I Expect Another 30 Year Old Sexual Harassment Claim Against A Prominent Republican To Dominate The Headlines
By Mitch Berg
That’ be Al Franken – then an Air America host – and Leanne Tweeden, a radio newswoman from Los Angeles.
Expect to see breaking news that Arne Carlson called a page “toots”, combined with demands that he resign, any moment here…
QUESTION: Any bets on whether all the DFLers who were saying “Always trust accusers!” last month will be humming a different tune this week?
UPDATE: Oh.
We must address sexual harassment. Reforming arbitration laws will ensure survivors can seek justice in court. https://t.co/Rmuz4gnie7
— Sen. Al Franken (@SenFranken) October 11, 2017
Indeed.
November 16th, 2017 at 10:18 am
Look at that: contemporaneous evidence.
November 16th, 2017 at 10:23 am
Mitch, the next thing you are going to tell us is Clinton overstepped his boundaries!
November 16th, 2017 at 10:23 am
Mitch, the next thing you are going to tell us is Clinton overstepped his boundaries!
November 16th, 2017 at 10:35 am
Outrage at David Alcon in one.. .two… three…
November 16th, 2017 at 10:36 am
You can’t have an economy based on broken windows without there being a lot of glass houses.
November 16th, 2017 at 10:53 am
Al Franken: senator, and un-funny comedian with anger issues who likes to punch people.
At least he did not punch her in the tits.
November 16th, 2017 at 10:58 am
Glenn Beck just finished telling the story on his show.
November 16th, 2017 at 10:59 am
If only that picture had come out in 2008, I’m guessing he’d have lost enough votes to avoid a whole host of problems.
And really, it’s a brilliant example of how Hollyweird works; classic grooming. I am guessing a LOT of movies would have had their “most paused scenes” if the actresses and actors in them hadn’t been “persuaded” to do them this way.
November 16th, 2017 at 11:26 am
IAl Franken is an ass, but this is not like having sex with 14 or 16 year olds. guess it just comes down to what level of behavior you find acceptable in a political leader. I mean, is a single instance of loutish behavior enough? What if it’s 3? 10?
I think Trump’s dozens of allegations is disqualifying, but enough voters disagreed to make him president.
November 16th, 2017 at 11:38 am
The evidence is ambiguous. Is that a grope-grope? Let’s get Whoopie on the Oprah show to find out.
November 16th, 2017 at 12:01 pm
but this is not like having sex with 14 or 16 year olds.
And who did that? Are you talking about the myriad of hollyweird celebrities? Bob Menendez? Who? We need to know, eTASS so we can gauge how deep your hypocrisy goes.
November 16th, 2017 at 12:05 pm
The disqualifier isn’t the age of the victim, but the perpetrator’s political affiliation. Bill Clinton, anyone?
And I have to say that the accusations against Moore are all he-said, she-said at this point. Unlike withFranken, no photograph evidence of Moore molesting sleeping woman has been discovered.
I am waiting hear more about Eric Schmidt. He was behind Google (&silicon valley’s) embrace of the Democrats. His wife lives on the east coast, he lives on his mega yacht (and other places). For years I’ve been hearing rumors about women close to Schmidt signing NDA’s in return for cash.
November 16th, 2017 at 12:10 pm
Get your Götterdämmerung on. And getcha popcorn.
November 16th, 2017 at 12:14 pm
Mega-yachts are handy because I believe there are no extradition treaties in international waters. Mark Rich – pardoned by President Lepetomane – could probably offer some tips.
November 16th, 2017 at 12:16 pm
Get your Götterdämmerung on. And getcha popcorn.
I’d like a vintage glass of Schadenfreude with that, please.
November 16th, 2017 at 12:32 pm
I’m beginning to wonder if the real news is finding that rare man who ‘hasn’t’ sexually harassed a woman.
November 16th, 2017 at 12:33 pm
Thanks Mr. D and NW. I needed that.
November 16th, 2017 at 12:36 pm
Somehow I’m not shocked that you’d comment on this Mitch. You’re silent on Moore but THIS you can’t pass up.
First, I know Senator Franken, so full disclosure. I’ve found him to be genial, brilliant and, another shocker, someone prone to using sexual innuendo as “humor” (to wit the above photo). I don’t find it funny. I don’t defend it. If more women come out saying Franken assaulted them/harassed them, I will be saddened because I like Al, but still, I will tell him I no longer support him, and I’ll tell my friends who know him better than I do that I think he should resign.
That’s called living up to your beliefs, Mitch.
Where are you on the 13 women who have accused the President of this kind of thing and MUCH worse (for example, the allegation that he and another man had sex with a 13 year old. That assertion is considered sound enough that it was NOT tossed when the President tried to have it tossed following his election.
Where are you on Moore?
You are crickets on large, national issues of real importance, but hey, got a picture of a Democrat behaving badly, well, front and center it is!
Journalism is not something which you should continue claiming as a pursuit. You should declare you are a propagandist for the ultra-rich establishment and be honest about it. Then you probably should wash your hands because they’re filthy.
So, Mitch, NO, the left will not defend Franken if there’s much more of this kind of allegation. Knowing Al’s wife, it hurts even more. But hey, revel in it. That’s classy. And further, I trust Leann Tweeden to be telling the truth. Franken says he recalls it differently. Not sure what that’d be but if he kissed this women on the mouth for more than about a 1/2 second then it was 1/2 second too long, whatever his recollection. We are all fools at times. If this was a foolish act done once, well, shame on him, if it was done more, thereby establishing a pattern, then as I said, he’ll no longer have my support.
Does Trump have yours?
November 16th, 2017 at 12:38 pm
I’m beginning to wonder if the real news is finding that rare man who ‘hasn’t’ sexually harassed a woman.
And there go the goal posts! Anything but to admit the bias. How eTASS of you, eTASS-BFL-SPM. How does that crow taste you poor cupcake? It will go down better with that vintage Schadenfreude.
November 16th, 2017 at 12:46 pm
Thanks Mr. D and NW. I needed that.
JPA, on behalf of Mr. D, let me just say that you’re welcome, and it is all part of the service.
November 16th, 2017 at 12:46 pm
So Mitch, last week you mocked Dems for saying the tax “reform” bill would increase taxes on the middle class.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=5&ved=0ahUKEwiLqrWF38PXAhVIKWMKHdOWADoQFgg8MAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2017%2F11%2F09%2Fopinion%2Ftax-plan-middle-class.html&usg=AOvVaw2FIEeWiXr65TMEJ_inXcvu
Read that Mitch, if you have at least one child and make less than 100k, it WILL. I wonder how many people fall into that category.
This is what I mean Mitch, you ballyhoo and fling poo about anything and everything you can when the Dems are either wrong or even appear wrong, but if shown you’re in error or if the Repubs are behaving badly, it’s crickets, and not just crickets about small things, about big things
This tax cut is for the rich. It’s not for the middle-class. It shifts the tax burden toward the middle-class and toward states which choose to fund their infrastructure and education rather than letting them stagnate and lose competitiveness in an international market place. I’m going to benefit MIGHTILY from this cut because of certain provisions, yet, it’s wrong, and I’d forego it to see a more fair one passed that rewarded companies which pay equitably.
You, you are silent. You unfairly attacked the Dems on that point because as the story I posted and the CBO scoring show, actually a whole lot of the middle-class will see increases but just about ZERO of the upper class will.
I don’t bring that up to hijack the debate, but rather to point out to you and to your readers that you are one hand clapping. You attack Franken but where was your voice on Trump? For that matter, where is your voice on Moore. I hear you say you don’t speak up because the national media already covered it. I say that’s BS because the national media also is covering Franken.
No Mitch, it’s because you don’t want to offend your benefactors. I applaud your defense of civil liberties, but I’d take your complains a LOT more seriously if you held your politicians to the standards you demand of Dems.
I certainly hold Dems to the same standards I hold Republicans. Am I better than you at this?
November 16th, 2017 at 12:47 pm
Also, please explain why my comments are STILL being moderated 4 years after you reinstated me?
November 16th, 2017 at 12:49 pm
Emery, there are plenty. But expect more women to come out against him and others the damn just cracked on the politicians doing this. The only question is how strong is the evidence against the accused.
November 16th, 2017 at 12:59 pm
Back to the photo ~ will this woman name the guy sitting next to her, the photographer and all the other likely individuals in the room, including women, as accessories to the act?
That said, I read that Franken is supporting a call for an ethics investigation. Perhaps he should resign the day after Trump resigns for similar accusations.
November 16th, 2017 at 12:59 pm
JPA, on behalf of Mr. D, let me just say that you’re welcome, and it is all part of the service.
Indeed. I’ve been waiting for this hanging curve ball for years now.
November 16th, 2017 at 1:03 pm
So Mitch, does the fact that the allegations against Roy Moore, a powerful man and clearly one willing to make threats, are 30 years old, somehow make them ok?
November 16th, 2017 at 1:07 pm
Perhaps he should resign the day after Trump resigns for similar accusations.
Is there photographic proof? Or is that pic fake news? Doctored? Keep trying cupcake. Your shithole is not deep enough so keep digging, we all need a comic relief on a gloomy Thursday.
November 16th, 2017 at 1:18 pm
Since the woman can say whatever she wants, and harrasment is in the eye of the beholder (there is a long tradition of every heterosexual sex act being an act of violence — ask the Greeks & Romans!), any male may be accused of sexual harrassment at any time.
November 16th, 2017 at 1:19 pm
One one hand, apparently not too many people have ever worn a flak jacket — “groping” through a flak jacket is more than a bit of a challenge. When I saw the photo, it was funny because you can’t get a bullet though the plates on the flak jacket let alone “a grope”, that making the pose funny — it was not funny that she was sleeping and he could have groped.
On the other hand, if Bill Clinton got elected twice and Trump once I guess Franken now has street cred to be POTUS. I
November 16th, 2017 at 1:24 pm
Fear not, Resident Sophist! Franken resigning would be the best thing that ever happened to the DFL anyway. Mark Dayton would simply appoint Tina “Madame Abattoir” Smith to the Senate and the seat would be safe for years. He’s not that valuable to the Democrats, anyway; at this point, he’s just a piñata filled with methane.
November 16th, 2017 at 1:25 pm
Trump has been accused of some things, but all you can definitely say is that he cheated on his spouse, and he is guilty of crude talk. Calling a woman “fat” is not sexual assault, nor is bragging that you can get away with groping women.
On the other hand, you’ve got Bill Clinton and Al Franken.
November 16th, 2017 at 1:43 pm
On the other hand, you’ve got Bill Clinton and Al Franken.
And Menendez, and Alcon, and Frank, and that lion Kennedy! All of Kennedy’s actually. But hey, they said sorry. All is forgiven. Move on to more of moore.
November 16th, 2017 at 1:46 pm
JPA, just what do you think this photo proves? Franken’s left hand is clearly not touching her, and it certainly doesn’t look like either was his right. No indentation, no distension. I suspect he was “aping’ for the camera. Not funny, but not assault either. Or, said another way, stop exaggerating.
So, you believe a photo which does not show Franken touching her over the accusations of 13 women? Is that it?
November 16th, 2017 at 1:49 pm
<“groping” through a flak jacket is more than a bit of a challenge
I did not think eTASS was stupid enough to mock and debase himself, proving just how hypocritical he is by excusing Frankenstein behaviour. But I stand corrected. There is apparently no depth to stupidity and self-humiliation he can sink too. It also proves he is very adept at digging holes.
November 16th, 2017 at 1:56 pm
Through a flak jacket or otherwise, I’m pretty sure most men have not grabbed the breasts of a woman with whom they were not romantically involved while a friend snapped a picture. Just sayin’.
November 16th, 2017 at 1:59 pm
Poor girl thoought that wearing a flak jacket would deter smirkin’ Al from groping her while she slept. She underestimated his depravity.
Would any female feel safe catching a few Z’s on a long flight if Al Franken was sitting in the next seat?
November 16th, 2017 at 2:11 pm
At 11:26, Emery wrote:
I think Trump’s dozens of allegations is disqualifying
Hey Emery, at least you acknowledged they’re allegations— you know, those things that haven’t been proven.
But who are you kidding? Your statements indicate blind hatred of Trump. Far more evidence exists that Hillary should be fitted for an orange pantsuit, but I’m sure you’ll give her the benefit of the doubt.
November 16th, 2017 at 4:14 pm
I retract my point, apparently Franken isn’t saying he didn’t touch her. Given that it’s inappropriate either way, there’s no point debating it.
So, Mitch, I repudiate Franken’s conduct. If more women come forward, I’ll cease supporting him.
JPA, et al., do the rest of you no longer support Moore? How about Trump?
November 16th, 2017 at 5:02 pm
The next hot asset after cryptocurrencies: grope insurance.
November 16th, 2017 at 5:54 pm
Mary Jo Kopechne could not be reached for comment.
November 16th, 2017 at 6:16 pm
Imagine my surprise, observing the parade of outed leftist reprobates hitherto held in high esteem, to find myself a paragon of virtue!
Al’s groping doesn’t surprise anyone, it’s old news; everyone knows he’s a pig. There’s more to come; bet on it.
But I wish someone would drag him out by that fucking carp lip and call him to account for ripping off the Gloria Wise club for kids. If he deserves a beating for anything, it’s that.
November 16th, 2017 at 8:24 pm
I enjoy watching eTASS being relegated to one sentence non-sequiturs. But when you cannot (or your talking points do not provide to) say anything which would not result in a deeper hole, you gotta deflect, misdirect and distract. This is priceless.
November 16th, 2017 at 8:44 pm
bikebubba: “If only that picture had come out in 2008, I’m guessing he’d have lost enough votes to avoid a whole host of problems.”
bike, I’m of the opinion that the picture wouldn’t have cost the lost of enough votes back in ’08. The MN DFL would have only needed to find a few more car trunks filled with “accidentally uncounted ballots” during the Franken/Coleman recount.
Diaper Boy always has been and always will be a nasty fellow..
November 16th, 2017 at 8:48 pm
Yeah, one thing. Look at the silly photo, of Franken miming touching her chest over a flak jacket, then google image “Leeann Tweeden playboy”. 😂
November 16th, 2017 at 9:40 pm
So, Emery, you’re saying she was asking for it?
November 17th, 2017 at 12:00 am
Imagine how some people would react if a similar picture showing Trump fondling an unconscious woman’s breasts were to appear.
November 17th, 2017 at 12:03 am
Yeah, one thing. Look at the silly photo, of Franken miming touching her chest over a flak jacket, then google image “Leeann Tweeden playboy”.
Slut shaming, Leftist style! She was asking for it!
November 17th, 2017 at 6:06 am
Woolly, there’s a difference between harassment, womanizing, and assault (none of which are acceptable behavior). But, in our legal and ethical world, when you assault, you’ve crossed the line. Also, you’ve crossed the line when you mess with children. Let’s get our brains on straight here.
Maybe the cases of harassment and abuse are something that should be prosecuted and decided in courts based on evidence. But the legal system and the rule of law increasingly seem to take a back-seat in a country where the president declares the justice system to be laughing stock, and generalized mud-slinging and hypocrisy are taking its place.
Ian in Iowa, there is no chance Trump is going to say, ‘I believe the women’ regarding Roy Moore. People would then ask, ‘why should we believe some women and not others?’.
November 17th, 2017 at 6:27 am
Maybe the cases of harassment and abuse are something that should be prosecuted and decided in courts based on evidence.
Ahh. now that one of the Left Tribe is in the spotlight, it’s evidence time.
Oh, hello.
November 17th, 2017 at 8:12 am
Soon enough, Liberals defending Franken will declare there’s no evidence against him and will sweep the incident under the rug.
Photo? Ambiguous. Testimony? It’s a woman’s word against a man and women lie all the time – see Mattress Girl, college hate crime hoaxes, Debbie Wasserman Schultz and the entire family court system.
So some good might come out of this. People might begin to open their eyes to individuals instead seeing the world as pigeon holes.