This is a tough one. This is one that many of my friends, of all political stripes, may not agree with. I've tried hard to look at this as neutrally as I can. It's very difficult.
I believe in Al Franken. He has been a hard-working and diligent Senator, one who reflects many views close to my own. Most of his books hold a special place in my bookshelf, and have been significant influences on me, and have helped shored me up over the years while living in a place that is very hostile to my point of view.
I also support, and believe in the efforts of the #MeToo movement. I was happy to see it win the Time Person of the Year, as the The Silence Breakers. There are concerns and abuse all along American culture, not just that involving celebrities and politics. They exist in our work places, our churches, and our homes. The process of reform and raising cultural awareness is just beginning.
Al Franken, over the years, has, on what I believe are rare occasions, indulged in boorish and immature behavior. This may have to do with his comedic roots. Sometimes he thinks he's funny, and others may not interpret it that way. His original accuser, the conservative radio announcer and friend of Roger Stone, Leann Tweeden, someone who frequently indulged in outlandish male butt-grabbing behavior herself, seemed somewhat staged, coached and trite. Nevertheless, Franken behaved in such a way as to leave himself open to negative interpretations. Most of the groping accusations also seem to be related to stupid attempts to be funny, or actions that may or may not be accidental or misinterpreted.
I know. Many of you think I am making excuses. Maybe, but I don't think so. His behavior deserves investigation by the Senate Ethics Committee. He may deserve admonishment and/or censure. He himself has been more apologetic and open than any of the other men who have been accused of sexual misconduct. It's not worthy of resignation, or excommunication from American life. It just isn't.
I understand the strategic reasoning behind the pressure to force him to resign. That, and the Conyers resignation (much more deserved and warranted), helps place the Democrats in the moral high ground, and place them far above the Republicans, who have serious unaddressed problems in this area.
The great problem with the strategy is that it won't work. Republicans just chortle that the Democrats have shot themselves in the foot, and marvel at how easy they are to take down. And even though the Democratic Governor will replace Franken with another Democratic, that does mean there will have to be a special election in 2018, and there is no guarantee that seat will stay in Democratic hands.
There are levels of levels of bad behavior in sexual misconduct, and not all of them should be treated equally.
Level One is boorish, sophomoric behavior that the perpetrator thinks is amusing, but is not fully aware that it could be misinterpreted. It has no power component, no exercise of threat or force. It's goofy gone wild. That is the level that Al Franken is at.
Level Two is acting like your position, power and celebrity in life entitles you to act in a manner the rest of us can't. They dwell under the belief that all women crave men with money and power, and since you got it, you van get away with more than most can. Donald Trump has explicitly confessed to this. It is more serious than Level One. Some behaviors are obnoxious, others are more vile, threatening and insidious.
Level Three is when men deliberately use their power to intimidate and threaten women, endangering their position in the organization the powerful men have control over. I think John Conyers slips into this category, as does Harvey Weinstein and Bill O'Reilly. These men have committed foul acts, and rightfully should lose their position and power.
Level Four is completely and utterly beyond redemption. That is when men prey on and take advantage of children. Roy Moore clearly and irredeemably falls into this category. Is it proven in a court of law? No, but so what? You have to disbelieve some nine women, tons of corroborating source evidence, even mall security who thought the way he hung out there was creepy. No, Roy Moore has no business in any elected office, much less in the United States Senate.
But sections of our country have gone mad. There are actually people in Alabama that think a Democrat is worse than an alleged pedophile. They are ready to choose a child molester over a prosecutor who convicted the KKK murders of four children. And there is a strong likelihood that there are enough of those people to give Roy Moore the victory.
So, will Al Franken's resignation change minds in Alabama, convince them that the Democrats have the moral high ground? Hell, no. They don't care. If they think of it all, they're saying, "Good! Got rid of another Democrat!" They're considering voting for a Level Four offender! You think they care what the Democrats did with someone who, at worst, is a Level One offender?
I think not.
Things won't truly change until Republicans have to pay a price at the polls for their misconduct. So far, that's not been the case. Alabama could change all that, by voting for Jones over Moore.
I pray that they do.
