Cuomo should absolutely NOT resign

[Hoochie Coochie Man]

When I see Hawley, Cruz and Leningrad Lindsey resign then maybe you flirt with Cuomo stepping down but until then, I don’t give a flying fck what they accuse Cuomo of. Instead of dogging Cuomo, Democrats should amp up their demands on Republican resignation and the focus should be 100% on their crimes.

[Fullduplexxx]

1. Let the voters decide

[brooklynite]

4. So, you're okay if the voters decide to pick a Republican?

I'd like to maximize the odds they pick a Democrat.

[Fullduplexxx]

6. They're gonna decide anyway regardless of you putting words in my mouth

[eggplant]

39. Are you suggesting that the will of the voters only matters when we're talking about Dems?

[onetexan]

37. Agree, and a full independent investigation

[SheltieLover]

2. EXACTLY!

[Dream Girl]

3. Totally agree. Not one peep about the scores of women Trump assaulted from them. The days of

The double standard need to come to an end. Republicans keep doing this shit because it works. I say, “time to move on” or maybe, “Cuomo has learned his lesson. I doubt he will ever do anything like this again. Need to turn the page”.

[Ferrets are Cool]

19. +1

[Rustyeye77]

21. Thank you.

I totally agree.

I thought I was the only one who felt that way.

If it was just awkward flirting or trying to pick up someone, than they should get over it.

[Beastly Boy]

5. He should not resign based on accusations alone. But he should if the accusations are proven

[SCantiGOP]

14. Exactly

The Democratic Party has standards, even if the other side doesn’t.
If the accusations are proven, he should step aside or be removed.

[wnylib]

15. OTOH, even if the accusations are proven,

they are not accusations of assault. They consist of things he said. The women who were offended have not accused him of a quid pro quo offer or of retaliation for disliking his verbal comments.

He should not have done it, but it is not something to resign over.

However, it is NY Dems who are pushing him to resign now. Makes me wonder why.

[Dream Girl]

26. That Kim guy seems especially eager to do him in...wonder why?

[jorgevlorgan]

41. No

He should if the accusations are true. He would know best if that's the case.

[Silver1]

7. Agreed.

These accusations do not warrant a resignation. Deal with it appropriately and move on.

[piddyprints]

8. Agreed.

If I counted the ways, it would be more than anyone wanted to read.

[Lunabell]

9. If the accusations are true he should resign.

We are NOT them. We are better than them.

[wnylib]

16. Why? He did not assault them. He did

not retaliate against them for disapproving of what he said.

[Ferrets are Cool]

20. +1

[Lunabell]

31. If he were to racially harass someone would you apply the same standard?

Democrats are NOT republicans.

[wnylib]

45. Depends on what you mean by racially

harrassing. And whether Cuomo's comments do amount to sexual harrassment.

Remember Biden in the 2008 campaign commenting that Obama was an "articulate and educated" Black man? Remember Virginia Governor Northam being almost unanimously asked to resign over appearing in a yearbook photo that depicted black face and KKK robes?

How persistant or continuous were Cuomo's comments directed specifically at those women? I have experienced sexual harrassment at work that was directed at me nonstop, with retaliation for complaining. I have also experienced men making thoughtless or offensive comments to me about women in general or me in particular that did not continue when they saw how I felt about it and without retaliation for me disapproving of it. They were being insensitive and thoughtless, but were not harrassing. There is a difference.

Cuomo has done a lot for women that I appreciate as a female NY resident. I am doubtful that his words amount to harrassment.

On racial harrassment, both of my father's parents were mixed, European and Native American. My paternal aunts and uncles had black hair, deep brown-black eyes, and brown skin that ranged from light to medium. My mother's parents were northern European immigrants, so my Native ancestry is not obvious to most people. You can't imagine the things I have heard people say to me about Native Americans when they think they are speaking one white person to another. Most of it I just chalk up to ignorance and enjoy embarrassing them with a correction of their "facts" and my ancestry.

But sometimes they know my ancestry and make stupid remarks that they think are funny. I let them know how I feel when I don't laugh, or when I raise an eyebrow, or when I say that they are being stupid or crude. If it does not continue, I do not call it harrassment, just bad taste. One time at work it did continue to a cruel, harrassing level. HR took care of it when I filed a formal complaint.

[radius777]

60. +1. This a slippery slope. Cuomo must fight how Biden did, rope-a-dope

until the media gets tired and moves onto the next shiny object.

Remember it was the same type of hollow bullshit that similarly came from the right and far left then jumped on it to take down Biden. The right knew he was likely the only one who could beat Trump. The far left doesn't really care about electability and just wanted to stick it to the establishment. Basically same dynamic is playing out now. Trump is licking his chops with the hopes of getting a GOP governor who will pardon him on state charges.

[wnylib]

61. I have mixed feelings about this.

Of course, as a Dem citizen of NY, I don't want the accusations to be true. Both left and right are piling up on him and I suspect that for many of them, they are more motivated by political ambition or political ideology than by concern about the actual facts. I try to give him as much leeway as I can in assessing what I hear and read while waiting for the results of the investigation.

But it is also possible that the accusations are true. One accuser, Charlotte Bennet, has the strongest case, with documentation and a very good lawyer. Even Cuomo has responded to her accustions like there might be some substance to them.

I heard an interview with one of the authors of the NYT article that reported on the accusations. He said that other journalists are interviewing women in response to Bennett's request for more women to step up and support her. He said he expects more accusations soon. Cuomo is sounding more concerned in his public apologies now.

If the investigation shows that the accusations are true, should he be removed or resign? Accountability matters, even among our own. We need to protect and support the rights of women. He says that he will not resign. If the accusations are true and he remains in office, then this can harm women's rights, the party, and himself. He could be too politically damaged to succeed in the upcoming election, too.

Politically, it would be wise for the state party to have a different, strong candidate lined up for 2022.

[radius777]

64. Lots of accusers came out against Biden also,

there's always a bandwagon effect with people wanting to pile on, which doesn't make the accused any more or less guilty, but simply the nature of how politics (and opportunism) works.

If there's hard evidence he did something wrong the accusers should take it to a court of law.

But from everything I've seen, it just seems similar to the Biden stuff 'he sniffed me' type of thing where it's just an older man clumsily flirting.

It sets an awful precedent when Dems keep getting taken down by weak crap likes this when the former Republican president was pretty much responsible for 500k deaths and a deadly insurrection, and many Repub governors of that same mentality want to undercut voting rights as well as end lockdowns and mask mandates despite the pandemic still raging.

Cuomo has his flaws (and alot of his so-called 'bullying' comes from being a perfectionist) but he's a man who believes in science and in protecting human lives before protecting financial interests. NY is the economic capital of the world and he shut it down despite facing backlash from big money interests. In the big picture, Cuomo is one of the best governors in the country if not the best.

[wnylib]

66. Well, there's no doubt that Cuomo

has done good things for NY and emerged as a strong leader in the early days.of the pandemic.

I don't remember now which program on NPR that I heard this on, but there was a discussion in an interview about Republicans not holding their own party members to account for anything, especially not sexual harrassment and other sexual issues. It was pointed out that Dems do hold people accountable because equality and accountability are part of the Dem values. So, knowing this, Republicans are eager to find things on Dems to exploit with righteous indignation that they never use about their own.

I agree with that point. On the other hand, if an investigation turns up solid evidence and we do nothing about it, that destroys our credibility in supporting women and opposing harrassment.

Also, it's not only Republicans who are going after Cuomo on this. There are high ranking Dems in the state who are also going after Cuomo. If there is evidence to support the accusations, do we sacrifice our political positions for the sake of the party?

[Lunabell]

46. By this definition of "assault " there's a picture of it

An assault is the act of inflicting physical harm or unwanted physical contact upon a person or, in some specific legal definitions, a threat or attempt to commit such an action. It is both a crime and a tort and, therefore, may result in criminal prosecution, civil liability, or both. Wikipedia

[wnylib]

47. Surely there are more defining details about

what constitutes "unwanted physical contact upon a person."

Otherwise, crowded dance floors, restaurants, bars, parties, wedding receptions, etc. could all become scenes for criminal charges or civil lawsuits. How often do people tap someone when passing through a crowd to let them know they are there and coming through? Or grasp an arm in greeting? Or reach out to steady someone as they pass by or stand near someone in a crowd?

Is it a forceful touch? A kindly touch?

I am a person who likes my space. But even though I don't like being crowded or touched by strangers or people I just meet (unless it's a handshake), I can't recall feeling like it amounted to an assault, even when a guy put a hand on my shoulder, back, or arm while trying to hit on me. Touching my face would be too personal, but hardly an assault unless it was a slap.

It still looks to me like a political thing, especially coming 2 years afterward, just months before the 2022 election season starts up.

Add to that the fact that Buffalo NPR just announced, as I type, that it is the left wing of the Dems in NY that are calling for Cuomo to resign. This is beginning to look like a repeat, on the state level, what one wing of the Dem party pulled on Hillary that gave us 4 years of Trump.

[ahoysrcsm]

57. I will pass judgement on Cuomo when the civil cases are resolved.

And not a moment sooner. Until then it is alleged.

[Thekaspervote]

10. ☝️☝️☝️☝️☝️

[Ponietz]

11. Or Taylor-Green, or Boebert, or Cawthorn, or...

I suspect much of the “outrage” is false-flag generated by repuqs positioning to protect the dump against criminal charges.

[greenjar_01]

12. Suspect he will brazen it out

He's going to follow the Ralph Northam Two-Week Rule: if you can weather a scandal for two weeks, it fades. It's actually a Trump Rule, but here we are.

[judesedit]

13. Exactly. What's acceptable for one party should be acceptable for the other.

We have to stop infighting. We are not holier-than-thou. This is not the time for nit picking. We are in a critical fight for seats at the state and federal level in this country to make life better for all of us. Stay focused on that, please.

[wnylib]

17. Tell that to the Dems in the NY Assembly

and other NY Dems. They are pressuring him to resign.

[progressoid]

38. wut?

We should NOT use the low standard that the republicans do for their elected officials.

[judesedit]

48. I don't know any saints. Do you? We have bigger fish to fry right now

Where were these people a couple years ago? Are we going to Franken Cuomo, too. We lost a good senator. Cuomo did nothing illegal or that wasn't commonplace not too many years ago. Cuomo is one of the only people who spoke up to Dumpy boy. I'd rather have strong and out front than meek and polite at this moment in time when we have assholes storming the Capitol building. Cuomo didn't hurt anyone. I say, we need some tough guys on our side.

[progressoid]

55. I'm not saying everyone as a saint.

I AM saying that we shouldn't hold ourselves to the low standard that the GOP and it's voters do.

Also, the argument that it was legal and commonplace is absurd. It was legal and commonplace to treat LGBTQ as second class citizens not too many years ago as well. Let's not go there.

There is a difference between strong and out front vs exploiting your position of power.
There is a difference between being a tough guy and being abusive.

[judesedit]

59. Asking for a kiss once is not sexual harassment. Sorry.

I sure as hell hope he doesn't step down. Too many fake, paid off accusers. That doesn't mean we have to be proud of it. Too many hypocrites joining in the festivities. We have to fight fire with fire right now and Cuomo is one of the only ones who speaks plain English. That's why they want him gone.

[progressoid]

62. It was more than asking for a kiss.

This is not a paid off accuser:

My story of working with Governor Cuomo
Lindsey Boylan

“Let’s play strip poker.”

I should have been shocked by the Governor’s crude comment, but I wasn’t.

We were flying home from an October 2017 event in Western New York on his taxpayer-funded jet. He was seated facing me, so close our knees almost touched. His press aide was to my right and a state trooper behind us.

“That’s exactly what I was thinking,” I responded sarcastically and awkwardly. I tried to play it cool. But in that moment, I realized just how acquiescent I had become.

Governor Andrew Cuomo has created a culture within his administration where sexual harassment and bullying is so pervasive that it is not only condoned but expected. His inappropriate behavior toward women was an affirmation that he liked you, that you must be doing something right. He used intimidation to silence his critics. And if you dared to speak up, you would face consequences.

...

I had complained to friends that the Governor would go out of his way to touch me on my lower back, arms and legs. His senior staff began keeping tabs on my whereabouts. “He is a sexist pig and you should avoid being alone with him!” my mother texted me on November 4, 2016.

...

I tried to excuse his behavior. I told myself “it’s only words.” But that changed after a one-on-one briefing with the Governor to update him on economic and infrastructure projects. We were in his New York City office on Third Avenue. As I got up to leave and walk toward an open door, he stepped in front of me and kissed me on the lips. I was in shock, but I kept walking.

...

It was all so normalized — particularly by Melissa DeRosa and other top women around him — that only now do I realize how insidious his abuse was.

After my tweets about the Governor in December, two women reached out to me with their own experiences. One described how she lived in constant fear, scared of what would happen to her if she rejected the Governor’s advances. The other said she was instructed by the Governor to warn staff members who upset him that their jobs could be at risk. Both told me they are too afraid to speak out.

I know some will brush off my experience as trivial. We are accustomed to powerful men behaving badly when no one is watching. But what does it say about us when everyone is watching and no one says a thing.

...https://medium.com/lindseyboylan4NY/my-story-of-working-with-governor-cuomo-e664d4814b4e

...more

[judesedit]

63. It should be addressed. It should have been addressed before this.

He's uncouth. I still don't think he should resign. Let them investigate and prove he did something illegal. We need people who are not afraid to speak truth to power. Cuomo has been one of the only ones to do that. That's why they want him out. Let his constituents decide.

[ananda]

18. Trump was the worst sexual predator to hold office.

He didn't resign, now did he?

[forthemiddle]

22. No but we thought he should have.

We can’t control the other party, but we do lose the upper hand when we allow the same behavior.

Trump is being sued by one of the women, so hopefully he will eventually get his comeuppance.

[Dream Girl]

28. And how as our "upper hand" worked out for us?

[judesedit]

49. The Hump was way, way worse

[treestar]

54. It's not the same behavior

None of these are even accusing Cuomo of things Trump did.

[marieo1]

23. Gov. hang in there!!

I agree.........the reps will push and push, but the Gov. needs to be strong, the DJT supporters are after Gov. Cuomo!! I hope the Gov. hangs in there!!

[Kaleva]

24. It's rather irrelevant as to what we think.

[orangecrush]

29. +1

[kentuck]

25. In my opinion...

Women will never be equal so long as they feel like they are the victim.

[Rustyeye77]

30. I'm trying to figure out what you mean in this case?

So that means the woman should what?

[Celerity]

34. Me too.

[Rustyeye77]

43. Sometimes I just don't understand

what people are getting at.

[Celerity]

44. perhaps they will explain, but it faces up, barring an explanation, as a very problematic comment

[Rustyeye77]

27. Wow. I thought I was the only person to feel this way.

Most people here want to run him out of town.

I figure it will take a couple of months to investigate.By that time the 2 week rule will be over.

[madeup64]

32. Cuomo helped Republicans keep control of the State Senate

This is New York what are the chances of Republicans winning the governorship there? Seems low.

Cuomo has thwarted Progressive policy for as long as he's been governor and allowed turncoat Democrats to ensure Republicans kept control of the New York State Senate until recently so that he would not have to worry about Progressive legislation even making it to his desk.

The only reason Cuomo looked even decent is because Trump was a dumpster fire.

Please don't compare Cuomo to Al Franken ever. Just because Al got railroaded does not mean Cuomo is.

[Celerity]

50. Your (factual btw) list is why some will defend him to the death.

I have no horse in the race, I have never lived in NY, never will, never have remotely wanted to. I am not calling on him to resign at all, nor am I attacking the women (and other Dems who have spoken out on other issues) with ludicrous conspiracy theories and open misogynistic attacks like some are.

Make no mistake though, if he was a firebrand lefty, some of what is now his most vocal support would flip to being some of the most vocal calls for him to go go go.

I intend to completely wait it out for a full investigation.

[stage left]

33. Agreed

100%.

[GentleAlien]

35. A third woman came forward

https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/02/politics/andrew-cuomo-anna-ruch/index.html

How many more women have to come out before we say enough is enough???

[treestar]

53. Accusations are just that

no matter how many. They need proof.

[MontanaMama]

56. We're going to give him his day in court,

so to speak. An investigation is appropriate. If there’s proof them we can say enough is enough.

[Captain Zero]

36. Hear hear.

Let some traitors resign first !!

[TygrBright]

40. You're correct. He should just stop doing inappropriate, stupid shit. And atone for what he's done.

And get on with governing.

Will he do it?

I don't know.

speculatively,
Bright

[dsp3000]

42. I ambivalently agree

Just like with the scandal ralph northam had in VA. definitely distasteful, but republicans have done shit way worse and get away scot free.

[raccoon]

51. I totally agree! The Dotard was accused of harassment and/or assault

about 20 women. And he didn’t resign.

Trump could have raped an underage girl or boy on the White House lawn when he was president, and the Reptilicans Would’ve done absolutely nothing about it.

[Captain Zero]

58. When Cuomo walks through a teen age dressing room and pays a stripper $130k hush money

then I'll consider it.

[LanternWaste]

52. Only last week you wrote "We, as "liberals" have a higher bar and higher standard"

But I get it... bars and standards are diaphanous things, set to move on the force of political convenience.

(Ethics is in part, predicated on what one believes right or wrong, rather than what others can or can not get away with. Try it)

[Dem4Life1102]

65. Agreed

But he shouldn’t run for a 4th term.