I have always been proud to be a Democrat because of the way members of my party fought to bring a voice to the voiceless and to prioritize the needs of the vulnerable. Needless to say, I am more than disappointed it took five days for Hillary Clinton to make any public statement in the wake of the sexual assault allegations about Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein.
Weinstein, the now-disgraced Hollywood powerhouse known for founding the iconic Miramax Films Company, has a history of giving to Democratic candidates and progressive causes alike. It also seems he has a history of exploiting his position of power to use and degrade women at whim.
Aspiring starlets and established actresses alike reportedly had run-ins with Weinstein. Certainly, it is unlikely he is the only one who could be chastised for this shameful behavior. The “casting couch” has long been legend in Los Angeles circles.
But women every day, who are not famous, who do not work for a multi-millionaire, are often also targets of unwanted sexual advances in the workplace from a superior. Just like the famous actresses who did not want to come forward to disclose Weinstein’s alleged conduct, women across the country fear reporting sexual harassment or assault for fear of retaliation, job loss, or public humiliation. The cycle of this power imbalance and exploitation will continue as long as the perpetrators are allowed to bully and buy silence from their victims.
As Democrats, we pride ourselves on striving for equity in all aspects of life. We fight for reproductive freedom, equal pay for equal work, affordable childcare, and family leave. We fight for victims. Victims like those exploited by Weinstein regardless of the social status of either the victim or the perp. I still believe these are core values defining Democrats today. So it made me wonder why Hillary Clinton, who campaigned touting her life’s work as protecting women and families, waited almost a week to say anything about Weinstein’s alleged conduct.
Furthermore, we still have yet to hear from Joe Biden, who authored the Violence Against Women Act and championed combating campus sexual assault. Maybe they bought into Weinstein’s public brand as a progressive champion of women, a brand Weinstein built through giving to organizations such as Planned Parenthood or backing a film about the perils of campus sexual assault. Maybe its because Weinstein raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign and bundled contributions for the Obama-Biden ticket.
I have too much respect for Clinton and Biden to believe they are saying little or nothing about Weinstein just because of his contributions to campaigns past. After all, both Clinton and Biden are out of office and unlikely to run for office again.
However, every passing day without comment raises questions about these Democrats’ commitment to standing up for women when there is no longer a political purpose to do so. This especially goes for Clinton, who waged a presidential campaign based on being a champion for women.
Yes, had she been elected, Clinton most certainly would have advocated for policies that would better serve women than the Trump administration, in my humble opinion. But she is no longer in office and only has the bully pulpit to affect change. Releasing a tepid statement through a spokesperson five days late sends a message that her commitment to fighting for victims is hollow and politically expedient. She should have joined sitting Democratic elected officials in publicly denouncing the behavior of Harvey Weinstein from the start and should still donate any contributions that may be left over to organizations supporting victims of sexual assault.
The country is watching. More importantly, victims of sexual assault are watching. The most prominent among us must show that people like Weinstein, regardless of fame or finances, are held accountable for such unconscionable behavior.
Capri Cafaro (@thehonorablecsc) is a contributor to the Washington Examiner’s Beltway Confidential blog. She is a former member of the Ohio State Senate, where she was the Senate minority leader. She is now an Executive in Residence at American University’s School of Public Affairs.
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