ignore the multiple women who have come out and accused him of groping them or making unwanted sexual advances toward them.
Gillibrand said that the flood of stories coming out about powerful men sexually harassing women mean it is time to start drawing lines and she simply could not exempt Franken from facing consequences.
We have to rise to the occasion, and not shrink away from it, even when its hard, especially when its hard, she said. I have spent a lot of time reflecting on Senator Frankens behavior. Enough is enough. The women who have come forward are brave and I believe them. While its true that his behavior is not the same as the criminal conduct alleged against Roy Moore, or Harvey Weinstein, or President Trump, it is still unquestionably wrong, and should not be tolerated.
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Read more: https://www.rawstory.com/2017/12/sen-kirsten-gillibrand-calls-on-al-franken-to-resign-enough-is-enough/
Gillibrand: Bill Clinton Should've Resigned Over Sex Affair
US Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand says former Democratic President Bill Clinton should have resigned over his sexual affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky 20 years ago.
https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2017-11-16/gillibrand-bill-clinton-shouldve-resigned-over-sex-affair
Thank God Democrats weren't stupid enough to fall for this Republican gaslighting in the Clinton years.
lunamagica
(9,967 posts)Has she asked for trump to resign?
I mean, with friends like this...
orangecrush
(19,655 posts)she is a good democrat on many issues.
She no doubt feels strongly on issues of harasssment, and rightly so.
There are times, however, when the smell test must be applied, and unity is a priority for survival, and this is certainly one of those times.
AlexSFCA
(6,139 posts)orangecrush
(19,655 posts)ananda
(28,888 posts)Why isn't she urging 45 to resign?
What about supporters of Roy Moore?
I wish Dems would stop turning on each other.
orangecrush
(19,655 posts)unfortunately, are being used by the Moore and Trump supporters.
Response to orangecrush (Original post)
NCTraveler This message was self-deleted by its author.
R B Garr
(16,998 posts)She accepted the Clinton's endorsement to her seat as Hillary's successor, which makes her tainted by them. No taint! Get out now, Gillibrand. Your hypocrisy will not abide.
See how easy that is? This has gotten way out of hand, jeebus.
Orrex
(63,243 posts)Oh, I don't know. Maybe a reiteration of her "impeachment is off the table" mantra, or something equally helpful to Republicans.
TheCowsCameHome
(40,169 posts)or some such BULLSHIT.
We are DOOMED. From within.
yallerdawg
(16,104 posts)just how seriously women take this issue.
You got the wheel now.
Let's see where you are taking us.
Kathy M
(1,242 posts)politicians in Washington instead about Hollywood .
"Bryan Singera director with credits like X-Men, The Usual Suspects, and Superman Returnswas fired Monday from the upcoming Fox film Bohemian Rhapsody. He was dismissed from the biopic about the Queen singer Freddie Mercury (starring Mr. Robots Rami Malek) after he stopped reporting to set a week earlier, which initially prompted the studio to suspend production. But Fox is now looking for a new director to complete filming and oversee postproduction. The firing is the culmination of a long history of alleged unprofessionalism from Singer. Over his 20-year career, hes been the subject of rumors detailing unannounced absences and friction with actors on the sets of multiple movies, as well as sexual-abuse allegations dating back to 1997."
"Twenty years ago, two separate lawsuits alleged that underage male actors were required to strip naked on the set of Singers 1998 film Apt Pupil for a shower scene; those suits were eventually dismissed for lack of evidence. Other allegations surfaced for Singer weeks before the release of X-Men: Days of Future Past in 2014. A 31-year-old actor named Michael Egan III claimed Singer, and a ring of other Hollywood power players, had groomed, given drugs to, and sexually abused him when he was between the ages of 15 and 17. Singers attorney called the accusations an attempted shakedown, and Singer himself called them completely false."
the rest at https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2017/12/the-deeper-significance-of-bryan-singers-firing/547490/
"That Gotti biopic with John Travolta you were planning to see next week? Fuhgettaboutit.
Lionsgate has sold the mafia movie back to the production company Emmett/Furla/Oasis, killing the films Dec. 15 domestic release, according to reports on Tuesday."
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/john-travoltas-gotti-movie-pulled-just-days-before-its-release_us_5a27c99ce4b0c2117626eb93
yallerdawg
(16,104 posts)When women had enough, men did jump on board!
Kathy M
(1,242 posts)Lots of open secrets for a long time ........
orangecrush
(19,655 posts)Wait until after the ethics investigation to see if the accusations hold water, then call for Frankens resignation if they hold water.
Giving ammo to Moore and Trump supportersis extremely counterproductive to theses ends.
yallerdawg
(16,104 posts)they need to "cool their heels."
I think we are watching that ship leave the port.
Bucky
(54,087 posts)His service to the Republic has been exemplary. His voice has been unique and truthful.
But if we're gonna lose Franken, this is the right time to do so. I hope he continues to speak out for our causes.
TheCowsCameHome
(40,169 posts)I hope someone challenges her.
We are so screwn.
R B Garr
(16,998 posts)What the heck. Nothing to lose.
L. Coyote
(51,129 posts)IF the accusations prove truthful. I don't trust this situation one iota and find it equally plausible that Franken is being framed to defend Trump, Roy Moore, and alter the political balance. That would be the grossest sexual assault of them all, deploying false accusations to defend sexual abusers and keep them in power.
orangecrush
(19,655 posts)The Bannon strategy on this.
L. Coyote
(51,129 posts)orangecrush
(19,655 posts)to enable actual offenders.
L. Coyote
(51,129 posts).... would be my first question. My second would be, Has Trump been paying his bills all these years?
orangecrush
(19,655 posts)might shed some light on that.
loyalsister
(13,390 posts)If Clinton had resigned, Al Gore would have had an incumbency advantage in 2000. And, the GOP would not have been able to get away with grabbing a superior family values mantel. Dem paved the way when when Clinton framed it as a personal moral failing and private family matter. The GOP quickly used it as a generalization to smear Dems.
We either oppose the structure that protects powerful men when they are accused of sexual misconduct, or endorse/embrace it.
Bill Clinton could use his voice to help dismantle it now.
orangecrush
(19,655 posts)Frankens ethics investigation, IF the allegations hold water, NOT a week before the possible election of Moore.
Also, I don't believe a President should be required to resign over a consensual affair, as there is no criminal act committed.
loyalsister
(13,390 posts)It is valid only if we want to Join the GOP in their low opinions of women and efforts to stifle our voices. Physical and interpersonal violations lie on a continuum. It is extended when people refuse to listen. And exacerbated when the victim is blamed. And worst of all protecting someone accused of sexual misconduct provides a sense of safety for the next guy.
There is no way to require a resignation for anything. Even when the conduct would get an ordinary Joe, or even an entertainment executive fired. It took a lot of white famous women coming forward for Weinstein to be held accountable. There is no way to fire politicians until elections. The system that gives them so much power is designed so that we rely on supporters and colleagues to hold them accountable. Republicans are happy to stand by their sleaziest politicians. If the standard is whether or not it is a crime, that lets Trump off the hook.
We are in a very unfortunate historical position right now. The elephant in the room is that a protector of a serial sexual predator lost an election to one. Two very high profile incidences could have inspired a me too movement if social media had been available. Anita Hill deserved more support than she got. Men have been shielded because it wasn't technically a crime, and even the most respected men probably had an ass grab in their own past.
Challenging the system that has protected powerful men for as long as we have been aware is uncomfortable, but women are demanding the challenge. To be taken seriously as a party that does support gender equity and awareness of injustice we should be consistent.
orangecrush
(19,655 posts)and fair.
Thanks for the excellent post.
Thrill
(19,178 posts)Of course not
OnDoutside
(19,982 posts)own 2020 chances by a clear display of weakness and moral cowardice.
flamingdem
(39,333 posts)It's cowardly especially with such thin proof, why not let the ethics committee do its job?
Well, because she .. and others like Kamala want to get in the running for Potus.
For them it's good to see Franken out of the way since he might have run if cleared
OnDoutside
(19,982 posts)flamingdem
(39,333 posts)They're using this to promote their standing in the race to come.
We should resist this kind of bullshit.
I will NEVER support either of them after this.
Plus I think they're weak compared to Franken.
Guess what this is why the GOP wants him gone, he's intelligent and effective.
smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)I don't know any Democrats, or even Democratic women who want Franken to step down. How will standing up for him hurt them. Nobody with half a brain believes this right-wing hatchet job is the truth. I can't believe these people. When are the Democrats going to grow a spine!
flamingdem
(39,333 posts)We'll find out what they've cooked up
Corgigal
(9,291 posts)Checkbook please?
still_one
(92,479 posts)orangecrush
(19,655 posts)for the best 8 years of my life.
Obama might have been, but that was too much to expect after Bush emptied the Treasury into Halliburton's pockets.
History will ask how a people could turn on a President who gave them peace and the longest economic expansion in American history over a consensual affair.
dchill
(38,577 posts)We go paws up.
orangecrush
(19,655 posts)if we are to survive.
dchill
(38,577 posts)as the accusations.
treestar
(82,383 posts)not to see the hit job taking place.
onecaliberal
(32,940 posts)I have lost all respect for her. Her silence on Moore, and Dump is also speaking volumes.