Since Al Franken is trending again, let's remember that the allegations against him were multiple, varied, and serious, that he admitted to misconduct before resigning, and that even his coworkers andallies have described a longtime pattern of inappropriate behavior.
https://twitter.com/studentactivism/status/1153356096645582848
And if you're going to come into my mentions to argue that Al Franken was railroaded out of office in a way that should serve as a cautionary tale, please read this thread first. He gave his colleagues no basis on which to support him. FOR WEEKS.
https://twitter.com/studentactivism/status/1166842966469689344
I thought Franken was a really strong senator, by the way. I did my bit to help him get elected in his first campaign. And no, I don't think what he did was as bad as what Trump has done. And yet.
He behaved inappropriately for a long time. He was warned by staff a decade before his resignation. And when the accusations started to pile up, he dithered for three weeks without offering a coherent defense or apology, then quit.
You may think it's bad that he quit, you may find some of the allegations against him unconvincing. (I find some of the allegations against him unconvincing!) But the facts are the facts. The record is the record. And that's where we need to start.
A lot of people are yelling "But Republicans don't hold their people accountable!" at me. Well, yeah. But Dems holding their people accountable is good in and of itself, and it also—I strongly believe—makes it easier to get rid of Republicans who do similar things.
Holding powerful people accountable for bad acts changes the culture, and it makes a difference at the ballot box. Roy Moore's 2017 loss didn't happen in a vacuum.
Plus, you know, the most notorious, most abject, most powerful sexual predator in American politics was driven from office just five weeks ago. That's not nothing.
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