Why is Bloomberg's long history of misogynistic behavior and comments not an issue?

[redqueen]

I have seen articles about it but around here it isn't often mentioned. Just curious why that might be.

Edited to add just a few of the first articles that pop up when you Google 'Bloomberg misogyny'


Bloomberg's sexist remarks fostered company culture that degraded women, lawsuits allege
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/bloombergs-sexist-remarks-fostered-company-culture-degraded-women/story?id=67744180

Michael Bloomberg's past comments about women and rape will likely haunt him on the 2020 campaign trail
https://www.businessinsider.com/michael-bloombergs-comments-about-women-and-rape-will-haunt-him-2019-11

Michael Bloomberg Is the He, Too, Candidate
Now a billionaire with a history of being crude toward women wants to be the 46th president.
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2019/11/michael-bloomberg-democratic-campaign-sexism.html

[Bengus81]

1. So post the articles would be the best thing if it's an issue

[redqueen]

2. Ok

[Mike 03]

3. It definitely will come up.

It was certainly brought up when he ran for Mayor.

It's been brought up here on DU numerous times.

And it will come up again.

In fact, you just brought it up.

[redqueen]

6. I've seen it mentioned once or twice, but that doesn't make it "an issue"

the only thing that's brought up regularly is his support for George Bush, Rick Wilson, and other republicans.

Most of the stuff said about him is flowing praise or criticism for his support for republicans. Even his just-before-his-decison-to-run-for-president apology for stop and frisk doesn't get mentioned that often.

It's weird.

[Fresh_Start]

4. because his actions outweigh his words

He elevated women to leading roles at City Hall, including Janette Sadik-Khan to transportation commissioner; Amanda Burden to city planning commissioner; and his longtime top adviser, Patricia E. Harris, to first deputy mayor, the first woman to serve in that role. As New York’s mayor and in the years since — he left office in 2013 — Mr. Bloomberg has donated tens of millions of dollars to support reproductive rights and women’s health causes around the world, his aides said.

“To say he’s one of the biggest champions for women in this country and all over the world would be an understatement,” said Jill Lafer, a former national chairwoman of Planned Parenthood, who recalled Mr. Bloomberg making an unsolicited donation of $250,000 to the organization in 2012 after a major donor pulled funding.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/14/us/politics/michael-bloomberg-women.html

[Bradshaw3]

21. No they don't

If they did, he would release these women from their NDAs. Ask yourself why he had them in the first place and why he doesn't release them now in the name of transparency.

All he is doing right now is trying to buy the nomination, pure and simple. Whe people talk about how great he is, it always comes with "he donated this much to so and so". When he becomes open about all of his dealings, that action will speak louder than all the money he has used to buy power, including his use of funds to elect republicans.

[Squinch]

5. Redqueen, my dear, I am going to tell you something I don't like to admit.

First, my position in this season: I love Liz. But I don't think she can win. And frankly my horror about EVERYTHING Filthy Donnie does is affecting my health. There is no other issue for me in this election other than winning.

I think Bloomberg can win. I am not certain that any of our other candidates can. I don't like that fact. I wish everyone saw what I see in Liz, but they don't.

I have heard about Bloomberg's misogynistic comments. But I have known women who work for him. They say he sometimes spoke grossly (in the 80s and 90s when men did all the time) but they say that, in their perception, he only cared about their abilities when it came to advancing them.

I hate the misogynistic things he has said. But I am watching his policy positions and so far I am impressed by their liberalism. I am watching his words today, and while I think his apologies for racist and sexist things are mattters of nothing more than convenience, he seems to be staking out a position that opposes his past behaviors and comments.

I know I sound like a trumper when I say, "I'm giving him a pass" for that kind of behavior that I have always fought hard against. I hate that. But in my heart of hearts, I feel like our Democracy is at stake, and I need to ally with the one who can win

[redqueen]

7. I get it - I do.

I think all of us who are strongly supporting a candidate are doing so because we believe they have a strong chance of ousting Trump.

I do not think Bloomberg does. Not for his misogynistic past though. That will obviously not be an issue for voters.

I'm just curious why it doesn't get mentioned that often.

[Squinch]

9. I think because most of the sources for it are a pamphlet that was created as a joke - actually

created as a gift for him by female employees for his birthday - and depositions from a lawsuit that was settled. Supposedly he took a polygraph to deny the allegations of the lawsuit and passed but the polygraph results have never been made public.

None of that proves innocence or excuses the behavior and I believe there were shitty comments. But there's no smoking gun of someone who wants to go on the record to say he's a sexist. The ones who made the pamphlet are his friends, and as for the lawsuit, I think there is a gag order.

[thesquanderer]

13. re: "I think Bloomberg can win. I am not certain that any of our other candidates can."

I think the reason Bloomberg is well positioned to win is that he has the deepest financial well from which to battle Trump. But he has said that he will continue to make these anti-Trump resources available no matter who the candidate is. So I think we get most of the benefit of a Bloomberg candidacy no matter who we put up. So go ahead and support Liz if you want.

[Squinch]

24. I disagree. It's more than the money. It's that America

is still too sexist to elect a woman. It's also too conservative to elect a true progressive.

Bloombergs stated policies look pretty progressive, but that's the last thing anyone expects from him, so we may be able to sneak in good things without people realizing its happening.

[CTyankee]

37. But in terms of sheer electability, outside of the major metro areas such as NYC, you still have

two stumbling blocks: he is Jewish and he is a New Yorker. I don't know about now but when I was growing up in Dallas the words "New York Jew" were often used because Dallas was being invested in by major fashion retailers and investment firms.

But will antisemitism rise again if he is our candidate? God, I hope not. My husband is Jewish and his daughter is a rabbi and I have 3 granddaughters who are Jewish. I'm not but I'm prepared to go to the mat on this issue...

[Squinch]

41. Definitely this will be an issue for some. But on the other hand, for some unfathomable

reason in the last election a lot of my more orthodox Jewish friends voted for Filthy Donnie. I could never figure it out, but they did.

Perhaps Bloomberg can peel some of that support away. It would be nowhere near the same numbers as those who are put off by the "New York Jew" concept, but it's something.

And I am sad to say that I believe "Jew in power" is a lot more acceptable to a lot of people than "woman in power."

But in answer to your question of whether antisemitism will rise in response to his candidacy? Yes, definitely. And it will be a flame eagerly fed by Republicans.

[CTyankee]

42. You know they will stop at nothing. We'd better be prepared if Mike is our candidate...

I will happily vote for him but I fear for the sanity of all of us when Trump's own anti semites get through with half their garbage...

[Squinch]

43. Yeah. It's going to get ugly. But it will be ugly no matter who it is.

[mdelaguna]

16. I feel this way too. Nt

[MaryMagdaline]

30. Well said, Squinch

I feel exactly the same.

[CrispyQ]

31. Perfectly stated.

And I totally agree. And like you, I hate that I think he's the best candidate to beat the Con. I think he's the one candidate that the Con is the least prepared to run against. They are going to drag the Biden name through the mud and too many low info voters won't know or care that it's Hunter not Joe. They will Bernie a socialist over and over again, and besides I think he comes across as angry most of the time. And I think the 1% is terrified of Warren and that's why she's gotten no traction with the media, in spite of a decent showing in Iowa. I'm glad Bloomberg has said he'll help finance whoever wins the nom, but I've been impressed with his ads and they have obviously gotten to the Con.

[SMC22307]

32. This is where I am as well. Perhaps a female VP running mate...

should he win the nomination. Not much matters to me right now but defeating Trump and, in particular, protecting SS and Medicare.

[Happyhippychick]

35. I'd love Klobuchar for Veep!

[CTyankee]

39. It would be a great balance.

I'm not giving up hope for Warren, tho. It's not over until it's over.

[mr_lebowski]

33. This seems like a very reasonable attitude to me fwiw (nt)

[honest.abe]

62. Well said.

[Mike 03]

8. FWIW: posted on another thread

In fairness, most of those suits were filed against the company, but the famous "kill it" suit was against Bloomberg personally.

So far, that is by far the ugliest thing in the book. It was disgusting. He left a voicemail for her saying, "I didn't mean it" but he wasn't able to give the kind of apology this deserved.

Mike Bloomberg, personally, had a policy of not fraternizing with any of his employees.

The atmosphere at the Bloomberg companies has a lot to do with the mindset of people who formerly worked on Wall Street. That culture was profane and misogynistic. There's no getting around that fact.

Do you know how much money those people were making? Between two and three hundred thousand dollars a year (EDIT: actually, between two and four hundred thousand). He demanded that employees put work first, period. It was not what we would call an evolved philosophy. There was no such thing as a work/life balance if you worked for one of his companies.

It's true, though, he made them work incredibly long hours and the women were encouraged to wear short skirts, and the atmosphere was grotesque by today's standards. In fact, the descriptions remind me a lot of "The Wolf of Wall Street".

Bloomberg (the company) completely rewrote its policies.

But yes, it's a black stain.

(EDITED numerous times)

[Mike 03]

10. I'm recommending this thread.

I just totally disagree that this isn't considered "an issue."

It's been an issue for Bloomberg as long as I can remember.

But anybody who doesn't know about it should know about it.

[patricia92243]

11. I think some of it is that compared to the pussy-grabber in the WH

now, anything anybody else says sounds benign.

Also, some of the statements are sort of old. Hopefully, he and all people do get educated over time.

[frazzled]

71. Sorry, but Democrats ...

Don’t get a pass on that like Republicans. Don’t you know the rules?

Also, I’ll bet a dollar that some of the Charlie Rose smell will rub off on him.

[Me.]

12. Quite

and other ills, but there are some here who will discount his bent towards authoritarianism and his anger when he doesn't get his way. He will never be as bad as trump but we need to be careful of a frying pan into the fire situation.

[Squinch]

26. Me, I understand the fear but it isn't a frying pan/fire situation.

Bloomberg, for all his faults, isn't in the same universe as Filthy Donnie.

[Me.]

34. I Agree In That Bloomberg Isn't A Sadist

or will lock up children, retaliate and punish. All I'm saying is we better think twice before putting another person who leans towards being an authoritarian in that office. We've been given the worst possible warning with trump in that absolute power leads to absolute corruption and caution is called for. I remember his rage when his flawed plan for the westside stadium failed.

[Squinch]

40. Yes. I remember that too.

[CTyankee]

44. Kinda funny: "Vote for Bloomber. He's not a sadist."

All kidding aside, Trump is afraid of him because he knows him better than we do. Anything I can do to make that two bit punk piss in his pants, is worth it...

[Squinch]

48. And Bloomberg is all the things that Filthy Donnie claims to be but really isn't.

Rich, smart, self made, accomplished, competent.

And he is thin and has all his hair. Those probably bother Filthy Donnie the most!

[Nanjeanne]

14. It will be. He is avoiding interviews right now but if he continues to saturate the

airways he isn’t going to avoid answering questions for long.

Between his past - not just his misogyny but his comments about raising the age of retirement to 69, his support of Simpson Bowles cat food commission, racist policing practices, the increase in homelessness during his tenure, etc. he has a lot to answer for. And believe me there will be endless ads running with him endorsing Bush and praising the Iraq War at the RNC Convention. He is good on guns and climate and should use his billions in that arena. I’d have a lot more respect for him if he did that and not try to buy the Dem election.

[Gothmog]

15. The only thing that really matters is beating trump

I will go with the strongest candidate who can beat trump. The issue differences between the various candidates are not as important as beating trump. I really do not believe that Yang, sanders, Mayor Pete or Warren can beat trump

[mdelaguna]

18. Eye on the ball! Indeed! Nt

[empedocles]

22. Agreed!

[dsc]

17. This is a big part of the reason he is my 2nd to last choice (only Sanders ranks lower)

It terms of issue, other than his education policy, I don't have a huge problem with Bloomberg. I do have huge personality problems with him. His authoritarian bent, his crude sexism and transphobia. Presidents aren't just a pile of issues. I favor Bloomberg over Sanders as he has a better chance to win in my opinion but I do have significant problems with him.

[wyldwolf]

19. right there with you.

I don't give anyone a pass for sexism. And Bernie has his own issues there.

[krissey]

27. I agree with you.

[Doremus]

20. Beats me. Also how people at DU of all places can forgive his affection for Bush

who is a major reason this board exists.

[Squinch]

28. Sadly I think that, while this is a disadvantage in DU, it may be

an advantage in the wider world.

[Doremus]

49. I suppose. If you're a member of the 1%.

[SMC22307]

36. He's not forgiven.

But he might be the only candidate who can take out Fat Nixon. That's how *desperate* many of us are to get rid of Trump.

[Doremus]

50. Let's hope, in our desperation,

We don’t make the biggest mistake of our lives.

[SMC22307]

52. I'm wondering if Sanders is going to surge...

now that Fat Nixon has released his 2021 budget. There were some seriously distressing cuts proposed.

[Vivienne235729]

57. The biggest mistake of our lives was and still is TRUMP. No democrat will ever come close.

[Doremus]

63. No, but letting him get re-elected will be.

[Bradical79]

23. If/when he starts getting taken seriously as a candidate

Then I think the gloves might come off in attacking his horrible character. At the moment, I think a lot of people consider him a hanger on who does excellent anti-Trump ads.

Also, being one of the wealtheist men in the world, Democrats don't want to alienate him too much. The party has backed and courted even worse people than him in the past.

[UniteFightBack]

25. I don't care about any of this. WHO CAN BEAT DUMP??? Dems want to be right and pukes want to win.nt

[musicman65]

29. It is not really

a issue,because Mike does not want to win,He is in it to pump $$ for Joe

[denem]

38. Because his opponent is 'the pussy grabber'

who beds pornstars while his wife is expecting their first baby.

[loyalsister]

45. Unwritten primary rule?

Someone has to protect white patriarchy and that means defend, deflect, and dismiss criticism of histories of misogyny and racism. Trump is worse, after all.

[JudyM]

55. This.

[sarisataka]

46. To paraphrase one person's false statement

'The only thing that stops a bad racist, misogynist billionaire is a good racist, misogynist billionaire'

Personally I do not think that is true and most would deny it but consider what an 18 year old voter would know of him first hand:

-his history of misogynist statements
-racist stop and frisk policy
-opposition to legalizing marijuana
-he has been a Republican for about 7 years
-he has been an Independent for about 10 years
-he has been a Democrat for about 4 months
-he has not held an elected position as a Democrat
-he supported Republicans for Senate that allowed them to hold up Obama's SCOTUS nomination
-he supported Republicans for Senate that were key votes in preventing witnesses during the impeachment
-he is fiscally conservative and pro-Wall street

If the Democratic party ignores all of the above, what does that say to that 18 year old voter?
What does it say to that voter about Democrat's commitment to their principles when big money walks in the door?
What does it say to that voter about future elections if we pass over a diverse group of progressives and select another 70+ white male?

Do we tell that voter 'Stick with us. He's not as bad as Trump but we don't have anyone else who can win."

[BlueWI]

56. THIS.

Bloomberg is the new flavor of the day in the primary. He needs to be fully vetted like everyone else.

Winning is the first priority of course, but it needs to be done without diluting the values that Democrats, especially young Democrats, support. If these values are diluted too much with a candidate like Bloomberg, it could dampen turnout significantly.

His campaign has to address this problematic history and suggest what will change going forward, similar to the Reverend Wright moment. Not sure if Bloomberg has the chops to do this, but we'll see.

[Demsrule86]

47. He isn't Sanders, and he can beat Trump.

Sanders only gets my vote in a general... I vote Bloomberg people evolve and he can beat Trump. And no matter what Bloomberg has the money to beat Trump...he has to go.

[Rider3]

51. No one

can hold a candle to Trump. Bloomberg's prior behavior is stupid and ignorant. Trump's is willful and predatory.

[Garrett78]

53. It is an issue. That he's even a consideration is really quite sad.

Fortunately, I don't see how he can possibly win a majority of pledged delegates. He's bought himself decent poll numbers, though.

[wnc hillbilly]

54. Compared to Trump?????

Compared to Trump?????

[kcr]

58. Yep, I don't get it. Nominating him isn't beating Trump. It's giving up hope.

Yes, it's important to beat Trump, but we also have to repair the damage he's done. Replacing him with basically our own version won't do that. It will only permanently place the low bar Trump has set. Nominating him is giving up on this country. Trump will have won.

[redqueen]

60. I agree completely.

You said it very well.

[Bettie]

69. I tend to agree

but, people seem to think that is OK.

[zackymilly]

59. Because he's not as bad as Trump and could win this. n/t

[brooklynite]

61. I've never understood "why isn't everyone talking about what * I * think is important" posts

If you think it's important, post something and see what responses you get.

[andym]

65. "Candidate X is biased" attacks won't not work very well this cycle

because the stakes are so high. See how it worked out for Harris when she used one against Biden. Sorry. Carry on.

[cynatnite]

68. Do you want an honest answer?

People aren't going to pay attention. Defeating tRump is number one at the top of most voters list.

Right or wrong, it's just how it is this time around. Were it anyone other than tRump in the WH, it would be a campaign killer.

[Amimnoch]

70. Blinded by THE Misogynistic eclipse.

So much viewing of this Misogynistic pig

has made the view numb.

Sort of like not noticing a thorn in your side if your ankles have just been hobbled.

[Amishman]

72. Because he runs lots and lots of pretty commercials

Recency bias, he is flooding our memories with well scripted messages saying exactly what we want to hear.

The new associations created by that repetition crowds out older memories of his unpleasant past