Maybe it’s my privilege, or maybe I just have some massive flaw in my logic, but I don’t get it. The Daily Kos Rec List has been seesawing back and forth for days, between one camp or another regarding Senator Al Franken’s accusers, and/or Senator Franken himself.
In one camp, we have people calling for Franken to resign immediately, or at least based solely on the accusation he assaulted one or more women. That doesn’t work. Franken deserves the same consideration his accusers do: the presumption of innocence. I’ll go one step further: Roy Moore gets the same presumption. In strictly legal terms, this means an honest, open inquiry/investigation should be conducted in each case.
Of course, in practical terms, Moore is more negatively affected, as he should be. Accusations of serial pedophilia are simply more horrifying. Public opinion is very important to Moore’s situation, since he’s a candidate. Franken, as a sitting Senator, is less affected by public opinion. The two cases are unequal in the court of public opinion, but in terms of justice, they should be treated with the same commitment to justice.
In another camp, we have people assailing Franken’s accuser(s) with everything from doubt to outright misogynistic language. This is much less okay than calling for Franken’s ouster. Believing the accusers to be honest brokers does not require believing Franken is guilty. It merely requires believing the accusations should be investigated.
The harm, however, in attacking them is far greater than in attacking Franken. Much of the incredulity revolves around them being right-wingers. Well, so what? Do right-wingers deserve to be sexually assaulted? Another greater share of the incredulity revolves around the perception of their veracity. Again, I say: So what? Let’s say Anne Coulter is sexually assaulted. We know she’s a liar. We know she says (and likely believes) horrible things. But nobody deserves sexual assault, and that “nobody” includes Anne Coulter.
But let’s go further. Let’s say Franken’s accusers are actually totally lying for political purposes. Let’s say every bad thing you may think about them is true. Let’s say you were right about them all along. Now let’s say Anne Coulter gets assaulted, for real, no lie. Is she going to speak up? Who’s going to believe her? She’s certainly not going to think you will, even though she’s telling the truth.
Now pretend it’s not Anne Coulter, but instead your misguided, Trump-loving neighbor, who thinks he’ll usher in a new era of prosperity, if only the evil, hateful libruls will stop getting in his way. What’s she going to think? Probably that coming forward will get her nothing but hatred and abuse from the very people who claim to safeguard her rights, her dignity, and her bodily autonomy.
Now let’s pretend it’s your Obama/Clinton/Sanders/etc-loving, rock-ribbed liberal neighbor, who hasn’t got a mean or dishonest bone in her body — but her rapist is a rock star Democrat. Does she think you attacked Franken’s accusers because they were ‘wingers, or does she suspect that maybe it might also have been the target of their accusations that informed your disbelief? Doesn’t matter what the actual case is, all she has to do is doubt you for a moment, and you’re in part responsible for her silence.
Is that how we roll here? I thought we weren’t doing that.
I have to admit, I’m not overly fond of the whole, “I believe her” thing. It’s confusing. I know, it’s easier to say than, “I believe her accusation should be given the full weight such accusations merit, they should be investigated without prejudice, and she should be given the benefit of our support and compassion unless proven to be a liar, even if the accusation proves to be false by virtue of some misunderstanding, and/or...” But too often, people take it as a binary, zero-sum choice. Pick a side. Surely, someone could come up with a pithy way of supporting women who come forward without suggesting a presumption of guilt for any party involved.
But, “I believe her” is what we’ve got, and it’s a damned sight better than, “What were you wearing?” I’ll take some confusion over what went before.
Sorry, I guess I just don’t understand why this is so difficult to grasp. Well, that’s not completely true. I know why it’s so hard for some people. But I wish it weren’t.