I haven’t known much what to say about the news that Senator Al Franken (MN-D) has been credibly accused of sexual harassment on two occasions. After all, it hurts to hear someone that you consider to be a good guy. But it’s important to understand how these accusations play out in the greater context of the United States.
That context, for those not paying attention, includes the accusations of harassment and rape against movie mogul Harvey Weinstein, and his subsequent removal from the board of directors of his own company; accusations of sexual harassment by President Trump, as well as his own taped admission that he had engaged in same (which he characterized as “locker-room” talk, much to the amazement of locker-room denizens); the accusations of sexually inappropriate behavior by Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore, such as exposing himself to a 14 year old, and dating or attempting to date teen age girls when he was in his thirties; and accusations against lesser political lights.
The reactions have been diverse. Both Democrats and Republicans have denied charges, at least here and here in Minnesota, while Weinstein was leveraged out of his company, but Franken did not deny the accusations and issued an immediate apology and called for an investigation of himself. Even more interesting? How those who control the fates of these men have also reacted.
We have one: Trump is President.
The other accusations are too new to gather definitive results, but there are smoke signals on the horizon. In regards to candidate Moore, we’ve seen some Republicans throw up their hands and form the Republicans for Doug Jones group (Jones is the Democratic opponent in the special election for the Alabama Senatorial seat, and the group has a cool pic) to Republicans stating they will vote for Moore – despite believing the accusations against him. Franken, on the other hand, has drawn mixed fire, from those calling for his resignation from within the Democrats, to others for whom he has been an honorable warrior in the political warrior and should be excused.
These reactions are important for what they say about the state of politics in America today. Why? For most Americans, denial of position, and its concomitant power and prestige, is a punishment for misbehavior. But there’s two unsung notes to this song, and it’s this: with this punishment there’s also the signal that inappropriate behavior (and that’s an inadequate phrase, but I’m too sick to come with something better) is not tolerated and those indulging in it should never be elected. Even more importantly, by signaling that the defective, the criminals if you will, will not be permitted to climb the ladder, you’ve also signaled that this Party is open to improvement.
The obverse side of the coin? That any “perv” (as Alabama governor Kay Ivey memorably put it in the above link concerning Moore), any rapist, any murderer, demagogue, traitor, or pederast can rise through the ranks of the Party, and if they can repeat the Party-sanctioned arguments, if they can pay the right bribes or have the right charisma, they can be your “leader.” Perhaps the next tax proposed by a GOP governor will be that you bring in your teenage daughters one night a year for an overnight inspection by that governor. Purely for ideological purity reasons, boys, and leave them by door, won’t you? Because this sort of Big Green Light will result in a rush of the power-hungry to the GOP (as if that hasn’t already happened).
We may be seeing the GOP starting to shiver into pieces, although I’m not certain. Remember Governor Ivey? Here’s her statement on candidate Moore:
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey says she is still going to vote for embattled GOP Senate candidate Roy Moore, even though she thinks he’s a perv.
“I’m going to cast my ballot on December the 12th, and I do believe the nominee of the party is the one I’ll vote for,” Ivey said Friday while speaking to reporters at the state’s Thanksgiving turkey pardon event.
“I believe in the Republican Party, what we stand for, and most important, we need to have a Republican in the United States Senate to vote on things like the Supreme Court justices, other appointments the Senate has to confirm and make major decisions,” she explained. “So that’s what I plan to do, vote for Republican nominee Roy Moore.”
Ivey claimed that while she does believe the sexual assault and harassment allegations being hurled at the 70-year-old, she feels she must stay loyal to her party.
“I certainly have no reason to disbelieve any of them,” Ivey said of Moore’s accusers. “But at the same time, the United States Senate needs to have in my opinion, a majority of Republican votes to carry the day and when they have to consider other major decisions. So that’s a factor, as well.”
Buried in that statement is the crux of the matter: Party over Country. She’d rather see Moore, a man she believes to be a malignant sexual abuser, who’s been boosted out of judicial office twice for blatant anti-Constitutional actions, whose obvious lust for power should be disturbing to everyone, than Jones, who happens to be a former Federal prosecutor who doesn’t appear to have a hint of scandal on the horizon, or not so that I’ve noticed.
What does that say about her love for her country? Oh, it’s the BGL, now isn’t it? A Big Green Light to every charismatic bum and rapist who can get himself high enough in the polls. Of course, as governor she should be a leader in the state and in the Alabama GOP. She should be leading efforts to discharge the dishonorable from the Party, and, since the Party picked Moore in the primary over Strange (who, admittedly, had his own smell of potential corruption hanging over him), it’s her duty to find a polite but effective way to say What the fuck are you folks doing?
And she’s failing.
But what’s causing the shivering? The many sitting GOP Senators who’ve withdrawn support and called on Moore to step aside.
But back to Senator Franken. It saddens me to say that, as a Senator who has exhibited a lot of leadership for good from his constrained position in a GOP-dominated Senate, I think he should resign. I think what I’ve said so far should make it plain, but I’ll explain anyways. If the Democrats are to exhibit a moral character of any sort – and that’s extremely important to have in the leadership of our nation – then those who’ve transgressed must be stripped of their position and prestige. As a signal that the Party wants to improve.
Now, I’m no legal expert on Minnesota law, but I believe a new Senator would then be appointed by current Governor Dayton. And who should he pick? I’ll spare you the anticipation.
Presenting … Senator Franni Bryson, the wife of the former Senator Franken.
She’ll get excellent advice, she has a great local reputation, and if she’s not quite up to speed to start, no doubt she knows a lot already from her husband.
