Ex-U.S. Vice President Biden, facing questions about touching women, says he'll respect 'personal space'

By James Oliphant

 

FILE PHOTO: Former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden in Washington, U.S., January 24, 2019. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Responding to complaints that he made some women uncomfortable by touching them at political events, former Vice President Joe Biden on Wednesday released a video in which he pledged to be “more mindful about respecting personal space in the future.”

 

Biden has not yet announced whether he will join the 2020 Democratic presidential field, but is widely expected to mount a bid in the coming weeks.

 

The video http://bit.ly/2OOhMFG is the latest attempt by Biden and his team to try to tamp down a controversy that has flared since a Nevada politician, Lucy Flores, last week said Biden made her feel “uneasy, gross, and confused” when he kissed the back of her head at a 2014 campaign event.

 

Since then, three other women have said Biden made them feel uncomfortable in similar fashion. Biden has called himself a “tactile politician” who thrives on interactions with the public and has said he does not believe he ever acted inappropriately.

 

“Social norms are changing,” Biden said in Wednesday’s video, which was posted on Twitter and lasts just over two minutes. “I understand that, and I’ve heard what these women are saying.

 

"Politics to me has always been about making connections, but I will be more mindful about respecting personal space in the future. That’s my responsibility, and I will meet it.”

 

Biden has long been known for a warm and intimate campaign style. But his propensity for hugging and physical touching has come under new scrutiny in the era of #MeToo and #TimesUp as awareness about sexual assault and harassment has grown.

 

Public opinion polls have consistently shown Biden, 76, atop the 2020 Democratic field, which currently includes more than a dozen candidates.

 

Biden was vice president for eight years in the administration of Republican President Donald Trump's predecessor, Barack Obama. Before that, he was longtime U.S. senator from Delaware.

 

(Reporting by James Oliphant; editing by Jonathan Oatis)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-04-04

Sorry Crazy Uncle Joe - too little too late. Besides, the fact that Lyndsey Graham is defending you shows the Republicans firmly believe Joe couldn't win the election (which is true).

Can't help but feel a bit sorry for Biden here. This really must hurt. The knowledge it was his own party that forever changed the political world with the Kavanaugh smears and witch hunt and the ridiculous accusations against Trump for having had sexual relations with a porn star (Get in there son!) makes it even more painful. In light of all the spurious accusations coming from the Democrats I think their contender should probably be a virgin. Good luck to Biden, he seems a decent sort - apart from all this creepiness and inappropriate behavior toward women.

Mr Biden will be just fine and if he runs Donald is out

32 minutes ago, webfact said:

Biden and his team to try to tamp down a controversy that has flared since a Nevada politician, Lucy Flores, last week

 

Last week?? Biden has been known as a creeper for years, and been mocked for it for years. 

 

33 minutes ago, webfact said:

Biden has long been known for a warm and intimate campaign style. But his propensity for hugging and physical touching has come under new scrutiny

 

Democrats have it so good. If this was a Republican the media would be all over it but since its Joe Biden - "warm and intimate" is his campaign style instead of "touchy feely old man" like it should be. 

 

The hypocrisy of the left and their media lapdogs knows no bounds. 

3 minutes ago, Thainesss said:

 

Last week?? Biden has been known as a creeper for years, and been mocked for it for years. 

 

What makes it worse is that if he gets the nomination, he'll be up against a candidate who is widely celebrated for his respectful treatment of women.

4 minutes ago, Thainesss said:

 

Democrats have it so good. If this was a Republican the media would be all over it but since its Joe Biden - "warm and intimate" is his campaign style instead of "touchy feely old man" like it should be. 

 

The hypocrisy of the left and their media lapdogs knows no bounds. 

And exactly how did the public find out about these accusations? Telepathy?

2 minutes ago, bristolboy said:

And exactly how did the public find out about these accusations? Telepathy?

 

Go ahead, do you liberal hypocritical duty for your boy Joe. Swerve and dodge and deflect the fact that hes probably one of the most videoed politicians on the planet making women and children visibly uncomfortable. Be sure to deflect to Trump as well for good measure. 

 

None of it will matter because there is no way to not be a raging hypocrite. 

18 minutes ago, Thainesss said:

 

Go ahead, do you liberal hypocritical duty for your boy Joe. Swerve and dodge and deflect the fact that hes probably one of the most videoed politicians on the planet making women and children visibly uncomfortable. Be sure to deflect to Trump as well for good measure. 

 

None of it will matter because there is no way to not be a raging hypocrite. 

You're the one who is deflecting. You claimed that the press is spinning the story. They've reported thorougly on what these women contend and Biden's reply. The only one who is spinning here is you.

48 minutes ago, Tug said:

Mr Biden will be just fine and if he runs Donald is out

You must know that Trump's campaign will continually run the shots of children flinching away from Joe's inappropriate attention. Many Dems will be repelled by this. 

A troll post has been removed. 

1 hour ago, bristolboy said:

And exactly how did the public find out about these accusations? Telepathy?

By having eyes would be my guess...

1 hour ago, Tug said:

Mr Biden will be just fine and if he runs Donald is out

So you are fine with Biden's touchy feely creepy behavior toward women and children lol. 

 

yea those trump republicans really take the high road. so paying out money to multiple women like trump did and having sex with a porn star while your wife is a t home pregnant is just fine- thats what men do! but hey if a democrat even get accused of something inappropriate they go all in. republican does it-fake news. democrat does it- lock him or her up lol.

i guess i should post a picture of trump practically fondeling his daughter and telling us what a great piece of ass she is.

Just now, johnnykak said:

i guess i should post a picture of trump practically fondeling his daughter and telling us what a great piece of ass she is.

 

Yes, please post a video of Trump telling everyone "what a great piece of ass" Ivanka is. 

2 minutes ago, johnnykak said:

yea those trump republicans really take the high road. so paying out money to multiple women like trump did and having sex with a porn star while your wife is a t home pregnant is just fine- thats what men do! but hey if a democrat even get accused of something inappropriate they go all in. republican does it-fake news. democrat does it- lock him or her up lol.

The difference is consent. Porn stars love sex with presidents and famous people. It is a feather in their cap and something to boast about. 12 year old schoolgirls do not like having 70 year old men cuddling up to them, sniffing their hair and being all touchy-feely. You know this already, don't you?

5 minutes ago, johnnykak said:

i guess i should post a picture of trump practically fondeling his daughter and telling us what a great piece of ass she is.

I thought the topic was Joe Biden but I can see "Trump Derangement Syndrome" has take over once again lol.

Edited April 4, 20197 yr by tlandtday

1 hour ago, Tug said:

Mr Biden will be just fine and if he runs Donald is out

I think you greatly underestimate the stupidity of the American electorate, however I truly wish to be proven wrong. 

I notice Biden's former boss, Obama, has not defended Joe.

3 minutes ago, TopDeadSenter said:

The difference is consent. Porn stars love sex with presidents and famous people. It is a feather in their cap and something to boast about. 12 year old schoolgirls do not like having 70 year old men cuddling up to them, sniffing their hair and being all touchy-feely. You know this already, don't you?

5555... how cute.

 

The difference is one man made a choice to disrespect his marriage vows, wife and newborn... the other man made a choice to be creepy.

1 minute ago, Kelsall said:

I notice Biden's former boss, Obama, has not defended Joe.

"Say it isn't so Joe"

ys know thinking about it your right- I'm sure trumps daughter loves having her fathers hands all over her- maybe she will become a porn star too lol. "what a piece of ass!"

1 minute ago, johnnykak said:

ys know thinking about it your right- I'm sure trumps daughter loves having her fathers hands all over her- maybe she will become a porn star too lol. "what a piece of ass!"

Serenity Now for Trump Derangement Syndrome lol. 

 

 

trump derangement syndrome- is that a lot like but but Hillary? lol

hey the deal is you gave trump a free pass. even said it was fake news with the porn star for a while. then it was the payments were only from the lawyer then the truth does come out and you don't care. biden is accused and he's creepy joe lol. the credibility of your arguments is poor at best.  hey and you know what if biden did do these things I'm sure he will bow out. trump did do these things and you call him strong for it. it doesn't matter anyway these arguments don't mean much,  people are going to vote the way they want. if joe is being creepy to women i wouldn't vote for him. if trump was being creepy to women you wouldn't care and say its a lie lol.

 there ya go bro 

just google it on youtube if that isn't fake news to you lol

2 hours ago, Thainesss said:

 

Last week?? Biden has been known as a creeper for years, and been mocked for it for years. 

 

 

Democrats have it so good. If this was a Republican the media would be all over it but since its Joe Biden - "warm and intimate" is his campaign style instead of "touchy feely old man" like it should be. 

 

The hypocrisy of the left and their media lapdogs knows no bounds. 

 

C'mon man, let's hug it out.

Mr Biden needs to give the lady’s personal space but to compare his behavior to Donald’s is laughable