I've always been asked whether I'd call a figure on the Left to account if...

[Tommy Carcetti]

...allegations of misconduct appear to be substantiated.

Well, here it is.

Andrew Cuomo needs to resign. The allegations against him seem to well-founded, and therefore he's not serving the interest of the people by remaining in office if he wishes to continue to fight them.

Some people thought I was blinded by partisanship when I said that Al Franken was being railroaded out of office by the claims against him.

I was not.

My position on Al Franken remains unchanged: the claims against him were absolutely frivolous and clearly a right-wing smear campaign.

Ditto for Bill Clinton.

Andrew Cuomo, however, is not Al Franken. Nor is he Bill Clinton.

And in the best interests of the people of New York, he should do the right thing and step aside.

[Ocelot II]

1. Agree with everything you said.

[Hoyt]

2. He should have resigned months ago. Unbelievable.

[Tommy Carcetti]

4. I was fine waiting for the report to come out.

But now that it has, there’s no getting around the issue.

[Hoyt]

8. He had to know the report was going to be this bad. He should have resigned.

I'd agree he should have stuck it out if it had been a legitimate "misunderstanding" between one or two women. This was much more than that.

[pnwmom]

32. I agree. And he's STILL not resigning! What a jerk. He cares nothing for the party or his state.

He only cares about his own narcissistic ego.

[Budi]

3. What allegations? Something new? Any link to refer to?

Thanks

[Ilsa]

11. Here:

Investigation finds New York Gov. Cuomo sexually harassed women

https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/03/politics/andrew-cuomo-new-york-report/index.html

[Budi]

16. Thanks, hadn't seen this news yet.

Welp! Good luck, I guess.
😬

[Treefrog]

5. I agree on Al Franken.

Let’s not forget John Edwards, Cal Cunningham…yuck, there are more than I want to list.

[brooklynite]

6. Whomever alerted on this story should have the courage to explain why.

[Treefrog]

7. I'm gonna bet someone who can be found on the numerous Cuomo defender threads of yore.

[Hoyt]

9. Agree. Most Alerts here are just petty.

[Budi]

17. I will attest to THAT!

🙂

[Chainfire]

10. He is going to resign in about ten minutes.

[Ilsa]

12. I heard he is "going to respond."

msnbc doesn't say "resign."

[Chainfire]

13. He only has one "response" left. He has to quit or get fired.

[Ilsa]

15. Does he believe that? Did his brother at CNN advise

him to leave on his own? I hope so.

[Ilsa]

19. I haven't heard a resignation yet, just his "side" of things, and denial. nt

[wnylib]

22. No, he did not resign. Here in NY

the media covered AG James' entire public statement on the report, plus follow up Q and A.

Then they covered Cuomo's entire response.

His response did not show any indication of intent to resign. He presented a defense that boils down to miscommunications due to age and cultural differences.

Looks like he intends to fight. At least that's how it looks now, which might change as time goes on.

Dems in the state legislature are urging him to resign.

[Bettie]

14. I am there too

the investigation has been completed and it is time.

That's the point: there was a full and fair investigation.

Same page on Al Franken too.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

18. If anything, Democrats can be too trigger-happy when policing their own.

Come visit Illinois, where our governors, congressmen, and Chicago alderman make your license plates.

[totodeinhere]

27. I don't think that we were trigger happy in this case.

Yes some called for his resignation months ago, but most people were willing to patiently wait for the outcome of the investigation.

[johnthewoodworker]

20. Once a Republican/Nazi politician is sent to jail I'll be glad to attack a Democrat.

[totodeinhere]

26. I am capable of multi tasking. I have long called for bringing Trump and his cronies to

justice. But I can walk and chew gum at the same time so I can also call for Cuomo to resign.

[Demsrule86]

42. That is it...if we cave...then it is open season on our people...we Lost Katie Hill and her seat.

[Harker]

21. +33.

This new New Yorker agrees.

[flotsam2]

23. Gotta disagree on Clinton...

The impeachment was pure politics but he earned what he got. The power you hold over 350 million people doesn't get you a pass on moral failures.

[Tommy Carcetti]

46. Well, it was a pockmark on his otherwise solid legacy as President.

And perhaps there's some karma for that. I do feel a bit bad for Monica because while Clinton has other things he'll be remembered for, she'll mostly be remembered for that.

But nonetheless it was a consensual affair between two adults, and that's not the same as what Cuomo has been accused of, no matter how stupid it was.

[flotsam2]

47. Agree

But I knows tons of solid citizens never in a position of public trust who behaved better.

[Treefrog]

69. I like Clinton, actually both of them, but his friendship with Epstein troubles me a lot.

I liked Cuomo too, but I started to realize his wrongdoing back when it first came out months ago.

Any woman who has experienced this could recognize the truth in a second.

[treestar]

52. It did before the media was willing to report on it

JFK got away with it and there were others to be sure.

350 million people have different moral standards too. Republicans have one set for us and another for themselves.

[live love laugh]

70. Did you see the last president accused of violating over 40 women?

Nothing Clinton did compares.

[YoshidaYui]

24. But will he? I will be voting for Gavin Newsom again

bet on it.

[peppertree]

35. +1

I wish I were still there in California, to vote NO on this partisan circus.

I remember the last one, with all the bleach-blonde nitwits in the malls collecting signatures for the recall.

And Arnie was a real sweetheart, compared to these neo-fascists like Larry Elder or Doug Ose.

[totodeinhere]

25. I agree with you except that I do not consider him on the "left."

AOC is on the left. Andrew Cuomo is a moderate Democrat and not part of the left wing of the party.

[erronis]

33. I was going to say the same thing. Andrew Cuomo is not on the left. He is a machinery democrat

using the party to achieve his personal goals. Just like most pure politicians. Makes me think of Tammany Hall (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tammany_Hall).

His father, Mario Cuomo, was actually a good liberal.

[ananda]

28. Absolutely agree!

!!!

[iemanja]

29. 8 women accused Al Franken

including his own constituents, at least one woman whose ass he allegedly grabbed while at the state fair. This is while he was Senator. https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/11/16/16665830/al-franken-sexual-assault-allegations Most of the accusers were Democrats, not right-wingers. That is what you call frivolous. Franken chose to resign. No one forced him. If it had been only the accusation by Tweeden, he wouldn't have considered resigning. It was the ensuing allegations that became a breaking point.

Cuomo won't resign, no matter what is found against him. His ego is too big, and women's lives mean nothing to him. It will be up to voters to expel him.

[Polybius]

36. But his accusations took place BEFORE he took office

That makes it a bit worse. I'm not defending his past entirely, but his comedy was teenage toilet humor. He changed that once he became a politician.

[iemanja]

38. That is not true

Did you even read my post or the linked article? Repeating what you hear online is not acceptable, particularly when you are presented with evidence that directly contradicts you.

[Polybius]

56. I was talking about the main accusation

The one where he took a pic pretending to grab the boobs of a female sleeping.

[totodeinhere]

37. The thing with Franken was the rush to judgement.

There should have been a more thorough investigation before he was forced to resign. And then if the investigation corroborated those claims then he should have been asked to resign, but not before. In the case of Cuomo, I was among those who called for waiting for the results of the investigation.

[iemanja]

39. Franken could have insisted on that

Instead he resigned. It was his choice. No one "forced him" to resign. Why is it that you think him so weak that he had no agency in the decision?

Now that the results of Cuomo's investigation are in, is your position on him any different?

[Tommy Carcetti]

45. Yes, it was frivolous.

You had the one main accuser, Leanne Tweeden, who leaked out a picture that Franken had posed for in bad taste, but he wasn't even touching her. She also claimed he tried to kiss her once, but offered no support. Tweeden was a close associate of Sean Hannity's, and Roger Stone teased about Al's "time in the barrel" right before the picture came out.

The other claims against Franken were threadbare. The "touching the butt" claim had a picture of Franken posing with the accuser and we were supposed to believe he was intentionally touching her butt while it was being taken. That was it. I don't care what the political affiliation of the person making the claim is, that's not something that's going to go anywhere.

[iemanja]

48. You think 8 women are liars

I think it's a pattern of conduct. I don't consider women's lives as worth less than men's. If there was nothing to the allegations, why did he resign? Your argument doesn't hold water. You ignore the evidence in order to maintain a false narrative.

Basically the defense of Franken comes down to men being superior to women, which is why Kristen Gillibrand is blamed for Franken's actions while the men who called on him to resign, including Bernie Sanders, are not the target of wrath.

[Tommy Carcetti]

51. I'm saying their claims could not be substantiated.

Why did he resign?

Mainly because political pressure--this was during the Doug Jones-Roy Moore Senate race, the Democrats wanted to take a zero-tolerance policy against allegations of sexual misconduct, and even though Franken himself supported a full investigation of the claims, it wasn't timely enough for their purposes. Kristen Gillibrand gets blamed a lot for this, and unfairly so because many Democrats beyond just her concurred, but regardless of who was to blame it was a rush to judgment.

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/07/29/the-case-of-al-franken

I think the notion of "Believe all women" when it comes to high-profile individuals being accused of sexual misconduct is a terrible misguided mindset, even if it comes with the best of intentions.

We should give all such women making claims the right to be heard in good faith.

But if after their stories come out to public light and don't hold up to scrutiny, we are under no obligation to believe them, nor should we.

Otherwise we get women with discredited stories that just float out there for years that we're somehow asked to believe despite the fact they shouldn't be believed, like human garbage people Juanita Broadrick or Tara Reade.

[iemanja]

57. How did the stories not hold up to scrutiny?

I'm not talking about Leeann Tweeden, but the others. How about the Democratic staffers? Constituents? What about a pattern of conduct?

[Tommy Carcetti]

58. Outside of Tweeden, the claims are that Franken touched them inappropriately while posing for pics.

Given that this involves cameras, you'd think there'd be something that actually that would be rather damning and revealing from these claims.

Instead, we got stuff like this:



Is there something inappropriate going on here that we can't see? Lord if I know. Not going to deem the man responsible just based of of this, though. Sorry.

[iemanja]

61. False again

Read the article I linked to. They do not all involve pictures.

[Tommy Carcetti]

62. What article you linked to?

All I know there was Tweeden's claims--which were ridiculous--and there were several other claims, none of which could be documented and arguably even if they were true probably fall more into some of the complaints directed towards Joe Biden: That he's a hands-on guy but not really in a sexual way.

Bottom line is that Franken was blown way out of proportion, didn't get to have the claims against him vetted, and we shouldn't be guilted into condemning him simply because of some misguided "Believe all women!" principle.

[Marrah_Goodman]

30. I think he should be held to account like any other public servant

I don't care what party he belongs to. I am not a hypocrite.

[paulkienitz]

31. Greg Palast called Cuomo a "schemy corporate toady" back in March

and said "It was painful to see progressives suckered all year" by him.

[Mopar151]

34. He was winning by comparison, and playing that part well!

Trouble is, he couldn't keep the sleazy part of himself from f'n it up.

[Demsrule86]

40. I disagree completely when the accusers refused to be sworn in that was it for me...

and left has never like Cuomo.

[jalan48]

41. Clinton had sex with a White House intern. Not sure that was frivolous. Had it happened today

and not 25 years ago I think he would be forced to resign.

[Tommy Carcetti]

44. It was a terrible lapse of judgment on his part, but still consensual.

Not the same, IMHO.

[questionseverything]

50. He was in a position of power over her so not consensual

N/t

[Tommy Carcetti]

53. She was an adult, he was an adult.

She was attracted to him because he was the most powerful man in the world and he was handsome and extremely charismatic.

He was attracted to her because he was a man in his 50s and yet he was still attracting a woman in her 20s, and like it or not, that's going to be a big turn on for many middle aged men.

It was human nature for both of them.

So they were both attracted to each other, they engaged in consensual activity together, and they both got their "perks" out of it.

No real power dynamic at play.

Now....was it extremely stupid, reckless and self-destructive behavior on both their parts?

Absolutely. By far the worst decision either of them would ever make in their respective lives.

But the fact that it was unbelievably stupid doesn't mean it wasn't consensual.

[questionseverything]

54. He had power over her so there can't be consent

He got by with it because of the times, today it would be a political death sentence (as it should)

And it’s not like it was the only time

Franken was the innocent one

[Tommy Carcetti]

55. There's never been anything that suggests Clinton pressured Monica into a relationship.

And used his authority to cultivate one.

From what I recall, she was the one who first came onto him.

And again, it was human nature on both their parts that lead to the affair.

It was foolish and short minded, but not the result of an abuse of power. This was not a Harvey Weinstein type of situation.

So again, they were adults and they consented to what they did.

[BoycottTimHortons]

65. I mean you could use that argument

To describe most heterosexual relationships. Do adult women not have any agency in your view? Monica has never alleged coercion on his part. She was a willing participant.

That being said, the circumstances of their relationship were so grossly inappropriate as to justify a resignation even if no one was hurt.

[marie999]

63. A boss should never have sex with an underling.

[questionseverything]

67. According to comments 55 & 65 it's no problem at all

[Mr. Evil]

43. Cuomo may be a creep but,

there are more than 2 dozen allegations of sexual assault against TFG including more than one instance of actual rape. One of those involves a 13 year old girl. My guess is they don't want to pursue that because it might open the floodgates of all those powerful scumbags involved with the Epstein shit. So, until TFG has to face the music for his crimes against women, I really don't have much else to say.

[iemanja]

49. Why do you want the Democratic Party

to mirror the values of the GOP? As long as women are the primary voters in this party, that isn't going to happen.

[Mr. Evil]

59. Gee, I don't remember inferring anything of the sort.

Why isn't any jurisdiction addressing these serious allegations? Why is TFG getting a free pass (once again)? Why don't those women get their day in court?

[iemanja]

60. There are a number of civil suits pending

But the statute of limitations for criminal prosecution has expired in many if not all cases. You know all this. You also know that voters chose a sexual predator as president, probably for the same reasons many want to give Cuomo a pass.

Cuomo isn't going to be prosecuted, and his ego is too enormous for him to resign. He will probably be re-elected because misogyny rules this nation. So let's not pretend he's being terribly put upon. Some people find his behavior unacceptable, but too many see nothing wrong with it. So don't worry. He won't face any consequences, as men seldom do. We're not facing a situation in which women's lives actually matter. And that any other public employee would be fired for the same behavior likewise doesn't matter in a world when maintaining power and hierarchy is so important. One thing is it not is Democratic--or democratic. It's imperious.

We live in a society in which only 6 percent of rapists ever see jail time. Cuomo isn't a rapist, but that fact sheds light on why men like him don't face consequences.

BTW, the Trump excuse is a transparent canard. Just because one predator got away with it doesn't mean all should, which is precisely what you are arguing.

[Mr. Evil]

66. Once again,

you're assuming what I'm thinking. Let me make this clear; if Cuomo did something illegal and it can be proven, let him burn. But, no one seems willing to hammer the fact that TFG has a much more nefarious record regarding treatment of women than damn near anyone. My contention is why are the very serious allegations against him treated with kid gloves or avoided altogether while others (especially democrats) receive around the clock coverage? In short, I'd gladly let someone that said something stupid or insensitive or unprofessional that caused no physical harm "get away with it" if I could make sure an actual rapist who did cause physical harm went to prison.

Why are the super-rich and republicans always allowed a level of deference that democrats are not afforded? I understand that we should exercise higher standards and we usually do but, in instances like these the same standards need to be applied. In that case, TFG should've been hammered to resign every day of his presidency. Why is Matt Gaetz still in Congress? Boorish, misogynistic behavior is abhorrent and it must be dealt with but, if the ramifications aren't equally applied it won't cease anytime soon. There needs to be a much more comprehensive solution than simply demanding someone resign from their position. I simply want all men in all situations that act like turds toward women to have to experience the same consequences.

[smirkymonkey]

72. +1000

[iemanja]

73. clearly you are arguing it shouldn't be dealt with

Only if Trump and Republicans are prosecuted should any Democratic harasser face consequences. That is what you are arguing, and it is abhorrent. They are Republicans; that is why they don't face consequences. They belong to a party that centers misogyny. The good news for you is that Cuomo is highly unlikely to face any consequences. Yet you think the very fact his harassment is in the media is unacceptable. Poor Cuomo. How terrible for attention to be brought to men for their predatory behavior.

No Democrat thinks Trump shouldn't pay, but we have no control over that. Not that we have control over Cuomo either, but I am allowed to voice my opinion, and that you can do nothing about.

Cuomo grabbed women's body parts. That is physical harm. He made the women feel uncomfortable at work. That is psychological harm. He sees nothing wrong with what he did, which shows that he believes he, not the women, has the right to determine what happens to their bodies. It is repulsive.

When you argue that a man with clear evidence of harassment should not face consequences, you do not find the acts unacceptable. You excuse them with whatoutism.

You have made your views crystal clear. I don't need to put words in your mouth. You reveal yourself with your own.

[brooklynite]

64. "My guess is they don't want to pursue that"

Who is the THEY you're referring to. The Biden Justice Dept.?

[ecstatic]

68. Agreed but I'd like to hear more calls for the seditionists in congress to resign as well

I mean, they did try to overthrow our country.

[BComplex]

71. Totally illustrates the difference between a Democratic party response to slime, and the

republican party response to slime. We run our slime out of town on a rail: they elevate theirs to .... literally .... a "god".

The republican party IS the devil.