A plethora of male abusers who hold positions of power in the Democratic Party have been exposed throughout this year, and now we must add another to the list. DNC Vice Chairman Keith Ellison is running for attorney general in Minnesota. Karen Monahan, environmental activist and ex-girlfriend of Ellison’s, spoke to the media two days after the Democratic primary about an incident that occurred in September 2016. Monahan said that Ellison had “dragged” her off their bed while screaming profanities at her for not taking out the garbage. She also claims to have taped the incident and to have spoken to several friends about her fear.
Still, the Democratic Party of Minnesota declared that it would continue to stand behind Ellison and gave him an official party endorsement. According to NBC News, “Ellison received 326 votes, or 82 percent of delegates on hand at the party’s state executive committee meeting” on August 14. On the same day that Monahan’s CBS interview was aired, Hillary Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook told CNN that the “process” had to be played out. Mook said “if it’s true” about what happened to her, Ellison “needs to be held accountable.”
Nearly a year ago, the Democratic Party attempted to use the #MeToo movement to hammer President Trump with accusations from his past. “Believe all women” was the Democrats’ campaign slogan.
When it came to women who were abused by Democratic politicians, however, they stayed silent and continued to endorse and support those men until the criticism became too much to bear. Senator Al Franken (D-MN) and Representative John Conyers (D-MI) were both accused by women of sexual misconduct during the height of the #MeToo campaign. Both eventually resigned after denying the accusations, and after Bill Clinton’s awkward interview where he stated that he did not owe Monica Lewinsky an apology.
Republicans used the events to chide the Democrats for being illegitimate messengers of the #MeToo movement. The Democratic Party, it seemed, had more abusers of women leading it than just Bill Clinton.
Now with Ellison’s past abuse of his ex-girlfriend coming to light, the wound has been re-opened. But Democrats have not changed the playbook; they still believe the male politician over the woman when it comes to members of their own party. The cost of this tolerance may be revealed in November, if Democrats cannot motivate the one voting bloc they claim to be their secret weapon this year: women.
This article was originally posted on Red Tea News.
