Old DU may recall I was part of an SNL circle & I'm about to say something (socially impolite

[blm]

Last edited Sun Nov 26, 2017, 08:35 PM - Edit history (2)

to those who choose to be offended) in regard to issues of height.

Whenever I had encounters with Al Franken he was always a gentleman - always.

I am 5'4". Well, I was at the time, now I'm 5'3" after various surgeries.

Al was not much taller. In fact, when I was wearing heels I was taller than him. Same with Paul Simon. Short men can have awkward hugs with women just as often as tall men do.

Franken, accommodating his fans, would always close in for their much wanted photo - whether the fan was female or male. He was never an arm's length guy when it came to his fans. I applaud his openness to them. Bill Murray is much the same way.

I am certain, just as certain as all of his longtime female co-workers, that Al Franken never intentionally groped a woman. Accidentally, perhaps his hand brushed low which wouldn't surprise me given his height, but, intentionally.....no.

[blm]

1. BTW - One of my first jobs was working for Adidas - want to know how many pro basketball players

and their private areas were accidentally grazed by this short woman?

[Hortensis]

14. :) Details not necessary. Nice OP.

I hope even those who have become hostile on this subject can respect your comment for the simple statement of personal experience that it is.

[spooky3]

2. Thank you, blm, for this inside info.

[irisblue]

3. Huh

He sure 'projected' at Sessions about 10 feet tall.

[Alice11111]

62. Yes. It is important.

[secondwind]

4. I agree with you

[Gothmog]

5. Thank you for sharing these facts

I am jealous that you know Senator Franken and I am glad that you have shared your story

[MuseRider]

6. Thanks for that blm!

As an oldie too I have to say I did not know this about you. That is very very cool!

I don't know what to think about Al. I somehow cannot believe it myself but I guess I will wait until the Ethics committee says something. Hopefully it will be fair and thorough.

My husband and I are really afraid that in this case we cannot be really open so we are waiting. It is hard to believe someone who has been in your life for so long as an entertainer, author then as a wonderful politician would be guilty but there it is, the reason it is hard for us to even think much about this. He is ours and we do not want this to be true. Let the investigation happen, for us that is going to have to be what it is.

Your observation is correct, I am short but there were men around who were shorter back in the days of heels for me. I guess I always understood that sometimes someone brushes you the wrong way totally by accident, it was different than a grope. This is just so upsetting.

Bill Murray too? AND Paul Simon, holy god that is so cool. My life belongs to PS. Bill Murray has been seen around my parts, he has a brother around here somewhere but I have never run into him. I guess I hope for the hands over my eyes and a funny comment one day.

Thanks for sharing.

[lostnfound]

23. I don't think you should "believe it"... he doesn't remember the photo

He is being very cautious not to discount the women, I suspect in part because he is holding in his great mind the harm that has been down by society that doesn't listen to true victims.

Until he has proof that clears his name completely -- I'm holding out hope that the photo was photoshopped, for example -- he is NOT going to dare to come out defending himself at the expense of 1) making himself the giant target of the right wing hate machine and 2) progress made by the #metoo moment.

I think he is acting honorably under extreme duress.

[7962]

73. The photo wasn't photoshopped. Would've already been exposed.

He's already made his statements and apologies, and the woman in the picture has accepted and said resignation talk was ridiculous. To me, end of story. His is a minor screw up compared to all these others we've heard about.
To have an ethics hearing over this is silly. Its already been addressed by both parties. Should probably have an ethics hearing for ALL of them in Congress!

[hlthe2b]

7. I just sent him an email of support to his congressional office. I think he is an honorable man

and while, he may have expressed himself across the line of appropriateness--even if in the name of comedy--I do NOT believe it was malicious nor meant to intimidate.

I also believe there may be enough evidence to wonder if some (not necessarily all) of these accusations are being orchestrated.

Regardless, I don't defend bad behavior, but then, neither does Al Franken. He is comporting himself honorably in the face of these accusations. The lessons he needs to learn, he surely will, but I do not want him to be the sacrificial lamb for deeds that truly pale in comparison to those of so many others.

[Alice11111]

63. I did that too, last week. He needs to know, we want him!

[Duppers]

8. K & R

[marble falls]

9. Thanks for the insight. Anyone offended by it is looking to be outraged. I hope you'll start ...

checking in more often.

[xxqqqzme]

10. Thank you for sharing a bit of your history.

One of the issues bothering me about the accusations concerning Senator Franken is he is not in a position of power in any of the claims. He cannot hire, fire, control or manipulate in any of the situations.

It also concerns me the corporate media has not reported on the multiple letters of support, signed by several women, who have worked with him. The women signing and/or writing the letters far out number the accusations.

[mikimurphy]

11. Total support for Al

I agree with much that has been said in this thread, even that some of these accusations, and not just those directed at Franken, are part of an effort to discredit the progressives and in a way a form of harassment. Even possibly a threat to Al and anyone else who rocks the boat. Franken is one of the most effective, intelligent, and tenacious questioners of the republicans and their appointees.

A couple of things to consider - encourage your own congresspeople to come out in support of Al. (After all, I'd bet some of the corporate dems don't much care for him.... he's too tough on their "donors.&quot

And think about making a contribution - this mess is going to come with wasted time, and probably a pile of legal fees.

[womanofthehills]

15. So you chose to believe a Republican woman who voted for Trump even thou he "grabs they by the pu**y

Al was taking photos with hundreds of people one after the other, so his hand might have accidentally touched her butt. So, you think this equates to having sex with 13 and 14 yr old's (Moore and Trump).

[GatoGordo]

39. false equivalence

I don't equate anything Trump or Moore did with the allegations against Franken.

Either the allegations against Franken have merit, or they don't.

[blm]

93. They don't

they are contrived

[nini]

16. "I personally would like to give Mr. Franken the benefit of the doubt, but: "

I don't think you do.

[Kaleva]

18. What is your opinion on the pics of Tweeden grabbing ass?

It seems you have a double standard issue yourself.

[blm]

83. Great point.

Cornered that BS.

; )

[blm]

19. Well, that 'photographic evidence' doesn't show him 'grabbing ass' and DOES show wide smiles

on the faces of the women claiming harm much later. If I was taking a photo and suddenly grabbed on the ass, I am certain my surprise and discomfort would show on my face.

My experience with Franken was NOT based in professional surroundings. It was in a circle of friends. I had a lengthy relationship with one of his co-workers. He was a gentleman at all times.

You seem to have missed my point about height issues, and I am inclined to believe you intended to miss the point in order to further smear someone you want smeared.

PS: EVERYONE knows the Huffington bit was scripted from Politically Incorrect's Strange Bedfellows. Unless you are one of those who gets their talking points from Kremlin or RW propaganda sites.

[onlyadream]

25. The pic of him cheek to cheek with the lady

really makes me feel like she's making it up. I've been touched, unexpectedly by men and I'll tell you that my expression could never be calm and smiling, as she was. No way. Also, he says that he doesn't remember this and this is not something he would do. He only admitted the kiss with Tweeden, and, again, he remembers it differently.

And the calls for him to resign are ludicrous.

[blm]

27. Same here. Especially in front of the woman's husband. It's just not who he is.

.

[LisaL]

31. Kiss with Tweeden was supposed to have been a part of skit.

Despite Tweeden's assertion that Franken supposedly wrote the skit just so he could kiss her, that kiss was in a skit years before, as evident by video of Franken performing the skit with another performer in 2003. So Franken clearly didn't write the skit just so he could kiss Tweeden.

[onlyadream]

40. I think Tweeden is upset about the kiss done while in rehearsal.

She said she asked that they skip it but he forced it on her. He says he remembers it differently.
It really comes down to his word against hers, but you do have to take into account where she's coming from, politically. Moore's accusers are Trump voters.

[rsong71]

91. yes, exactly!

I was pinched when I was 20 and rather naïve and not assertive. And even then my first reaction was to turn around and glare at the guy. Her claim does not make sense.

[GatoGordo]

41. I'm tired of the apologists

for misogynistic behavior, especially when the bad behavior comes from one of our own. It's the height of hypocrisy, and I am sick of it.

Either we Democrats abhor such behavior from everyone, or we condone it. It isn't a "shades of gray" thing.

Again, grabbing someones ass isn't an "awkward hug", regardless of the height difference.

[blm]

44. Im tired of RW lies. Plus, you claimed there was photographic evidence of 'ass grabbing' yet there was NOT.

And it is a certainty that the ONLY people pushing the talking point that Franken groped Huffington are RW propagandists and Kremlin internet operatives.

Everyone else knows that skit and the segment was part of Politically Incorrect's "Strange Bedfellows'.

I am tired of propagandists pretending the skit was real life. I'm tired of propagandists pretending the Tweeden skit was real life. A skit written in 2003 that was no different replayed in 2006 when Tweeden accepted the part.

'We Democrats' know discernment - propagandists do not.

I am short - I know plenty about awkward hugs. I tire of people pretending my reality is a form of apologia.

I tire of bullshit artists.

[Alice11111]

64. Yes! Plus, she admitted she agreed to the kiss.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

50. I'm tired of binary thinking and purists. Get real. . . . nt

[RandomAccess]

51. I strongly believe that when the facts come out

Franken will be exonerated.

I think that's why he IMMEDIATELY called for an Ethics investigation -- it not only "wasn't as he remembered it," as he puts it now (aside from that photo which he admits to and apologizes for), it simply didn't happen. That there are new accusers is worrisome, but they're anonymous. While that doesn't mean they women are lying -- there's no way for him to counter that. At all.

I also have to question your "such behavior from everyone" -- Franken isn't yet (in my mind) a serial predator since the 1st story has problems, the 2nd is questionable and the other 2 completely anonymous without any apparent details.

And in fact, here are just some of the reasons to doubt the original story:


Wait what??? They met for weeks to try and find a way to hurt Franken????
3rd paragraph in. https://www.democraticunderground.com/10029865102
http://polipace.com/2017/11/17/leeann-tweeden-says-accepts-al-frankens-apology-claims-planned-attacks/
"Also, KABC in Los Angeles is upset about various reports coming out that they had met for weeks to discuss ways to “hurt” Senator Al Franken, the Democratic Represenative from Minnesota. According to sources within the radio station, a small group of employees that support Trump had met after work for weeks to come up with various plans to make the Democrats look bad and Tweeden brought up being kissed by Franken."

Leann Tweeden just signed a book deal with Sinclair Broadcast Group
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10029862479

******* Bandit Aléatoire? @BanditRandom
When firsthand witnesses come forward & have a totally different recollection of the same events, you have to listen. Franken said he remembered the *scripted* kiss differently. Two witnesses say the photo was deliberate & staged as a joke that she was in on. Fish smell is DENSE.

Link to tweet

John Ziegler: I Loathe Al Franken, But It Sure Seems Like He is Getting Totally Railroaded
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10029851249
Based on what we currently know, however, it sure seems like he is getting railroaded today based on the story by Los Angeles radio anchor Leeann Tweeden (who works on the show of Doug McIntyre, who I consider a friend). In fact, this is almost exactly the type of story I warned about earlier this week while discussing the new, much lower standards, which the news media suddenly has adopted for reporting allegations of sexual abuse.
Even the nature of the report itself fails to live up to normal journalistic standards. She did not tell this story to a major news outlet which then verified the details on its own. This was just her own personal account of what she says happened, with no independent reporting or examination of Franken’s side of the story, published on the website of her employer, a very lowly-rated “conservative” talk radio station.
This story, as it currently stands, is not fair journalism and my fellow conservatives would be screaming bloody murder if the target was a Republican they liked, rather than a Democrat they hate.

Let's Check: Why would anyone so demand the resignation of Sen Franken? https://www.democraticunderground.com/10029886562

A Survivors Defense of Al Franken
http://strategycampsite.org/v2/index.php/2017/11/23/a-survivors-defense-of-al-franken/

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

53. Sinclair doesnt publish books

Can we stop repeating made-up BS on Twitter as fact?

[Beartracks]

58. What dictionary says "accusation" equals "truthful statement"?

I must have missed the part where the target of accusations that have no contextual corroborating evidence is automatically guilty.

Or do we automatically presume no woman would EVER lie or could EVER be mistaken about such an experience?



===========

[Sunlei]

70. I'm tired of peeps who let a DA who LURED CHILDREN FROM A COURTHOUSE get away 'free'

[BannonsLiver]

85. And I'm tired of people whose default position is for Dems to self immolate.

[Caliman73]

88. There are definitely shades of gray. This is life, not some novella

There are perspectives, values, and motivations that drive people's behaviors.

Misogyny is "hatred of women" or at minimum a contempt and strong prejudice against women. You are actually saying that Al Franken hates women? That he has contempt for women?

You can certainly argue if he actually grabbed or groped the women rather than inadvertently or awkwardly touched them, that he has engaged in boorish or childish behavior. However, you have to take into consideration the entirety of his life and service because there are ALWAYS shades of gray.

My father is a good man. He taught me respect for people and to be good to women, but I do remember him jokingly whistling at women in bikinis on the television. Is my father a misogynist? Hell no! He is a product of his gender and his generation, but he always respected women and taught me the same.

Everyone should ABHOR behavior that is clearly misogynistic, but when all behavior is seen as misogynistic through a binary lens, then we cannot see any nuance in human behavior.

[Demit]

48. The poster you're replying to believes the woman who made the bathroom-invitation allegation.

The anonymous accuser who claimed that after Franken groped her he suggested they visit the bathroom together? GG said in a thread the other day that yup, he/she definitely believes that happened. There's not much use in trying to reason with that kind of unshakable belief. His/her mind is made up.

[blm]

49. Yeah, well let's introduce him to blm aka honey badger.

.

[hurple]

78. And even if it did happen...

Wouldn't that be akin to asking someone on a "date"? At the very least it's asking for a consensual relation... Is a male asking a female for a consensual "date" now also considered assault?

[Demit]

79. LOL The gripers here *were* aggrieved about the times he didn't ask first, so...

you would think they'd give him credit for being polite & not just dragging her off to the bathroom by her hair, in this totally believable scenario.

[paleotn]

21. ...........

[Nevernose]

22. He didnt apologize exactly

But he did apologize for leaving them feeling that way, even if he touched them accidentally. He doesn’t set the precedent of calling them liars or otherwise smear his accusers, but he also denied intentionally groping someone in a sexual manner.

So to your points:
1. Why would he apologize for groping them if he didn’t mean to grope them? Accidentally touching someone’s butt is a common enough occurrence. And he DID say the part of the accusation where he asked the lady to join him in the bathroom was bullshit.

2. He definitely has a juvenile sense of humor at times, as so literally all professional comedians. What that picture PROVES is that the accuser is a liar. She said, “This is a picture of him groping me while I slept.” She produced a photo of him PRETENDING to grope her — which is all the difference in the world from being groped — while on tour with a bunch of other performers on a whirlwind USO tour. She lied about the rest of her allegations, too, which is easy to see if you stop letting corporate media sell you yet another Both Sides story. Her allegations turned out to be a recounting of the script performed, by her and others, dozens of time over at least three years. It was literally part of the show. She was just reciting the lines.

The third accusation she made was “One Time he drew devil horns on the autograph cast picture we all signed.”

The second accuser had more. This nice Trump voter claimed he grabbed her butt and propositioned her. Franken totally denies the propositioning, so why would he apologize for the other half of the accusation? And taking it in context as part of a coordinated GOP effort — led by a professional, literal character assassin — why would we not be suspicious? Or at least willing to give the benefit of the doubt?

Accusers three and four? Who, precisely, is he supposed to apologize to? Two anonymous people, who may not even exist, giving their story to the same journalist — a guy who published the story with no actual corroboration of any kind for at least one of the two — a guy who put the story on a blogging site and and gets paid by the click? Immediately after the right wing hit job? The closest he got to corroboration was an anti-harassment rant from woman whose sole claim was “Franken once looked at my boobs” and was presented seriously.

He literally has no one to apologize to. Contextually, I think Franken deserves the benefit of the doubt.

Every situation is different. This situation is different enough that every mental alarm bell should be ringing.

[trof]

28. Russian Bot

Bye

[groundloop]

32. Did you ever actually look at the photo with Ms. Tweeden???

She's wearing a flak jacket, which in and of itself makes 'groping' pretty damned impossible. If you look closely he's not touching anything, merely pretending to grope her flak jacket. Furthermore, the date she claimed the photo was taken doesn't match the data embedded in the photo, which in this case is a big deal because that means the photo wasn't taken where she said it was. Someone who was there has even come forward and said that she was in on the gag.

Now granted, depending on your point of view the photo could be considered to be in very bad taste, but that's to be expected from anyone whose life's work at that point was comedy. But it does not show Al groping her.

Hell, I suppose if I were running for public office right now I'd have to be afraid of being outed for touching a co-worker's breast once (but it was a total freakish accident and I was embarrassed as hell and apologized profusely).

What's maddening is that the right is trying to put Al Franken in the same league with someone who chased teenage girls when he was in his 30s - and some of us are buying into it. Until I see concrete proof of any wrong I'm remaining firmly behind Senator Franken.

[snort]

33. Uh huh

[jaysunb]

35. Please take your ball and go home. n/t

[FuzzyRabbit]

43. Don't feed the trolls.

[Sunlei]

72. Let the trolls EAT that (R)- DA who LURED children from his Courthouse Work!

[bettyellen]

46. You're confusing comedy skits with actual abuse. You know Ariana choked him in pics-

Same kind of promo pics you are indicting Franken for, so you think she is a violent person who wanted to kill him? And whee does Tweedens actual ass grabbing fit in here? I may not like the USO's brand of comedy, but at least I'm not confusing paid performance work with real life. You seem confused.

[ProfessorGAC]

13. Incoming!!!

Duck, blm! You're in the firing line.

[Ms. Toad]

17. The ranks of sexual harassers and abusers are filled

with men whose peers, and even female coworkers, are absolutely certain that they would never intentionally harass or abuse anyone.

Just as a smile on one's face at the time the contact is occurring, scantily clad photos of the victim elsewhere, a victim with a robust sex life, etc. say nothing about whether the contact occurred or was consensual, the accused's interactions with anyone but the victim are not relevant as to whether he engaged in such nonconsensual contact.

As to that question, both the women's accounts - and Franken's acknowledgement and apology - carry more weight than peers who can't imagine that he did, as he acknowledges he did, cross the line.

That said, I am NOT calling for him to resign. I am impressed with how he has handled the accusations. I just wish people would follow his lead and stop trying to prove by character assassination (of the victims) or by elevating to a pedestal (the accused) that both parties are lying when they allege - and acknowledge - that Franken crossed the line.

[blm]

24. I have reason to believe Franken when he said he doesn't remember the incidents the same way.

And I have reason to not believe these women were intentionally groped.

[yardwork]

71. We're letting the Republicans and Putin destroy the country.

[Honeycombe8]

20. I am sure he never intentionally groped anyone, either.

I'm not being blinded by fondness for him. But after watching him on SNL and in interviews for decades, you get a feel for the character of a person. Offhand comments, jokes made off the cuff, impromptu responses to questions...all these things give you a clue over time about what a person is really like.

I am convinced Franken is the real deal. He's not a groper, not one who uses power for the pleasure of showing control over others, or the like. He's not perfect. There's no doubt he's made bad jokes (ALL comedians do, male or female - no exceptions). Was he a mischievous kid? I'd be surprised if he weren't. But a molester, groper, harasser? No way.

And now, for our viewing pleasure, a dose of Stuart Smalley:

[karynnj]

26. Thanks for that personal account

I had not realised that he was that short. It means a lot to hear you say this - because I know you.

[blm]

29. Yep - and you know I'm short. heheh

.

[samnsara]

30. i agree...im giving old bush a pass as well....

[trof]

34. Franken has done exactly the right thing.

He called for an ethics committee investigation right away.
He is either really smart (my guess) or he's getting some really smart advice.

NEVER OPPOSE OR ATTACK ACCUSERS!
IT GAINS YOU NOTHING AND MAKES YOU LOOK LIKE A PERV ASSHOLE.

They MAY be lying through their teeth, but YOU lose MANY points by rebuking them.

"A soft answer turneth away wrath."
Absolutely!
Call them in to testify before a senate committee.
This is a BIG deal!
Get it under oath, on the record.

I still believe that Al Franken is as honest and good as it is possible for an American male to be.

[annabanana]

59. What you said. . .n/t

[riversedge]

36. Thank you

[snort]

37. Where are the people saying that his behavior was common knowledge in the trade??

In the cases of Weinstein, Moore and Spacey there were plenty of folks in their circle who came forward and admitted that person had a reputation for this type of behavior. Where are they in this case?

Hmmm?

[LisaL]

38. In fact Franken's coworkers/employees defended him, both at SNL and in his job as a senator.

[snort]

42. That is what makes this a clear cut case of ratfucking.

He has worked with a lot of people for a long time so where is the rep????

[Demit]

45. Yes! This. He's been called a "serial groper" so there should be talk of how handsy he is.

Having developed this alleged habit ten years ago—groping female strangers in full public view—shouldn't there be more stories pouring out? As he said, he's taken thousands of photos in the meantime. Odd that a "serial groper" would stop just like that.

[Beartracks]

56. Whaddaya doing bringing COMMON SENSE into this???

======

[Meowmee]

47. Thanks

For sharing this. I don’t believe the accusations against him and I thought it was possibly something like this if anything occurred at all. We had all better be careful who we hug now- who knows what we’ll be accused of since trial in the media only requires an accusation now.

[ms liberty]

52. K&R. Thanks for the perspective.

If Al were that kind of guy, the women who have worked with him and for him over the years would know it and some or most would have stories to tell, and in the current climate we would have heard about them. Instead, the women who know him and have worked with him are writing public letters of support. In this instance, I'm with Al and the women who know him best.

[Scruffy1]

54. i worked on Al's first Senate campaign.

I am just disgusted with those that buy an obvious right wing smear job on one of the best I have ever known. What the idiots on the right don't get is that Al is smarter and tougher than they are. The second Trumpista to claim he groped her says she can't remember who she voted for. That's in one of the most contested elections ever. It's pure bullshit. The original video from another Trumpista is a joke. The whole crew was there and the army people. No one sleeps in full kevlar and helmet. Maybe in bad taste, but all USO shows are. He knows if they do a real investigation the facts will come out and he is not afraid.

[Rhiannon12866]

57. And what a campaign that was! How long did it finally take to seat him??

He was the obvious winner, but they put if off as long as they could. And I believe completely that this is just more of the same RW shenanigans.

[Demit]

80. He wasn't seated until July. Some people said he should've just taken his place in the Senate

while Norm Coleman dragged it on for months, all the way to the state Supreme Court, but Franken waited for the process to complete. That tells me he's an honorable man.

[spanone]

55. K&R...

[shellyleit]

60. He is short

I met Al FRanken too, when he was running for Senate and I lived in MN, he visited my central MN city. He was quiet, smiley, sort of at a loss for words, and awkward as he shook all the hands of everyone who was there to see him. I think he said something to me about the weather. He was shorter than me, and I'm not tall, and I had the impression he was about 5' 4". So your point is a good one. Shorter men have smaller arms too. I don't believe he intentionally grabbed women's rears at the state fair. I've been to the MN state fair many times, all the politicians who meet and greet people are literally surrounded by people. No one is going to use that public venue to decide to grope someone.

[LisaL]

61. That's what I am thinking. Since he is short, maybe his hand ended on their hip or something.

From now on, he should stick to hand shaking.

[democratisphere]

65. Great info.

Al Franken's character and reputation are being assassinated the the vast RW conspiracy. He must fight on against these relentless bastards.

[LisaM]

66. I am glad you brought up the height issue.

It occurred to me, too (I am fairly short). It makes sense his arm would just drape a little lower.

[oasis]

67. ImWithAl.

Thanks, blm

[Pacifist Patriot]

68. I'm 5'9". Lost count of the number of times short men...

have inadvertently brushed or touched parts of me that some would find unseemly, nay, appalling these days. Whether it's a hug, a group photo, or what.

I have found the butt groping photo opp accusations ludicrous from the start.

[Denzil_DC]

77. I'm a short guy.

Not off the scale (certainly not in Scotland, where I live, though quite a number in the younger generation seem to be getting longer) - 5' 6" and wiry - but enough to excite comment at various times in my life among the less sensitive.

I can also be quite cuddly with friends and neighbors who don't mind that level of contact. In their cups, some of them (of either sex) can be borderline inappropriate, but whatever.

The dangers of height discrepancy and accidental embarrassing/distressing touching are something I'm only too aware of because of where my hands naturally hang and the uncertain nature of some clothing waistlines. I've never been alerted to a problem at the time, but one does wonder in retrospect.

None of this has any bearing on what I think may or may not have happened to spark these allegations. I trust Franken because of his reaction. He's damned if he does, damned if he doesn't for some. If anybody crops up at some time to tell me (or the wider world) that our interaction was inappropriate or distressing from their point of view, I hope I'll react with the same humility, respect and grace he's displayed.

[blm]

84. Al is stout, to boot. His reach probably would be less than yours.

Thank you for adding your comment.

[Denzil_DC]

86. I didn't really want to go there ... n/t

[blm]

87. Understood

It can come off as impolite.

I'm just trying to keep the perspective as real as possible.

[Denzil_DC]

89. Completely understood, blm.

I'd put a winky here, but that could be misinterpreted in the current climate, I guess, so this will have to do:

[kaotikross]

69. besides, it's not as if Tweeden has ever done anything slutty.

How dare a MONSTER like Franken molest sweet, innocent virginal Tweeden? You people act as if she's posed nude or spread legged in a thong for men's magazines or something! I'm sure she'd NEVER say anything provocative or flirty to him to try to "suck up" and further her career, Heavens NO! She surely wouldn't have schmoozed an admittedly semi-intoxicated Senator hoping showing some tits and ass would help her, no way! She was rushing back because she missed teaching Sunday School.

[babylonsister]

74. Haha! And welcome to DU!

[babylonsister]

75. Thanks for this, and nice to see you! nt

[blm]

92. likewise

and it looks like the battles never end

[katmondoo]

76. I supported Al Franken from day one

I did not realize he was not very tall. It does explain a lot. I am 5'1 . I still say he is being swift boated in the same way as John Kerry

[SpankMe]

81. LOL! I bet this is true!

It never occurred to me before, but the hands of this short woman who hugs me at work often come down at the top side of my behind, just at or slightly below the belt line in the rear. I always joke with myself that she's copping a feel. But I've always known that her diminutive stature prevents her from getting her hands way up around my chest or shoulders.

I imagine that friendly hugs between people of radically different heights can lead to awkward hand placement!

[blm]

82. Exactly - I am figuring that most people don't want to acknowledge height in this way.

Socially impolite in most circles.

[niyad]

90. thank you for posting this. it is always good to have a first person view of such a situation.

[JI7]

94. glad you posted this

the whole thing is a right wing attack. the accusations just get more silly also.

[blm]

95. The knee-jerk reactions from those claiming to be Democrats have been preposterous

!!!

[blm]

96. I stand by this....still.

I know who is lying.