Internet Explorer 11 is not supported

For optimal browsing, we recommend Chrome, Firefox or Safari browsers.

After 1989 Interview Surfaces, Michigan AG Says He Regrets 'Embarrassing' Comments He Made to Woman

The video clip, in which Schuette appears to attempt to flirt with the camerawoman, was being widely circulated on social media Thursday afternoon after it was published by the pro-Democrat group American Bridge.

By Paul Egan

Attorney General Bill Schuette, the Republican nominee for governor, says he doesn't recall making joking remarks in an outtake from a 1989 TV interview, but he's embarrassed by them.

A spokeswoman for Planned Parenthood's political action committee said the remarks, directed at a female TV camerawoman, are an example of the "creepy behavior" working women have to put up with all the time.

The video clip, in which Schuette appears to attempt to flirt with the camerawoman, was being widely circulated on social media Thursday afternoon after it was published by the pro-Democrat group American Bridge.

 


 
It shows a youthful-looking Schuette, then a member of Congress from Midland, being directed by the woman to move closer to a lamp positioned beside the chair he was seated in.

"I would be happy to move closer to the lamp," Schuette says with a mischievous smile.

"I will do anything you want. Some things I may not let you run the camera on, but I will certainly happily ..."

The woman then interrupts and says her intent is to make Schuette "look as good as possible."

"It's no easy task," Schuette replies. "I appreciate your tenacity. I appreciate your spirit of Vincent van Gogh, Rembrandt, and Toulouse-Lautrec."

Schuette, whose campaign released a link to the video clip Wednesday night after it apparently was posted on the website of a conservative blog, does not know the origin of the interview or recall the outtake, his campaign said.

"That apparently was my poor attempt to be humorous 30 years ago," Schuette said  in a statement. "The video, which appears to be edited with only one short portion shown, has been in the public domain for some time. It's fortunate for me that Cynthia came into my life and let me know that I am not a very funny guy, but this is no less embarrassing to me today and I regret it."

In 1991, Schuette married Cynthia Grebe, a former TV anchorwoman. The couple has two children.

Lori Carpentier, of the Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan PAC, issued a statement Thursday that said: "Every day, women go to work and try to do their jobs while dealing with creepy behavior like this. It wasn't funny then. It's not funny now."

Former Senate Minority Leader Gretchen Whitmer, Schuette's Democratic opponent, said she imagines "everyone who's watched it had the same uncomfortable look on our faces." She said it's more troubling that Schuette has spent his political career "attacking the rights of women and working to take away our access to contraception and health care."

(c)2018 the Detroit Free Press

Special Projects