The ladies of The View are debating something that has a lot of the country talking right now (watch above). The accusation by Lucy Flores that Joe Biden planted “a big slow kiss on the back of my head” at a political event in 2014 is prompting a lot of criticism and a lot of pushback. Flores is a former Nevada state legislator who said the kiss from Biden “was demeaning and disrespectful.” She goes on to say, “I’m not suggesting that Biden broke any laws, but the transgressions that society deems minor (or doesn’t even see as transgressions) often feel considerable to the person on the receiving end.” The View’s Joy Behar said:
“It’s a long way from smelling your hair to grabbing your hoo-ha…. I don’t think it rises to the point we’ve been listening to about Harvey Weinstein and the rest of these people. We all know Joe Biden. He’s been here… He’s so friendly. He’s a close talker… I feel it would be unfortunate if we got rid of everybody who’s an affectionate kind of person, those are nice people too.”
Meghan McCain added, “ Joe Biden is a good, decent man… He’s never made me feel uncomfortable, not once.”
Here’s how Biden himself is responding.
NEW: Statement from Joe Biden saying in all his years in public life, taking photos and giving hugs, “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.” pic.twitter.com/P0OuFeWDXu
— Matt Viser (@mviser) March 31, 2019
Some people are now casting Biden aside, pointing out this will taint his candidacy.
It's never been a secret in Washington that Joe Biden has touched numerous women inappropriately in public. For years, the media gave Biden a pass. It won’t in 2020: https://t.co/UpnTgoJiW6
— Vox (@voxdotcom) March 30, 2019
And now another woman has come out to say she had her own uncomfortable experience with Biden when she alleges, “He put his hand around my neck and pulled me in to rub noses with me. When he was pulling me in, I thought he was going to kiss me on the mouth.”
Connecticut woman says then-Vice President Joe Biden touched her inappropriately at a Greenwich fundraiser in 2009 – Hartford Courant https://t.co/KUGvDemTlQ
— David Freedlander (@freedlander) April 1, 2019
On the flip side it seems a lot of other people are showing their support for Biden and some are wondering why this is even an issue when Donald Trump is president.
Admittedly, I’m not all caught on the Joe Biden stuff, but I’m pretty sure unless he bragged about grabbing women by the privates, anyone who voted for Trump doesn’t get a say.
— JackiSchechner (@JackiSchechner) April 1, 2019
There are also questions about the timing of Flores coming forward. She attended a rally for Beto O’Rourke last week and is a known supporter of Bernie Sanders.
https://twitter.com/melreynoldsU/status/1112770332291682304
MSNBC's Mika Brezenski on Joe Biden's accuser: "Are we allowed to bring up that Lucy Flores is a huge Bernie person? And she has political connections that might be counter to Biden’s goals? And that this…could be politically motivated?" pic.twitter.com/L5a2vl7xaO
— Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) April 1, 2019
In a medium post, Stephanie Carter says this viral screenshot capturing a moment between her and Joe Biden wasn't a #MeToo
"A still shot taken from a video — misleadingly extracted from what was a longer moment between close friends.. "
Read More: https://t.co/9GErf2HVcO pic.twitter.com/8aVVMBIZu9
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) April 1, 2019
Could I just say this for what it's worth about Joe Biden? I've never been close to Biden, but am struck by how many stories I've heard over the years of instances of his kindness and compassion, and from people who had no particular political motive at the time for telling them.
— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) April 1, 2019
It is time for me to share a very personal moment and it is about VP @JoeBiden. In the weeks following Jaime's murder, I cannot think of a person who did more to help me heal. It started with a phone call in the week immediately following her murder.
— Fred Guttenberg (@fred_guttenberg) April 1, 2019