Biden World Mobilizes Against Inappropriate Touching Allegations

[.99center]

https://www.thedailybeast.com/joe-bidens-2020-election-task-mobilize-against-creepy-joe-allegations

Joe Biden’s nascent presidential campaign and allied advisers are growing more convinced that stories of the former vice president inappropriately touching women are being pushed by opposing Democratic campaigns—and it’s caused them to pivot into campaign mode earlier than planned.

That assessment has created a sense of resentment and resolve inside the Biden camp, where there appears to be little appetite to reconsider going forward on a presidential bid. And it portends a potentially sharp-elbowed rollout for Biden should he firmly decide to enter the race.

One top Democratic source said that the suspicion within the Biden universe was that stories of women being made physically uncomfortable by the former VP were “all coming out of Bernie world.”

The insinuation was that Lucy Flores, a former Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor of Nevada in 2014, came forward at the behest of Senator Sanders to allege that Biden had given her an unwanted kiss. Flores supported Sanders during the 2016 election and was on the board of his group Our Revolution. She also appeared at a rally for former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-TX) and has consistently maintained that she wrote her first-person essay detailing her encounter with Biden because she felt that coverage of the former VP was failing to note images and instances similar to hers. Flores has not endorsed anyone in the race as of yet.

[Gothmog]

1. Biden Advisers Think Bernie Sanders Is Behind The Allegations Of Inappropriate Behavior

Link to tweet

[Amimnoch]

3. TOTALLY believe it myself. -nt

[Tipperary]

33. Yep.

Me too. Got Sirota all over it.

[Demsrule86]

26. I think he is. And it will come out which will hurt his campaign as it should.

This is wrong.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

2. Of course... it MUST be BERNIE who's behind this!!! Who else?!?! Gimme a break!!

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[Amimnoch]

4. walks like a duck.. quacks like a duck.. looks like a duck.. -nt.

[Gothmog]

5. bernie hired Sirota

We have seen this trick being used before by the sanders campaign.

[MineralMan]

6. Not Bernie himself, probably.

Someone either in his campaign or on the edges of his campaign.

[WeekiWater]

13. We are watching the Bro'pocalypse.

The scorched earth tactics are nothing new.

[BannonsLiver]

37. They appear to be backfiring.

[WeekiWater]

38. They will backfire as things currently stand.

With the current scorched earth tactics the only harm I see will come in the general.

[billpolonsky]

17. Bernie is an evil genius...

, a troublemaker and not a real Democrat.

Have i missed anything here?

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

35. Yes... you forgot to ask what Bernie's hiding in his tax returns & why hasn't he provided them yet.

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[Tipperary]

32. !!!

!!!!!

[BannonsLiver]

36. ...

Maybe it’s time to evaluate your choice? He’s running a pretty rough campaign. So much for the little birdie thingy.

[Gothmog]

7. Women who have worked for and know Joe Biden are speaking up to share their experiences

https://www.politico.com/f/?id=00000169-de7b-dc59-a16d-feff47c00000

“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. His response, that female staffer later told me, was that he’d make the coffee
instead… It’s not hard to see, time and time again, whose side he’s on. I hope he runs
for president, because I’d like to see America’s women and men get to know the Joe
Biden I already do.”
Elizabeth Alexander, former Press Secretary to then-Senator Biden (4/1/19, OpEd)

“Totally agree with @ealexander332. I count the years I worked for @JoeBiden among
the best of my career. He was not only a supportive boss - he was an empowering one.”
Terrell McSweeney, former Senate and White House Policy Advisor and FEC
Commissioner (4/1/19, Tweet)

“I'm a lifelong feminist. I mean, I was involved with trying to pass the Equal Rights
Amendment here in Illinois back in the day. So I've been involved with these issues for a
long time, and I -- and I know what it's like to try to combat the patriarchy, but I don't
think that's Joe Biden at all. You've got the wrong person here to make that kind of
allegation about, and because he's -- he is such a good guy and has been so respectful
of people over the years.”
Sen. Carol Moseley-Braun, former Senator from Illinois (4/1/19, CNN)

"Even then [1986], Joe Biden stood out for his attitude and conduct toward women: He
was devoted to his wife, Jill, and he consistently selected women for senior staff roles,
treated them with respect, and gave them opportunities to blaze new trails. He never
once crossed the line in dealing with me as a young woman on his team… Joe Biden is
a man of fundamental decency and warmth, and when he makes physical contact -- as
he often does to express a personal connection -- it reflects the genuine humanity that
is one of his greatest strengths.”
Dr. Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall, former Deputy Secretary of Energy, NSC Official,
and Biden Senate staff member (4/1/19, Press Statement)

[Sugarcoated]

8. Most of my FB friends are Democrats, moderate, Liberal, all types

The only ones bashing a fellow Democrat are Bernie people. Not all of the Bernie peeps on my friends list are doing it, but the two who are just happen to be....smh

[Gothmog]

9. Here are some additional quotes from women who know Joe

https://www.politico.com/f/?id=00000169-de7b-dc59-a16d-feff47c00000

"Even then [1986], Joe Biden stood out for his attitude and conduct toward women: He
was devoted to his wife, Jill, and he consistently selected women for senior staff roles,
treated them with respect, and gave them opportunities to blaze new trails. He never
once crossed the line in dealing with me as a young woman on his team… Joe Biden is
a man of fundamental decency and warmth, and when he makes physical contact -- as
he often does to express a personal connection -- it reflects the genuine humanity that
is one of his greatest strengths.”
Dr. Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall, former Deputy Secretary of Energy, NSC Official,
and Biden Senate staff member (4/1/19, Press Statement)

“I have often been asked what it was like to work for the US Senate (a famously all-male
environment) in the early to mid 1990s. I can happily answer that the experience was
wonderful BECAUSE I was lucky enough to work for Joe Biden, who had promoted
several women, including me, to leadership roles on the staff of Senate Judiciary
Committee, and who treated us with respect and insisted that others do the same.”
Cynthia Hogan, Former Counsel to Vice President Biden (3/31/19, Press
Statement)

“I am proud to call Joe Biden a friend. He has been a leader and a champion on fighting
violence against women for many years, and I have been fortunate to accompany him
to events with survivors where he has listened to their stories, empathized with them,
and comforted them. That's who Joe Biden is - a warm, generous individual who
believes its on all of us to pay attention to women's stories and experiences. Biden
started Its On Us because he believes to meaningfully change our culture, everyone -
including those often left out of the conversation like college athletes and fraternity
brothers - needed to be part of the movement. Joe Biden’s response that he never
meant to make anyone uncomfortable and that he'll listen and learn from anyone who
says otherwise is exactly the leadership we need to build a culture where women are
heard and are equal.”
Alyssa Milano (4/1/19, Tweet)

"The Joe Biden that I have known for 25 years is a warm and friendly human being. He
didn't mean it as anything other than that. And I guess, there has never been a problem
before. He's a warm, tactile person. He reaches out and touches, and it's like this and
that [she touches a staffer's wrist] It's hardly sexy. So, that's not his intention, and it's a
new thing that people have been affronted by it. I mean, over 25 years I've never seen
that before."
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (4/1/19, Interview)

[Cha]

10. Thanks, Goth..

[groundloop]

16. Thanks for sharing these.... one fewer thing I need to spend time researching

I've always had the impression that Joe Biden is a stand-up guy and I'm skeptical of any harassment accusations against him. I'm even more convinced now.

[Gothmog]

18. Here are some more great quotes from the same source

These are all women who know Joe https://www.politico.com/f/?id=00000169-de7b-dc59-a16d-feff47c00000

“Having hugged dear Joe Biden a number of times, I am 100% certain that his
intentions are to show empathy, warmth & support.”
Jennifer Granholm, former Governor of Michigan (4/1/19, Tweet)

"Joe and I share a lot of the same values. Every experience that I've had is one of
warmth and compassion and empathy. But that's not to take away from how someone
else feels."
Heidi Heitkamp, former Senator from North Dakota (3/31/19, MSNBC)

“There’s a lot of things I know about Joe Biden — I’ve known him for a long time… I am
sure that somebody can misconstrue something he’s done. But as much as I can know
what’s in anyone’s heart, I don’t think there is bad intent on his part at all.”
Mika Brzezinski (4/1/19, MSNBC’s Morning Joe)

“I think the Joe Biden has shown us, through a long career, that he cares about
American families. He has served our country through his long Senate career and as
Vice President. I do believe he has served us honorably...Yes, I think he is [an
honorable man].”
Rep. Katherine Clark (4/1/19, MSNBC’s Morning Joe)

“Joe Biden is a good, decent man. I do not believe – he has never made me feel
uncomfortable once, I’ve been around him a lot… All I’m saying is that I vouch for his
character, in my personal experience.”
Meghan McCain, co-host, The View (4/1/19, The View)

“Over-reacting on Biden: Joe Biden pecked top of my head years ago at event where I
told him afterwards I was very sorry his son Beau was ill. Biden does that with guys
too… It’s how Biden expresses kindness & connection.”
Alicia Mundy, former WSJ reporter and Senate investigator (4/1/19, Tweet)

[BlueFlorida]

11. Biden is a fighter and he is correct

The Sanders campaign must have plotted this.

[Aaron Pereira]

12. I'm glad to see he's willing to fight.

Pushing back hard against this bull right now will discourage other dishonest charges in the future.

[PDittie]

23. Not quite

https://nypost.com/2019/04/02/two-more-women-come-forward-with-joe-biden-accusations/

[OhZone]

14. I agree!

I don't trust anyone, but temporary Democrats I trust almost as little as Cons.

Oh well.

[Thekaspervote]

15. +1000

[Gothmog]

19. Some more quotes from women who know Joe Biden

https://www.politico.com/f/?id=00000169-de7b-dc59-a16d-feff47c00000

“I worked for Joe Biden in 2008. He NEVER made me feel uncomfortable. In fact, Ihave a deep admiration for his empathy and compassion. Having said that, I believe Lucy Flores. More important, I respect her. Seems Biden does also and is willing to learn from her.”
Patti Solis Doyle, Former Chief of Staff to Vice President Biden, Obama Former
America (4/1/19, Tweet)

“I will start with - women should have the right and respect to voice their concerns and uneasiness in any situation. But I want to add my voice to those who have spent time with Joe Biden over many years. My chapter is much smaller than a lot of great women who have stood by his side but he has ALWAYS been polite, caring and deferential to me. He called my mother once, shocking me and her, and thanked her for raising a strong, smart and capable woman. We all express emotion in our own ways and Joe Biden’s has always been with respect and gratitude”
Amanda Alpert Loveday, Former Executive Director, South Carolina Democratic
Party (3/31/19, Tweet)

“My friend Stephanie Carter has something to say about that picture with Joe Biden. She's not just "that woman" or the "defense secretary's wife." An accomplished businesswoman who had an interesting day at his oath, you should read her words Directly.”
Juliette Kayyem, former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for
Intergovernmental Affairs (3/31/19, Tweet)

“Stop using this photo. Stop putting words into the mouth of another woman. Stop pushing narratives upon others. My friend Stephanie Carter spoke out because SHE is the woman with Joe Biden in this widely-circulated photo.”
Erin Schrode (3/31/19, Tweet)

[Gothmog]

20. Yet more quotes

https://www.politico.com/f/?id=00000169-de7b-dc59-a16d-feff47c00000

“I worked for Joe Biden in 2008. He NEVER made me feel uncomfortable. In fact, Ihave a deep admiration for his empathy and compassion. Having said that, I believe Lucy Flores. More important, I respect her. Seems Biden does also and is willing to learn from her.”
Patti Solis Doyle, Former Chief of Staff to Vice President Biden, Obama Former
America (4/1/19, Tweet)

“I will start with - women should have the right and respect to voice their concerns and uneasiness in any situation. But I want to add my voice to those who have spent time with Joe Biden over many years. My chapter is much smaller than a lot of great women who have stood by his side but he has ALWAYS been polite, caring and deferential to me. He called my mother once, shocking me and her, and thanked her for raising a strong, smart and capable woman. We all express emotion in our own ways and Joe Biden’s has always been with respect and gratitude”
Amanda Alpert Loveday, Former Executive Director, South Carolina Democratic
Party (3/31/19, Tweet)

“My friend Stephanie Carter has something to say about that picture with Joe Biden. She's not just "that woman" or the "defense secretary's wife." An accomplished businesswoman who had an interesting day at his oath, you should read her words Directly.”
Juliette Kayyem, former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for
Intergovernmental Affairs (3/31/19, Tweet)

“Stop using this photo. Stop putting words into the mouth of another woman. Stop pushing narratives upon others. My friend Stephanie Carter spoke out because SHE is the woman with Joe Biden in this widely-circulated photo.”
Erin Schrode (3/31/19, Tweet)

[mcar]

21. Thank you for these, Gothmog

[OilemFirchen]

22. There's a way for Sanders to resolve this.

He, or one of his surrogates, can state that Biden is being treated unfairly.

Presto! Issue gone.

[Autumn]

24. This takes care of Flores. What about the other three?

Ex-Sanders staffer calls Biden accuser Lucy Flores a 'fraud' and 'racist' on 'Fox & Friends'

A former staffer with Sen. Bernie Sanders's (I-Vt.) Our Revolution organization took aim at former Nevada state Assemblywoman Lucy Flores on Wednesday.

In an interview with "Fox & Friends," a former staffer focused on racial justice with Sanders's 2016 presidential campaign called Flores a "racist" and asserted that Flores had retaliated against her for comments she made about immigration.


“You know, Vice President Joe Biden, if you are listening, you should know that Lucy Flores is a fraud,” Tezlyn Figaro, who worked with Flores at Our Revolution, told Fox News.

"I worked with her when I was with Our Revolution, and I currently have a [Equal Opportunity Commission] claim ... filed against Our Revolution, naming Lucy Flores as someone who was racist, as someone who implemented retaliation," Figaro added.
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/437116-ex-sanders-staffer-calls-biden-accuser-lucy-flores-a-fraud-and-racist-on

[OilemFirchen]

25. Not sure I understand your question.

A statement from Sanders or a surrogate would inure him from suspicion regardless of the quantity of accusers.

The only thing I get out of the former Sanders staffer's appearance is that Our Revolution is a loose confederacy of morons and miscreants But I knew that already.

[Autumn]

28. So again, what about the other three women who have come out about Biden?

It's strange how everyone wants to discuss the four women, Bernie, Franken , our revolution, and everybody who love Biden "hugs" but not the problem with Bidens own actions and how the GOP will use them.

OilemFirchen (5,608 posts)

22. There's a way for Sanders to resolve this.

He, or one of his surrogates, can state that Biden is being treated unfairly.

Presto! Issue gone.

You wanted a Sanders surrogate to discount Flores and one has come out and gone even further than you wanted by calling her a fraud and a racist and you ignore it. her exact words were

“You know, vice president Joe Biden, if you are listening, you should know that Lucy Flores is a fraud,” Tezlyn Figaro

[OilemFirchen]

29. I still don't understand the question.

My observation was about how the Sanders camp can easily extricate themselves from accusations that they're behind some or all of this.

Figaro is not a Sanders surrogate, is she?

[Autumn]

30. You don't understand this simple question? This takes care of Flores. What about the other three?

Okay. Good luck and have a nice week.

Star Member Autumn (33,931 posts)

24. This takes care of Flores. What about the other three?

Ex-Sanders staffer calls Biden accuser Lucy Flores a 'fraud' and 'racist' on 'Fox & Friends'

A former staffer with Sen. Bernie Sanders's (I-Vt.) Our Revolution organization took aim at former Nevada state Assemblywoman Lucy Flores on Wednesday.

In an interview with "Fox & Friends," a former staffer focused on racial justice with Sanders's 2016 presidential campaign called Flores a "racist" and asserted that Flores had retaliated against her for comments she made about immigration.


“You know, Vice President Joe Biden, if you are listening, you should know that Lucy Flores is a fraud,” Tezlyn Figaro, who worked with Flores at Our Revolution, told Fox News.

"I worked with her when I was with Our Revolution, and I currently have a [Equal Opportunity Commission] claim ... filed against Our Revolution, naming Lucy Flores as someone who was racist, as someone who implemented retaliation," Figaro added.
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/437116-ex-sanders-staffer-calls-biden-accuser-lucy-flores-a-fraud-and-racist-on

[Demsrule86]

27. Time will tell. The truth will out.

[Mme. Defarge]

31. When he announces

I will sign up to work on his campaign.

[Gothmog]

34. I like this statement by Joe Biden

Link to tweet

[bernie59]

39. If you have to pick someone to blame

Bernie is the logical choice.