Democrat Lucy Flores was part of one of his recent speeches in the race for Governor in Nevada, when I felt two hands on his shoulders. She froze. «Why the Vice-President of the United States touches me?» thought Flores.
flickr.com/Bret Simmons/CC
Flores talks about his experience with Joe Biden in an essay first person New York Magazine, describing the incident in 2014, when Biden approached her from behind, leaned down, breathed in the smell of her hair and kissed the back of his head.
«Biden was the second most powerful man in the country and perhaps one of the most influential people in the world. He was there to support me as the candidate for Governor. Instead, he made me feel the awkwardness, anger and confusion».
New York magazine asked the representative of Biden, who declined to comment. Later, a spokesman for Biden bill Russo said that the Vice President and his staff don’t remember Flores described the incident.
Experience Flores is not unique
What he told Flores, has repeatedly occurred with other women who spoke with Biden. The press never hid it, but not perceived as a serious problem.
Ex-Vice was caught when he hugged the reporter back and held his waist just below the bust. At the ceremony of swearing in of defense Secretary ash Carter, Biden put his hands on the shoulders of Stephanie Carter, wife of Carter, and then leaned over and whispered something in her ear. (He even whispered in the ears of many women). There are many pictures where he is talking with women, for their faces and necks. Once at the ceremony of swearing in of a U.S. Senator, he took him by the forearm of the minor daughter of the Senator leaned over and whispered something in her ear. The girl was clearly uncomfortable. Then Biden kissed her on the forehead, and the gesture made the teen flinch.
Everything was in plain sight. These incidents wrote a news Agency. However, the history was published under the frivolous headlines, such as: «Photography are known for their friendliness of Joe Biden goes viral» or «That’s Joe Biden, behaving like Joe Biden, with his wife of ash Carter» or «Joe Biden: sex symbol?».
Ideological media has written several critical articles about him in the age of Obama. In «the Federalist» Mollie Hemingway asked whether the liberals to tolerate the same behavior from conservative. In Talking Points Memo Alana Levinson has criticized Democrats for what they let him get away this behavior with it.
In General, the political media looking at Biden’s condescension. However, times have changed. Journalists twice now looking at the new policy, which cleverly works on camera. They will ask questions and do a background check. And women such as Florence — dares and favors. Before Biden almost did not face criticism, but if he wants to become the next President, he will have to answer for their actions.
According to Flores, his actions have meaning: «I’m not saying that Biden had violated any laws, but the violations which the company considers minor (or even not consider as infringement), often mean a lot to the person they hurt. This imbalance of power and attention — the whole point of the whole problem».
Elections-2020
This is especially important when you consider that among rivals Biden in the election will be a few women, and the fact that its platform is likely to be largely contradict the current line of the Democratic party.
76-year-old Biden came to Washington when he was 30. His extensive track record includes controversial views on the problems and rights of women, which makes the behavior of the former Vice President more deserving of discussion.
Lisa Lehrer told the New York Times about his views on abortion, said that Biden, who now advocates in support of them, was a solid liberal on this issue in the past.
In the era of Reagan, Biden voted for a bill that the National Abortion Rights Action League called «the most destructive attack on the legality of abortion.» Biden, a Catholic, said: «I must be a victim or product, how would you want to call him, my origin.» He called the decision «the most difficult part, for which voted as a US Senator».
Biden also held the opinion that the Supreme court went too far in the case «ROE V. Wade». In an interview in 1974, he said he did not believe that a woman should «be the one who decides what to do with her body».
Ex-Deputy refused to talk to Lehrer about her article, so it’s hard to say for sure what changed his views. The representative Biden has not responded to an email of journalists Vox with a request to comment.
Occupying the post in Washington, Biden advocated the right to abortion and supported the relevant Billy. He defended the Law on violence against women and strongly spoke about the problem of sexual violence.
If Biden runs, he is in the Democratic party niche, «normal» candidate — a nice white guy that tweets are not excessively, does not condone Russia and not dumped into the cells at the border.
What do you think the Democrats about what they think the voters?
While Democrats are eager to win trump in 2020, many are concerned that the woman will be hard to defeat him because of the sexist views of some voters. Perhaps some Americans thinks that it is better to put on someone familiar. Biden, for eight years, who was in office under Obama, could meet these needs.
But Biden will still be waiting for a clear contrast with trump. Ex-Deputy not guilty of sexual violence (while the incumbent President has a dozen indictments); the Internet has no records on which Biden jokes about sex — though there is a photo in which he behaves improperly. However, the fact that one candidate is behaving worse does not justify another.
The Democrats are not sure until the end how to deal with such behavior. It’s not exactly what you condemn many men participants #MeToo, but not what the liberals want to reward (the resignation of Senator al Franken still seems rather controversial in this light). Some Democrats believe that the party puts itself at a disadvantage amid Republicans who allow the President much more than the same Frankena.
Flores raises questions as to what really are these seemingly minor incidents. «The Vice-President of the United States of America just touched me intimately, like a touch of close friends, family members or romantic partners. I felt powerless to do anything to do with it».
