3 more women have come forward, making a total of 7. Biden did the right thing

[pnwmom]

Last edited Thu Apr 4, 2019, 02:08 AM - Edit history (1)

in making that video.

I hope his supporters stop bashing the women. I think it was inevitable Biden would eventually face this issue, because it had been percolating for decades. It was better to get this out of the way as early as possible. His video was very good, imho -- hopefully good enough to satisfy the women involved (though maybe he should reach out to them with an "I'm sorry."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/biden-says-hell-adjust-his-physical-behavior-as-three-more-women-come-forward/2019/04/03/94a2ed2c-5622-11e9-8ef3-fbd41a2ce4d5_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.fc9c1b8dd36a

Biden addressed critics in a video posted to Twitter as three additional women told The Washington Post on Wednesday about encounters with him that made them feel uncomfortable. Their stories bring the total number of people who have expressed concerns about alleged interactions with Biden to seven. Other women defended Biden, who has been seen by many women as an advocate for them.

SNIP

Vail Kohnert-Yount said she was a White House intern in the spring of 2013 and one day tried to exit the basement of the West Wing when she was asked to step aside so Biden could enter. After she moved out of the way, she said, Biden approached her to introduce himself and shake her hand.

“He then put his hand on the back of my head and pressed his forehead to my forehead while he talked to me. I was so shocked that it was hard to focus on what he was saying. I remember he told me I was a ‘pretty girl,’ ” Kohnert-Yount said in a statement to The Post.

SNIP

Sofie Karasek was part of a group of 51 sexual assault victims who appeared onstage at the Oscars with Lady Gaga that year; Biden had introduced the singer’s performance.

Karasek said as she met Biden after the ceremony, she was thinking about a college student who had been sexually assaulted and recently died by suicide. She decided to share the story with the then-vice president, and Biden responded by clasping her hands and leaning down to place his forehead against hers, a moment captured in a widely circulated photograph.

SNIP


The photo below is of Sophie Karesek.

Link to tweet

[LongtimeAZDem]

1. The BASTARD!

“He then put his hand on the back of my head and pressed his forehead to my forehead while he talked to me. I was so shocked that it was hard to focus on what he was saying. I remember he told me I was a ‘pretty girl,’ ” Kohnert-Yount said in a statement to The Post.


Karasek said as she met Biden after the ceremony, she was thinking about a college student who had been sexually assaulted and recently died by suicide. She decided to share the story with the then-vice president, and Biden responded by clasping her hands and leaning down to place his forehead against hers, a moment captured in a widely circulated photograph.


Ally Coll said she was a young Democratic staffer helping run a reception of about 50 people when Biden entered the room. She said she was then introduced to Biden, who she said leaned in, squeezed her shoulders and delivered a compliment about her smile, holding her “for a beat too long.”

That's it; he need to be put in jail to prevent these despicable acts from ever happening again.

[True Blue American]

28. Oh, for Heavens sake!

Enough!

[Demsrule86]

42. I saw the picture...true terror ( sarcasm). At this point these women make themselves

look really bad. I am embarrassed for them now.

[allgood33]

55. It's the look of a true and sincere consoler. Not many humans have that gift. nt

[Demsrule86]

57. That is true.

[dalton99a]

50. +1. Horrible, nasty man

[Eliot Rosewater]

52. I wish a certain someone would call back the ATTACK DOGS and stop ATTACKING democrats

I cant say anymore than that

[LakeArenal]

3. I don't.

[LongtimeAZDem]

4. Neither do I; this has gone far enough.

[Bayard]

5. Same here

None of these stories are changing my mind about him. I support him more. I haven't heard anything yet that has a sexual overtone. I do understand that some people just don't like to be touched by a person they don't know.

So, what is to become of the handshake? It originated as a way for men to show they were not holding a weapon. Now, I fear any kind of touch is being weaponized

[LakeArenal]

53. Folks parse every word he says.

He will never say exactly what anyone wants. He has said what he’s said.

For most it’s been enough. For some it will never be enough, or the right tone, or the right words.
Even my post, two agree, you don’t.

[Demsrule86]

43. Nope it is clearly bull shit.

The ridiculous claims and contradictory pictures tell the story.

[Stare Decisis]

7. What changed since Jan. 31?

Link to tweet

[pnwmom]

9. I remember hearing he gave a speech at a rally for a GOP friend.

I didn't hear that he was paid for it. Do you have a link for that?

NEVER MIND! Thanks. I just found one.

[Cha]

12. Who was that?

[pnwmom]

13. Here's an article about it.

https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/1/24/18195926/joe-biden-2020-speech-fred-upton

Joe Biden hasn’t announced if he’s running for president yet, but his potential campaign took a bit of a hit Thursday when the New York Times reported the former vice president had given a paid speech in which he complimented a House Republican weeks before the 2018 midterm elections.

The Times’s Alex Burns found Biden had received $200,000 from the Economic Club of Southwestern Michigan, “a business-minded civic organization” that receives some money from an Upton family foundation. He gave a speech in October in Benton Harbor, Michigan, in which he praised Upton as “one of the finest guys I’ve ever worked with,” crediting the Congress member for working to increase federal funding for cancer research. According to reports at the time, Biden otherwise hit some of his favorite notes in the speech, arguing for the need for consensus and mocking the “half-baked nationalism” and “phony populism” of President Donald Trump and others.

Republicans ran ads touting the vice president’s kind words about Upton, who represents a more moderate district that Democrats hoped would be in play in a favorable environment. Local Democrats begged Biden to do some damage control, though it seems he declined, per, according to the Times. Upton ultimately won by less than 5 percentage points after winning by 22 points in 2016 — and, while Biden can’t exactly be blamed for a longtime incumbent winning reelection, the implication is that he didn’t help.

[Cha]

15. I don't care.

[pnwmom]

16. Why did you ask then? n/t

[Cha]

17. I didn't.

[pnwmom]

18. Post #12. You said, "Who was that?" So I answered. n/t

[Cha]

19. I know what I said, pnwmom..

I said "who".. not what.

[Tiggeroshii]

25. Everything in this thread is basis for Joe Biden

having a highly advanced level of emotional depth despite what he went through in his life. Not sure how any of this hurts him.

[oasis]

10. Joe's going forward. I'm hopeful each of these 3 will benefit from

his policies after he's elected.

[pnwmom]

11. More so than under DT, yes. More than the rest of the Dems? Doubtful.

He's less progressive than most of the field.

[oasis]

20. Joe will never make it to the top of my all time wish list. Hillary

would have filled that role. Right now, I'm in search of a Democratic candidate who can clinch enough electoral votes.

[pnwmom]

21. I think we're going to need some debates before we'll have a real idea about that.

Voters need a reason to choose other than name recognition, and the debates will begin to help with that.

[oasis]

24. I really look forward to substantive debates. Americans must be

confident in a leader who can get us out of this terrible mess.

[Demsrule86]

41. Yeah and this is why he can win . He is perceived as less progressive.

31 seats in the midterm were moderate seats...won in Trump districts. Big tent is our only means of getting a senate majority, We need someone who can win MI,PA and WI to take the presidency. I don't see any other candidate doing this other than Joe. If we lose in 20, the progressive movement is done...and we we get a 6 -3 court. We could also lose the house. We win with a big tent or we lose. It has always been so. This year is no different. I wish it wasnt true but it is true, and it is a damn shame that we may lose yet again to Donald fucking Trump.

[Cha]

14. Hoa Aloha, oasis!

I like Joe Biden even more now after these attempts to take him out.

I wish him well.

[oasis]

22. Aloha to you Cha.

I find it frustrating that I am forced to defend such a solid Democrat as Joe Biden. He's not on the top of my list but, I'll be damned if I stand by while dirty tricks are played to take him out.

Mahalo for your support, my friend.

[Cha]

23. Mahalo nui loa to you for

seeing what this is.

[Demsrule86]

44. We all will. And the stupidity of these claims ....

[tirebiter]

26. Pressing the flesh is an assumed responsibility of politicians

When did everyone get so uptight?

[pnwmom]

27. Biden's style isn't for everyone. Many women don't like it when men in professional settings

decide to press more than hands.

As much as I've liked certain politicians -- Obama, for example -- I'd never have wanted to press foreheads. That would just be weird.

[True Blue American]

30. Gee, did you miss Joe hugging Meghan McCain when her father was so ill?

Joe actually hugged and carressed her on National TV! How could he do that?

Sarcasm alert!

[dsc]

31. they knew each other

I know this is a hard concept for some people, but women get to decide who does and who doesn't hug them. It is almost like they are real human beings with real rights

[treestar]

32. Don't men?

It would seem simple to say men get to decide that too.

[dsc]

33. actually society recognizes that already

any gay male politician who touched men in the same way Biden touches women would soon be out of office.

[treestar]

34. I seriously doubt that premise

And this is not sexual, so why does the man have to be gay for your example?

And you are claiming a woman can never touch a man in any offensive way that makes him uncomfortable?

[Demsrule86]

45. She they hugged him...but that is ok...pictures tell the story. Me To is now toast,

Thanks girls. I really doubt if you know what you did. Me To was important.And this means less jobs for women...no corporation or campaign will take the risk of people waiting months or years and then charging companies with not sexual harassment but a smear campaign...causing discomfort'... a nebulous charge that can't be disproven as it is based on feelings not facts.

[True Blue American]

29. When did everyone

Become Polly Puritans?

I thought that was the Evangelical creed. Except when they are secretly raping women.

[MFM008]

35. Im getting sick

Of these allegations especially in comparison to the pussy grabbing rapist in the white house with 23
Allegations and 1 active court case.
Its beginning to be ridiculous.

[Pachamama]

36. +100000

Same here

[rgbecker]

37. Sorry to say Biden is out before he even says he's in.

It is going to be endless tasteless videos and testimony showing his poor judgement. We are in a different time...just have a short discussion with any 20-30 year old woman about what is acceptable. In this tape from 2015 we hear Biden suggesting he be left alone with a young lady...Ha, Ha. And his choice of complements "You're a pretty girl" to young women is over the top.

I think a quick test is imagining an interaction like this with a man....Standing behind, hands on shoulders, kissing the back of his head...calling him handsome, and wanting to be alone with him.....

Ah..I don't think so.

http://www.cc.com/video-clips/yfmksi/the-daily-show-with-jon-stewart-the-audacity-of-grope

[LongtimeAZDem]

38. If we are going to surrender our political process to a few people who felt uncomfortable,

then the Republicans are going to win.

[rgbecker]

39. Polictical process is underway right now.

Biden will have a very hard time winning support when there are so many others to choose from. People with little extra baggage of 40 years of Videos showing creepy interactions with young ladies. Put me on the list that feel uncomfortable watching Biden's display of emotional support.

Sanders too will have much to overcome, but at least we have had him working his program all over TV land for 4 years.

[LongtimeAZDem]

40. I doubt it; I think most people will see these attacks for what they are

[Demsrule86]

48. We are going to lose if Biden is out, slim chance for Beto but no one else wins.

[Demsrule86]

49. Biden is a good guy

And you support Sanders. Don't think I will listen to this. And can we have taxes please.. from sen Sanders?

[Demsrule86]

47. Exactly.

[Perrenial Voter]

51. I don't think his style is going to matter much, at least to those who are likely to vote for him

in the first place. But there are a lot of things in his long political record that are going to cause him problems in the current milieu and I don't think saying that he has evolved is going to be enough.

[Demsrule86]

46. Sorry to say he is not. The claims are ridiculous at this point.

Biden is the only candidate who can win.

[peggysue2]

54. Keep It Up and . . .

the MeToo movement will be laughed out of town. You want people to stop listening to the voices of women? This is exactly the way you do it by making a mockery of the original intent: calling attention to sexual harassment and assault against women.

Most women have been there. We know what sexual harassment looks and sounds like.

This ain't it!

Btw, abusers do not allow pictures taken.

There's nothing brave in a pile-on action, stretching the limits and definition of a social, gender-related movement, then using that pile-on as a political cudgel to take out opponents.

No one's interests are served by this. And women--who have fought so hard to be taken seriously, to have their voices heard--will be harmed the most.

Short-sighted and counterproductive. Also sickening.

[comradebillyboy]

56. I'm not a Biden supporter but this whole 'scandal' is absurd.

It wasn't all that long ago when Joe's touchy feely nature was considered part of his charm. What is the standard of conduct? Is it causing some vague feeling of unease? My wife thinks this whole business is ridiculous.

Yeah, I believe the women, but seriously, 'he put his hand on my shoulder'...GMAFB.