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"Now may be the time to look at public accusations against Trump again, to view them anew in a rapidly changing political and social climate," write Elisabeth Ponsot and Sarah Slobin for Quartz. (Photo: Mark Dixon/Flickr/cc)
'Grab-Em-by-the-Pussy' President Slammed for Grand Hypocrisy as Trump Goes After Franken
"No, the president doesn't care about Franken's accuser or what he did. It's just a political football."
Nov 17, 2017
Critics were quick to label President Donald Trump a hypocrite late Thursday after the president--who's been accused by more than a dozen women of sexual misconduct--took to Twitter to take aim at Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.), who has been accused of groping a woman without her consent.
"Now may be the time to look at public accusations against Trump again, to view them anew in a rapidly changing political and social climate."
--Elisabeth Ponsot and Sarah Slobin, Quartz
In his Thursday night tweet, the president refers to a 2006 photo of the then-comedian appearing to touch the breasts of news anchor Leeann Tweeden while she was sleeping during a USO tour. In a statement, Tweeden also accused Franken of forcibly kissing her without consent.
While Franken apologized to Tweeden for his conduct on Thursday and welcomed a Senate ethics investigation into his own behavior, Trump was quick to criticize the Democratic senator even though the president has largely avoided strong criticisms or rebuke for other powerful men accused of sexual harassment and assault, most notably--himself.
Trump tweeted:
The president also portrayed Franken as a hypocrite:
Franken, for his part, apologized and said "an ethics investigation be undertaken, and I will gladly cooperate."
In contrast to his reaction to accusations aimed Franken, Trump has tweeted out no such attack directed at Alabama Senate Republican candidate Roy Moore, who is facing accusations by nine women.
Reacting to Trump's attacks on Franken, Jack Holmes explains at Esquire how "The Term 'Hypocrisy' Doesn't Even Do It Justice."
"No, the president doesn't care about Franken's accuser or what he did. It's just a political football, an opportunity to score some points," Holmes writes. "Of course, the real reason Trump might normally steer clear of discussions of sexual misconduct is that he has been accused of it himself by more than a dozen women, on the record."
As Elisabeth Ponsot and Sarah Slobin write for Quartz on Friday, there are now plenty of reasons to revisit the accusations from the 17 women who have publicly accused President Trump of sexual harassment or assault over the years.
"Now may be the time to look at public accusations against Trump again, to view them anew in a rapidly changing political and social climate," they write. "Trump has never been charged with a sexual-misconduct crime, and has adamantly denied each claim listed below. But the world's approach to women who say they have been victimized by sexual misconduct is changing--and so are the consequences for men who are accused."
Offering his take on Trump's hypocrisy, noted author Stephen King tweeted: "Trump on Franken: Pot discusses sins of the kettle."
Actress Alyssa Milano, meanwhile, offered this reminder of Trump's own words:
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. US voters have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. If you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
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Critics were quick to label President Donald Trump a hypocrite late Thursday after the president--who's been accused by more than a dozen women of sexual misconduct--took to Twitter to take aim at Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.), who has been accused of groping a woman without her consent.
"Now may be the time to look at public accusations against Trump again, to view them anew in a rapidly changing political and social climate."
--Elisabeth Ponsot and Sarah Slobin, Quartz
In his Thursday night tweet, the president refers to a 2006 photo of the then-comedian appearing to touch the breasts of news anchor Leeann Tweeden while she was sleeping during a USO tour. In a statement, Tweeden also accused Franken of forcibly kissing her without consent.
While Franken apologized to Tweeden for his conduct on Thursday and welcomed a Senate ethics investigation into his own behavior, Trump was quick to criticize the Democratic senator even though the president has largely avoided strong criticisms or rebuke for other powerful men accused of sexual harassment and assault, most notably--himself.
Trump tweeted:
The president also portrayed Franken as a hypocrite:
Franken, for his part, apologized and said "an ethics investigation be undertaken, and I will gladly cooperate."
In contrast to his reaction to accusations aimed Franken, Trump has tweeted out no such attack directed at Alabama Senate Republican candidate Roy Moore, who is facing accusations by nine women.
Reacting to Trump's attacks on Franken, Jack Holmes explains at Esquire how "The Term 'Hypocrisy' Doesn't Even Do It Justice."
"No, the president doesn't care about Franken's accuser or what he did. It's just a political football, an opportunity to score some points," Holmes writes. "Of course, the real reason Trump might normally steer clear of discussions of sexual misconduct is that he has been accused of it himself by more than a dozen women, on the record."
As Elisabeth Ponsot and Sarah Slobin write for Quartz on Friday, there are now plenty of reasons to revisit the accusations from the 17 women who have publicly accused President Trump of sexual harassment or assault over the years.
"Now may be the time to look at public accusations against Trump again, to view them anew in a rapidly changing political and social climate," they write. "Trump has never been charged with a sexual-misconduct crime, and has adamantly denied each claim listed below. But the world's approach to women who say they have been victimized by sexual misconduct is changing--and so are the consequences for men who are accused."
Offering his take on Trump's hypocrisy, noted author Stephen King tweeted: "Trump on Franken: Pot discusses sins of the kettle."
Actress Alyssa Milano, meanwhile, offered this reminder of Trump's own words:
Critics were quick to label President Donald Trump a hypocrite late Thursday after the president--who's been accused by more than a dozen women of sexual misconduct--took to Twitter to take aim at Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.), who has been accused of groping a woman without her consent.
"Now may be the time to look at public accusations against Trump again, to view them anew in a rapidly changing political and social climate."
--Elisabeth Ponsot and Sarah Slobin, Quartz
In his Thursday night tweet, the president refers to a 2006 photo of the then-comedian appearing to touch the breasts of news anchor Leeann Tweeden while she was sleeping during a USO tour. In a statement, Tweeden also accused Franken of forcibly kissing her without consent.
While Franken apologized to Tweeden for his conduct on Thursday and welcomed a Senate ethics investigation into his own behavior, Trump was quick to criticize the Democratic senator even though the president has largely avoided strong criticisms or rebuke for other powerful men accused of sexual harassment and assault, most notably--himself.
Trump tweeted:
The president also portrayed Franken as a hypocrite:
Franken, for his part, apologized and said "an ethics investigation be undertaken, and I will gladly cooperate."
In contrast to his reaction to accusations aimed Franken, Trump has tweeted out no such attack directed at Alabama Senate Republican candidate Roy Moore, who is facing accusations by nine women.
Reacting to Trump's attacks on Franken, Jack Holmes explains at Esquire how "The Term 'Hypocrisy' Doesn't Even Do It Justice."
"No, the president doesn't care about Franken's accuser or what he did. It's just a political football, an opportunity to score some points," Holmes writes. "Of course, the real reason Trump might normally steer clear of discussions of sexual misconduct is that he has been accused of it himself by more than a dozen women, on the record."
As Elisabeth Ponsot and Sarah Slobin write for Quartz on Friday, there are now plenty of reasons to revisit the accusations from the 17 women who have publicly accused President Trump of sexual harassment or assault over the years.
"Now may be the time to look at public accusations against Trump again, to view them anew in a rapidly changing political and social climate," they write. "Trump has never been charged with a sexual-misconduct crime, and has adamantly denied each claim listed below. But the world's approach to women who say they have been victimized by sexual misconduct is changing--and so are the consequences for men who are accused."
Offering his take on Trump's hypocrisy, noted author Stephen King tweeted: "Trump on Franken: Pot discusses sins of the kettle."
Actress Alyssa Milano, meanwhile, offered this reminder of Trump's own words:
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