New York Governor Andrew Cuomo Says His Behavior Has Been Misinterpreted as 'Unwanted Flirtation'

[ripcord]

Source: Time

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo acknowledged for the first time Sunday that some of his behavior with women “may have been insensitive or too personal,” and said he would cooperate with a sexual harassment investigation led by the state’s attorney general.

In a statement released amid mounting criticism from within his own party, the Democrat maintained he had never inappropriately touched or propositioned anyone. But he said he had teased people about their personal lives in an attempt to be “playful.”

“I now understand that my interactions may have been insensitive or too personal and that some of my comments, given my position, made others feel in ways I never intended. I acknowledge some of the things I have said have been misinterpreted as an unwanted flirtation. To the extent anyone felt that way, I am truly sorry about that,” he said.

Cuomo, one of America’s most prominent governors, is facing the most serious challenge of his decade in office following claims he sexually harassed at least two women who worked for him. Democrats in New York and around the nation aren’t rallying to his side, leaving him increasingly isolated from traditional allies.

Read more: https://time.com/5942983/new-york-governor-cuomo-sexual-harassment/

---

This is just going to feed the fire, republicans need the distraction and will hammer on this.

[Thekaspervote]

1. Qgop trying to push out a powerful dem gov!

[brooklynite]

15. By using a Senior Democratic official and political candidate....got it.

[George II]

22. It's not unheard of.

[brooklynite]

32. Provide an example.

[George II]

34. No.

[CTyankee]

2. he shouldn't have done it in the first place. Let's get our own house in order. It is way past

the time for this to be explained by a big oops! How long have women brought this issue front and center in our country and abroad? Has Cuomo been asleep all that time? Geez, I remember fighting this battle in the 1970s in New York, where I worked at the time.

[speak easy]

3. Yes. We should have kicked out Ralph Northam

when we had the chance

[oldsoftie]

4. And why WAS he given a pass anyway?

[speak easy]

6. Because he stood his ground.

[oldsoftie]

10. I'll make a note of that. Just stand your ground!

Never mind the whole blackface thing. Sounds like sports teams excusing players as long as they're performing well!

[speak easy]

18. Maybe because people were more interested in how he was going to govern

than photograph 33 years old.

3 years before that photograph, Joe Biden was partnering Strom Thurmond, to introduce a provision that effectively barred federal courts from issuing busing orders. Was that indicative of the Joe's history, or the President he would be. No.

Northam said That photo and the racist and offensive attitudes it represents does not reflect the person I am today or the way that I conducted myself as a soldier, a doctor and a public servant. I am deeply sorry ..I am ready to do the hard work of regaining your trust

IMO he has delivered on that promise.

[oldsoftie]

27. I dont disgaree with that view. But these days you're excoriated for the tiniest thing.

And it should be an equal field of criticism. Northam should be excused because we like his governance, but if, say, DeSantis or Noem was caught in the same 30 yr old picture everyone would want them OUT. But it would be more because, to us, they're NOT good leaders; not the picture. And thats where it becomes a double standard.
For the record i've always thought a lot of these "forced' resignations & apologies are ridiculous. Franken being a great example. This girl on 'the bachelor" being another.

[dsc]

21. There is a tremendous difference between having done something 30 plus years ago

and a few months ago. If this stuff about Cuomo were from when he was a college student, I doubt anyone would care. Black Virginians, and they are the people who matter here, in poll, after poll, after poll, after poll stated they wanted him to stay.

[MichMan]

28. Like Kavanaugh?

[dsc]

30. Is blackface a crime?

let me know when it is, then you might have a point.. On edit, Kavenaugh did something similar to what Northam did on his year book page (he called a woman a slut using nicer words). Other than his lying about that under oath, I wouldn't have said that disqualifies him. I support the Black voters in VA, they seem to be OK with Northam so that is enough for me.

[CTyankee]

11. "whataboutism"

"If you felt demeaned, I'm sorry."

[Dopers_Greed]

5. This is a Republican set up

A Dems are playing directly into their hands.

Shades of Al Franken.

[brooklynite]

9. Prove it.

I find this reflexive conspiracy theory incredibly lazy.

[Calista241]

37. Agree. It looks like Cuomo is a bad apple.

It's not like the GOP gains anything. The Lt. Governor is a Dem, and she isn't going to put forth any pro-GOP policy changes. Women working for the NY Government might get a little less sexual harassment though. God forbid.

[AZSkiffyGeek]

13. Nah, if it was shades of Franken there'd be another 1/2 dozen accusers and photos

But yeah, sexual harrassment is okay if it's a Democrat doing it.

[frazzled]

16. Right, even though Cuomo has admitted to it and apologized

Mr. Cuomo, 63, said his comments — including those which emerged in an account from the aide, Charlotte Bennett — were an extension of life spent at work, where he sometimes “teased people about their personal lives and relationships.”

“I now understand that my interactions may have been insensitive or too personal and that some of my comments, given my position, made others feel in ways I never intended,” Mr. Cuomo said in a statement. “I acknowledge some of the things I have said have been misinterpreted as an unwanted flirtation. To the extent anyone felt that way, I am truly sorry about that.”

The response from the governor seemed to reflect the gravity of Ms. Bennett’s accusations, and those of another former aide last week, as well as the potential damage that they could cause to Mr. Cuomo, a third-term Democrat.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/28/nyregion/cuomo-investigation-sex-harassment.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage

And even though most Democrats are calling for investigations, and worse:

Despite the governor’s explanation, a chorus of fellow Democrats have called for investigations, including Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand and progressive stars like Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Politicians from both parties expressed outrage at the allegations, amid a growing sense that Mr. Cuomo, long a master of New York’s hardball politics, was in a precarious position. Some called for an impeachment hearing and others pressed for his resignation.

The criticism reached all the way to the White House, where Jen Psaki, the press secretary for President Biden, a longtime ally of Mr. Cuomo’s, said the president endorses an investigation into allegations she described as “serious.”

“It was hard to read that story, as a woman,” Ms. Psaki said on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

[Polybius]

24. He admits that he's said things that he shouldn't have

A boss should never talk about sex to his 25 year old co-worker period.

[bucolic_frolic]

7. It's a common problem

old men not understanding why young women aren't interested.

How much is delusion or self-deception, if any part of it is miscommunication or misinterpreted .... can it be sorted out?

[oldsoftie]

14. The level of perceived "attractiveness" rises with the level of wealth & power

The richer you get, the more desirable you think you are! Of course there are plenty of examples out there to prove it, but it doesnt excuse bad behavior.

[bucolic_frolic]

17. That's true

but it must also be said that people, young women included, are nice to powerful men. They might smile, or chuckle at a joke, and that might be taken the wrong way. Inappropriate is what I think I've heard so far. Position of power to a subordinate. But I'll be surprised if there's a whole lot there. Trump got away with everything. This is far, far less.

[phandancer917]

8. Please resign

He has done some good for the state - but we do not need this distraction and DAMMIT guys -- STOP ACTING LIKE your are still in a FRAT!

I will never understand this need some men have to act this way.

Moreover, people in the limelight need to understand that there is always a target on them. Act accordingly - like your Gramma is around (That is always how I keep myself on the right path).

[brooklynite]

12. 'Sexual harassment is not funny': De Blasio shreds Cuomo explanation of conduct toward women staffer

New York Daily News

Mayor de Blasio on Monday gave a fiery denunciation of Gov. Cuomo’s attempted explanation of his treatment of women ex-staffers who accused him of sexual harassment.

“Sexual harassment is not funny. Who the hell tries to explain sexual harassment by saying he was just joking around?” he said on Hot 97.

“There may be more stories like it. Everyone should come forward,” de Blasio added.

Facing an unprecedented crisis for his administration, Cuomo on Sunday night issued a qualified apology to women who accused him of harassment and attempted to blame his conduct on a work culture in which “sometimes I think I am being playful and make jokes that I think are funny.”

[Historic NY]

45. That case DE Blasio is thinking he is heir apparent.

tip for De Blasio you'll never win statewide office.

[GentleAlien]

19. Sorry, but I wouldn't want my daughter to work for someone with his reputation

Cuomo is damaged goods. Dems aren't like GOP in their cultish obsession with personalities. Even if they were, we have plenty of superstars in the ranks.

[Roc2020]

20. why does these accusations always

comes out when whoever the politician/personality/businessperson is under scrutiny for other reasons??? something smells.

[Vinca]

23. Older women like me always operated in the workplace under the assumption that

some male co-workers are just pigs. My first thought when the first young woman came out with her story was why didn't you just tell him to shut the fuck up? Cuomo is no prize, but if you kick all men who have made unwelcome comments off the island, the island will be almost entirely inhabited by women.

[oioioi]

25. maybe that would be a better island....

Australian prime minister stands by minister accused of rape

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/australian-prime-minister-stands-by-minister-accused-of-rape-14307260

[brooklynite]

33. Please share an example where you told your boss to shut up?

[Vinca]

35. How many do you want? If the boss fires you after this, THEN you have a complaint that justifies

playing the poor, weak woman. Sorry. I just don't get perpetual victimhood. A woman should stand up for herself at the time. We're strong. End of story.

[TxGuitar]

42. This sounds a lot like victim blaming. NT

[Vinca]

47. That's the problem. Women thinking of themselves as "victims." We're not. We're strong.

[LovingA2andMI]

26. Oh My....

It's almost like a Merry-go-Round were no one NEVER EVER gets off.

First, Trump is back at CPAC and damn near everyone is following such or worse posting about it. It's almost like a sick and inherent need for that slime bucket to be around for more mental abuse of the masses.

Second, someone who Sexually Harassed someone else at some point in time is back like a boomerang.

However, the Golden Cow (Trump) display should have woken people truly up from the Merry-Go-Round and made them actually think for once in the last five years or so - where are we going and what truly are we doing.

NOPE! Trump Delux and Who Touched Who Whatever Time Ago is the Mainstay. Along with COVID and Vacs - of Course.

[randr]

29. Calling it flirtation is seriously a mistake

Last edited Mon Mar 1, 2021, 08:22 PM - Edit history (1)

Own it Andrew, you were a predatory old man. Adios

[niyad]

40. I believe his first name is Andrew.

[randr]

49. Thanks

[Hugh_Lebowski]

31. I am hereby rallying to his side, unless and until something more serious is discovered

I really am not into the idea that we're going to force out powerful Democrats because a couple of people of the opposite sex think they were a little too flirty or personal.

Based on the accusations so far, talk about forcing him out of office is totally out of proportion.

I reserve the right to change my mind if something more serious comes to light.

Let me add, if Cuomo were an older woman and these were younger men, nobody would say 'boo'.

Bring on the flames

[piddyprints]

39. It's what we do.

The repugs can have as many accusers as there are stars in the sky. They can have evidence, lawsuits, the works, of sexual harassment, assault, and even rape. It seems to be a feature for them, as no one is ever called to task. As we've seen, they can even brag about it and then be elected president.

I put up with a lot of sexual harassment when I was working. Back in those days, it was he said/she said, so I waited until the creep did something else that was clearly against company policy and I had a phone message as proof. I had to escalate past the 3 layers of good old boys who were best friends/fishing buddies in order to get anyone to listen. That's just one example.

So don't get the idea that I'm ok with sexual harassment of any kind. I just get tired of the double standard. I'm still pretty pissed about Al Franken.

[BeyondGeography]

44. I'm going with no more sexless D "sex" scandals

The R’s get to screw about with impunity while we throw people overboard for a nod and a wink. Stop it already.

We have headlines of our own calling Cuomo a monster. GMAFB.

[Jon King]

36. Call him out, embarrass him, move on...

Absolutely he was wrong and is getting the embarrassment he deserves. And thats where it ends until he runs for office again. His opponent should use this against him and let the voters decide.

What he did was creepy and wrong....but not to the level where anything more than public shaming should happen.

[Politicub]

38. I don't care about feeding a republican fire. They will take anything, twist it, and amplify it

through their media echo chamber.

But I do hope that Cuomo resigns. He is trying to paper over bad behavior by calling it flirtation. There is nothing new about his behavior; it is part and parcel of toxic masculinity, and it belongs in the past.

[TxGuitar]

41. He needs to offer a real apology.

Not "misinterpreted flirtation". Say you are sorry, it was wrong and take some f ing classes on workplace appropriateness. This isn't rocket science. Stop offering excuses.

[Deminpenn]

43. Not a big fan of Andrew Cuomo, but he deserves a fair

investigation and hearing.

[Historic NY]

46. I guess people forgot what weeked bar wooing was...

It still goes on. Old men and women coming onto the younger crowd. When I was younger we had a place nicknamed the menopause lounge.

The first report by one of the victim was back in 2019-2020, it went nowhere.

Tara is still out being encouraged by so-called Uber progressives from the Sanders gang.

[ripcord]

48. Wow post a thread, go to work and come back to this

The thing to do is conduct a fair, impartial investigation and make decisions based on that. We don't ignore allegations like this and we don't rush to judgement, we shouldn't care how the republicans would have handled this because we are democrats and we do the right thing.