Andrew Cuomo's resignation shows 1 party is still capable of shame

Andrew Cuomo.
(Image credit: Illustrated | Getty Images, iStock)

Few expected New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to announce his resignation, effective August 24, at Tuesday's mid-day press conference. But the news wasn't exactly a surprise. That's because an investigation by the state attorney general's office concluded last week that he had sexually harassed 11 women — and because Cuomo is a Democrat, the only party in American politics still capable of shame.

Now, I should be clear that this doesn't mean every or even most Democratic office holders are especially prone to bouts of blushing at the thought of moral transgressions. I certainly don't think Cuomo himself is especially plagued by feelings of guilt. His first reaction to the attorney general's report was defiance, and that tone continued all the way up through the opening minutes of his resignation speech.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us
Damon Linker

Damon Linker is a senior correspondent at TheWeek.com. He is also a former contributing editor at The New Republic and the author of The Theocons and The Religious Test.