Then-Vice President Joe Biden listens to then-President Barack Obama during a meeting in the Situation Room of the White House, Feb. 2, 2015. (Photo: Obama White House Flickr)
Apr 26, 2019
It's only been 24 hours since he announced his candidacy for president, but Joe Biden's long record as a Democratic lawmaker--which many progressive critics note is full of ripe offenses--has already hit speed bumps and raised rebuke.
The former vice president's long-expected bid for the 2020 Democratic nomination kicked off Thursday morning with a video announcement projecting a message of hope in troubled times.
Within hours, however, Biden's campaign was forced to answer difficult questions on his record involving Anita Hill and the Clarence Thomas confirmation hearings.
During the 1991 Senate hearings, Hill was the most prominent witness against Thomas, accusing the judge of harassment and misconduct. But her testimony was dismantled in the Judiciary committee, not least because of Biden's relentless attacks.
On Thursday, Hill revealed in an interview with The New York Times that Biden finally called her to apologize for his conduct--only a week before his announcement.
Per the Times:
In a lengthy telephone interview on Wednesday, she declined to characterize Mr. Biden's words to her as an apology and said she was not convinced that he has taken full responsibility for his conduct at the hearings -- or for the harm he caused other victims of sexual harassment and gender violence.
"I will be satisfied when I know there is real change and real accountability and real purpose," said Hill, who added that she did believe people can change.
The timing of Biden's call did not go unmentioned by observers.
"May Anita Hill always be trending every time Joe Biden is," said writer Sarah Jaffe.
\u201cmay Anita Hill always be trending every time Joe Biden is\u201d— Sarah Jaffe (@Sarah Jaffe) 1556197854
"Stating obvious here: Biden had 28 years to say something," Times reporter Astead Herndon tweeted. "Called weeks before his presidential launch."
\u201cStating obvious here: Biden had 28 years to say something. Called weeks before his presidential launch\nhttps://t.co/8DfRSML2KS\u201d— Astead (@Astead) 1556223805
"I'm unsure how this could have gone worse for Joe Biden," said Rolling Stone's Jamil Smith. "Serves him right."
\u201cOther than Anita Hill hanging up on him, I\u2019m unsure how this could have gone worse for @JoeBiden. Serves him right. He had 28 years to apologize, and he tried this right before launching a presidential campaign. Probably thought it would stay secret, too. https://t.co/GNHU3gBjXJ\u201d— Jamil Smith \u062c\u0645\u064a\u0644 \u0643\u0631\u064a\u0645 (@Jamil Smith \u062c\u0645\u064a\u0644 \u0643\u0631\u064a\u0645) 1556228205
Biden's political opportunism didn't go unnoticed by researcher Natalie Shure.
"He never reached out to Anita Hill until this month, now why could that be," said Shure.
\u201cBiden has been exploring another presidential run for a long time, consolidating support and tapping into donor networks. But he never reached out to Anita Hill until this month, now why could that be\u201d— Natalie Shure (@Natalie Shure) 1556240551
"He is the poster boy for misjudgment," said The Intercept's Mehdi Hasan.
\u201cImagine being Joe Biden and thinking about running for president for all these years, declaring so late compared to your rivals, but still waiting so late in the day to call Anita Hill to offer what she didn\u2019t even consider to be an apology. He is the poster boy for misjudgment.\u201d— Mehdi Hasan (@Mehdi Hasan) 1556228089
Lucy Flores, a Nevada Democrat who said Biden acted inappropriately toward her in 2014, tweeted that she hoped Biden would face questions on his behavior toward Hill during an appearance on The View scheduled for Friday morning.
"Please be sure you ask Joe Biden about this," said Flores.
The Hill interview wasn't the only rough seas Biden faced in his first campaign day. The former vice president leaned heavily on the death of activist Heather Heyer, who died in a white supremacist attack in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017.
According to Heyer's mother, Susan Bro, neither Biden nor his team reached out to the family before making and airing the ad.
"Most people do that sort of thing," Bro toldThe Daily Beast. "They capitalize on whatever situation is handy."
\u201cDaily Beast reports Biden campaign didn't tell Heather Heyer's mother that he'd be invoking his daughter's murder in his campaign launch video.\n\n"Most people do that sort of thing. They capitalize on whatever situation is handy" https://t.co/KJhwUBDHk9\u201d— Brandon Wall (I-Roku City) (@Brandon Wall (I-Roku City)) 1556230465
The move exposed a "lack of basic decency" on Biden's part, said activist Mariame Kaba.
A lack of basic decency. https://t.co/vnMNCuKNNy
-- Prison Culture Returns (@prisonculture) April 25, 2019
Twitter user @discosocialist summed up the Biden campaign's first day succinctly.
"It's almost like Biden has trouble with respecting women's boundaries," he said.
It's almost like Biden has trouble with respecting women's boundaries. https://t.co/8D10ANXlf6
-- a snack toting mammal (@disco_socialist) April 25, 2019
Join Us: News for people demanding a better world
Common Dreams is powered by optimists who believe in the power of informed and engaged citizens to ignite and enact change to make the world a better place. We're hundreds of thousands strong, but every single supporter makes the difference. Your contribution supports this bold media model—free, independent, and dedicated to reporting the facts every day. Stand with us in the fight for economic equality, social justice, human rights, and a more sustainable future. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover the issues the corporate media never will. Join with us today! |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
It's only been 24 hours since he announced his candidacy for president, but Joe Biden's long record as a Democratic lawmaker--which many progressive critics note is full of ripe offenses--has already hit speed bumps and raised rebuke.
The former vice president's long-expected bid for the 2020 Democratic nomination kicked off Thursday morning with a video announcement projecting a message of hope in troubled times.
Within hours, however, Biden's campaign was forced to answer difficult questions on his record involving Anita Hill and the Clarence Thomas confirmation hearings.
During the 1991 Senate hearings, Hill was the most prominent witness against Thomas, accusing the judge of harassment and misconduct. But her testimony was dismantled in the Judiciary committee, not least because of Biden's relentless attacks.
On Thursday, Hill revealed in an interview with The New York Times that Biden finally called her to apologize for his conduct--only a week before his announcement.
Per the Times:
In a lengthy telephone interview on Wednesday, she declined to characterize Mr. Biden's words to her as an apology and said she was not convinced that he has taken full responsibility for his conduct at the hearings -- or for the harm he caused other victims of sexual harassment and gender violence.
"I will be satisfied when I know there is real change and real accountability and real purpose," said Hill, who added that she did believe people can change.
The timing of Biden's call did not go unmentioned by observers.
"May Anita Hill always be trending every time Joe Biden is," said writer Sarah Jaffe.
\u201cmay Anita Hill always be trending every time Joe Biden is\u201d— Sarah Jaffe (@Sarah Jaffe) 1556197854
"Stating obvious here: Biden had 28 years to say something," Times reporter Astead Herndon tweeted. "Called weeks before his presidential launch."
\u201cStating obvious here: Biden had 28 years to say something. Called weeks before his presidential launch\nhttps://t.co/8DfRSML2KS\u201d— Astead (@Astead) 1556223805
"I'm unsure how this could have gone worse for Joe Biden," said Rolling Stone's Jamil Smith. "Serves him right."
\u201cOther than Anita Hill hanging up on him, I\u2019m unsure how this could have gone worse for @JoeBiden. Serves him right. He had 28 years to apologize, and he tried this right before launching a presidential campaign. Probably thought it would stay secret, too. https://t.co/GNHU3gBjXJ\u201d— Jamil Smith \u062c\u0645\u064a\u0644 \u0643\u0631\u064a\u0645 (@Jamil Smith \u062c\u0645\u064a\u0644 \u0643\u0631\u064a\u0645) 1556228205
Biden's political opportunism didn't go unnoticed by researcher Natalie Shure.
"He never reached out to Anita Hill until this month, now why could that be," said Shure.
\u201cBiden has been exploring another presidential run for a long time, consolidating support and tapping into donor networks. But he never reached out to Anita Hill until this month, now why could that be\u201d— Natalie Shure (@Natalie Shure) 1556240551
"He is the poster boy for misjudgment," said The Intercept's Mehdi Hasan.
\u201cImagine being Joe Biden and thinking about running for president for all these years, declaring so late compared to your rivals, but still waiting so late in the day to call Anita Hill to offer what she didn\u2019t even consider to be an apology. He is the poster boy for misjudgment.\u201d— Mehdi Hasan (@Mehdi Hasan) 1556228089
Lucy Flores, a Nevada Democrat who said Biden acted inappropriately toward her in 2014, tweeted that she hoped Biden would face questions on his behavior toward Hill during an appearance on The View scheduled for Friday morning.
"Please be sure you ask Joe Biden about this," said Flores.
The Hill interview wasn't the only rough seas Biden faced in his first campaign day. The former vice president leaned heavily on the death of activist Heather Heyer, who died in a white supremacist attack in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017.
According to Heyer's mother, Susan Bro, neither Biden nor his team reached out to the family before making and airing the ad.
"Most people do that sort of thing," Bro toldThe Daily Beast. "They capitalize on whatever situation is handy."
\u201cDaily Beast reports Biden campaign didn't tell Heather Heyer's mother that he'd be invoking his daughter's murder in his campaign launch video.\n\n"Most people do that sort of thing. They capitalize on whatever situation is handy" https://t.co/KJhwUBDHk9\u201d— Brandon Wall (I-Roku City) (@Brandon Wall (I-Roku City)) 1556230465
The move exposed a "lack of basic decency" on Biden's part, said activist Mariame Kaba.
A lack of basic decency. https://t.co/vnMNCuKNNy
-- Prison Culture Returns (@prisonculture) April 25, 2019
Twitter user @discosocialist summed up the Biden campaign's first day succinctly.
"It's almost like Biden has trouble with respecting women's boundaries," he said.
It's almost like Biden has trouble with respecting women's boundaries. https://t.co/8D10ANXlf6
-- a snack toting mammal (@disco_socialist) April 25, 2019
It's only been 24 hours since he announced his candidacy for president, but Joe Biden's long record as a Democratic lawmaker--which many progressive critics note is full of ripe offenses--has already hit speed bumps and raised rebuke.
The former vice president's long-expected bid for the 2020 Democratic nomination kicked off Thursday morning with a video announcement projecting a message of hope in troubled times.
Within hours, however, Biden's campaign was forced to answer difficult questions on his record involving Anita Hill and the Clarence Thomas confirmation hearings.
During the 1991 Senate hearings, Hill was the most prominent witness against Thomas, accusing the judge of harassment and misconduct. But her testimony was dismantled in the Judiciary committee, not least because of Biden's relentless attacks.
On Thursday, Hill revealed in an interview with The New York Times that Biden finally called her to apologize for his conduct--only a week before his announcement.
Per the Times:
In a lengthy telephone interview on Wednesday, she declined to characterize Mr. Biden's words to her as an apology and said she was not convinced that he has taken full responsibility for his conduct at the hearings -- or for the harm he caused other victims of sexual harassment and gender violence.
"I will be satisfied when I know there is real change and real accountability and real purpose," said Hill, who added that she did believe people can change.
The timing of Biden's call did not go unmentioned by observers.
"May Anita Hill always be trending every time Joe Biden is," said writer Sarah Jaffe.
\u201cmay Anita Hill always be trending every time Joe Biden is\u201d— Sarah Jaffe (@Sarah Jaffe) 1556197854
"Stating obvious here: Biden had 28 years to say something," Times reporter Astead Herndon tweeted. "Called weeks before his presidential launch."
\u201cStating obvious here: Biden had 28 years to say something. Called weeks before his presidential launch\nhttps://t.co/8DfRSML2KS\u201d— Astead (@Astead) 1556223805
"I'm unsure how this could have gone worse for Joe Biden," said Rolling Stone's Jamil Smith. "Serves him right."
\u201cOther than Anita Hill hanging up on him, I\u2019m unsure how this could have gone worse for @JoeBiden. Serves him right. He had 28 years to apologize, and he tried this right before launching a presidential campaign. Probably thought it would stay secret, too. https://t.co/GNHU3gBjXJ\u201d— Jamil Smith \u062c\u0645\u064a\u0644 \u0643\u0631\u064a\u0645 (@Jamil Smith \u062c\u0645\u064a\u0644 \u0643\u0631\u064a\u0645) 1556228205
Biden's political opportunism didn't go unnoticed by researcher Natalie Shure.
"He never reached out to Anita Hill until this month, now why could that be," said Shure.
\u201cBiden has been exploring another presidential run for a long time, consolidating support and tapping into donor networks. But he never reached out to Anita Hill until this month, now why could that be\u201d— Natalie Shure (@Natalie Shure) 1556240551
"He is the poster boy for misjudgment," said The Intercept's Mehdi Hasan.
\u201cImagine being Joe Biden and thinking about running for president for all these years, declaring so late compared to your rivals, but still waiting so late in the day to call Anita Hill to offer what she didn\u2019t even consider to be an apology. He is the poster boy for misjudgment.\u201d— Mehdi Hasan (@Mehdi Hasan) 1556228089
Lucy Flores, a Nevada Democrat who said Biden acted inappropriately toward her in 2014, tweeted that she hoped Biden would face questions on his behavior toward Hill during an appearance on The View scheduled for Friday morning.
"Please be sure you ask Joe Biden about this," said Flores.
The Hill interview wasn't the only rough seas Biden faced in his first campaign day. The former vice president leaned heavily on the death of activist Heather Heyer, who died in a white supremacist attack in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017.
According to Heyer's mother, Susan Bro, neither Biden nor his team reached out to the family before making and airing the ad.
"Most people do that sort of thing," Bro toldThe Daily Beast. "They capitalize on whatever situation is handy."
\u201cDaily Beast reports Biden campaign didn't tell Heather Heyer's mother that he'd be invoking his daughter's murder in his campaign launch video.\n\n"Most people do that sort of thing. They capitalize on whatever situation is handy" https://t.co/KJhwUBDHk9\u201d— Brandon Wall (I-Roku City) (@Brandon Wall (I-Roku City)) 1556230465
The move exposed a "lack of basic decency" on Biden's part, said activist Mariame Kaba.
A lack of basic decency. https://t.co/vnMNCuKNNy
-- Prison Culture Returns (@prisonculture) April 25, 2019
Twitter user @discosocialist summed up the Biden campaign's first day succinctly.
"It's almost like Biden has trouble with respecting women's boundaries," he said.
It's almost like Biden has trouble with respecting women's boundaries. https://t.co/8D10ANXlf6
-- a snack toting mammal (@disco_socialist) April 25, 2019
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.