We have to think about what we want to have come of all this. Has it been revealed that Franken behaved like a creep? Do we now know that he saw this model on a USO tour as nothing more than a prop in his story? Yes. And yes.
But I’m afraid that calling for his resignation over it suggests that his behavior is anomalous. And it’s not. It’s awful, but it’s also totally pedestrian misogyny. It’s commonplace.
To have the same reaction to Franken as we do to C.K., or Moore, or Weinstein, or Oreskes, or Halperin, or Weiseltier, or Fish, is counterproductive and misleading.
This case should be used as the teaching tool for every man who is casting his mind back and trying to figure out where and when he did something that he thought was fine, but she didn’t. It should be used as a way to draw men into a process of self-evaluation that is low stakes enough that men can be honest with themselves and with others.
Should Franken be ashamed? Absolutely. He should have to grapple, publicly, with the realization that he isn’t who he thinks he is. And, hopefully, that might prompt other men to do the same thing.
Franken’s case is a teachable moment. The message that can come from this is that women aren’t asking men to be perfect, just better.
Martini Wisdom 