On Friday a former Democratic Nevada state senator came forward to accuse former Vice President Joe Biden of inappropriately touching her at a campaign rally in 2014, opening the floodgates to accusations against “Creepy Joe” that have prompted some of Biden’s fellow Democratic presidential hopefuls to declare they still “believe all women” and Biden to issue a statement maintaining his innocence but pledging to listen.
On Monday’s episode of “The View,” the co-hosts discussed the issue of Biden’s well-documented “overly familiar” behavior with women and girls. Most of “The View” women, who are mostly progressive feminists, defended Biden, even at times chiding the women who came forward and questioning their motives.
Breitbart highlighted a few of the key quotes from Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, and company. Goldberg suggested that Biden’s accusers should’ve just said something to the Vice President of the United States when it happened rather than making public accusations years later.
“Listen, in the old days we would call Joe — some folks of a certain age would say he’s a little ‘overly familiar,'” said Goldberg. “But most politicians when they’re doing this with you, they are. Joe is a hands-on kind of guy. I’ve never heard anyone,” she began before correcting herself: “She [Biden accuser Lucy Flores] says she felt violated. I have to take her at her word.”
Goldberg then issued her complaint against Flores: “But it would have been nice if she turned to him and say, ‘You know what, I don’t really like this. Please don’t do this, Mr. Vice President. I’m not comfortable with this’ — something, because he’s standing right there,” she said, a line that prompted applause from the audience.
“Though it’s hard to say to somebody’s who’s sniffing your hair,” said Behar.
“No, it’s not if somebody touches you inappropriately,” said Goldberg, getting more applause from the audience.
Later in the discussion, Goldberg elaborated on her point: “I want women to get to the place where they can say, ‘Hey, you just made me uncomfortable.’ This idea that you have to tiptoe away from this, or you have to carry it. You do not have to carry it. If someone makes you uncomfortable, tell them. [applause] He came down to do you a favor; he was at your fundraiser. You had every right to say … ‘Don’t do that Joe’ … You have to stop … mischaracterizing stuff.”
When Sunny Hostin, who described herself as “in the middle” on the issue, remarked, “I don’t know if we’ll see anymore smelling of hair, and kisses,” Goldberg said, “That pisses me off … I don’t want Joe to stop doing that.”
Behar also came to Biden’s defense by saying his alleged kissing of Flores’ head and smelling of her hair at the 2014 campaign rally wasn’t as bad as what Donald Trump described in the infamous Access Hollywood tape. “It’s a long way from smelling your hair to grabbing your hoo-ha,” she said. Behar, similar to her fellow feminist Alyssa Milano, went on to defend Biden by describing him as somebody whom she personally knows that is just really “affectionate” and “friendly.”
Abby Huntsman had a stronger take, questioning the motives of Biden’s accusers: “I always wonder when these things come out, what is the motive for this person? Is it simply to let people know, I was uncomfortable, which you could have done in private? Or is it because you want someone else to win and you want him to have doubts about announcing or the presidency?” She added that one of her concerns about the #MeToo movement is that it potentially vilifies “normal interactions.”
Meghan McCain also defended Biden, describing him as “a certain kind of retail politician that loves people,” like her father and Bill Clinton, who will “go into the crowd and shake everyone’s hands.” While women should be heard, she said, there’s also a big difference between what Biden’s accused of and actions like those ascribed to Roger Ailes.
Related: Alyssa Milano Posts Lengthy Defense Of Joe Biden, Gets Slammed By Feminist ‘Allies’