KEY POINTS

  • Mike Bloomberg has long been accused of fostering a workplace culture demeaning to women in the companies he founded
  • Kellyanne Conway claims Bloomberg's statements about women are “far worse” than what Trump said on the infamous “Access Hollywood“ tape
  • The Washigton Post published online the booklet, "Portable Bloomberg: The Wit and Wisdom of Michael Bloomberg"

Like his nemesis, Donald Trump, former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg has been condemned for misogyny and sexual misconduct on numerous occasions. Bloomberg, however, is also accused of fostering and encouraging a workplace culture where women are debased and treated as sex objects.

With the Super Tuesday primaries in 14 states set for March 3, the immense scrutiny of Bloomberg and his past record on the issues is intensifying. New polls by prominent political analysis website FiveThirtyEight have Bloomberg in third place behind Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-VT, and former vice-president Joe Biden heading into Super Tuesday.

Some of Bloomberg's more irreverent remarks about women are detailed in the pamphlet, "Portable Bloomberg: The Wit and Wisdom of Michael Bloomberg." This work was compiled by Bloomberg's colleagues at Bloomberg L.P. and presented to him during his 48th birthday in 1990.

The pamphlet includes raunchy and misogynistic remarks attributed to Bloomberg. In one account, Bloomberg said if women wanted to be known for their intelligence, they'd spend less time at Bloomingdale's and more at the library. It also alleges Bloomberg saying that if his company’s financial information computers “will do everything, including give you (oral sex), I guess that puts a lot of you girls out of business.”

A pregnant former employee that sued Bloomberg said he told her to "kill it," her unborn child, when she told him she was pregnant. Bloomberg settled the lawsuit out of court. A witness later confirmed Bloomberg's horrific statement.

White House counselor Kellyanne Conway on Sunday took a shot at Bloomberg for the latter's sexist remarks reportedly made to women who worked for him. Conway claims Bloomberg's statements are “far worse” than what Trump said on the infamous “Access Hollywood“ tape. That claim is debatable.

“The way Michael Bloomberg treated female employees … to have created that kind of culture, that unsafe workplace, to feel that you're being harassed because of your gender, that is problematic,” said Conway to host Chris Wallace on "Fox News Sunday."

“I think you're going to hear more of it.”

New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg
Bloomberg at press conference REUTERS/Chip East

The full extent of Bloomberg's disgraceful treatment of women, however, was recently brought to light by The Washington Post. The newspaper obtained thousands of pages of court documents, depositions obtained about Bloomberg under the Freedom of Information Act, and also interviewed witnesses. What the Post's exposé focuses on are Bloomberg misogyny and the sexist workplace culture he fostered demeaning to women.

Analysts said allegations Bloomberg tolerated a workplace culture hostile and debasing to women undercut his ability to criticize Trump’s alleged sexual misconduct and efforts to keep these claims private. The Post told the Bloomberg campaign it planned to put a copy of the full booklet online. The campaign said this joke has been around for 30 years.

“Mike simply did not say the things somebody wrote in this gag gift, which has been circulating for 30 years and has been quoted in every previous election Mike has been in," said spokesman Stu Loeser.

“Mike openly admits that his words have not always aligned with his values and the way he has led his life and some of what he has said is disrespectful and wrong.”