New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo resigned on Tuesday. It came as a shock to most of the public because in the wake of sexual misconduct allegations, Cuomo had denied any wrongdoing.
When defending himself, the governor had ignored calls to resign and emphasized the importance of his role as executive of the state. But in the end, his arrogance claimed one final victim: himself.
Politicos always get a thrill when their opponents are brought low in a devastating fashion. It is especially true when said politician has played the part of the dogged good guy. Cuomo’s response to the coronavirus pandemic brought him praise. But the supposed leadership he displayed included policies that resulted in the deaths of thousands of nursing home residents — a mess he then attempted to cover up. Add to that accusations from nearly a dozen women who said he sexually harassed them, and he became the good guy who wasn’t.
The spotlight on Cuomo has exposed a lack of a moral compass, personally and professionally. It has also demonstrated how partisan loyalties alter conclusions about behavior from allies and enemies alike.
It is far too easy for Democrats and Republicans to view themselves as “not as bad.” This is true overall. It is painfully evident in a post-Donald Trump/Me Too era. The former president’s varied improprieties both on and off the political stage are now an established barometer for everyone. Most of all, they can’t be topped, at least in the minds of some. That is dishonest nonsense. Values are either concrete and apply to all, despite what “the other guys” do, or they change with a rotating set of politicians.
A few days before Cuomo resigned, USA Today published an article by Jill Lawrence about Republican hypocrisy when it comes to sex scandals. To be sure, the GOP should never act as the moral party on this matter. There are too many examples of personal corruption. But the author went so far as to tally up sexual misconduct cases and declare Democrats the winner.
“A Washington Post analysis shows Republicans edging Democrats 22-17 in sex scandals from 1974 to 2014, and that was well before #MeToo, Senate candidate Roy Moore and Trump came on the scene,” she said. “I wrote in February about seven subjects Republicans are no longer qualified to pontificate on, given their galactic gall. I can’t believe I left out sexual misconduct. Consider it the eighth type of Republican lecture Democrats can completely ignore.”
And the Left wonders how we got Trump.
With sanctimony, Lawrence acts as though “less bad” can mean only good. Her conclusion? The GOP can’t and shouldn’t criticize anyone in the Democratic Party. In that case, Democrats must rely on their own to hold them accountable all the time — as if that works.
Too many men in power have sexually intimidated female subordinates. It occurs in private, entertainment, academic, and political sectors. It should never be tolerated nor excused. Yet, while there seems to be more effort (especially post-Harvey Weinstein) to expose and hold these villains accountable, there is an equal effort to dismiss failures that hit closer to home. And both parties do it. How many times did Republicans diminish Trump’s pre-presidential behavior because of economic strength or judicial appointees? How many times have Democrats justified a Cuomo or a Bill Clinton for reasons related solely to governing? There is simply no room for a lecture from either party that sets them as the arbiters of morality.
Of all the issues to have bipartisan consensus on, sexual harassment, assault, and intimidation are it. Treating other human beings with protection and consideration should be nonnegotiable. Unfortunately, viewing an incident through a partisan lens is just a repeat of wrongs. It means victims are only currency in some larger political game.
And it bears repeating: Both sides are as guilty as those they love to hate.
Without self-reflection at a party level, a culture of harassment (and worse) will only continue. If predators of either stripe aren’t held accountable by everyone, the consequences aren’t that bad. They’re just another fleeting display of partisan posturing.
And for politicians, the repercussions only last until the next news cycle — business as usual.
Cuomo’s resignation is not a win in the sense conservatives would like to believe. It is not proof that the Democratic Party is more corrupt than the Republican Party. If anything, it’s a test for both sides to exercise an application of standards. Cuomo is the current reprobate. He isn’t the first, and he won’t be the last for either side. Refusal to condemn one’s own, with no add-on about leadership style, only invites the label of “hypocrite” when the tables are inevitably turned.
Consistency is a dirty word in politics. It requires that the party faithful cast off its affiliations when right versus wrong is in question. But, as Cuomo, Trump, and their cheerleaders have displayed, that question is the most difficult, most revealing test of all.
