I Am Disturbed By The Accusations Against Amy Klobuchar

[Me.]

Sorry really. But don't know if they're true or another HRC situation. I don't trust HuffPo lately and Reid says he doesn't remember. I considered her a real possibility for either the top job or Veep. Now...I'm ambivalent. Should she address this? Again, I don't know. Senator Warren was placed in a position where she felt she had to address the matter and she has done so over and over again and in the process, her entire possibility seems to have turned to mush.

[EndGOPPropaganda]

1. These rumors are widely discussed

[pnwmom]

56. And they're a crock. You know who supposedly is the WORST boss in Congress?

Sheila Jackson Lee. That put it into perspective for me.

The whole list is based on nothing more than turnover over 6 years. So if someone has been around for decades they were more likely to lose staffers, through normal attrition. Or if the person helps people move on to better jobs. Having a high turnover could be caused by a number of reasons.

My own Senator, Maria Cantwell, is right behind Klobuchar in supposedly being an unpopular boss, based on her attrition rates. I don't care. She's a good Senator.

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/03/21/worst-bosses-congress-476729

[MLAA]

2. +1

[DemocratSinceBirth]

3. How about this

I can be a demanding boss and if I crossed the line I regret it. I want my staff to enjoy working for me as much as I enjoy working with them.

[milestogo]

4. What accusations?

Something about staffing?

[riversedge]

7. Accused of being a horrible, insensitive boss. Twitter is awash with the Huff post storyl. I quit

reading them.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

6. I never heard that about Al Gore

Who are known as nice guys and gals?

[DURHAM D]

14. Oh look - 3 of the 7 are Democratic women

one of which is retired.

blah, blah, blah

[DURHAM D]

20. Do you work on the hill? nt

[Hekate]

43. You asked who was "known as", which puts it in the the realm of rumor. You asked...

[DURHAM D]

49. No I did not ask that question. nt

[DemocratSinceBirth]

21. Who are the good ones?

[DURHAM D]

22. Where is this record? nt

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

8. I think she needs to get ahead of these accusations as soon as possible,

discuss them up front and be honest about them. There had been rumors in Minnesota that she was a difficult boss even before she became a senator twelve years ago, back when she was the Hennepin County Attorney, and they were raised during her '06 Senate race. I don't know how serious the claims are or whether they are exaggerated complaints by a few employees who had trouble with a demanding and possibly temperamental boss, but I don't think they should be ignored completely. Talk about them now, offer a credible explanation, and hope they'll be irrelevant old news a year from now.

[elleng]

9. Yes, she should.

PLEASE

[msongs]

10. got the names of people making these accusations? nt

[Me.]

15. No Names

“At least three people have withdrawn from consideration to lead Sen. Amy Klobuchar’s (D-Minn.) nascent 2020 presidential campaign — and done so in part because of Klobuchar’s history of mistreating her staff, HuffPost has learned …

[S]ome former Klobuchar staffers, all of whom spoke to HuffPost on condition of anonymity, describe Klobuchar as habitually demeaning and prone to bursts of cruelty that make it difficult to work in her office for long.

“But Klobuchar’s current staff and other loyalists aren’t taking this talk lying down, and are making this counterargument, as HuffPost also reports:

Those employees described working for her as a challenge, but an exhilarating one that caused them to grow and perform their best work. They question whether former co-workers who thought she was abusive were falling for sexist stereotypes about female leaders with high standards.”

http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/02/rumors-of-klobuchar-staff-abuse-emerge-as-she-mulls-2020-run.html

[nycbos]

11. I know some Young Democrats of America folks from Minnesota.

Last edited Sat Feb 9, 2019, 12:57 AM - Edit history (1)

They have been talking about this for awhile. My other connected friends say the same thing. This isn't a right wing smear job. These are some of the people who are 100% devoted to the the Democratic Party.

[CentralMass]

29. Wow.

[nycbos]

34. Not surprising

[nini]

38. I've heard the same from folks who would know

She sounds horrible

[frazzled]

48. Maybe it's because she told them

That in Minnesota it’s called the DFL—The Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, not the Democratic Party? And they thought she was trying to pull one on them?

[nycbos]

61. I am aware and so are they that the Democratic Party...

... is called the DFL in Minnesota.


I didn't that term here because unless your involved day to day in politics you are probably unaware.

[ripcord]

13. I would like to know more about the stance of her workers local union

Did the local really ask national not to endorse her because of the way she treated her staff or if that is simply a rumor.

[ripcord]

24. Thank you

That says too much.

[ripcord]

30. I don't need to

I have you to read it for me , thanks again.

[ripcord]

40. That's really sad

But it is better this stuff comes out now rather than being a bombshell in the general election. This doesn't disqualify her but how she handles it will determine her future.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

31. Yes, it's true.

The AFSCME local president asked the larger Twin Cities union not to endorse her, but they did. Part of it had also to do with a pay dispute.

[dflprincess]

37. Per the article the local asked the Greater Twin Cities AFSCME group not to endorse her

I heard about this when it happened in 2006 from a Hennepin County AFSCME member who I know from her work with the DFL. She was active in the local but worked in another area of Hennepin County government, not the County Attorney's office. At the time she told me that some of them members who spoke to the union were in tears begging the union not to endorse.

It all makes me wonder if this explains why her staff is so rude when you call her office.

[brooklynite]

52. Here's a link to the letter from AFSCME

https://www.scribd.com/document/399214761/AFSCME-Letter-on-Amy-Klobuchar-2006#from_embed?campaign=SkimbitLtd&ad_group=38395X1559799X960093ee4097edcaa3b99f246f252c20&keyword=660149026&source=hp_affiliate&medium=affiliate

[DURHAM D]

17. Men are tough taskmasters.

Women are bitches.

What damn century am I living in?

Drivel

[DURHAM D]

26. So???

This is just gossip.

[pnwmom]

58. Yeah, but studies have shown women can be resented for the same behavior

that would be accepted in a male boss without question.

[empedocles]

27. Seems to be uneven standards

[Garrett78]

28. I don't think she was going to gain much traction anyway, and this certainly won't help.

As for addressing it, she'll have no choice. She's going to be asked about the allegations. She doesn't have to address it this weekend when she announces that she's running for president, but as soon as she speaks with a reporter, she will have to address this.

[madville]

32. She was never going to poll over 5% anyway

At 2% in the latest Iowa poll. If it's been since she got to the Senate it wouldn't be surprising if some video or audio surfaces.

[Awsi Dooger]

44. I would bet over 5%

I'll also bet no on a video.

Iowa is made to order for her. She hasn't even announced yet and is a much stronger candidate than conventional wisdom allows.

Beto is my first choice and Klobuchar second. I always apply the theory to ignore today and prioritize the big picture.

When I visited the Edward Kennedy Senate Institute in Boston during October, by far the most impressive room was adjacent to a replica of his office. That adjacent room was a tribute from staff members. One after another. Decade after decade. Pictures all over every wall. Glowing anecdotes. Incredible man but bottom line when he ran for president he bombed out quickly because he wasn't prepared for basic questions like why he wanted to be president. With Amy Klobichar I have no doubt whatsoever she would absolutely shine in settings like that, and charm the public, even if many of her staffers have been held to standards above what they are accustomed to and often chastised for subpar performance.

[madville]

53. It's all centered around what Biden and Sanders do at the moment

The top-tier candidates like Biden, Harris and Sanders would automatically take up about 65% of the vote. The remaining mid-tier candidates like Booker, Warren, and O'Rourke would eat up another 25%. The remaining lower-tier like Castro, Klobuchar, Gillibrand, Gabbard, Brown, etc will be clawing for the remaining 10%.

If Biden and Sanders don't run then its more unpredictable of course.

[Garrett78]

55. It'll be downhill for Sanders after NH, especially if he doesn't win the first 2 contests.

I can see it coming down to Biden and Harris, though I doubt Biden will be as successful as some expect (there are reasons why he's come up way short in his previous attempts - plural - to get the nomination). It could come down to Beto and Harris, or Brown and Harris if neither Biden nor Beto run. *Maybe* Bullock or Inslee would have success if Biden doesn't run, but I doubt it. I do know, though, that a fair number of people seem to think we must nominate a white male. If enough people feel that way, at least one white male will be a contender.

I wouldn't count out Castro and Booker, especially if Harris falters. Castro could have a strong Super Tuesday if Beto doesn't run, thanks to Texas and California.

I don't think Klobuchar or Gillibrand or Buttigieg (or Hickenlooper or Bloomberg or Swalwell or Bennet) will gain much traction, and Warren's chances have taken a big hit. Gabbard can hardly be taken seriously.

It's increasingly absurd that Iowa (with a caucus no less) and New Hampshire are the states that kick things off. We shouldn't have caucuses at all, and the states that get the ball rolling (and, thus, hold a disproportionate amount of sway) should reflect our electorate. Such as Maryland and Florida, or Illinois and Arizona.

[lettucebe]

33. I worked for an unreasonable and difficult boss

and it was hell.

When he applied to be a judge I was called. All I could say was he created a hostile workplace and did not have the temperament to be a judge. He was a nice enough person but a horrible boss.

These days it's getting so difficult to know what is real, and that said, how hostile a workplace has Trump created? It's toxic in the WH

[Dave in VA]

36. I don't remember whom to attribute this to but,

when I was working in the McGovern campaign in 72 I would often hear:

"A man has to be a tyrant to be called a bastard, but for a woman to be called a bitch all she has to do is put you on hold."

[TDale313]

42. Yep.

[TDale313]

41. No idea how true this might be.

I will say this, though. Not a fan of anonymous sources claiming someone, particularly a powerful woman, is “difficult”

Also, how often do powerful men face career consequences for being “hard to work for”? How often do powerful women face them?

[2naSalit]

45. HuffinPuff...

aka "sideboob gazaette. (a la Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart respectively)

I have caught nasty things from that site and I only thought they were credible for the first year. After that, not worth the trouble.

[mcar]

46. I'd like to see similar accusations against a male candidate

But I won't, ever. He'd be considered a strong leader.

[Iggo]

47. She's a mean boss?

Real low on my outrage scale...lol.

[jcgoldie]

50. Such predictable bullshit

Another uppity woman. Trying to boss people around...

[brooklynite]

51. BuzzFeed has its own reporting...

...and there appears to be supporting documentation.

[customerserviceguy]

54. We might see her true nature

at a debate, but some people can be nice as pie in public, and gawd awful in private.

[pnwmom]

57. The same article that started all these rumors said Sheila Lee Jackson was much worse.

Should we hate on her, too.

It's all nonsense.

The headline talks about "worst bosses" but the text of the article acknowledges that the rankings are based on attrition alone, during a 6 year span, and states: "LegiStorm declines to guess whether the high turnover stems from a toxic work environment or employees simply advancing in their careers."

Sheila Jackson Lee had an attrition rate of .62, which made Amy Klobuchar's .36 look not so bad at all.

And why, besides being a bad boss, could a Congressperson lose staff? Sometimes by being a good boss. Also from the article:

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/03/21/worst-bosses-congress-476729

“It’s much more important, for example, if a chief of staff turns over than if a lowly staff assistant turns over,” said Jock Friedly, LegiStorm’s CEO and founder. “It’s perfectly normal for a staff assistant to turn over. And obviously it’s particularly usual for paid interns to turn over so that obviously has little impact on an office.”

SNIP

“Congresswoman Granger hires the best, and when staff does decide to leave, they go to work for influential people or businesses,” said Kevin Boland, Granger’s communications director. “She appreciates the dedication and hard work of her current and former staff members.”

Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), fifth on the list, also suggested his staff excelled and so moved on to other opportunities, as did a source in the office of Connecticut Democratic Rep. Elizabeth Esty, which is No. 9 in the House top 10. Former Esty communications directors Laura Maloney and Craig Frucht, for instance, are now press secretary for Connecticut Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy and deputy communications director for Colorado Democratic Rep. Jared Polis’ gubernatorial campaign, respectively.

[UniteFightBack]

59. I don't think people are going to care about this much. nt

[Fresh_Start]

60. Klobuchar problem is solvable

She can actually learn to be a better boss
There are companies which specialize in evaluating and coaching people to be better bosses

She should go through that process immediately
It will show her willingness to learn from feedback and improve

[MrGrieves]

62. This same old crap?

She was a mean boss....???? really? Let me make this clear, she has been a very effective senator for MN. She has done one hell of a job at every level that she has served the public at. Every level. But she was hard to work for. Ok let’s say she was awful to work for. One of the meanest bosses ever.... Ok so what? Did she break the law? Did she injure anyone? Did she get shit done and help to make MN and the U.S. better?


I am so sick of this shit. I really am. And you know what? As a resident on MN I have voiced my differences with Amy before. She is a very pragmatic senator who os not afraid to work across the aisle and at times I have disagreed with giving too much but she has been an excellent senator.... We have to stop falling for this garbage. We really do. FFS we have racists, sexual abusers, thieves, and all sorts of other crap serving in the senate. But Amy was a tough boss to work for.

JFC.

[Paladin]

63. So much for my support for Amy Klobuchar.

If by some small chance it comes down to a Klobuchar vs. trump contest in 2020, I'll vote for her. Short of that, she's lost me. During my business career, I had a couple of wretched experiences with staff-abusing bosses, scumbags who should have been confined to a small room with a valium drip rather than being given control over the lives and careers of employees. These alleged human beings contributed to broken marriages, nervous breakdowns, alcoholism, and probable mistreatment of children. They knew the job market was tight, so they could get away with it. I view the evidence of staff abuse against Klobuchar as credible, so I'll go with another Democratic candidate. I'm not happy about it; I always supported Klobuchar in the past. Some things are just deal breakers.

[Mr. Quackers]

64. What right wing fantastical lunatical shit

have the bot mines conjured up now?

Does she eat babies in the basement of an IHOP?