I have no daughters, but I have known several daughters in my life, and have a mother, a few women coworkers, plus a female friend here and there, and I have never grabbed any of their pussies—nor, for the record, would I brag about doing so, if I had. And let me tell you, if I heard about anyone who had, I would punch him in the freakin’ head.
I’m a real “guy” if you know what I mean. But, for the record—which exists, and which I must enter myself into, for fear that my thoughts and feelings, which matter, will be left out of the record—I said that Trump was bad, like, months ago, so anyone who is just saying he is bad now is way worse than me. And also for the record, I think that when Trump says that nobody respects women more than he does, he is being disingenuous.
What I’m trying to say here is that I really respect women, and that is why I am breaking my silence with regard to whether or not I, Brendan O’Connor, respect women.
For the record, this speaks to me:
I believe there is good and bad in all of us, especially, in men. There is always a balance, and it’s always a challenge to stay on course and ultimately do the right thing. If anyone tells you different they are in denial or flat out lying to you. A president is counted on to do the right thing. And when it comes to women, respect is what you are looking for in a man, and in a leader.
For the record—and I am not proud to admit this, but it is important for men to talk about it (especially me)—I have said things that are sexist, and misogynist, and hateful, and bad, and wrong, and ugly, and all of the things that are bad to be. Like I said, I can be a real “guy” sometimes. But I am not those things. The things that I said were bad but I am not bad.
For the record, I have forgiven myself.
I think what’s important to focus on here, is that I am a good man. For the record, I also want to apologize to women, on behalf of all good men, for the behavior of bad men—I want to apologize not just for Donald Trump talking about grabbing pussies, but for the men who have actually grabbed pussies. I, again, have never said or done this, or anything like it, and furthermore, for the record, I have never known anyone who has said or done this or anything like it—whether in a locker room or anywhere else—but certainly it happens, and is bad, and for that I apologize, as I said, on behalf of my gender.
I hope you can forgive me and mine on behalf of yours. I hope, more importantly, that this has set the record straight with regard to how much I want you to understand how much I respect women, and how little applause I require for that.