The reaction to U.S. Sen. Al Franken's boorish moments in Iraq with a woman who was then modeling for Playboy, Hooter's and Frederick's of Hollywood (clearly a highly evolved feminist) and is now a right-wing Los Angeles radio host, as well as to his several reported butt-grabbings, has generally bordered on the hysterical. In some cases, it's crossed that border.
We're living a moment that recalls how things got started Salem in 1680, not to mention the McCarthy era: The least guilty is pilloried as vociferously as the guiltiest. The reported serial dehumanizing behaviors of Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey, Charlie Rose and other public figures — not to mention Roy Moore and Donald Trump — are simply not in the same sphere as a passing juvenile stunt, for reasons that should be clear to anybody with open eyes and ears. Yes, the Iraq episode and the several alleged incidents are gross and dumb, but far from a reason to set up a stake and firewood on the town square. Of course, the Republicans have done and will continue to do their cynical false-equivalency best and use Franken as a punching bag. But there's practically no one in the Senate — man or woman — who has worked harder to achieve equality and justice for women as he has, all seven years he's been in office.
Franken has made amends, his public and personal apologies to the opportunistic Leeann Tweeden have been accepted, and he's obviously chastened and humbled.
So let's move on, shall we?
Phil Freshman, St. Louis Park
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To Sen. Franken: I saw on the news Monday that you are sorry, embarrassed and ashamed of yourself for your abusive behavior toward women over the years. How big of you. What would really be nice is just once to have a sleazy, hypocrite politician admit the truth. That what you are really embarrassed and ashamed about is being outed. That you got caught. What you are really sorry about is people finding out about your true attitude toward women. That groping, grabbing and fondling them is OK if you are on the side of the angels — if you have hoisted yourself onto the pedestal of high morality, political correctness and liberal ideology. As long as you mouth the appropriate empty platitudes about equality for women, at least those that don't get too close to you, then anything goes.
Perhaps I am wrong, but I don't recall you coming clean about this behavior before you ran for office. Maybe you did and I missed it. My guess is you didn't really mean to cover it up. Likely you didn't give it a second thought. And now you are sorry, embarrassed and ashamed because you got caught. I am also sure you're willing to promise not to do these things again. Wow. That's taking responsibility and being accountable.
Here's my problem, senator. Ultimately, this isn't about you. Oh, I know you are trying to save your political career and your precious ego tells you that is what is most important. How could we get along without you? No, this is not about you and how embarrassed and ashamed you are. It is about the embarrassment and shame you have brought down on the people of Minnesota. You have made us a national laughingstock and embarrassing joke.
Please spare us. We did nothing to deserve this. Please stop dragging us through your mud. Do the right thing and resign. The Senate will get along just fine without you.
If you really want to take responsibility and be accountable for your behavior, step up, act like a man and take responsibility for it. Be accountable. So far, all you have done is try to generate sympathy for yourself because you got caught. Being accountable requires doing something, not just empty talk.
One last thing. Your poor me mea culpa whining, while not surprising, is getting old.
Dennis Carstens, Eagan
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It may seem like there is no way for Franken to "regain the trust" of the people. There is photographic evidence of his improper behavior, plus more women have stepped forward with stories of sexual harassment from Franken that is much more recent than the allegations against Senate candidate Roy Moore. However, it is actually possible for Franken to regain the trust of the people. He must do the following:
1) Resign from the Senate immediately and never run for Congress again. 2) Forgo the rather generous congressional pension that he would otherwise be entitled to. 3) Forgo any medical insurance available to retired members of Congress and obtain his own insurance like any ordinary citizen.
With these three things, Franken may indeed regain the trust of the people and be worthy of the title "former senator" from Minnesota. As it is, he is merely the latest disgraced individual to hold public office. In addition, "we the people" deserve better.
Greg Hagfors, Minneapolis
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Why am I not surprised? I apologized (sort of). I will cooperate with an ethics investigation (smoke screen to stay in office). I am a Democrat (with supporters who attack rape victims). I am a warm person (who grabs women's backsides). It's OK!
No, it is not OK. You are an elected official who has demonstrated you have no morals and no integrity. Senator, you are a disgusting pig. RESIGN!
Donald L. Stewart, Thief River Falls, Minn.
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Franken is one of our best in Congress. He's smart, thoughtful, funny, plain-spoken and hardworking and he fights for important issues. I see him as a champion of all working people — women and men alike. Yes, the photo of him on the USO tour was stupid and tacky, but he has admitted to acting stupid and tacky and apologized. If you're wondering why a resident of Hawaii would bother writing the Star Tribune, I'm married to a Minnesotan, visit the state often and have dozens of family members who live there. I sincerely hope the senator stays in office and continues to fight the good fight.
Lynn Beittel, Kamuela, Hawaii
TAX REFORM
Instead of luring firms home, grant them conditional amnesty
The Star Tribune's Jim Spencer writes about how the GOP tax plan may lure "home" some of the corporate cash stashed in overseas tax havens ("GOP hopes to lure cash back from tax havens," front page, Nov. 27). I suggest they simply be given tax amnesty, provided they disclose the amounts involved and where they were earned. Meantime, the rest of us will pay the bill for maintaining 800 U.S. military bases around the world so the corporations can safely do business there, secure in the knowledge that with a snap of their fingers there will be Marines available to protect their interests in the next Montezuma or Tripoli. Free of charge, of course.
Jack Zachow, Seminole, Fla.
U FOOTBALL
It may be 'goodbye, Gophers'
As an alumnus of the University of Minnesota, I have attended Gopher football games since the 1960s. Unfortunately, we were at Saturday's game against Wisconsin. We paid $80 each for an upper-level, end-zone seat to witness a Division III-caliber performance. The promises and slogans of coaches over the years are starting to wear thin, and I may have attended my last Gopher game in person. Based on Saturday's outcome, I am sure the university will extend the contract of "The Music Man 2" once again. I don't think we need promises and slogans; we need to put a better product on the field. If, however, we do need a slogan, it should be changed from "Row the Boat" to [Chief Martin] Brody's line in "Jaws": "I think we are going to need a bigger boat."
Bruce Lemke, Orono
