Article snippet: Sen. MORE (D-Minn.) to step down and saying President Clinton should have resigned during the Monica Lewinsky scandal. Taking on major figures in her own party has bolstered the New York Democrat’s standing as a voice for change in the nation’s reckoning over sexual harassment and misconduct, which is reshaping society. But it has also won her criticism. Those sympathetic to Franken suggested it was craven for her to be the first out with a statement Wednesday calling for him to resign, and suggested she was both seeking attention and building her brand on a fallen progressive hero. Gillibrand has won headlines with her action that could be useful if she chooses to run for president in 2020 against what could be a crowded field. Others said the moves could actually hurt her in a primary, where loyalists to Clinton and Franken will have long memories. “All this reeks of is political opportunism and that's what defines Kirsten Gillibrand's career,” one Democratic strategist said. “Why wasn't she talking about MORE was president? I think we all know the answer.” When it came to Franken, Gillibrand was “twisting in the wind until the goose was cooked and then saw an opportunity,” the strategist added. Brent Budowsky, a longtime Democratic aide and columnist for The Hill, acknowledged that the New York senator has played a “leading role against sexual abuse … which is very positive and admired." But he said behind the scenes, “there are some Democrats who did not ... Link to the full article to read more