Andrew Gillum's first interview since the hotel incident

[tulipsandroses]

First let me say: I work in mental health and with people struggling with addiction and I have seen it all. I am not going to chastise Mr. Gillum for his struggles. What I do question, the timing of the interview. I think he opens himself up to so much backlash and criticism from the right and left so soon after this happened. I hope he and his wife are in a good place to withstand all the incoming.

Tamron Hall Talks 'Heartbreaking' Interview with Former Fla. Political Star Found Drunk in Hotel Scandal
"The level of shame that he is feeling, the level of heartbreak and humiliation that his wife has been exposed to, reaches a depth of pain that I cannot imagine," Hall tells PEOPLE

After news of the incident spread, Gillum announced he would be stepping back in order to “seek help, guidance and enter a rehabilitation facility.”

Now, for the first time, the former mayor of Tallahassee and his wife are talking about the situation and his recovery.

“It’s one of the most difficult interviews I’ve ever conducted because you have someone who — the level of shame that he is feeling, the level of heartbreak and humiliation that his wife has been exposed to, reaches a depth of pain that I cannot imagine," Hall says.

“The truth is, is that, Tamron, everyone believes the absolute worst about that day," Gillum tells Hall. "At this stage I don't have anything else to have to conceal. I literally got broken down to my most bare place, to the place where I wasn't even sure that I wanted to live. Not because of what I had done, but because of everything that was being said about me.”

Gillum says that he has cried "every day" since the incident.

[link:https://people.com/politics/tamron-hall-talks-andrew-gillum-interview/|

[W_HAMILTON]

1. I grew to like this guy, but after his troubles, I wonder...

...if Gwen Graham had been nominated in his place, would we have eked out a victory in the Florida's governor's race and retained Bill Nelson's seat in the Senate?

[FarPoint]

3. Well...who knows...

Tomorrow is another day.... She may move forward and shine.

[Awsi Dooger]

5. You wonder?

100% guaranteed. Andrew Gillum took down a governor's chair and a senate seat. Not only that, he made Biden and Florida Democrats more vulnerable to the charge of corrupt socialist.

Maybe you had to be here in South Florida to fully grasp how pivotal it was. The word socialist suddenly had life and it has only accelerated. That Politico article the other day said there is a local Hispanic YouTube celebrity named Alexander Otaola who switched from Obama supporter to evangelist Trump supporter, telling his followers all day that Democrats are nothing but evil socialists. That's why the Cuban numbers and Hispanic numbers in general are slipping away from Hillary's level. I had heard the name Otaola in passing many times but until that article I didn't understand what was going on.

Florida politics is admittedly very complicated. I'm in the midst of it and still am surprised from time to time. But the Bernie Sanders wing had no business intruding on the 2018 gubernatorial primary and shoving Gillum to the late upset over Gwen Graham, a moderate with a spotless record and huge support within the education community. If she were governor right now it would be just like Gretchen Whitmer...already a star. The national networks would have been touting Graham as a governor who did everything right, especially in contrast to Brian Kemp in Georgia.

Just a disaster all around. I will never get over it, just like the Hillary defeat.

I don't care what Andrew Gillum has to say, now or ever. Obviously nothing was vetted about him except where he stood on the ideological dial. And that is disgusting.

[brush]

7. Didn't the hotel incident happen after the election?

Why do you say he caused all that?

[cwydro]

10. How did he not cause what happened?

Someone forced him into a hotel room to do drugs? Huh?

[brush]

11. You didn't answer the question. Didn't the incident happen after the 2018 election?

[cwydro]

14. I was not aware you asked me a question.

Let me check, oh, no you didn’t.

But I don’t see any relevancy to the question you asked someone else.

[brush]

16. Sorry, since you responded I thought you were the one to ask...

but since we're on the subject, didn't the incident happen after the 2018 election? He hurt himself and his future not anyone else's chances in the 2018 election.

[W_HAMILTON]

9. Unfortunately, we are seeing that -- the lack of vetting -- with quite a few progressive candidates.

Gillum, Buttar, Coleman, etc.

[obamanut2012]

12. No, Graham wouldn't have eked out a victory

She would have quite soundly beat DeSantis. I was very unhappy when he won the nom, because I was afraid we would lose Bill Nelson as well as the Governor's seat, and we did.

[FarPoint]

2. Better it came to a head so to speak now....

I sense his political aspirations are greatly diminished....Positive affirmations sent for his recovery posture and " One Day at a Time" Program.

[aikoaiko]

4. "I'm not calling Mr. DeSantis a racist. I'm simply saying the racists believe he's a racist."

I'll always be grateful to Gillum for that debate takedown.

I hope he is able to get his life in order and come back stronger.

[Darwin2019]

6. I know Andrew's wife

I worked with her for several years at a research center at FSU. She is a kind and good person. Also phone banked with Andrew at Benjamin Crump's office here in Tallahassee in 2016. Andrew is a good compassionate person. I wish them both the best.

[MustLoveBeagles]

8. He needs to work on his personal life first

If he does that and is sincere about it then he might be able to reenter politics after several years. If he takes the Anthony Weiner route of not being sincere about getting help and reentering politics too soon then he's permanently done. I wish him luck.

[radius777]

13. Lots of people have issues like this, it makes him more relatable imo.

In the future I don't think incidents like this will disqualify people from seeking office, because so many, especially Gen-X and Millennials, have had experiences like this (either themselves or their family) and can relate to it. Many smart and brilliant people too.

Gillum did try to unify the Sanders and Hillary wings - he was not divisive - even though some try to paint him that way. He is a good man who would've been a good governor and would've won if not for voter suppression/theft (and racism). The problem isn't 'socialism' but a failure to properly explain the Dem message to many.

[cwydro]

15. "Lots of people have issues like this."

Jerry Falwell Jr. comes to mind.

Interesting how different the comments are in these two situations.