Former President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton’s silence in the wake of sexual harassment allegations against movie mogul — and Democratic Party donor — Harvey Weinstein is not sitting well with the co-founder of “The Daily Show.”
Comedian and liberal activist Lizz Winstead joined MSNBC’s Katy Tur on Monday to discuss the fallout from last week’s New York Times exposé on decades of harassment claims against a Hollywood titan. The conversation soon shifted to Mr. Obama and Mrs. Clinton’s muted responses.
“President Obama, Hillary Clinton, silent so far,” Ms. Tur said. “How do you feel about the selective outrage? ’I can be outraged about Donald Trump last year, but not outraged about this.’”
“I feel it happens a lot with women’s issues and I feel really disappointed in both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton,” said Ms. Winstead, the chief creative officer at Lady Parts Justice. “If you took money from this person, because this person had really good progressive goals that were in line with the politics, great. When you find out that this person is a monster, especially a monster towards women, why wouldn’t you denounce it?”
The guest then said that Democrats will “never have credibility” when trying to denounce President Trump — specifically his rhetoric in a lewd Access Hollywood tape, which briefly threatened to sidetrack his campaign.
“It’s up to us to demand from them [an explanation], and why aren’t we demanding from Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, ’Where is your statement? Please step up. We supported you.’”
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The Washington Free Beacon noted on Oct. 5 that Mr. Weinstein “maxed out donations ($5,400) to Clinton’s failed presidential campaign while adding more than $30,000 to the Hillary Victory Fund, a joint fundraising committee between Clinton’s campaign, the Democratic National Committee, and more than 30 state Democratic parties. He has also given at least $250,000 to the Clinton Foundation.”
The Hollywood producer donated $5,000 to Mr. Obama’s 2012 campaign and $66,000 to his victory fund, the website reported.
Mr. Weinstein released a statement last week via attorney Lisa Bloom apologizing for “pain” he caused over the years, but he stopped short of admitting to criminal offenses.
“I realized some time ago that I needed to be a better person and my interactions with the people I work with have changed,” he wrote. “I appreciate the way I’ve behaved with colleagues in the past has caused a lot of pain, and I sincerely apologize for it.”
• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.
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