Al Franken, stand your ground.
Don't let the so-called GOP and their crowds stamped you into making the wrong decision.
4
Mark Sanford - Isn’t he the former SC Governor who had an affair and couldn’t be found? He is a moral arbiter for the House now? God save me from these hypocrites.
6
Of course.
If he is black due process and the benefit of doubt - given whites - go out the window. Nancy is siding with the republicans that turn a blind eye to Moore's and Trump's dozen accusations while holding the longest serving member of the House - that was an "icon" a couple of days ago - to some unknown standard of morality. It is shameful.
1
I was just making an observation, it appears that only the Democrats are women abusers? Did not know that.
1
Al Franken should not resign until after Trump resigns. Trump has more allegations than Franken and still needs to be investigated whether Trump raped that 13 year old girl.
14
With respect, to say that Franken should not resign until Trump resigns, throws this seriously important issue into just another meaningless partisan political diatribe. What you propose is an immoral equivalency. Based on Mr. Frankens admissions, photo, allegations etc he should clearly resign. Perhaps the argument could be made about Trump but if someone commits a crime do you not prosecute because someone of the other political party may have done the same? Or shall we make sexual harrassment a politically partisan game that is so easily dismissed?
2
Why should Trump resign? His were just allegations. With Franken, there was pictures to corroborate the story of the accuser.
2
Why is Pelosi - not to mention Ryan - not calling for the resignation of the President, an admitted sexual predator, accused by many women of the real thing, of not wanted sexual moves against them - of kissing and groping - to match every accusation against Franken.
How can we ask other men to take responsibility for their actions, and step aside, when we won't hold our President responsible The fish rots from the head down. This fish head is rotten.
15
Never will #45 produce his Tax Returns.
They show that he may have paid no taxes in past years.
Am I pipe dreaming?
2
It's almost like these men never learn. They see others punished or humiliated by sex scandals and go right ahead and commit the same behavior. Anthony Weiner's sex scandal came to light in 2011. Joe Barton was sexting in 2012. Part of the brain missing, perhaps?
8
“Pelosi Calls on Conyers to Resign”
Wait! What? Does that mean Conyers is no longer iconic? I sure wish Nancy would make up her mind!
7
One can be both iconic and a sleazy human being, but being an icon shouldn’t give someone a pass. I’m glad Ms. Pelosi finally woke up to that fact.
3
More women in Congress and executive positions all around!
4
Pelosi stood firmly behind Bill Clinton. She doesn't care about Conyers, only about the heat she got from some holier-than-thou's who all of a sudden found a moral compass when they had no use for one before.
I don't think Conyers should resign. Nor Franken. Let their bosses (voters) decide.
All these accusations lately are interesting. The MSM protected all of them for years, decades.
The MSM are accomplices of this behavior, in ignoring assault charges against famous people. We heard all about Paris Hilton's drunk driving charge and Justin Beiber's egg throwing episode.
If we "re-litigate" certain people where harassment or assault occurred, then we should re-litigate everybody. Now that Hillary is toast, some on the Left say Bill Clinton's behavior should be re-examined. But notice it is only AFTER Hillary was found she could never win an election. Until then, Bill was the toast of the town. Had she won, do you really think any Lefties would say "Oh, let's re-examine Bill Clinton now"? Virtually no way.
If anything, all these accusations should encourage women to report harassment immediately, not wait forty years, or the 11th hour of a campaign. Last minute accusations are not credible, even if they are true.
But the Media lost the remaining shreds of reputation they had due to not only protecting men who assault women, but crowing about their successes through the years while looking the other way.
6
If only he stepped down shortly after the first settlement, there might be a black congresswoman in his place.
The added pain for the entire Democratic party and the method by which they allow long serving representatives to hold committee seats is that they aren't training a large crop of qualified people to run for office. This hurts their party and their party's legacy. If he left at 70, he'd still be an icon with his reputation intact. If Franken stepped down immediately, he could have returned to comedy or rebounded as well as Spitzer or McGreevey.
1
Good. Now it is Trump's turn with Moore.
4
Moore, now their is a real piece of work!!
We, democrats do not need to relive the moral depravity of the 1990's; we, the American people and Congress have horrendous problems that need to be addressed for the survival of our nation.
To our Democratic leaders, I say, please come out of the funk into which you have led our party. Republicans hold on to their depraved leaders but we should not play tit- for- tat and hang on to sexual predators because Republicans shield their bad boys to protect their awful agenda.
Democratic Congressional leaders, save our future party; continue to shield Conyers and Franken and you will sink our party further into irrelevance.
1
There is explicit age-hatred expressed in some of the comments here, and it's surprising that the NYT is publishing them. It is one thing to say that someone should "go" because of some specified incompetence or inappropriate or ineffective action. It is quite another to say that they should "go" because of their age. To discriminate simply on the basis of age is prejudiced--and ugly.
Besides, the problems the Democrats face go way beyond simply bringing in some younger people.
1
Conyers needs to resign—pronto.
And then he can recover in the Detroit hospital from the stress and distress he has caused himself.
2
you don't quit or get fired until you're voted out. Even when Bill Clinton was impeached, he still wasn't removed from his job. I give these people credit for knowing how to get in the game and play it out.
1
The Dems' refusal to ostracize Bill Clinton emboldened all of these sexual harassers--especially Democratic politicians.
And Pelosi's sickening defense of him on the Sunday show will be used by every Republican running against a Democrat.
We really need the Democrats to cut their bench of old people loose and offer us all a candidate we can embrace and vote for.
3
What about Clarence Thomas? I think he was the start of it. :/
8
Nancy's party is in the minority in the house and she wants to shrink it further. The Republican governor of Michigan will be happy to replace Conyers with a like-minded fellow Republican - though Conyers does make a strong argument for term limits.
Let the voters of his district decide next year; that's the democratic way, Rep. Pelosi.
4
In addition to Conyers, Polosi herself needs to go. She is an albatross around the Democrats neck. Yes, she may have been a political tactician, but she stating that Conyers is an icon in the face of sexual harassment charges shows that she has outlived her usefulness.
3
We need an accounting of the 17Million of our tax dollars that was paid out in settlements and hush money. My money, as a taxpayer, was used and I'm not bound by any confidentiality agreements. I respect that victims do not want their names known, but congressmen and senators are not due the same protection.
Get to work NYTIMES.
7
I believe much of the 17 Million was for health and safety (e.g. asbestos exposure) claims. Still waiting to hear what amount was associated with members.
2
And when will those who were harrassed by our President step forward and publicly detail his offensive behavior?
6
I guess Ms. Pelosi decided that "Due Process", (after putting her finger up to judge the political winds), isn't necessary anymore. As part of the Democratic leadership she should step down as well. She most surely knew about the settlements paid to women with taxpayer money and the nondisclosure agreements. Staying silent kept the table set for these monsters to do what they've done to women all of theses years.
4
Why won't Pelosi (and that NY congresswoman) demand trump's resignation over sexual assault charges. And why Conyers, but not Franken?
5
Conyers Out & Franken In ?
If James Clyburn really did compare Marion Brown to Susan Smith then his fellow democrats who were in the supposedly "private" meeting need to step forth to condemn him and he needs to be run out of town on the same rail as Conyers. The stench is absolutely disgusting.
3
Come on people. You can't just say we shouldn't care until Trump is kicked out. Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good here. I say see them out the door and show voters which party does not tolerate sexual assault.
If we just say, " Well Trumps still there so no Democrat should resign" then the Democrats are just as craven and immoral as the Republicans.
Grow a spine and do what's right. If the allegations are credible you should be gone.
Speaking of who should be gone, I think Pelosi has been in charge since before I could vote. I'll be 30 years old. When will then octogenarians go away? I wouldn't let my 88 year old grandpa drive a car, not least run a nation.
4
Conyers and Franken must both resign, because of the undeniable, and concrete evidence of their sexual abuses.
But, why is Pelosi demanding Conyers to step down, and Schumer silent about Franken?
Does this mean:
- Pelosi understands this problem better than Schumer?
- is Pelosi a stronger leader than Schumer?
- does Schumer set different moral values than Pelosi?
- If a woman was accused, would Schumer be vocal?
- Should Schumer stop representing causes related to women, because of his bias?
6
On Sunday, Pelosi had a big fail on Meet the Press when she set a double standard calling Conyers an icon who deserved due process - she is backtracking out of necessity in this environment where she should have realized more complaints surface every 4-8 hours.
I didn't want Franken - an effective interrogator in the Senate - to go, thinking "why unseat Democrats when we have a serial predator and misogynist as Commander in Chief?" It seemed most unjust to reduce our numbers in the failing checks and balance system.
But now I have to agree with you. Franken, unfortunately, has spent his gravitas and all sexual predators should be removed from the capitol: Conyers, Franken, don't seat Moore, and above all axe DJT (the reasons to invoke the 25th increase by the minute).
3
“There are, to my count, five of these allegations against Al Franken. There are three or four against the congressman,” Mr. Reed said. “At the end of the day, I would suspect that Nancy Pelosi is going to have to explain what is the discernible difference between Al Franken and John Conyers. That is a question she is going to have to answer.”
Both of them need to go. And where was Pelosi when Conyers showed up to public functions in pajamas? He hasn't appeared in public or personally fielded any questions since this latest scandal broke, raising questions about his mental fitness for office beyond questions of sexual harassment. He is 88.
"He has already handed over much of the day-to-day committee work to staff aides and other Democratic members in recent years, and has often appeared disoriented."--NYT, 11/21/17
This has nothing to do with race or Al Franken. The overarching question, given his age, the pajama incidents and his disappearance from public view, is whether Conyers is mentally fit to hold office, and that should have been a question before now. How many other members of Congress are not up to the job? You have to wonder about John McCain. I've always been a fan, and I hope the best for him, but I also hope that he steps down before he's unable to reliably perform the duties of his office. The stakes are too high.
6
Conyers should NOT resign. He should NOT run for re-election because we need young people in Congress.
Trump is loving this. Democrats don't hesitate to throw a party member who is accused under a bus. Republicans, on the other hand, openly embrace or at least tacitly accept a party member who commits the same act.
In 2018, Republicans will get a super majority in both house of Congress, and in 2020 Trump will be re-elected. Won't Democratic women be happy about that!
8
Well, look. Donna Edwards said, today, that she*d observed what Melanie Sloan endured from Conyers decades ago.
And she did what, exactly?
The hypocrisy here is rich enough to serve for dinner.
3
No elected official should be forced to resign. It's up to the voters in the state that elected him or her. The voters can choose to begin proceedings to recall their representative from office, wait until the next election and vote for someone else; or they may choose to re-elect despite the alleged wrongdoing. Elected officials answer to the people that elected them, not the officials of their own political party, the opposing party, or their colleagues in the House or Senate.
14
So that applies to Trump and Roy Moore too?
Finally, a Democratic leader does what the entire party needs to do. Endorse a "zero tolerance" policy on sexual harassment. It's time for Chuck Schumer to tell Al Franken to resign. The Democrats have to take a strong moral position rather than try to skate by with the "immoral equivalence" that it was only one incident; it was before he was elected; he apologized; and we'll let the Ethics Committee or the voters decide. NO! We, Democrats are, or should be, better than that. We're better than Donald trump and Roy Moore and should absolutely not allow anyone who's committed sexual misconduct to run or hold elective office. It's time for at least one political party to stand up for women and stand firm for a policy of zero tolerance for sexual misconduct.
5
Nancy Pelosi's comments Sunday on John Conyers behavior were clunky and tone-deaf at best, as she could not even muster a demand that Mr. Conyers explain himself in-full and without delay. Doing the right thing four days late comes off as weak when a more forthright approach was called for under the circumstances.
7
Nancy Pelosi is one of the few persons of high character and noblesse oblige in Washington. Ms. Pelosi, you are well loved and respected by many millions. Thank you for all you have done and will continue to do for your country.
3
You've got to be kidding.
Even the die-hard Democrats see and admit the damage she and Hillary have done to the party.
And we don't have nobility in this country. We stopped that trainwreck back in 1776. She might be rich, but she is no innately better than the poorest homeless person sleeping in the cold all night.
3
One of Conyers flunkies said that he keeps a change of clothes in his office so if you didn't knock on the door and walked in on him you might see him in his under.
I can understand the need for a change of clothes, but is this idiot telling me that this congressman didn't put a lock on the door knowing full well that someone might walk in on him.
Yes this congressman is both a sexual pervert and an idiot that needs to go.
10
If Clyburn actually compared Conyers' accusers to Susan Smith (who falsely claimed a black man had kidnapped her children), then he should also step down. Congress needs to start taking sexual harrassment and sexual assault seriously. The old boys network needs to be busted up. And the way to do that is to elect more women.
Women currently make up less than twenty percent of members of the House of Representatives (19.4% of the 2017-2019 House), despite being 51% of the population of the United States. This needs to change in order for women's rights to be taken seriously. I hope many more women step up and run for office in 2018 and 2020.
23
Nurses may be 90% female, but doctors, the higher paying and more prestigious career in medicine, are ~65% male. Nice try with the whataboutism, though.
You can hardly deny there is a clear problem with sexual harassment, particularly among men in positions of power, given everything that has been coming to light.
2
I find this comment truly mind boggling. Men are not being barred from the nursing profession. They self-select themselves out of it. Evidently doesn't sit well with their masculine ego. This has been true for decades, even in regions where there are a lack of nurses and men are in need of work. There has been wide reporting on this subject. See, e.g, Susan Chira, NY TIMES, "Men Don’t Want to Be Nurses. Their Wives Agree," June 24, 2017 (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/24/opinion/sunday/men-dont-want-to-be-nu....
The fact that you made this argument makes me, as a man, worry about the intelligence of our species.
1
The replies regarding my nursing example illustrate the double standards. I seems that men don’t want to be nurses, no problem. However the same argument could applies to engineering, tech, and finance where men outnumber women. When women don’t want to go into a field, we’re told it’s sexism, or that women need more encouragement for diversity sake. When a field is mostly women, it’s men’s fault.
Yes Conyers should resign and Pelosi too. She has lost election after election and offers no new ideas for the country. She should retire before the next election and let someone with ideas take over.
33
If she lost an election she wouldn't still be in DC.
So Bernie Sanders can finish taking over the DNC?
1
felix...she has lost election after election? Really?
If your conclusion is based on that reasoning, you need to re-read history and learn something about the United States election process.
1
Yes, he should resign. Immediately AFTER Trump does so.
Otherwise, let his district decide.
18
Two days ago Pelosi called Conyers an 'icon' now she wants him to resign. Nothing changed. I think Pelosi should resign---hasn't she has done enough damage to the Democrat party. She is the best thing the Republicans have going for them.
37
I'll trade yous one John Conyers and one Al Franken for one Donald Trump.
12
Yeah cuz sexual assault is just a political bargaining chip right? Not that the people who were assaulted matter or anything...
3
I find the alleged behavior of repeated harassment by the accused politicians in power, including Rep Conyers, to be abhorrent. Further, I believe the resignation of the accused could be an effective way to address a grievous wrong (though it wouldn’t reverse the harm caused by the behavior). In the face of clear evidence that those accused actually did behave in those ways, pressure from their peers to step down is warranted—but only if that pressure is not politically motivated.
That said, it is important that exactly one standard apply to all politicians currently serving in elected office. This is not what is happening at the moment. Different political figures are being treated differently, for reasons utterly unrelated to the harm they have caused others.
Conyers is being pressured to resign by his peers, including Rep Pelosi (whose initial sentiments seemed different than it is now). Yet, there has not been a similar chorus from similarly high-ranking politicians for Sen Franken or Pres Trump to resign, despite clear evidence that the latter two have routinely engaged in similar behavior.
Those calling for the resignation of such tainted politicians would be more believable if they spoke with equal force and passion about all their colleagues shown to be such predators and offered the same consequences. They lose credibility when they target for punishment politicians based on party affiliation, number of seats controlled by each party or branch of government.
5
I am sorry, but the behaviours are not the same or even similar. What Trump is accused of is way different from what Franken is accused of, and that's different from what Moore of accused of. It is a continuum of abuse and inappropriate touching (which could happen accidentally) is way different from rape which is significantly different from the repeated rapes of minors (not pointing fingers). The predation also falls on a continuum. You can draw a line anywhere you want but I don't agree that the abusive and/or predatory behaviours are necessarily similar.
Republicans are going to weaponise sexual assault against the Democrats.
1
I don't let my 88 YO grandfather drive to the grocery store, my conscience won't allow it.. Every election cycle we keep appointing the same people, many of whom are in their late seventies- It astounds me we blindly throw them the keys to the stewardship of our country. If Conyers wants to fight this out in an ethics investigation- just remember that's the same thing as playing football with your 88 YO grandfather and telling him to, "Go deep!"
22
Yes, Conyers needs to resign, and the party leadership needs to make way for a new generation that has a better understanding of, and able to communicate, the issues which concern the average american. Pelosi has had a good run, yet it's apparent that after Sunday's MTP interview she's a reflection of why the Democratic party will lose the mid-term elections in 2018.
26
He should be subject to expulsion by a vote of congress.
I would like to see exactly how every member of congress would vote on this matter.
It could be very enlightening.
11
It is unclear to me what a "settlement" is for if not for both parties to put the incident in question behind them. In cases where there has been a lawsuit (or some other proceedings) and a resolution, I don't understand why this is not in some way equivalent to a crime having been committed, a conviction having been made, and the perpetrator serving his or her sentence.
4
Nancy Pelosi should be focusing on the travesty that is the "tax reform" bill right now. The voting is imminent and the Republican hold outs are caving. Where are the Democrats?
22
Locked out of the process by the Republicans.
People are bringing up Roy Moore in accusing Democrats of hypocrisy. I'm not bothered by Moore's antics of 40 years ago, apparently then socially acceptable, nearly as much as by his bigoted theocratic inclinations and his disrespect for what we like to call our foundational document -- while we also disrespect it, but not as completely as Moore does.
3
"I'm not bothered by Moore's antics of 40 years ago, apparently then socially acceptable . . . " I remember the 1970s quite well, and it was absolutely not socially acceptable back then for men in their thirties to molest 14 year old girls. It was considered a crime. Neither was it acceptable for men that age to attempt to date teenagers, as many people in Alabama remember Roy Moore doing. That was considered creepy.
4
Go after Trump for his grotesque behavior toward women. Begin today.
Deal with all the accusations against all the other men on a case by case basis — but go after Trump. Beginning now. Start today.
He is the harasser-in-chief.
Why is he getting a pass?
17
Because all the cases were dropped. What exactly are you “going after”?
2
Clyburn needs to go as well.
19
Conyers, it's time to go. You're 88 and have given many years of service to your country. This is an unfortunate way to end a career but for the good of everyone, please step aside and open up opportunities for newer Democrats born since the 1930s who unequivocally understand it's inappropriate to appear in underwear with employees and ask them to touch you. If you choose to fight these allegations, do it from the comfort of your own home.
16
The Times buries this story and so far only 2 comments posted. What a shock.
Conyers should take Franken's hand and they should both step down.
Then the Times should stop fear mongering everything Trump - the tax bill was rushed through b/c it's weak? Like the way Obamacare was rushed through with all it's faults?
The Times is protecting sexual predators like Conyers & Franken by ATTEMPTING to divert attention to anything Trump.
Not working.
29
Budusky's complaints would have some weight if s/he weren't palming lies on us. Obamacare was subjected to a year of hearings and comments. The GOP can't give 1 minute to hearings on their senseless tax deform bill.
5
I found the story easily and so did you. These guys did bad things and so has Trump. Stop deflecting.
1
In response to B.A. Budusky: Don’t worry about the NY Times fear mongering everything Trump. His unedited, uneducated, inflammatory tweets are enough to cause fear across the globe. And despite Trump’s claim - it is not CNN International causing concern amongst allies - it is every bloody respectable news organisation in the world.
1
Incredible that it took her four days after her debacle on MTP on Sunday to say so. Look at enough polls, Nancy? All well and good that elected officials who commit such acts are purged. How about FINALLY purging Pelosi, who is awful in all respects for years, and who's presence deters the formation of an effective front against Trump in the House?
34
This man should resign immediately. Shame on the black caucus for supporting him. Good grief, why don't they have the sense to know when it's time to leave. An icon indeed!
40
Isn't it about time Pelosi resigned?
“The Constitution does not say that a person can yell wolf in a crowded theater.”
6
Let the voters in Conyers' district decide whether to vote for him if he runs again in 2018. Pelosi should be tamping down the hysteria, not adding to it. She should devote all her energy to keeping Democrats focused on saving the ACA, and on rescuing billionaires from a tax cut they don't need and don't deserve.
7
"Ms. Brown said that when she told Mr. Conyers’s chief of staff about the behavior, it did not stop." - I hope the chief of staff is under an equally hot spotlight (whether former or current.)
19
The allegations, if true, are utterly disappointing! However, is anyone else bothered by the fact that this man is 88years old? He should have been out of Washington years ago. There are too many old crones desperately holding onto the power of their government offices with their bony, blue veined, thin skinned hands!
Both sides of the aisle need new blood and sane, rational, fresh ideas that will unite our country and move it forward. Nancy needs to go too along with the other septuagenarians and octogenarians. Heck, in a lot of places 70 or 80+ in age is too old to drive a car and these people should be deciding on tax policy and other vital issues impacting our lives?
54
Agreed. I once made an Excel spreadsheet, inputting the age of every House Rep and Senator. The average age in the house was around 54; the average age in the Senate was 60. The minimum age requirements for the House and Senate are 25 and 30, respectively. The leaders of both parties -- Democrats especially -- should be young and fresh and full of new ideas.
It saddens me to see Pelosi, Conyers, and others selfishly holding onto their positions when there are new faces with fresh ideas being told to wait their turn. Pelosi herself stopped defending Conyers only when it was in her own self-interest.
Growing up in Michigan, I remember when John Dingell refused to step down as Chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee. He was well over 80 years old at the time, and was more focused on protecting the auto industry than bringing meaningful and necessary change to our national energy policy.
9
This is a disgusting and repulsive ageist post. It should not be published as a comment. It is discriminatory and hateful. It would be illegal to say this in the workplace. If someone is not competent to do the work, then spell out the case that this is so. But age alone is no grounds for this kind of judgment--and nothing excuses this kind of ugly hate.
14
Calm down, please. There has been a lot of enthusiasm for term limits throughout this nation for many many years. Term limits are not uncommon in state legislatures now. It is not hard to guess why there are none for Congress! Congress with its super rich retirement and health benefits will never leave office. Conyers has been reported to have attended two recent committee meetings in pajamas and to have been less than acute. I do not find these issues to be ageist. Whether or not you approve of term limits there is strong sentiment for stopping the lifetime incumbency that Congress practices when it can, aided by all the advantages of incumbency.
2
Trump should go first.
63
Conyers and allies are playing the good old race card. Claiming that his accusers are all white women.
29
Of all that I have read, it is the Black Caucus that has disappointed me the most. This makes all their calls for justice and equality nothing more than self serving racial partisanship. It sets back their cause exactly as Ms Pelosi set back the Dem Partys. Rally around your colleague but do not ignore his shortcomings as if they do not exist. Help him transition to his retirement but please, as gently as possible get him out of the fray which will otherwise only extend everyone's pain.
29
Yes. it's time for Conyers to go. and i say that knowing that Snyder, Republican governor of Michigan, will appoint some awful Trumpservative to represent the district until the 2018 election.
1
So, Pelosi’s signaling Schumer that it’s *his* responsibility to ask for Franken’s resignation, not hers. Schumer needs to do one of the following: ask Franken to resign OR write an opinion defending him. Even better, Franken can do both Chuck and Nancy a big favor by retrieving his resignation draft from backburner, and releasing it.
Hurry up, Senator(s). The tax battle is lost. Don’t lose the M2 battle too.
7
How brave of Marion Brown to break her vow of omerta on her secret settlement agreement and speak of the abuses she suffered at the hands of John Conyors.
Hopefully more women sworn to secrecy will be inspired to violate the terms of their agreements and expose many more abusive politicians.
These disgraceful lawmakers need to go, and Pelosi and friends need to lead the charge to end the practice of paying hush money with OUR tax dollars to hide their repulsive behavior.
17
Ah.
She stands to make more money with her celebrity than giving up her settlement.
6
To Clyburn and Richmond:
Not a chance--Conyers can willingly bow out now, or be forced out.
He's an abject disgrace (and I say that as a progressive Democrat).
Being whiny, re: admitting oneself into a hospital for sympathy from the public sphere is also pathetic.
What about the *decades* of damage his behavior inflicted upon his victims?
#ZeroToleranceForPredators
31
John Conyers has got to go – NOW. What Ms. Brown has said about him puts him in the devil’s company along with Roy Moore and the Commander-in-Chief. Worse, Conyers abused the trust of his Michigan constituents for fifty years by championing their concerns and being a Dr. Jekyll by day and turning into a Mr. Hyde at night by preying on his staffers who were economically beholden to him and suffered their humiliations in silence to remain in his employ. Ms. Brown’s detailed account of Conyer’s abuse is sickening -- and believable. Congressman Conyers, we take pride in you no longer. The very sight of you gives now gives offense and a feeling of betrayal we once thought unthinkable.
9
What a turn of events.
The Media puts up stories of teen girls from 40 years ago to take down Moore.
What do you know, real evidence with photos and signed non-disclosure agreements pop up with the Democratic Icons.
Moore is coming to Congress as the Icons are pushed out.
10
Paul Ryan is calling on John Conyers to resign? Well, that’s rich.
I don’t remember the House Speaker calling for Donald Trump to quit the 2016 presidential campaign after the Access Hollywood tape went viral. Trump had many accusers too, and, yes, Conyers should stay home in Michigan and not return to Washington.
So, Mr. Speaker, should your “president” resign over the multiple accusations of (and self-confessed) groping?
Waiting for your answer. Breathlessly.
60
I think your memory needs refreshing. Paul Ryan was not a Trump supporter when the Access Hollywood tape came out, and Paul Ryan has learned he has to deal with Trump, whether or not he likes it. Ryan cannot force Trump to resign, any more than Pelosi can force Conyers to resign.
11
Always good to hear your point of view, @sox. I couldn't agree with you more about the stunning, unabashed hypocrisy of the GOP
2
When Times first broke story online, appeared at same time as the piece about Barton and his photo, Times put Barton's Republican affiliation on front page but buried Conyers Democratic affiliation in body of article.
6
from "icon" to road kill in 72 hours.
17
Ah, the young upstart (77) pushing out the elder statesman (88).
Most likely they'll be seated at separate tables at dinner later this afternoon.
2
It's about time, Nancy. And seriously, Sam Riddle proves the false narrative of 'intersectionality,' that trope ubiquitously thrown out to affirm the 'shared struggle' between marginalized groups. The shared struggle is all good and well until it settles squarely on a man of color assaulting and/or abusing a woman. Women have always know that we're not second or third, but zero class citizens. Men, all men, including black men, are members of the patriarchy, an association which affords them superiority over any woman. We witnessed this with Anita Hill. Whenever a woman comes forward about how a man abused her, the chorus of, 'what about his career?!' and painting *him* as the victim begins. Intersectionality. What a joke.
10
Three women have accused Congressman Conyers of sexual harassment. Fifteen women have accused President Trump of sexual harassment. Why, then, is the Democratic and Republican leadership calling for Conyers to resign but not Trump? Are they not being unjust?
22
I don't think Conyers should allow himself to be bullied into resigning by the Liberal elite. He should face the voters. They are sovereign.
1
That's the weakness with democracy: voters are sovereign. Look at who is voting in his district. Not surprising that this guy keeps getting elected. What is needed is informed voters who are not duped by low-end propagandists. We have a long way to go. Namaste.
Good thing Pelosi is focused on this and not protecting the SALT or mortgage interest deduction over $500k.
The tax bill will be the end of the Democratic Party. It has a ton of things they should support, eliminating the AMT (a bad Dem idea that has hurt their upper middle class base for decades), reducing taxes for some middle class families, etc. With a few tweaks such as preserving the SALT and mortgage interest deduction it is something 99% of people would agree with. Instead they pander to fringe issues. Good job selling your voters out while you focus on failing to protect the rights of "DREAMERS"
17
TMA1's comment reads a lot like a Republican telling Democrats what's good for them.
isn't conyers in the hospital for stress? give the guy a break and let him retire with dignity after 2018. i guess the mob including house leaders would rather see him die or something rather than cut him some slack. he's 88 years old! show a little humanity!
4
Conyers is in the hospital for getting caught.
And what a surprise, a Californian asking for mercy for a sexual predator.
19
That's just EXACTLY what partisans want you to think!
“We think that is a decision for he, his family, and his constituents to make.”
Absolutely not!
The swamp needs to be cleaned.
The democrats need to get rid of Conyers in order to have any credibility when pushing against Moore, Trump and all the other sexual predators out there.
Even Franken needs to go. If we protect our favorites, what right do we have to complain about the other side's exceptions?
These people are representing all of us. We don't need sexual predators or gropers.
6
Conyers should go. Franken should go. And then lets get rid of Trump.
9
Great idea. Tell me how we get rid of Trump.
I see no chance of it unless:
* Mueller's investigation really nails him. I'm not betting on that. Trump may "pull a Christie," his mugs go to jail and he walks.
* The Democrats really win the house and senate big.
* Trump quits because something truly blows up in his face -- and whatever that is sure won't be good for America.
2
Trump first.
5
"Representative James E. Clyburn of South Carolina, the third-ranking House Democrat, compared Mr. Conyers’s accusers to the convicted child killer Susan Smith, who falsely claimed a black man had kidnapped her children."
I hope it is not true that James Clyburn actually said this. All the respect I have for him, and the remaining respect I have for the Democratic leadership, is completely gone.
8
Clyburne has called on Conyers to resign. Pelosi has called on Conyers to resign. Kathleen Rice has called on Conyers to resign. Confers has been hospitalized for "stress." He will be gone soon, I hope.
4
If Clyburn actually compared Conyers' accusers to Susan Smith (who falsely claimed a black man had kidnapped her children), then he should also step down. Congress needs to start taking sexual harrassment and sexual assault seriously. The old boys network needs to be busted up. And the way to do that is to elect more women.
Women currently make up less than twenty percent of members of the House of Representatives (19.4% of the 2017-2019 House), despite being 51% of the population of the United States. This needs to change in order for women's rights to be taken seriously. I hope many more women step up and run for office in 2018 and 2020.
5