Under fire, former U.S. V.P. Biden says he did not treat Anita Hill badly

[rooster59]

Under fire, former U.S. V.P. Biden says he did not treat Anita Hill badly

By James Oliphant

 

Democratic presidential candidate, former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, acknowledges supporters and members of the press following an appearance on ABC's 'The View' in New York, U.S., April 26, 2019. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, in his first interview as a Democratic presidential candidate, insisted on Friday that he did not treat law professor Anita Hill badly during confirmation hearings for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas held almost 30 years ago.

 

Biden had joined the burgeoning 2020 Democratic field a day earlier. He struggled to respond to questions about Hill, as well as questions about his unwanted touching of women, making for a rocky moment in the early stages of his candidacy.

 

At times, Biden seemed to oscillate between defending his behaviour and saying he did nothing wrong and apologising and trying to make amends. Often, he seemed stranded in-between.

 

Biden’s conduct during the hearings in 1991, when he was chairman of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, became a renewed subject of controversy after the New York Times reported that Biden had called Hill earlier this month in the run-up to his presidential bid and that Hill was dissatisfied with Biden’s expression of regret. She said she could not support his presidential bid.

 

Appearing on ABC’s “The View,” Biden, then a senator from Delaware, largely justified his actions at the time, saying he believed Hill’s allegations of sexual harassment levied at Thomas and tried to derail his confirmation.

 

Activists have long been unhappy that Hill was questioned in graphic detail by the all-white, all-male committee chaired by Biden.

 

“I’m sorry she was treated the way she was treated,” Biden said, but later, he asserted, “I don’t think I treated her badly. ... How do you stop people from asking inflammatory questions?”

 

“There were a lot of mistakes made across the board and for those I apologise,” he said.

 

Biden praised Hill as “remarkable” and said she is “one of the reasons we have the #MeToo movement.”

 

Asked why he had not reached out to Hill earlier, Biden said he had previously publicly stated he had regrets about her experience and that he “didn’t want to quote invade her space.”

 

That seemed to be a reference to another controversy that looms over Biden’s presidential run: allegations by several women that he made them uncomfortable by touching them at political events.

 

Biden also addressed that criticism, saying he was now more “cognizant” about a woman’s “private space.” But he maintained that he had been “trying to bring solace.”

 

He suggested he was still trying to sort out the guidelines for his conduct going forward.

 

“I should be able to read better,” he said. “I have to be more careful.”

 

Pressed by the show’s panel for an apology to his accusers, Biden would not entirely capitulate.

 

“Sorry I invaded your space," he replied. "I mean, I’m sorry this happened. But I’m not sorry in a sense that I think I did anything that was intentionally designed to do anything wrong or be inappropriate.”

 

Biden, 76, served as former President Barack Obama's vice president for two terms. He is competing with 19 others for the Democratic presidential nomination and the chance to likely face President Donald Trump next year in the general election.

 

After the interview, a Biden adviser, Symone Sanders, posted on Twitter that Biden "clearly is someone unapologetic about his authenticity, sincere and genuine in his apology, has a vision for America and understands how we relate to the rest of the world."

 

Biden's first public event as a presidential candidate is scheduled for Monday in Pittsburgh.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-04-27

[Thainesss]

Democrats and their trashy, low-blow slander politics always seem to come back and bite them. 

 

And rightfully so. 

[Puchaiyank]

When a woman feels the need to claim a politician acted inappropriately, years after the alleged event...there is a motive outside seeking an apology...this is just more dirty politics...the Dems will be fun to watch as 20 candidates compete for the one coveted position...turn on one another...let's see how low they can go...let the poop slinging liars face-off to destroy one another...????

Edited April 26, 2019 by Puchaiyank

[quandow]

8 minutes ago, Puchaiyank said:

When a woman feels the need to claim a politician acted inappropriately, years after the alleged event...there is a motive outside seeking an apology...this is just more dirty politics...the Dems will be fun to watch as 20 candidates compete for the one coveted position...turn on one another...let's see how low they can go...let the poop slinging liars face-off to destroy one another...????

Now, c'mon! It wasn't all that long ago that the Republican primaries were changed forever, dragged into the gutters by the guy occupying the oval at this time. Such schoolyard bully behavior has NEVER been displayed by any other politician. Childish name calling, references to the size of his manhood, etc.  Hopefully this blight on US politics will be flushed, better sooner than later.

Edited April 26, 2019 by quandow

[quandow]

Biden has started digging his own grave and this whole Anita Hill thing will be engraved on his tombstone. Bottom line, he just doesn't get it. He's a tired, white corporatist from the old regime, and no amount of whitewashing will remove the stench. Trump will eat him alive, and I believe you know by now I'm no fan of Trump.

[TopDeadSenter]

49 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

He struggled to respond to questions about Hill, as well as questions about his unwanted touching of women

Great campaign start Joe! How about this. Fire your advisors, they made a fool out of you. Go away and play some golf and enjoy your twilight years. Let somebody with a clean background and some charisma run for President.

[quandow]

2 minutes ago, TopDeadSenter said:

Great campaign start Joe! How about this. Fire your advisors, they made a fool out of you. Go away and play some golf and enjoy your twilight years. Let somebody with a clean background and some charisma run for President.

The DCCC is pulling the same crap with Joe as they did with Hillary. I mean, for crying out loud, Joe was touted as leading the Democratic field yet he hadn't even announced his candidacy! I will give you guys this, the Democratic leadership is stuck on stupid and stubborn. I don't care WHAT polls they try spew, Trump will trounce Pervy Uncle Joe. Remember how the polls showed Hillary creaming Trump up to the night before the election?

[DoctorG]

52 minutes ago, TopDeadSenter said:

Great campaign start Joe! How about this. Fire your advisors, they made a fool out of you. Go away and play some golf and enjoy your twilight years. Let somebody with a clean background and some charisma run for President.

His senior advisor is a black women who has stated previously that the nominee should NOT be an old white guy. ????

[Tug]

51 minutes ago, quandow said:

Biden has started digging his own grave and this whole Anita Hill thing will be engraved on his tombstone. Bottom line, he just doesn't get it. He's a tired, white corporatist from the old regime, and no amount of whitewashing will remove the stench. Trump will eat him alive, and I believe you know by now I'm no fan of Trump.

I disagree Donald will eat him alive Donald at his core is a coward mr Biden isent just think of Donald without wealth lawyers and the secret service shielding him he would fold he has always been shielded from the consequences of his actions mr Biden’s treatment of mrs hill was deplorable and I hope she is the bigger person and accepts his apology a lot of us guys are trying to change the inequities that are prevelant in today’s world

[Puchaiyank]

You do know...Joe...old privileged white men are not welcome in your own party...get yourself a sex change...spend a good deal of time in a tanning bed...learn to speak Spanish...start talking about free stuff for everyone...then you may stand a chance... 

[Longcut]

1 hour ago, Thainesss said:

Democrats and their trashy, low-blow slander politics always seem to come back and bite them. 

 

And rightfully so. 

Put a fork in him. He's done!

[quandow]

3 minutes ago, Puchaiyank said:

You do know...Joe...old privileged white men are not welcome in your own party

That's only lip service.  A recent congressional grilling session of a bunch of old white bankers said it all.

"One of the tensest moments came when Rep. Al Green (D-Tex.) asked the panel of chief executives to raise their hands if they were not 'white men.' After none raised a hand, Green asked if any of them believed they would be succeeded by a woman or a person of color. 'None of the executives appears to believe that your successor will be a female or a person of color,' he said after no hands were raised."

Pervy Uncle Joe has deep ties to Wall Street. Old privileged white men are exactly what they want.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/04/10/ceos-mega-banks-will-testify-before-house-committee-heres-what-expect/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.ba0c4e67bcf0

[Boon Mee]

1 hour ago, Thainesss said:

Democrats and their trashy, low-blow slander politics always seem to come back and bite them. 

 

And rightfully so. 

Got that right. 

But Joe is so slow of brain, he can't remember that far back. 

[attrayant]

7 minutes ago, Boon Mee said:

But Joe is so slow of brain, he can't remember that far back. 

 

 

If only his memory was as good as Trump, who answered with some form of "don't know/can't recall/don't remember" 86% of the time on his response to questions about things that happened just 2-3 years ago.

[Thainesss]

12 minutes ago, attrayant said:

If only his memory was as good as Trump, who answered with some form of "don't know/can't recall/don't remember" 86% of the time on his response to questions about things that happened just 2-3 years ago.

 

But But But.... Trump!

 

This perfectly encapsulates Creepy Joe Biden's campaign strategy. 

[TopDeadSenter]

2 minutes ago, Thainesss said:

This perfectly encapsulates Creepy Joe Biden's campaign strategy. 

It also perfectly encapsulates the constant and deepening negativity surrounding the democrat party since the 2016 upset. Political pundits have known for over 100 years that to win an election requires inspiring the electorate, making them feel positive and hopeful. The way the dems are carrying on bleating about Trump would make potential voters put on a Smiths LP, run a warm bath and start looking for razors. FTR this is no way to win an election guys!

[Tug]

1 hour ago, quandow said:

The DCCC is pulling the same crap with Joe as they did with Hillary. I mean, for crying out loud, Joe was touted as leading the Democratic field yet he hadn't even announced his candidacy! I will give you guys this, the Democratic leadership is stuck on stupid and stubborn. I don't care WHAT polls they try spew, Trump will trounce Pervy Uncle Joe. Remember how the polls showed Hillary creaming Trump up to the night before the election?

I disagree Donald has a track record now not so easy to con

[inactiveposter]

At this point, it seems the Dems’ platform has gone from, “serve the people,” to “serve the subpoenas.” Socialism and Subpoenas - great bumper sticker!

[Puchaiyank]

2 hours ago, quandow said:

That's only lip service.  A recent congressional grilling session of a bunch of old white bankers said it all.

"One of the tensest moments came when Rep. Al Green (D-Tex.) asked the panel of chief executives to raise their hands if they were not 'white men.' After none raised a hand, Green asked if any of them believed they would be succeeded by a woman or a person of color. 'None of the executives appears to believe that your successor will be a female or a person of color,' he said after no hands were raised."

Pervy Uncle Joe has deep ties to Wall Street. Old privileged white men are exactly what they want.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/04/10/ceos-mega-banks-will-testify-before-house-committee-heres-what-expect/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.ba0c4e67bcf0

Joe will be severely tested by members of his party that despise white establishment...which he clearly represents...  

[Kasane]

Don't understand how fossil can take life again. And we have one in the WH too.

Edited April 27, 2019 by Kasane

[quandow]

1 hour ago, TopDeadSenter said:

It also perfectly encapsulates the constant and deepening negativity surrounding the democrat party since the 2016 upset. Political pundits have known for over 100 years that to win an election requires inspiring the electorate, making them feel positive and hopeful.

Regardless of what you think of Bernie's politics, he really generated positive and hopeful feelings in 2016 and continues to do so. He went into the lion's den, a Fox News town hall 10 April, and every time Bret Baier or Martha MacCallum threw a "gotcha" question, Bernie turned it around and wowed the audience. Even Trump questioned whose side Fox was on.

[Jingthing]

Joe will be severely tested by members of his party that despise white establishment...which he clearly represents...  

Yeah whatever. I have old news for you. Most democrats are centrist or center left.

Sent from my Lenovo A7020a48 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[Jingthing]

Don't understand how fossil can take life again. And we one in the WH too.

Old doesn't matter if running against a clearly decrepit and deteriorating president.

Sent from my Lenovo A7020a48 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[quandow]

30 minutes ago, Puchaiyank said:

Joe will be severely tested by members of his party that despise white establishment...which he clearly represents...  

I'm starting to get scared - I'm agreeing with you.  ????

You're absolutely right, the Democratic party is losing its absolute grip to the younger, browner and more female leaders. AOC is KILLING them as well as the others like her and they don't quite know how to handle it. Little fact about AOC, she spends NO time chasing after money like most politicians have to do to stay in office. Her policies are carrying her which is how it SHOULD be. Joe is old school, same old same old.

Bottom line: You will never get anyone to change parties at this point unless there is a profound revelation. The Trump camp is dug in, the Dems are as well. It's the Independents who will decide the 2020 election. Pervy Uncle Joe just doesn't have the personality and he lost both the women vote and the black vote with the Anita Hill albatross around his neck.

[quandow]

7 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Yeah whatever. I have old news for you. Most democrats are centrist or center left.

Sent from my Lenovo A7020a48 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

The trouble is, regardless of whether you're centrist, center left, Independent - it doesn't matter if you can't generate enough excitement to get out the vote. Never underestimate Trump! He has a rabid base who will get out and vote or die trying. The Dems are pulling the same shady shit with Joe as they did with Hillary and that will guarantee another Trump victory.

[Kasane]

America is clearly transitioning. Repubs have old white folks, fearful, scared, and mostly racists, backing Trump.  Dems have firebrands like AOC that have know the pulse of the marginalized and downtrodden, and dems old white establishment does not quite know how to handle this phenomena. Interesting times.

[Thainesss]

16 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Yeah whatever. I have old news for you. Most democrats are centrist or center left.

 

Well you've got 4-5 extreme left socialist lib morons running the whole show right now, whether you or the party mouthpiece wants to admit it, and Biden represents the old guard/rinse & repeat of Hillary Clinton. 

Most of the hardcore SJW's I follow on Twitter absolutely HATE Creepy Joe due to his history and they apparently haven't forgotten how establishment Dems threw Bernie under the bus. 

 

Theres quite the party fracture going on, and wether those people can collectively unite as one and vote for one person? That will be the question. You're going to need a united Democrat Party to defeat Trump, and at this time, you don't have it. 

 

Your own party hasn't done you any favors. If most dems are centrist, they've done an exceptional job putting forward the most extreme left idiots and maximizing their airtime. 

[Kasane]

4 hours ago, Thainesss said:

Democrats and their trashy, low-blow slander politics always seem to come back and bite them. 

 

And rightfully so. 

We have a paragon of virtue now in the WH. ????

[Jingthing]

10 minutes ago, Thainesss said:

 

Well you've got 4-5 extreme left socialist lib morons running the whole show right now, whether you or the party mouthpiece wants to admit it, and Biden represents the old guard/rinse & repeat of Hillary Clinton. 

Most of the hardcore SJW's I follow on Twitter absolutely HATE Creepy Joe due to his history and they apparently haven't forgotten how establishment Dems threw Bernie under the bus. 

 

Theres quite the party fracture going on, and wether those people can collectively unite as one and vote for one person? That will be the question. You're going to need a united Democrat Party to defeat Trump, and at this time, you don't have it. 

 

Your own party hasn't done you any favors. If most dems are centrist, they've done an exceptional job putting forward the most extreme left idiots and maximizing their airtime. 

But you're 100 percent wrong. Look at the Blue Wave in the house. Sure there a few far left extremists getting the most press. But most of the winners that actually turned the house? Centrist or center left democrats that won in districts that "trump" won in 2016. I get the game you're playing. It's part of the "trump" propaganda tactic. Paint the democrats as radical lefty extremists. But overall that is NOT the truth. 

 

BTW -- I'm not thrilled about Biden but I think he has a place in this race and we'll see how it turns out. 

[Tug]

7 minutes ago, Thainesss said:

 

Well you've got 4-5 extreme left socialist lib morons running the whole show right now, whether you or the party mouthpiece wants to admit it, and Biden represents the old guard/rinse & repeat of Hillary Clinton. 

Most of the hardcore SJW's I follow on Twitter absolutely HATE Creepy Joe due to his history and they apparently haven't forgotten how establishment Dems threw Bernie under the bus. 

 

Theres quite the party fracture going on, and wether those people can collectively unite as one and vote for one person? That will be the question. You're going to need a united Democrat Party to defeat Trump, and at this time, you don't have it. 

 

Your own party hasn't done you any favors. If most dems are centrist, they've done an exceptional job putting forward the most extreme left idiots and maximizing their airtime. 

Seems like someone is worryed lol give it time the herd will get thinned down but hey even judge Niptalno (spelling)over on fox says Donald obstructed lol mr Biden will be just fine a good centerest safe experienced guy just the guy we need to right the ship of state and get her back on course