To begin with let me make it quite clear that I do not in any way, shape or form condone the sexual misconduct allegedly perpetrated by Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey, Bill Cosby, Charlie Rose, Matt Lauer, senate candidate Roy Moore, Congressman John Conyers, maestro James Levine and others. If the accusations are true, all these men were seeking sexual gratification.
Women and men – yes, and men – should not be subjected to any kind of sexual harassment in the work place or any other place for that matter.
Feminists and politically correct psychologists say that rape and other forms of sexual misconduct are actually an exercise of power over women and have nothing to do with sex. The jerks listed above may very well have exercised power over their accusers, but they sure did it for sexual gratification. Many of them masturbated in front of their victims … and that’s a form of sexual gratification in case feminists and psychologists don’t know it.
I also want to make it clear that politically I am most certainly not a supporter of uber-liberal Senator Al Franken.
Franken was a comedian before he got elected to the U.S. Senate in 2008. Recently several women have come forward and accused Franken of groping their butts and boobs when they had their pictures taken with him. All of these alleged acts took place before he was elected to the Senate.
I am convinced that unlike the other celebrities and politicians, Franken was not seeking sexual gratification by grabbing those butts and boobs. Rather they were the acts of a comedic smartass.
Of course, Franken was wrong in groping his accusers, but there is a whale of a difference between a man raping a woman or engaging in other acts of sexual misconduct for the purpose of sexual gratification, and some comedian being a smartass.
Fat Albert says
If you’re gonna excuse Al Franken because he wasn’t a Senator and he was a “comedic smartass”, then you’ve got to excuse Trumps “grab ’em by the p***sy” remark for the same reason.
DanMan says
My opinion? He’s a sharty comedian that deserves all the crap he is dealing with. Thanks for asking.
Howie Katz says
Fat Albert, I’m not excusing Al Franken. I’m just saying there is a difference between him and those seeking sexual gratification and thus he should not be kicked out of congress like John Conyers should be … and maybe Roy Moore if he gets elected to the senate.
I do not think there is any relevance between what I’m saying and Trump’s obscene ‘pussy’ remark. By the way, Trump is now suggesting the audio of that remark was faked. But Billy Bush, who was with Trump when he made the remark, says the audio is genuine.
Fat Albert says
Howie,
I think that the whole thing at this point has reached the point of absurdity. It’s a general societal problem that reaches far beyond the political or entertainment arenas. We, as a society, have been turning a blind eye to such indiscretions of more than a half century. JFK was grabbing every skirt he passed back in the early ’60’s. Johnson had a mouth like a dirty spittoon and was a world class bigot to boot. Nixon wasn’t a womanizer, but had other flaws.
Ted Kennedy, probably murdered a girl, beat the rap, and (having been proven to be immune to criticism) continued with his life of debauchery until he died. There’s Barney Frank, Gary Hart, Wilbur Mills. . . the list is endless.
In the entertainment industry, the phrase “casting couch” is so old and so common that it’s a standard theme. Actors (male and female) have been advancing their careers in a horizontal fashion for decades. Producers and Directors have been willing participants.
It’s probably the same in the business world, just not a well documented.
I’m not justifying, or condoning. But I find it interesting that a media world that sexualized EVERYTHING, now seems to be saying that we should stop. Should we kick Al Franken out? Maybe, but if we apply the same rules equally to all of Congress, I suspect we wouldn’t be left with a quorum to do business.
As for Trump’s remarks – I’ve given up on listening to anything he has to say. What he says is connected with reality on only the most tenuous terms, and additionally, is so distorted by a rabid media to the point of un-recognisability. I only care about what he does. He’s not gonna quit, he’s not gonna be impeached, and, unless the Democrats actually manage to find a realistic candidate, he’ll probably be re-elected for a 2nd term
David Vargha says
There’s a difference between going 60 MPH in a 40 zone and doing 100 MPH in a 40 zone. But you get tickets for both.
Cypress Texas Tea Party says
Howie, you say, “I am convinced that unlike the other celebrities and politicians, Franken was not seeking sexual gratification by grabbing those butts and boobs.” How do you know what Franken was seeking? That the same problem with supposed “hate” crimes. In order to get a conviction, you somehow have to know what the criminal was thinking. If you murder someone, you should get the same penalty as someone who hated the victim or just killed the victim for the insurance.
Howie Katz says
All these acts took place while the victims had their picture taken with Franken. Even in Afghanistan where he grabbed a sleeping fellow performer by both her boobs and kissed her, he laughingly posed for a photo of the act. In none of these cases was there any further sexual misconduct with the victim. So, to me at least, it is obvious that Franken was just clowning around.
Cypress Texas Tea Party says
So, Howie, you just admitted in your reply to me that Franken was guilty of sexual misconduct by grabbing her boobs and kissing her, so how do you know that he was not sexually gratified by those acts? From what I have heard after this photo was released, Franken has touched other women inappropriately on multiple occasions. To me, it sound like a disturbing pattern that might suggest he WAS being sexually gratified by those actions.
Howie Katz says
That’s your opinion my friend.
Lorensmith says
I agree with Howie. Franken should stay in the Senate. Roy Moore in the Senate is very different and says a lot about the voters in Alabama and the hypocrisy of the Republican party.
Cypress Texas Tea Party says
How can you compare Al Frankenstein who was caught with photographic evidence to his actions so that he was forced to admit his crimes and apologize with Roy Moore who has denied any wrongdoing not to mention that there is absolutely no evidence against him. I think you have allowed your political ideology to seriously cloud your judgement.
Easter Lemming says
The joking photo shows comedian Al Franken with hands above her flak jacket. Even if he lowered his hands he wouldn’t be grabbing her breasts but a flak jacket.
He also kissed her, as they would do later in the show.
She, a conservative radio host, has her own videos of grabbing men’s asses, surprising a married man with a wild kiss, and dry humping on that raunchy tour.
Two of the later accusations, he touched my waist when I didn’t expect him to. He hugged me and I didn’t want it. I didn’t give him permission to kiss me.
We are going through a witch hunt stage where things that deserve a slap from the woman are treated as crime. Sure they are wrong, but there are degrees of severity here.
I expect him to resign but would like instead for there to be a Senate ethics hearing to decide facts and punishment which is what he wants. I also want the same for the other accused, like Trump. Right now he is ducking civil suits.