In the era of #MeToo, sexual misconduct allegations are taken more seriously than ever. That is, until accusations hit too close to home.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s supporters in the Democratic Party have been conspicuously silent on the sexual harassment allegations against him. Some have even discovered a newfound respect for due process. We have not heard the criticism we would expect if the political tables were turned. This is due, in part, to Cuomo’s popularity and self-proclaimed stellar leadership during the pandemic.
Democrats seem to feel that because former President Donald Trump exhibited shocking behavior toward women even before his presidency, Democratic politicians should be given grace. After all, they’re not as bad as Trump. This unspoken idea that Trump should be the metric of male conduct toward women is extremely damaging. Behavior should be judged independently based on right and wrong and never “at least he’s not that guy.” If not, anything short of that 2005 Access Hollywood tape, plus more than 25 claims of sexual misconduct, may be dismissed.
This is also the first major sexual misconduct scandal among the Democrats in a post-Trump world. Using the 45th president as an excuse to change the conversation and shift blame is no longer a powerful tool. With little ability to shift the narrative, Cuomo and the Democrats are left to deal with the problem in a public way. To her credit, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has been one of few Democrats calling for an investigation into the allegations, though she was silent when Tara Reade accused President Biden of sexual assault.
At the Week, Rory Cooper makes note of a major aspect of this ongoing Cuomo saga and the resulting silence: “It would thus be baldly hypocritical to ask Cuomo to resign for kissing people against their will but not ask the same thing of Biden. So elite Democrats, it seems, have decided to look the other way at both.”
The Biden administration has been vocal about returning respect and dignity to the Oval Office and, by extension, encouraging the nation to do the same. Any past behavior by the current president is too close for comfort as the Democratic Party deals with this current mess. Cuomo admits his behavior “may have been insensitive or too personal.” How does this reflect on Biden’s less inappropriate but still uncomfortable behavior? Furthermore, what does this say about a party that has billed itself as the alternative to a Republican predator and his apologists?
The narrative is lost — or at least unraveling.
Political party devotion is quite a drug. Regardless of loyalty to policy, members of both parties must be consistent in their application of principles. There is room for criticism of Trump’s behavior as well as Cuomo’s admitted failures toward women. Turning a blind eye to one and not the other is not only deeply wrong but also a habit of both parties.
Just as “believe all women” is unhelpful in the search for the truth, so too is “believe your preferred politician.” Predators must be held accountable, and it matters not one bit what kind of power they hold.
Kimberly Ross (@SouthernKeeks) is a contributor to the Washington Examiner’s Beltway Confidential blog and a columnist at Arc Digital.
