Ratfucking vs Facts vs Political Hysteria
Let's consider two cases: Franken and Northam.
The Franken allegations were quickly shown to be ratfucking, even as a live person was the original declarant, and quickly found to be a right wing provocateur. The later allegations were mostly weak or clearly groundless. The photographic evidence showed what was clearly a joke, not a breast groping as alleged. Contemporaneous accounts from others demonstrate an ongoing pattern of joking between the parties. Then there was the MeToo climate that prevailed at the time. The right wing ratfuckers timed the allegations perfectly.
This was a case where the calls for Franken's resignation came loud and swift from our side. They were, in my view, premature. Franken's self defense was clear but muted, even as they were sane and reasoned. I believe this was a rush to judgement, and quite likely a political calculation on the part of those calling for his resignation. And dumb on our part.
The Northam accusations are a whole other matter. Yes, the initial allegations were from a right wing source bent on fucking Democrats, but the "Coonman" thing and the blackface/KKK images are there. Northam made things worse by his initial admission, then denial, then identifying another blackface event. All that leaves us in political limbo. Did he or didn't he and if he didn't, he sure makes it hard to believe he didn't. So he either did a racist thing or he is a political idiot. In either case, he is hurting Democrats in Virginia and across the country. We are now at a point where facts do NOT matter. He needs to go.
As a follow-on are the new accusations by the same source that Justin Fairfax is a sexual abuser. No corroboration. No evidence. WaPo looked at this a year ago and dismissed it. I think we should, too.
The hard part is making decisions about these things fast. The news moves at light speed. The RW is even faster to throw shit at us. We need to make decisions - fast - and stand by them.
Longer term, we need to oppo our own candidates and make harsh examples of those who are shown to be hiding things or lying. The DNC needs to have a hand in this.
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