Biden’s acts just not on same level as Trump’s
This column will not be popular. It may even disqualify me as a progressive. But I rise today to defend Joe Biden. I think he’s getting a raw deal — from his accusers, from the media and from some of his potential 2020 opponents.
But let me make a couple of things clear. I do not support Joe Biden for president. I don’t care if he runs or not.
Yes, I proudly endorsed Bernie Sanders in the 2016 Democratic primary, but I’m not supporting anybody yet for 2020. I want to see how they do in the debates and how they stack up against Donald Trump.
I also believe Lucy Flores and Amy Lappos. I believe Joe Biden did what they say he did, and I believe it was inappropriate behavior.
But here’s where I part company. I also believe that in no way does Biden’s behavior disqualify him from running for president.
Let’s face it. Biden’s accused — of what, exactly? That’s part of the problem.
Unlike Harvey Weinstein, Charlie Rose, Bill O’Reilly or Matt Lauer, he’s not accused of sexual assault, exposing himself or forcing himself on women. Unlike Roger Ailes or Les Moonves, he’s not accused of demanding sexual favors in return for job promotions. Nor, unlike Donald Trump, is he accused of grabbing women by the crotch and sticking his tongue in their mouth, and then bragging about getting away with it.
Far from it. Both Flores and Lappos are careful to clear Biden of any suggestion of sexual harassment or assault. Instead, both accuse him of making them feel “uncomfortable.”
For Flores, by placing his hands, not on her breast or genitals, but on her shoulders, while standing behind her — and planting a kiss, not on her lips or any other body part, but on the back of her head, while they were backstage at a campaign rally, surrounded by dozens of other people. For Lappos, by leaning into her at another campaign rally, so close she thought he was going to kiss her.
Nonetheless, Flores told CNN that Biden’s action alone is “disqualifying” for a presidential candidate. Lappos said Democrats should support one of the women candidates, instead. Flores went on to suggest that, were he to become the nominee, Democrats would have difficulty distinguishing Joe Biden’s behavior from Donald Trump’s.
Don’t get me wrong. I believe the first rule of the #MeToo Movement is: Believe the Woman. Again, I believe Lucy Flores and Amy Lappos. I believe Biden did what they say he did, I believe it made them uncomfortable, and that’s wrong. No man or woman should have to experience being made uncomfortable by anybody else.
But I think we also have to acknowledge that nothing Joe Biden did had any sexual connotation. I know Biden well. He’s a warm, caring, affectionate, touching, human being. He’s a hugger. As senator, he’d come to my small hometown of Delaware City, Del., and wouldn’t leave till he’d hugged every one of the 1,200 residents. That’s who he is. Yes, it’s “old school.” But he didn’t mean anything wrong by it.
To his credit, even Joe Biden now recognizes that. A quick apology would have served him better, but after five days of stumbling around, Biden finally got around to accepting today’s reality: “Social norms have begun to change, they’ve shifted, and the boundaries of protecting personal space have been reset and I get it. I get it.”
Moving forward, two things have to happen. First, leaders of the #MeToo Movement have to distinguish different levels of improper behavior. If “he groped me” and “I thought he was going to kiss me” are condemned the same, nobody’s going to take the #MeToo movement seriously anymore.
Second, men have to learn that what may have been laughed at or tolerated at one time is simply no longer acceptable — and adjust their behavior accordingly.
Meanwhile, nothing Joe Biden’s accused of should prevent his running for president. Joe Biden’s no Donald Trump. Not even close.
Tribune Content Agency