We’ve all seen the photos of former Vice President Joe Biden with his hands on women’s shoulders and those women looking extremely uncomfortable.
Those who oppose Biden’s demands that men be held accountable for anything a woman claims a man does to her have previously noted that Biden himself does not live up to his own standards when interacting with women. If a college man can be expelled for horsing around with his girlfriend, then how can a man with as much power as Biden be defended for smelling women’s hair or whispering into their ear or touching them from behind?
The same media outlets that rush to excoriate any college male accused of sexual assault without any evidence are now defending Biden’s behavior as “affectionate.” MSNBC host Mika Brzezinski on Monday morning said Biden is “extremely affectionate, extremely flirtatious in a completely safe way.” If only college males and members of the military could be seen that way.
Alas, we live in a #MeToo world, where men like Biden are accused of harassment or assault and we’re supposed to destroy their career over the accusations.
Brzezinski wasn’t the only one to defend Biden this way. The Washington Post, which has on numerous occasions reported an accuser’s side of a sexual assault allegation and perpetuated the absurd claim that 1 in 5 college women are sexually assaulted as undergrads in America, also dismissed Biden’s actions as mere affection.
“Joe Biden’s affectionate, physical style with women comes under scrutiny,” the Post’s headline read. The Post described these actions by the former vice president as an “affectionate and sometimes intimate physical style,” one of Biden’s “trademarks,” and “a defining feature of the warm and upbeat persona he has built during more than four decades in the national spotlight.”
That’s how the Post framed his behavior before discussing the allegations of creepiness from Lucy Flores, a former Democrat State Senator in Nevada. Flores, who supports Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) for president, claims she was “mortified” when Biden put his hands on her shoulders from behind and allegedly sniffed her hair and kissed the back of her head.
Again, a college student or member of the military’s behavior would not be framed this way if his behavior was being questioned by the #MeToo movement.
Biden responded to Flores’ allegations as anyone who sincerely did not mean to cause harm would. He said it was not his “intention” to act inappropriately and that he didn’t see the interactions the same way as others may. But, a Leftist being a Leftist, Biden promised to listen and believe what the women were saying about him, and do better.
“In my many years on the campaign trail and in public life, I have offered countless handshakes, hugs, expressions of affection, support and comfort,” Biden said in a statement. “And not once — never — did I believe I acted inappropriately. If it is suggested I did so, I will listen respectfully. But it was never my intention. I may not recall these moments the same way, and I may be surprised at what I hear.”
Biden is apparently still mulling a run for president, so it’s pretty clear what the motives are behind the allegations.
Another woman who has appeared in one of the “creepy Biden” pictures said that her experience was different from Flores’ and that she did not see Biden as acting inappropriately.
