The hypocrisy I’ve seen within the progressive community—particularly on this site—makes me sick. I’ve seen many people feign a moral superiority over conservatives openly supporting sexual predators like Trump and Roy Moore. But the “progressives” fighting tooth and nail to defend Al Franken (and throw all survivors under the bus as a result)? You’re no better than them.
Don’t be mad that Al Franken is resigning. Be mad that Franken is a groper and his behavior led to this ouster in the first place. If he didn’t grope women we wouldn’t be having this conversation. He wouldn’t have to resign.
This is women’s real lives and trauma at stake. We can’t have a just society if we allow leaders who harm women with impunity to stay in power.
Al Franken can be replaced.
Al Franken will be replaced.
Al Franken should be replaced.
We can have a progressive take his place who ISN’T a sexually abusing hypocrite. Isn’t that better?
Survivors don’t take the decision to come forward lightly. And the victim-blaming and rape denialism I’ve seen on this site is exactly why many people never come forward. By publicly minimizing Franken’s actions you are making the world safer for sexual assailants. You are silencing victims—the only witnesses who can tell us who are the hypocrites and abusers in our communities.
Shame on all of you who think one man is more important than the long-lasting work of having honorable leaders. Who cares if the Republicans don’t hold the same standards? Reports of abuse are not hypothetical plays in political basketball; this is people’s lives.
Do you truly want a better America? Do you truly want a just world? Then stop. defending. abusers.