Fuck. This. Shit.
I am about to become very unpopular – but I don't give a fuck, so here goes.
I don’t believe the photo of Al Franken and Leanne Tweedon is an example of sexual harassment, misogyny, or any of the other things it has been described as. As the photo makes abundantly clear, Franken was not touching Ms. Tweedon’s breasts – he was clearly “hamming it up” for the camera, and NOT engaging in sexual misconduct by any stretch of the imagination.
Many have said that even joking about such things is, in and of itself, demonstrative of some underlying disrespect towards women. I call bullshit on that, and strenuously so.
To say that what is inappropriate now was always inappropriate is to ignore the fact that attitudes change, and what was accepted as humour back in the day, or in a certain context, may not be acceptable when judged by current-day standards. Thankfully, such standards change as we evolve as a nation and as a people – and what was laugh-inducing once upon a time is no longer a laughing matter when viewed through a 2017 lens.
How many of us laughed – and still laugh – at shows like I Love Lucy and The Honeymooners, which depicted women as easily-befuddled females whose only true passion was buying a new hat? We accept that punchlines that were funny in the ‘fifties are not relevant in 2017, and surely we have the intellect to realize that that was then, and this is now. We understand that context matters, and that Lucy Ricardo and Alice Cramden, while representative of the stereotypes of their era, are not representative of women in today’s world.
In judging what was acceptable in the past and what is acceptable now, it is disingenuous to apply the same litmus test across the board – as though times never change, as though the times in which we once lived have not been relegated to the dustbin of history, as though we have not outgrown depicting women as scatter-brained, hat-buying females who do housework while wearing pristine shirt-waist dresses accessorized with a string of pearls.
The fact that Ms. Tweedon suddenly remembered how horrifying an experience working with Al Franken was – the fact that the already-disgraced Roger Stone tweeted that it was “Franken’s turn in the barrel” BEFORE Ms. Tweedon came forward with her accusations, the fact that whataboutism is the ONLY defence Republicans can come up with to dispute Roy Moore’s pedophilia is as obvious as it is despicable.
I’ve read here on DU and elsewhere, time and again, that we should judge people by their actions. Senator Franken’s actions in terms of women’s rights speak for themselves.
I am appalled by how easily some people have been led to believe that Senator Franken is a sexual predator based on the word of a Trump-supporting Republican who has conveniently accused him of sexual misconduct at exactly the same time a GOP pedophile has been accused of molesting teen-aged girls. I am especially appalled by those who are equating an obviously “for yuks in front of the camera” photo as evidence of “both sides do it, so let’s just call it a wash”.
EVERY Democrat who is buying into that false equivalence is being played by the Republicans – and they really should know better.
In the meantime, the Republicans are laughing their asses off at Democrats who think (wrongfully so) that if we “sacrifice” one of our own on the altar of tit-for-tat, we come across as “fair and balanced”.
I stand with Senator Franken on the basis of what he has done, and continues to do, to further the rights of American women, and his willingness to stand with us when it counts.
I am not interested in what Al Franken said or did as a comedian – I am interested in what he says and does as a SENATOR. It is unfortunate that some people can’t distinguish one role from the other. It is equally unfortunate that some people are so anxious to believe that if we just throw one of our own on the funeral pyre, we have somehow appeased the what-about-him media gods who have decided that a human sacrifice on our part somehow evens the score – as though “evening the score” is what is important here.
If you’re buying into the current “both sides do it” bullshit being proffered by the right-wing, you are being manipulated by the very people who know how easily-manipulated you are.
= new reply since forum marked as read
You don't see that everyday. 
Bravo. 
Many thanks!
You seem to be struggling. Sorry this is so hard on you.
She must also be sickened by Bill O’Reilly and Roger Ailes and the whole Fox News shady history where women are concerned.
No? Not a peep.
Oh, but “liberal Hollywood elite” Harvey Weinstein, she does mention him. And he is a scumbag who deserves to be put away.
But Al Franken? It stinks of Stone. It stinks of Bannon. This is how dirty they play. Democrats and progressives have one hell of a messy fight ahead, and this just a small part of that.
Big kick and rec, NanceGreggs!
NOT. And don't hold your breath either.
Thanks, I was getting lightheaded. (*huff huff pant*)
(And I had “speeds up” in quotes, but when posting from a phone, the subject line doesn’t hold all punctuation.)
A year to a four-year-old is 1/4 of his/her life; a year to an 85-year-old is 1/85, a much smaller fraction. Which is why there’s a relativity factor in the concept of time.
You’ll have to forgive me. I just had a hit (*cough*), so I’m riffing. 
tRump says he is scandalized by the photo of Al Franken on the USO tour. Still no mention of Roy Moore whatsoever.
Here, enjoy the USO show!
We're just doing what we came to do
Cause we're all weird people and we love it
Don't let them other suckers hate on you
Cause we're all weird people and we're shaking
From the basement to the roof
You know the people on the bus and the people on the street
People like you and the people like me
Weird people!
Come on, just admit it.
And only a Fool would respond without giving their comment much thought - as you did =
Thank you, NanceGreggs, for saying exactly what I have been feeling but couldn't express with one-tenth your eloquence.
EVERY Democrat who is buying into that false equivalence is being played by the Republicans – and they really should know better.
In the meantime, the Republicans are laughing their asses off at Democrats who think (wrongfully so) that if we “sacrifice” one of our own on the altar of tit-for-tat, we come across as “fair and balanced.”
And you can bet that this is going to be the dialogue for the next month or so. Both sides do it. Bullshit. 
Excellent, Nance!
the same thing as molesting a 14 year old girl in your mid thirties! (I HATE that this is necessary, but... 
)
From your post ....
"I'v read here on DU and elsewhere, time and again, that we should judge people by their actions. Senator Franken’s actions in terms of women’s rights speak for themselves."
I stand with Al. There is NO comparability between this incident and ANYTHING Roy Moore has done!
Bless you NanceGreggs
Ralph raising his fist to Alice and threatening to send her to the moon! Always good for a laugh
Warning: coarse language. (This is not the "Retreat" video.) Robin Williams performs for the troops on December 15, 2003, at Camp Arifjan in Ahmadi, Kuwait. I videotaped this MWR event while off duty during my Army deployment as a cargo transfer truck driver in Iraq and Kuwait from June 2003 to September 2004. Robin's stand-up comedy routine was part of the USO's "Hope and Freedom Tour" which also featured pro-wrestler Kurt Angle and racecar driver Mike Wallace on that evening and, a few days later, actress Karri Turner from the TV show JAG, comedian (now senator) Al Franken role-playing as Saddam Hussein who was captured just a few days earlier, country-western singer Darryl Worley, and some of the Washington Redskins cheerleaders. Thanks for making us laugh, Robin. The stage at Camp Arifjan was located at 28°52'12.25"N 48°9'35.75"E just west of the water tower
Roben Williams
Al Franken and by the way there is a "kiss scene & more"
