Bloomberg’s defenders note that, as mayor, he promoted women to high-ranking roles in his administration. As a philanthropist, he has donated tens of millions of dollars to women’s causes around the world.
These are not insignificant defenses. Part of the maturation of the #MeToo movement is the growing understanding that there have to be paths to redemption for offenses that are less than criminal. Nor is it always fair to hold decades-old infractions against the standards of today.
But Bloomberg is going to have to recognize that this is a case he must make for himself. As a private businessman, he may have been able to glide past pointed questions with vague statements. But as he seeks to become the standard-bearer for a party that claims the high ground on women’s rights, he cannot.
The first thing Bloomberg owes voters is a frank admission of his actions in the past, and a fuller explanation of how and why his attitudes have changed. He should start by allowing those who have sued him to speak publicly, if they so choose, and to release the relevant legal records.
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