With the focus on Roy Moore and accusations of sexual harassment, CBS chose to go back to the ‘90s for a historical example. But, no. Not Bill Clinton. Instead, a Norah O’Donnell segment hyped “trailblazer” Anita Hill. The CBS This Morning host even noted questions as to whether then-Senator Joe Biden did enough to stop Clarence Thomas.
A CBS graphic read: “Anita Hill’s Impact: Trailblazer Discusses Confronting Sexual Harassment.” O’Donnell touted, “Anita Hill shared her account of dealing with sexual harassment. She spoke at Glamour magazine's Women of the Year award yesterday.”
She noted a question from the left directed to Joe Biden, a U.S. Senator at the time of the hearings in 1991: “Earlier, former Vice President Joe Biden was asked if he would have handled Hill's 1991 case differently. Biden presided over Clarence Thomas' confirmation hearing. Supporters of Hill believe the hearing was unfair to her and subjected her to public humiliation.”
A defensive Biden explained:
JOE BIDEN: Let’s get something straight here: I believed Anita Hill. I voted against Clarence Thomas. I feel really badly she didn't feel like the process worked. But I you what, I said something at the time that proved to be right. I had this is going to be the start of a fundamental change in what constitutes harassment in the workplace and people are going to begin to change. And it began to change because of her courage.
In October of 2016, CBS brought on Hill to tout her accusations against Thomas. This was during the height of the presidential election. Though the topic was sexual harassment in the ‘90s, no mention was made of Bill Clinton.
In 2014, This Morning co-host Gayle King cheered Hill: “Because of you, Anita Hill that girls today know sexual harassment is not okay and they can do something about it.”
A transcript is below:
CBS This Morning
11/14/17
8:04:24 to 8:05:41CBS Graphic: Anita Hill’s Impact: Trailblazer Discusses Confronting Sexual Harassment
NORAH O’DONNELL: Anita Hill shared her account of dealing with sexual harassment. She spoke at Glamour magazine's Women of the Year award yesterday.
ANITA HILL: In 1991, I testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee that Clarence Thomas, who had repeatedly harassed me when he was my boss, was unsuitable to sit on the U.S. Supreme Court.
O’DONNELL: Hill said all women are entitled to work and live without fear of sexual misconduct. Other women, including Olympic gold medalist Aly Raisman, joined her onstage to share their personal stories. Earlier, former Vice President Joe Biden was asked if he would have handled Hill's 1991 case differently. Biden presided over Clarence Thomas' confirmation hearing. Supporters of Hill believe the hearing was unfair to her and subjected her to public humiliation.
JOE BIDEN: Let’s get something straight here: I believed Anita Hill. I voted against Clarence Thomas. I feel really badly she didn't feel like the process worked. But I you what, I said something at the time that proved to be right. I had this is going to be the start of a fundamental change in what constitutes harassment in the workplace and people are going to begin to change. And it began to change because of her courage.
O’DONNELL: Biden urged the audience to change the culture of how women are treated in society.
