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one_voice

(20,043 posts)
Tue Sep 9, 2014, 11:54 AM Sep 2014

The Best Commentary on Ray Rice's Suspension Comes From Joe Biden

Say what you will about our Vice President's propensity to gaffes and awkward photo op nuzzling; when he's on, he is fucking on. This morning, in an interview with Today's Tamron Hall, his commentary on the Ray Rice suspension (and, on a larger scale, violence against women) was so on point that if John Oliver had said it, the Salon headline would claim that UTTER ANNIHILATION had occurred.

Hall, whose sister suffered from domestic abuse before being killed by her former romantic partner in 2004, has made it a personal project to draw attention to issues of domestic violence in the US, and encourage women in violent situations to seek support and help.

Biden helped create the Violence Against Women act in 1994, and has since been a vocal advocate against domestic violence.

The entire interview is worth a listen, but here are the best bits:

It's never, never, never the woman's fault. No man has a right to raise a hand to a woman. No means no. [...] The one regret I have is we call it domestic violence as if it's a domesticated cat. It is the most vicious form of violence there is, because not only the physical scars are left, the psychological scars that are left. This whole culture for so long has put the onus on the woman. What were you wearing? What did you say? What did you do to provoke? That is never the appropriate question.

And!

The next challenge is making sure, ironically, we get college presidents and colleges to understand that they have a responsibility for the safety of women on their campus. They have a responsibility to do what we know from great experience works. Bringing the experts. Provide people, give the young woman the support that she needs. Psychological support. the medical support, and if need be, the legal support. Societal changes taking place. It takes time. But I really believe it's taking root, and we have an obligation to just keep pushing it.


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The Best Commentary on Ray Rice's Suspension Comes From Joe Biden (Original Post) one_voice Sep 2014 OP
Joe Biden has some great comments in that interview Gothmog Sep 2014 #1
All good and well, BUT ... dickthegrouch Sep 2014 #2
Excuse me? frazzled Sep 2014 #4
This^^^^^^ riqster Sep 2014 #7
The old both parties meme. trumad Sep 2014 #10
YOU GO JOE!!! Omaha Steve Sep 2014 #3
I really want him as our next Prexy. riqster Sep 2014 #5
Me too. toby jo Sep 2014 #11
Biden 2016. lululu Sep 2014 #18
Yep. Hope he runs. riqster Sep 2014 #20
K&R.... daleanime Sep 2014 #6
Simply the best Dollface Sep 2014 #8
I love me some Joe, too. lark Sep 2014 #12
Say what YOU will: Joe is almost always on! The few times he isn't, are just human. maddiemom Sep 2014 #9
Exactly PatSeg Sep 2014 #14
I couldn't agree with you more WheelWalker Sep 2014 #15
Always!!! PatSeg Sep 2014 #16
I would absolutely be delighted Aerows Sep 2014 #13
Agreed - I really like Joe leftieNanner Sep 2014 #17
Anita Hill reddread Sep 2014 #19

dickthegrouch

(3,173 posts)
2. All good and well, BUT ...
Tue Sep 9, 2014, 12:46 PM
Sep 2014

"Psychological support. the medical support, and if need be, the legal support. "

The FIRST support many of US needed was simply how to say "I'm interested, but not now/yet, let's take it slower" with conviction and some dignity for both parties.

Just because I'm in a gay bar for the first time in my life and *really* want to know if I'm actually gay, doesn't mean I want to be railroaded into something. I was far more concerned with 'killing the moment' and potentially losing a (so far) sweet and gorgeous guy, than making sure I was totally ready for what we did. Looking inexperienced would have been a bigger embarrassment in my immature way of thinking. No, I wasn't ready. But no 19yo virgin wants to acknowledge that.

Sex education should include negotiation and leaving with dignity for both parties.

frazzled

(18,402 posts)
4. Excuse me?
Tue Sep 9, 2014, 02:02 PM
Sep 2014

I don't mean to be rude, but I don't understand what "I'm interested" has to do with being punched out and knocked unconscious by someone twice your size, or with being raped.

Those are the subjects under discussion here, and the discussion was about individuals who have been the victims of these acts of violence. Abusers and rapists don't generally respond to negotiations before they slug or attack.

So while I agree that sex education should include a component of negotiating consent, that is not at all relevant (or so it seems to me) in the current context. Rape and physical abuse, as we should all know by now, have nothing to do with sex. They are crimes of violence.

(And BTW, physical abuse and rape are also issues for gay men and women, so this is a universal problem.)

riqster

(13,986 posts)
7. This^^^^^^
Tue Sep 9, 2014, 02:13 PM
Sep 2014

" Rape and physical abuse, as we should all know by now, have nothing to do with sex. They are crimes of violence."

well said!

 

lululu

(301 posts)
18. Biden 2016.
Fri Sep 12, 2014, 05:53 AM
Sep 2014

I have been saying that all along. Imagine a President who is a truthteller, sensible, and even manages to get stuff out of the totally dysfunctional Congress.

maddiemom

(5,106 posts)
9. Say what YOU will: Joe is almost always on! The few times he isn't, are just human.
Tue Sep 9, 2014, 02:52 PM
Sep 2014

The most undeservedly joked about political figure since....(not coming up with anyone in recent centuries: maybe Truman back in the day). Jill is a lucky woman.

PatSeg

(47,430 posts)
14. Exactly
Wed Sep 10, 2014, 03:30 PM
Sep 2014

Because he is authentic and unscripted, he can make mistakes The media, however, overplays them, as well as the goofy caricature that is very unlike the man. Its lazy journalism replaying old memes that end up creating a misleading portrait of a remarkable man.

PatSeg

(47,430 posts)
16. Always!!!
Wed Sep 10, 2014, 04:05 PM
Sep 2014

My feelings about other politicians waver over time, but not with Joe. That is pretty much a constant. Authentic people are so rare, especially in politics.

 

Aerows

(39,961 posts)
13. I would absolutely be delighted
Wed Sep 10, 2014, 02:15 PM
Sep 2014

to vote for him as the next POTUS. His wife, Jill, is awesome, too.

leftieNanner

(15,099 posts)
17. Agreed - I really like Joe
Wed Sep 10, 2014, 10:48 PM
Sep 2014

and I'm having a lot of reservations about Hillary. I would like to see a woman residing at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, but maybe not that one.

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