Last week, Republican pedophile Roy Moore lost Alabama’s open Senate seat to Democrat Doug Jones. Doug Jones actually had great credentials – he was a great federal prosecutor with a long record of prosecuting difficult cases, he’s an Alabama native (so there were no carpetbagging claims), and he generally seemed to tick off a lot of Democratic “boxes.” No Democrat had won state-wide office in Alabama in more than 20 years. Did Doug Jones get elected because he’s actually a good candidate? Or did he get elected because Roy Moore was an unhinged loon, a racist, a misogynist and a pedophile? Who knows at this point?
Just a few days before the election, I was watching Nicolle Wallace’s MSNBC show (sidenote: I love her show) and there was a pollster or analyst on who basically made the argument that even if Doug Jones won the seat, he’ll still have to vote with Republicans half the time just to keep his constituents moderately happy. It’s true – Democrats can crow about our victory all we want, but Doug Jones is still going to cozy up to Republicans because he has no hope of being re-elected if he doesn’t win over some of them. Keep that in mind when you watch this:
Sen.-elect Doug Jones of Alabama doesn’t join the several Senate Democrats calling for President Trump to step down: “I think we need to move on and not get distracted by those issues … I don’t think the President ought to resign right now” #CNNSOTU https://t.co/EAY9mhL1QI
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) December 17, 2017
When asked by Jake Tapper if he thinks Donald Trump should resign because of the 16 women claiming Trump assaulted them or harassed them, Doug Jones said:
“Those allegations were made before the election, and so people had an opportunity to judge before that election. I think we need to move on and not get distracted by those issues. Let’s get on with the real issues that are facing people of this country right now, and I don’t think that the president ought to resign at this point. We’ll see how things go. But certainly those allegations are not new, and he was elected with those allegations front and center.”
I absolutely loathe this idea that a serial sexual assailant’s abuse was somehow “litigated” through an election. Elections are not the way to “litigate” sexual abuse. Criminal behavior is not less criminal because someone won an election. That being said, the senators who have called on Trump to resign because of his sexual abuse don’t really expect him to resign. This is political positioning and Democrats are aiming to be the party which at least “cleans house” of abusers, harassers and assailants. Doug Jones’ support or lack of support isn’t anything but political positioning as well.
Photos courtesy of Getty.
I want to be mad but then someone reminded me that he is still in a deep red state. And unfortunately that means political maneuvering
Exactly. I was annoyed for a second and then tempered my expectations. He is still from a red state and his margin of victory was slim.
Besides there are a multitude of other crimes for which Trump will hopefully be held accountable. Maybe he’ll have more of a spine on those.
It’s frustrating that the democrats have to now appease the deplorables over this.
I believe he’s looking to hold his seat in 2020 so he’s saying what he has to say to keep that seat. We have to remember most of white women and men voted for Moore. In other words I’m going to wait and see how this shakes out in the future.
I agree with your point. My problem is with his wording: ” I think we need to move on and not get distracted by those issues. Let’s get on with the real issues that are facing people of this country right now”
He is saying that sexual assault is not a “real issue” and that we should move on. Ummm, it is a huge issue that is at the forefront of public consciousness. And he just won a race arguably BECAUSE his opponent was a sexual assailant. So for him to be this tone-deaf is infuriating. Words matter. He could have said literally anything else to deflect this question and it would have been better than THIS.
Also agreed
This is exactly what bothered. I wish he would have said something to the tune of “I think those allegations need to be litigated in court. I’m here to work for the people of Alabama.”
Sexual harassment, assault, and abuse are REAL issues affecting people of all demographics. They’re not “political distractions.”
I agree. He just won an election because of sexual assault questions.
And he also needs to thank the black community and especially black women. With all his heart.
I had the same feeling. And also I watched it when Jake Tapper asked the question. I read it like « it was public beforehand but it didn’t bother his electorate evidently » with a hefty dose of disdain and disgust in his tone…
I also agree that the rest about « real issues » was not necessary or even welcome. I would have left it out of the statement.
Enjoy that year in office Doug, as it will be your last.
Guess so but the candidate that follows him will be so much worse.I believe we have to get out of this mindset of having to choose the perfect candidate or not choosing at all.That is one reason we are in the mess we are in now.Unfortunately he has to somewhat tow the line to survive in Alabama because that state will next go with a right wing nut job.
Wow, Drumpf looks terrible in that pic. Heh.
I was just saying the same thing to myself, the dotard is looking really sick or something.
Good.
Horrible little sphincter mouth.
I hate when people deflect.. United States is a s*** show at this point
Thank you, that’s how I feel @kiki. Never thought I would see the day when I was afraid of what might happen and I don’t believe I’m alone feeling this wAy.
Who is surprised by this? He may be a democrat, but he is a democrat in Alabama. Most “liberal” dems in Alabama are moderates anywhere else. I’m so happy he won but I am not expecting much at all from this dude.
*Source: Born in Bama. All my family lives there. All voted for Trump except a 2nd cousin I see once every 5 years. (Really proud of him though!)
Do I wish Jones would call for the sexual predator Cheeto’s resignation? Of course. But I just as much wish that CNN would spend equal time investigating and exposing why McConnell refuses to seat Jones and allow him to vote no on the tax scam bill. It is easier for CNN to run their faux outrage interviews and panels every night. It takes zero work to indiscriminately shove microphones in people’s faces. Doug Jones doesn’t need this. We know he is an ally. And it’s a total waste of Jake Tapper’s time. Jones needs to be seated ASAP, where he can vote for bills that will create a better future for us all.
Could not agree more.
Yep.
I completely agree. We should focus on bigger issues. And I may be the odd duck, but I do not want The Idiot to resign over sexual harassment claims, but I do want the charges to stay around and haunt him. I want the pressure of ALL of his misdeeds to put so much pressure on him that he BREAKS – mentally and physically. That is the only way to destroy a narcissist. He cannot be punished by ordinary, rational means.
Not going to defend him, but what is he going to say? He is a politician after all and his constituents are conservative, if he wants to win re-election he will have to apease them by not saying anything “crazy” in their opinion.
This has been a hot topic on the Mobile area Dem FB groups I’m on, with people taking sides and saying angry things to each other, While I wish DJ had said, “Yes, he should resign,” I’ll wait till he’s actually seated, hope we flip Congress, and start impeachment proceedings. Scoring a Democratic seat in Alabama and holding on to it is a tenuous thing. I want to see his performance in DC before making a judgement. He has promised to staff his DC and AL offices with a diverse group of people. And Pedo Moore has still not conceded. He’s asking his supporters to send him money to pursue the “illegal voting” that went on. I guess he caught on to all those Out-of-Staters that Soros bussed in.
There is absolutely no chance — ZERO — that Trump is going to voluntarily resign because of sexual harassment. He’s a horrible human being with no sense of right and wrong and his supporters simply don’t care. So I think it’s a wasted effort to even be talking about it and it doesn’t bother me that Jones isn’t participating in the discussion about it. Democrats think taking the moral high ground is the way to go, but in reality it just gets us beaten every step of the way by Republicans who never fail to get away with the most blatant hypocrisy.
Unfortunately those accusations won’t make trump budge either; he’s proud of his horrible behavior. Nope, it’s going to take something on a fiscally criminal or on a constitutional level that will pry that cancer out of the White House.
If he were a woman making this statement he would be dragged for all eternity.
I mean I get the idea that he’s in a red state and has to cater to the Deplorables but still….
I agree with you. He feels he has to cater to the deplorables. But the deplorables didn’t put him in office. People like Jerusha did. Black women did. He needs to cater to THEM. The deplorables voted for Moore. He needs to put issues that matter to WOC at the forefront. Not just beg them for votes and then forget they exist , which is exactly what he is doing. Sexual assault is a “real” issue, one that MATTERS TO THE PEOPLE THAT PUT HIM IN OFFICE. So he deserves to be dragged for this.
YES.
You said it all, Juls. He works for his constituents, not the people who wanted *anyone* (including a pedo) except a Dem.
Democrats will never learn smdh…
I am so sick of people saying “Trump was elected” or some variant thereof, implying that America at large voted him into office.
IT DIDN’T HAPPEN.
The goddamn antiquated EC brought us to where we are today.
And by the way, F the EC. Tear it apart.
Ah. Here comes the ‘yeah he’s dismissing sexual assault BUT…’ statements. Sorry as a black woman who expects absolutely nothing from any white politician and as a sexual abuse victims who expects less than that I don’t care about the excuses. He doesn’t get a pass from me. I’m not setting any of my identity or experiences in the name of white Democrats.
yeah I was really upset when I read this. I’m disappointed in him, considering he only won because the people of Alabama thought that the sexual assault claims against Moore were a `real issue`. Do better Jones, Do better.
Still better than Moore, but dude sounds like a grade A prick.
Kinda pissed now since I sent him money
He is a Blue Dog And will vote the same as Manchin……