Franken admits; Trump denies

Re “Trump’s Franken remarks a new gamble,” Nov. 18

White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders is exactly right when she says there’s a clear distinction between her boss and Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.), because Franken admitted his conduct and President Trump did not.

The distinction isn’t favorable to Trump.

When the incident at issue came to light, Franken immediately apologized for his conduct. Trump acted inappropriately on a routine basis, if we are to believe his boasts or the claims of his alleged victims, and he has never admitted to any wrongdoing and has never apologized.

Perhaps Sanders should come up with some other cockeyed justification for why Trump mouths off against Franken but isn’t a hypocrite for doing so. Jeff Pollak

La Crescenta

Who says it is a gamble for Trump to go after Franken?

Doing so is a no-brainer for the president, who gets to retaliate against a major critic and at the same time entertain his base. The only downside is hypocrisy, which doesn’t bother him in the slightest.

Going after Roy Moore, Alabama’s Republican Senate nominee, is a potential loss either way. If he endorses Moore, and if Moore goes on to lose the election, Trump looks like a loser. If he attacks Moore and Moore wins, Trump also loses.

Bottom line is if you have no principles, the choices are easy. Peter Scofield

Corona del Mar