I was with Joe Biden when no one was looking, and he was always a champion for women

[PatSeg]

I write not to discount the writings of any other women or question their right to be heard, but to add to the unwritten story of Joe Biden.

What you won’t read about is how Joe Biden took the rare step of paying staffers through their entire maternity leaves, an uncommon benefit even now in the Senate (or elsewhere). What you won’t read about is how he recruited women who had worked for him in the Senate, and had “gaps” in their paid work history because of family demands, to be (very) senior staff in the White House. Those years in between compensated work were just as valuable to him as any traditional work experience.

What you won’t read about it is how he supported staff (like me) when they wanted to go to law school at night or needed to take time off to study for the bar exam, or when they asked to work one day a week from home, or work a reduced schedule so they could reliably pick up kids from school or be present each night at the dinner table. You won’t read about the way he’d debate and differ with staffers with the same intensity, regardless of gender.

You won’t read about how he’d tell male staffers and senators who were repeatedly interrupting a woman to pipe down, so he could hear what she was trying to say. You won’t read about the time another senator asked one of his female staffers to make coffee. Biden's response, that female staffer later told me, was that he’d make the coffee instead.

More at link: https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2019/04/01/joe-biden-values-champions-women-public-private-column/3330357002/?fbclid=IwAR1rwAKaUBZET4igy5vKLaHcWb_aVoU2MvNaOPYIfD-VCSacWVp0gC83JMA

Democrats need to start controlling the narrative, instead of just reacting every time someone throws a bomb.

[elleng]

1. We MUST control the narrative.

Thanks, PatSeg.

[PatSeg]

6. Hi Ellen!!!

Good to see you!

[stonecutter357]

2. K&R

[democratisphere]

3. We must support our best leaders when they are under siege

by so-called members of their own political party.

[PatSeg]

7. Yes

I wonder what Ms. Flores thought she was accomplishing. I have a feeling it is backfiring on her.

[Scurrilous]

4. K&R

[BlueFlorida]

5. K&R nt

[IndyOp]

8. Yeah! Fantastic, specific - excellent. I am grateful to see this response. (nt)

[PatSeg]

15. Hopefully

More people will come forward with their own positive Joe Biden stories!

[calimary]

9. Damn straight we have to control the narrative!!!

I wish the Dems would put George Lakoff on staff to cover our desperate needs for shrewd messaging!!!!!!!!!!

[NoMoreRepugs]

10. There is only one mission - defeating tRump and Repugs in 2020 - PERIOD.

All the purity tests and bullshit needs to be put on the shelf.

[PatSeg]

12. Well, that is our primary mission

BUT we also need to get Dems in governors' mansions, state and local assemblies, and the house and senate in DC. This country needs sweeping change and we can't do that with just the White House. There will be tons of damage to clean up in two years.

[LakeArenal]

11. Quit eating our own.

Quit. Eating. Our. Own.

[peggysue2]

13. Controlling the narrative is imperative

Because our opponents every where will attempt to sow distraction and confusion. This sort of campaign to taint a candidate will not stop at Joe Biden. Biden is being tested now which may ultimately be a good thing because he will be lambasted by the Left and the Right. He's a genuine threat in 2020, so his armor needs to be strong, impenetrable.

However, all of our Democratic candidates need to steel themselves for the future onslaught. This is going to get messy and dirty and ugly.

This is just a first round. Attacks are incoming!

Btw, an OP-Ed like this one is a great defense.

[PatSeg]

14. The right will use our principles against us

Though they don't know how to govern or legislate, they sure are masters at dirty politics. To them winning is everything and they will do whatever it takes, including selling their soul to the devil as they've done with Donald Trump.

I loved this OP-Ed and I expect we will see more. Joe has a long history in DC and he has made many friends who will not stand for besmirching his character. Meanwhile, the cable news pundits need to quit making a story out of every bit of nonsense that comes out about a candidate. Mentioning it is one thing, but taking up entire segments discussing it for two or three days is ridiculous.

[at140]

16. Lilly Jay is not so sure?

https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2019/04/joe-biden-lilly-jay-touch-essay.html