ICYMI: Leading Liberal Iowa Blog Bashes Franken, Finds Accuser Credible
Five Things Not To Do When Running For Office
Bleeding Heartland
September 22, 2022
Leading Liberal Activist: “I Am Inclined To Think There Was Some Unwelcome Physical Contact. It’s Rare For Someone To File A Police Report Based On An Entirely Made Up Incident. I Also Feel That A Fabricated Account Would Have Made The Perpetrator Sound More Menacing.”
“‘Unfounded’ Is Not The Same As An Investigation Proving ‘It Didn’t Happen.'”
For Some Young Iowa Democrats, The Police Report “Was A Deal-Breaker.”
“You Don’t Get To Decide What Other People Should Tolerate In Terms Of Physical Contact.”
“I Can’t Imagine Why Any Candidate Would Go Out For Drinks Alone With Someone He Recently Fired.”
“Democratic Candidates Should Avoid Al Franken.”
1. Don’t kiss or hug anyone without being sure they welcome the gesture.
The police report paraphrased Strope-Boggus’ account to the officer. After having a couple of drinks at a Des Moines bar, Strope-Boggus and Franken (whose name is blocked out) were talking about work and walking to their cars when Franken allegedly “grabbed the collar of the vest she was wearing and kissed her on her mouth.” After Strope-Boggus “pulled away,” Franken “stopped the contact” and walked away.
…
Speaking to several news organizations this week, Franken claimed that while he did meet Strope-Boggus for a drink on March 18, the alleged physical contact “never happened.”
According to a written statement from the campaign, “These allegations are false. This accusation was investigated by the Des Moines Police Department and the Polk County Attorney’s Office who found no wrongdoing and closed the case as unfounded.”
That’s not quite right. Franken was never interviewed, because the police department and Polk County Attorney’s office found no grounds to open an investigation. “Unfounded” is not the same as an investigation proving “it didn’t happen.”
…
My default position is to believe women who come forward with this kind of story, so I am inclined to think there was some unwelcome physical contact. It’s rare for someone to file a police report based on an entirely made up incident. I also feel that a fabricated account would have made the perpetrator sound more menacing.
…
In my conversations with Democrats this week, as well as in discussions I observed on social media, I noticed a big generation gap. Most older people (women as well as men) either didn’t believe the account of a disgruntled ex-staffer, or dismissed the allegations as insignificant if true. Younger people were far more likely to view what the police report described as serious, and for some it was a deal-breaker.
To those who feel it’s ridiculous to be upset about an unwanted hug or kiss, I say: It’s 2022. You don’t get to decide what other people should tolerate in terms of physical contact. What one person considers harmless can feel intimidating to another. When in doubt, say hello or goodbye without touching.
2. Don’t meet for a drink with someone you recently fired.
I can’t imagine why any candidate would go out for drinks alone with someone he recently fired. That’s a potentially volatile situation, especially when the people involved are an older man and a younger woman.
…
3. Don’t escalate with someone you fired.
The police report described a phone call that Franken placed to his former campaign manager’s wife, Becky Strope-Boggus, on April 4. For some reason, Becky’s name was on the call sheet for that day. She cut off the call after getting the impression the candidate was asking for a donation.
I have no idea why the spouse of a fired campaign staffer would ever be on a candidate’s call sheet. What good could come out of that conversation?
…
4. Don’t run ads featuring Al Franken.
The Franken campaign committed political malpractice by launching Facebook fundraising ads on September 9 and September 13 featuring former U.S. Senator Al Franken. I took these screenshots from Facebook’s ad library.
…
Whatever money those ads raised couldn’t be worth connecting the two Frankens in the public’s mind. Granted, many Democrats think Al Franken was railroaded. But many others think he’s a creep who got what he deserved.
Gavin Aronsen of the Iowa Informer commented that if Republican operatives had been sitting on the explosive police report involving Mike Franken for a while, “hard to think of a better time than after Al Franken endorsed him to drop. Iowa Field Report is a badly disguised front for the Iowa GOP but none of this has anything to do with the veracity/news value of the police report.”
Even if there is no scandal waiting to break, Democratic candidates should avoid Al Franken. The association will turn off too many potential supporters.
…
