Biden's enemies have found the perfect smear weapon

[LongtimeAZDem]

The accusations leveled against him not only cannot be proven nor allege broken laws, they do not even claim nefarious intent.

They are based purely on feelings which cannot be substantiated, and therefore cannot be defended against. Any attempt at a defense is portrayed as an attack on the alleged victim.

And they work for no other reason than "he made me feel uncomfortable" is apparently a legitimate reason to attack a person on the national stage.

[exboyfil]

1. It makes me sick

I may change my Caucus vote to Biden because of it. That is four if you include my wife and daughters.

[Drunken Irishman]

2. It'll backfire for that very reason.

At work, a woman I work with, who's pretty conservative and does NOT like Joe Biden, mentioned it. I thought she'd ream him but... she didn't. She thought it was ridiculous and silly. It won't change her into a Biden supporter, but I was surprised.

I think people going hard on Biden about this are going to regret it because a good amount of people are turned off by the attacks and, to many, it seems needless and over the top. We'll see ... but either way, good that the attacks come out now as opposed to a year from now.

[True Blue American]

4. Most Democrats

Saw through this silly smear attempt and understood where it came form

The second wanted all men to drop out and let women run. Ain’t gonna happen, Lady!( said in my very best Jerry Lewis voice!)

If a Republican could see through it pretty bad.

[LongtimeAZDem]

5. Oh, but the third says he touched her thigh and hugged her too long, and the fourth said

his hand went down her back.

There will be more of these, because Biden is a demonstrative, caring man who has been reaching out to people for decades.

Not one will have any proof, and they won't accuse him of a crime. They'll just say it made them feel uncomfortable.

And our side will crucify him, while the other side laughs it's ass off.

[True Blue American]

6. It will not come from me.

I know one of those 3 from past experience. She lost her election here, ran to Bernie, he lost. Then she tried to get on CNN, they made her over several times, no personality. Latched on to Bernie again. I think she had a go at Stein for a while. She will hang on to anything, say anything to be relevant.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

93. Can you say who? So curious :)

[True Blue American]

119. Nina Turner

She was a Representative from Ohio. Lost her election. Went to Bernie, then Jill Stein, CNN panalist, now back to Bernie. I wish she would finally get a job.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

121. Interesting

In 2016, she was also offered the role of vice presidential running mate by Jill Stein, the presidential nominee of the Green Party, but declined, saying "I believe that the Democratic Party is worth fighting for."[1] In 2017, Turner became president of the Sanders-affiliated group Our Revolution. On February 21, 2019, Turner was named a national co-chair of Sanders's 2020 campaign.[2]

[True Blue American]

122. As I posted

She has not been faithful to her party.

The only reason she would not run with Stein is because she knew Stein could not win and she would be out of the Democrati Party.

I have watched Nina for years. Sorry if I sound biased, it is just that I know her.

[Cha]

9. This is a quote on Biden from Caitlyn Caruso, April 27, 2016..

When Vice President Joe Biden came to town, you got to speak with him?

Oh my gosh! It was such a wild experience. It was a really fast week. I was contacted by the White House staff to come and speak before he took the stage to share my story. I got to share my story before a couple hundred of my peers, which was wild. Then afterward, he sat me down and talked to me about the work he’s been doing to prevent sexual assault all across the country.

https://knpr.org/knpr/2016-04/young-activist-has-eyes-set-2016?utm_content=buffer5fb21&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer&fbclid=IwAR1-vGePq2R1zQ3eZK3yYcBs3zy88F6OPU5osPKZwWdGWMNTUmkGdd4A-5Y

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1287&pid=50069

[pnwmom]

13. She was a freshman in college when she said that, and it was shortly after the incident.

She was the victim of a rape at age 13, and he had come to talk about his Violence Against Women act at an event where she shared about her rape.

That was her mission. So why would she have distracted from her real concern -- protecting women against sexual assault -- by bringing up an action of Biden's that had made her uncomfortable but was not assault?

[Cha]

15. Just quoting what she said. I wasn't around when

the news about Al Franken's accusers' broke..

Were there those on this board as eager to railroad and kick Al Franken out of the Senate as some seem to be about getting VP Biden kicked out of running for POTUS?

[pnwmom]

16. I think Biden could solve this problem simply by offering a real apology,

instead of the non-apology, where he said he never believed he had behaved inappropriately. No one thinks he deliberately set out to behave inappropriately. But according to the women, he made them uncomfortable. So why can't he just offer a sincere apology for making them uncomfortable and say that he's learned something and will try to do better?

“In my many years on the campaign trail and in public life, I have offered countless handshakes, hugs, expressions of affection, support and comfort. And 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. I may not recall these moments the same way, and I may be surprised at what I hear. But we have arrived at an important time when women feel they can and should relate their experiences, and men should pay attention. And I will.”

[LongtimeAZDem]

19. No he can't because it's a bullshit trap

You acknowledge that he had no intent to behave inappropriately; therefore, his apology would have to be of the form:

"I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable, but I didn't mean to"

That would be called a "non-apology", and you would trash him for it as well.

This issue exists only because some emotionally immature people can't deal with the fact that they were uncomfortable with a well meaning gesture, and are using iit to trash a good man.

[treestar]

23. and they would not accept the apology anyway

[pnwmom]

31. No, it wouldn't. I'm talking about one that acknowledges and accepts that he made someone

uncomfortable.

For example: "To anyone I have made uncomfortable, I'm sorry. I never intended to."

There is no IF in that sentence.

[LongtimeAZDem]

35. Again, "If P then Q" is logically equivalent to "All P are Q".

If you say, "If I offended you, then I am sorry", it is equivalent to "To all I have offended, I am sorry".

And, again, it's a bullshit trap.

[pnwmom]

39. There were exactly ZERO "ifs" in my sentence. Read it again:

"To anyone I have made uncomfortable, I'm sorry. I never intended to."

[LongtimeAZDem]

41. I won't explain it again

[pnwmom]

42. Show me the "if." There isn't one. n/t

[guillaumeb]

78. Well said.

But he has not said anything like that.

IF he did, I think the issue would become a non-issue.

(And there is an if in that sentence.)

[True Blue American]

120. Instead of

Depends on what the meaning of is, now you are hanging your hat on the word,”If!”

[Demsrule86]

22. Supports another candidate. And what kind evil person does this ?

[Demsrule86]

59. And the we lose in 20 20.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

75. I don't think we should be diminishing the accusations of these women who come forward

in this #MeToo Era.


Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[IluvPitties]

3. Perfect to empower Trump

Republicans are laughing at how people on our side are distorting #metoo in order to bring down one of our best.

[Jarqui]

7. Trump knows he needs Pennsylvania to win in 2020

He has a very narrow path for reelection.

Trump & the GOP also know it will be really tough to beat a guy born in Scranton, PA.

[Freddie]

8. I suspect this is coming from a "Democrat"

But the Rs are enjoying it highly. “Grab ‘em by the p*ssy”...? As usual they have no idea what hypocrisy is.

[Bettie]

46. It does the multipurpose service of

getting Biden out of the race (most likely), causing his supporters to be less likely to be happy with voting for a nominee who chose to jump on the "Biden is a bad guy" bandwagon, and it blunts the #metoo movement because it trivializes sexual assault and harassment by equating it to "feeling uncomfortable".

And far too many Democrats are only to happy to enable this.

[Demsrule86]

58. I hope he hangs on like Northam and Fairfax. This has to end.

[Rhiannon12866]

10. 10 years after the fact

He was on the national stage as vice president for 8 years, why suddenly bring it up now??

[pnwmom]

14. The #metoo movement has made a lot of women rethink male behavior

that they just put up with in the past.

[LongtimeAZDem]

20. And they need to grow up; men have put up with all kinds of uncomfortable female behavior

When I was a banquet waiter, I had my butt grabbed almost every time we did a wedding, because Aunt Sally gets frisky when she has a couple of glasses of champagne.

You deal with it and move on; if you don't, the phrases "man up" or "grow a pair" come to mind.

[pnwmom]

29. And that is the same. PEOPLE shouldn't be grabbing each other outside of a personal relationship.nt

[LongtimeAZDem]

30. So you tell them, then and there. You don't make a federal case out of it years later.

And sometimes, you act like an adult and deal with the fact that life is sometimes unpleasant.

[Demsrule86]

24. This is not me too. In fact it will destroy me too.

[comradebillyboy]

69. Yes it will.

[Demsrule86]

57. The me too movement is done. Political attacks have destroyed it.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

52. Maybe because we need to nominate the candidate with the best chance of defeating

the Pussy-Grabber-in-Chief. The country can't survive another for years of his tyrannical reign!!


Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[Bettie]

61. So, do you really think that Sen. Sanders won't be attacked?

That there is NOTHING in his past that can be weaponized?

[comradebillyboy]

71. I can bring up Bernie's questionable essays and his refusal to

financially support his own son but that might be considered bashing and I'm sure no republicans would dare do that.

[Bettie]

73. Exactly, they will find something on

anyone.

Right now, they have people digging into each and every one of our candidates for dirt or things that can be spun as dirt. The ones they like the best are the ones they know will cause our side to begin attacking our own.

[IndianaDave]

11. It's really Important to be Balanced about These Situations

First, I don't like the descriptor "accusations." It implies some predatory motive on Joe's part, even before you begin to assess what occurred. I can't believe that Joe Biden has or had any such motive. These women don't seem to be accusing him of anything. They are describing their personal feelings as a result of his affectionate behavior. I haven't read any of their comments which interpret his actions as constituting actual sexual assault.

Second, none of us is in a position to judge these women's true feelings during their encounters with Joe. They may all have sincerely felt uncomfortable, but -- at the time -- were reluctant to express those feelings. Or one, or all, may be coming forth now because of encouragement from one of Joe Biden's political adversaries. I'll accept their statements as accurate until there's definitive proof of some form of nefarious motivation or coordination.

Finally -- that being said -- regardless of their level of sincerity, I have heard nothing which disqualifies Joe Biden from running for president.

I have seen Joe openly, publicly express affection for women, men and children for many years. I have never sensed that he was doing so from lecherous or "creepy" motives. I'm thoroughly convinced that he simply intended to show people that he really cared about them. In my view, he has always tried to demonstrate his warmth appropriately. He loves people. His hugs are genuinely affectionate. His touch is meant to be reassuring. He exudes kindness and concern for people.

I'm truly sorry that some people have felt uncomfortable. And, from Joe Biden's statements, once these people came forward and expressed their discomfort, I'm certain that he regrets it, too. I believe him. This whole situation has been blown completely out of proportion, and Joe Biden has every right to run for president. He's a good man and is highly qualified.

If my preferred candidate doesn't get the nomination, I would be happy and proud to vote for Joe Biden.

[pnwmom]

17. Why doesn't he just say: "To anyone I've made uncomfortable, I'm sorry"?

Here is his statement. Nowhere in it does he say "I apologize" or "I'm sorry" for making you uncomfortable.

“In my many years on the campaign trail and in public life, I have offered countless handshakes, hugs, expressions of affection, support and comfort. And 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. I may not recall these moments the same way, and I may be surprised at what I hear. But we have arrived at an important time when women feel they can and should relate their experiences, and men should pay attention. And I will.”

[IndianaDave]

18. That would be ideal. I wish he would say those exact words. He may, yet!

[treestar]

25. that will be called a non-apology "I'm sorry if you were uncomfortable"

and would be giving in and legitimizing this and if you don't think these types of things can be said against women, you are fooling yourself.

[LongtimeAZDem]

27. Exactly

[pnwmom]

28. Where was the word "if"? I said, "To anyone I have made uncomfortable." That would be accepting

the claim that women have been made uncomfortable, Such a statement would cover anyone who has come forward and also people who have not.

[LongtimeAZDem]

34. "If P then Q" is logically equivalent to "All P are Q"

If you say, "If I offended you, then I am sorry", it is equivalent to "To all I have offended, I am sorry".

Good god.

[pnwmom]

43. Good God is right. "If" is not equivalent to "To all."

You will not find that in any logic class.

[LongtimeAZDem]

44. It is straight out of logic class

The "if, then" conditional means that "if something is P, then it is Q".

This means that everything that is "P", is "Q". It cannot be "P" and not "Q".

Or, restated, "All P are Q".

[pnwmom]

47. But I never said the word IF. n/t

[LongtimeAZDem]

48. The statements are equivalent. I'm done trying to teach you comprehension. Adieu

[treestar]

50. Or men, if any were made uncomfortable by it

It is curious, since this has nothing to do with sexual assault, that only women can complain about this. Social touching could easily make some men uncomfortable too. Franken didn't look that thrilled when Biden talked to him with his hands on his shoulders.

[LongtimeAZDem]

55. The only pic I've seen like that was a Photoshop. Got a link?

[BlueMTexpat]

12. Biden is not one of my

top Presidential preferences.

But I think that these stories are pure BS, especially considering from where some emanate.

I also believe that such stories detract and distract from those who have truly been harmed.

[tinrobot]

21. This is a minefield for Biden.

Innocent as it may be, Biden is simply a lot more "touchy" than most candidates. It exists. Plenty of photographs. We can't ignore it.

The reason we can't ignore it is that it is a perfect GOP talking point. They love to create false equivalencies and take down opposing candidates for doing the "same thing" their candidate is doing. Even though it is not really the same thing, it still negates the issue.

I have mixed feelings about this. I do like Biden a lot, but this is a minefield. It could easily consume the narrative and detract from the issues. The fact that we're talking about it ad-infinitum is just the beginning.

I'm not sure how he navigates it, but I hope he does.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

51. That's why we should go for the "squeaky clean" candidate...

No one to my knowledge has ever accused Bernie of so much as leering at them or hugging them too long. Joe's actions could be splained by him as all perfectly innocent, despite what his accusers say, but, why take a chance on a candidate who will be subjected to countless campaign ads from the other side citing charges of these kind of improprieties? We need to nominate the candidate with the best chance of knocking off the Pussy-Grabber-in-Chief!! The survival of our country depends on it!!

Bernie is that candidate.


Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[Demsrule86]

56. Squeaky clean?

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

60. Yes... certainly compared to Joe.

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[Demsrule86]

64. No. He will lose ,and I won't post dirt about any candidate but there is plenty.

Ever wonder why Trump wants to run against Sen Sanders?

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

65. Nope, Bernie will win...easily!! Ever wonder why anyone would believe ANYTHING the Liar-in-Chief

has to say?! Of course, he SAYS he wants to run against Bernie... so those like you will think we shouldn't nominate Bernie, the one candidate who could absolutely trounce that bullshit artist!!

Thank you for PROVING my point that Bernie sits atop the list of candidates with the BEST chance of winning in 2020, based on what the tRumpster Fire is saying. We simply can't take a chance with even a slightly flawed candidate this time... too much is at stake!!


Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[Demsrule86]

67. He won't win a general. But I don't believe he can win the primary anyway...negatives

too high. I want to win a general that is my goal. I will vote for anyone in a general. Sanders will be painted as a dangerous socialist....and lose the General should he win the primary.

Do I believe this? No of course not. He has my vote. But he needs moderate votes.You need a big tent to win the presidency. Look at the electoral map. Can a sanders candidacy win Arizona? Doubtful. And we lose our shot at winning a senate seat if not. We won 2018 with moderates. We won't win 20 without them.

[Demsrule86]

68. You got to win the primary first...have you seen his negatives?

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

70. True... not saying Bernie is perfect. But, he certainly has less negatives than many of the other

Democrats in the race. I mean, look at Biden's negatives. Bernie is MUCH better positioned to win the primary... it's not even close!!


Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[Demsrule86]

77. I have not seen Biden's negatives. Did you see they want to end birthright citizenship? If Trump

gets a second term, I bet they manage it. The reason I support Biden is because I think he can win the key states we need. I like him but I like all our candidates with the exception of Sanders (sorry still would vote for him in a general) and Tulsi (would vote for her in a general too). I just don't see how they win the general...maybe Beto and he is a long shot. I think this will be a tough race...and the outcome is so important.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

86. I see where you're coming from... but, seriously, you haven't seen Joe's negatives?

Or, are you talking polling data? Regardless, you should try being a bit more objective when it comes to evaluating your candidate.


Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[Demsrule86]

88. No I haven't he has been ahead but I think it is early for all of them.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

90. Okay, fair enough... not sure if that's really so much outcome determinative...

but, it's certainly a factor.


Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[tinrobot]

82. Perhaps a woman would be an even better candidate.

There' are plenty of good ones this year.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

85. I agree, which is why Elizabeth is my #2 choice... she'd be AWESOME!!

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[BlueFlorida]

96. Like someone who doesn't hesitate or stall to release tax returns? nt

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

97. Bernie has confirmed what I've been saying... he'll supplement the release of his 2014 tax return

with later years after he files his 2018 return with the IRS. Makes perfect sense to me. Just be a little more patient and soon you'll have it. Then people critical of Bernie can find something else to bash him over.


Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[BlueFlorida]

98. What is stopping him from releasing 2009-2017?

Those should be ready to go, right? RIGHT?

Only Gillebrand has disclosed her 2018 return -- all others have disclosed through 2017.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

100. First of all, NOT all...second, Bernie obviously doesn't want to release his tax returns piecemeal.

That's perfectly reasonable. I don't see why people can't respect that... as long as he releases his tax returns in the near term, which I support him doing, what difference does the exact date make? Precisely... it doesn't!! So, everyone just needs to relax, be a little more patient, and soon they'll get to see Bernie's boring tax returns and can then find something else to bash Bernie over.


Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[GemDigger]

107. Bernie does not want to release them until he has been nominated.

It is too late by then.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

108. I agree with you COMPLETELY that it would be too late by then... it would not be acceptable

to most reasonable people if Bernie were to wait until AFTER he's nominated to release his tax returns, which is why Bernie will do so BEFORE he's nominated. Count on it!!


Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[GemDigger]

109. When asked by Jake Tapper why he didn't in 2016, he said this

"I didn't end up doing it because I didn't win the nomination, if we had won the nomination we would have".

[BlueFlorida]

110. He released only one return before

wasn't that piecemeal?

Also, all the other candidates have released returns through 2017 and will release the 2018s later.

We have been patient for THREE YEARS.

It is surprising that you don't think he has something to hide when almost all the people (including some Bernie supporters) are convinced that there is something seriously wrong.

Asking for his tax returns is not "bashing" ... some seem to have a notion that any legitimate vetting is "bashing."

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

113. The fact is, no matter what Bernie does, some will NEVER be satisfied...

The release of his 2014 tax return is the perfect example of this. So, I trust Bernie to do the right thing and get all the information out before he becomes our nominee. We all just need to be a little more patient.


Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[BlueFlorida]

116. He is never going to become our nominee

Sanders is well-known and what he is getting now is high water mark. It is all downhill from here.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

117. Haha, famous last words... guess we'll see!!

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[GemDigger]

104. Bernie is not "squeaky clean". He hasn't touched anyone

but he is not squeaky clean in other areas.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

105. Yes, I was referring to the fact that Bernie's never been accused of any impropriety with women.

While Bernie, certainly, is not perfect in all areas, when compared to most politicians, he's about as "squeaky clean" as one can get!!


Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[GemDigger]

106. You will be disappointed. A lot of stuff came out about his actions in 2016

that many people do not think is above board, transparent or very honest. That stuff will come out again and all the stuff since then.

The only thing clean about him is that isn't a space invader. Other stuff, not so much.

[BlueFlorida]

111. Not to mention the esssays

and the Burlington College thing.

[GemDigger]

112. And a list of about 25 questionable things.

Not to mention his voting record on Russia and sanctions. If he won't sanction he won't protect us from them. My opinion.

[dem4decades]

103. Perfect GOP candidate? Against the admitted pussy grabber? Please.

[Gothmog]

26. Joe Biden is the most electable candidate that the Democratic Party has available

Joe is being targeted by certain groups who are afraid of Joe

[COLGATE4]

32. Thread Winner! nt

[Gothmog]

33. Joe is one of the Democrats who trump fears the most

trump is worried about three possible Democratic nominees https://politicalwire.com/2019/03/24/the-democrats-trump-fears-most/

“President Trump has publicly boasted that he could beat any of his 2020 Democratic challengers. But privately, several members of the Trump campaign see a few who could pose a threat to his re-election, and are in the early stages of building out their strategy for attack,” Axios reports.

“The three candidates that seem to concern the Trump campaign most are Joe Biden, Kamala Harris and Beto O’Rourke. That’s in no particular order, and you’ll get a different answer depending on who you talk to.”

[bigtree]

37. that's based on polls that include republicans and other trolls

...we are in a DEMOCRATIC primary, and Biden may well not be the 'most electable' at the end of our process of picking a nominee.

Respect the process. No one is anointed to the nomination by polls.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

66. You think JOE is "targeted" by those who are afraid?! By that logic, Bernie is BY FAR

the most electable candidate... it's not even close!!


Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[Gothmog]

74. LOL-From the Washington Post

Link to tweet

“A combined 58 percent of voters are either uncomfortable (37 percent) or have reservations about (21 percent) Bernie Sanders’ 2020 bid. For Elizabeth Warren, it’s a combined 53 percent. And for Kamala Harris and Beto O’Rourke, it’s 41 percent of voters expressing either reservations or discomfort.” Given that the overwhelming number of voters know who Sanders is, there is no excuse — as there is for other candidates — that they have insufficient information to decide whether to vote for him. Sanders is about as well known as former vice president Joe Biden, yet the poll shows that Biden’s comfortable/uncomfortable rating (48/48) clearly outpaces Sanders’s (37/58).....

Sanders’s age, the “socialist” moniker he embraces and his 2016 campaign problem with women are not going to change during the race. It’s unlikely his personality or his familiarity with foreign policy will improve, either. (The guy is 77, and if we have learned anything from Trump, it is that septuagenarians don’t change their personalities nor attend to habitual deficits in knowledge.) Oh, and on Sunday he again promised to release his tax returns, which he promised over a month ago would be “soon.”

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

79. "LOL - From the Washington Post"... that's for sure!! That's all you need

to know... you could've stopped right there!! The Washington Post is hardly credible in terms of the way it unfairly bashes Bernie.


Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[Gothmog]

83. sanders is not electable in the real world

sanders will not get any support from African American voters in the primary and so will not make it past Super Tuesday

I love the fact that sanders supporters are mad at the Washington Post for reporting facts about sanders. I am glad that sanders is being vetted. No one took sanders seriously and so he was not vetted. Vetting is important I amso glad that sanders is being vetted this cycle https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/01/28/why-bernie-sanders-has-an-uphill-climb-ahead/?utm_term=.1b4f90c2a717

Finally, what happens when the oppo dump on Sanders comes? We have no idea, because it never happened in 2016. Clinton was so terrified of alienating his supporters and seeing them vote for Jill Stein in the general election (or not vote at all) that she tiptoed around him for pretty much the entirety of the primary campaign. That doesn’t mean that he’ll be destroyed when stories about the more colorful aspects of his history start cropping up, but there’s just no way to know.

Which is what we could say about the Sanders candidacy as a whole: There’s no way to know how it’s going to go. But he’s got his work cut out for him.

See also https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/19/politics/bernie-sanders-2020-campaign-donald-trump/index.html?utm_source=twCNNp&utm_content=2019-02-20T14%3A52%3A07&utm_term=image&utm_medium=social%C2%A0

2. How will he withstand more scrutiny and more attacks?
One of the secrets to Sanders' success in 2016 was that no one -- most especially Clinton -- thought he had any chance of going anywhere in the race. Clinton largely ignored him for the better part of 2015, allowing some problematic parts of Sanders' record for Democrats -- most notably his voting record on guns -- to go unnoticed. (When the race began to tighten, Clinton gently prodded Sanders on guns and health care.) Sanders, too, largely flew under the radar of investigative reporters for major news outlets who were busy looking into Clinton, Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio and others seen as more viable candidates. (That reality clearly benefited Donald Trump in the early days of the campaign, as well.)

Sanders will get no pass -- from either the media or his fellow candidates -- this time around. He is among the frontrunners -- and will be treated as such. His wife's time as president of Burlington College could well come up. And his opponents will do a deep dive into his nearly 30 years of votes as a member of the House and Senate. This is all very normal stuff in a campaign. But not for Sanders.

There is a ton of strong opposition research out there that will come out this cycle

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

84. Great, so Bernie is being vetted, unfairly by some, and, yet, he's still at the top of the polls.

But, only Bernie, should drop out 'cause sposedly he can't win!! You're too funny!!



Bernie is crushin' it in terms of poll numbers, campaign contributions, and volunteers for his campaign. But, but, but he can't possibly win!!! Yeah, riiiiiight!!!!


Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[Gothmog]

87. Many real democrats have long memories

Many real democrats remember what sanders did and we will not forgive or forget. sanders will not be the nominee without African American support and will do poorly in Southern primaries.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

91. Maybe you're right... I doubt it, but, either way, here's an idea!!...

Why don't we wait and see?! Your prediction is no reason for Bernie to drop out of the race. It's a long time before the first vote is cast and Bernie, who is already off to a faster start in 2020, will only gain momentum, as is his history. But, feel free to keep rooting against Bernie.

I, OTOH, wish ALL the candidates the best of luck... and may the best one win!!


Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[Gothmog]

114. I am happy to wait in large part it will be fun

I will support the nominee of the party. With no or little African American support sanders will not be the nominee. It is amazing how booing John Lewis will affect this segment of the party

[Demsrule86]

62. The women with the BS stories have now destroyed me too,

[WeekiWater]

38. But those aren't the only feelings.

It’s also rallying the troops around him. That is clear. I don’t see this harming him. I see it building enthusiasm among his already large group of support.

[LongtimeAZDem]

40. That it might backfire in no way mitigates the contemptible nature of the smear.

[WeekiWater]

45. Fully agree. NT

[Gothmog]

49. I like this statement by Joe Biden

Link to tweet

[Kanoko]

53. I saw the video the Pro-Trump group is about to release.

It made Biden look really creepy, especially with the young children.
It's an effective ad, and Republicans have set aside a bundle of money to air that video.

[LongtimeAZDem]

54. Any GOP ad will simply be recut with Trump pics and statments and re-released. I'll backfire

[Demsrule86]

63. While their guy raped a 13 tear old girl.

[SWBTATTReg]

80. Absolutely. Lets don't eat our own candidates when the worst one of all tries to get by...

scot free and we even have rump on audio tape explaining how to grope a woman to B Bush on the campaign bus AND too many stories about rump and his behavior towards women...disgusting.

[Demsrule86]

81. Trump is a pig.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

72. I saw it too... seemed more than a lil extreme, but, worried how the average voter will react to it.

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[BlueFlorida]

99. This is how the average voter will react

as though Ted Bundy is releasing videos of some guy who yells loudly in a bar and tries to make a point.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

101. Possibly.

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[Gothmog]

76. Washington Post-Opinion: After his video, Biden may come out even stronger

Link to tweet

By late Wednesday afternoon, his video tweet had received more than 66,000 likes.

It’s not clear this was even necessary. Other than journalists, it was hard to find anyone who honestly thought “Biden is a hugger” was news; it surely wasn’t new. Even Republicans had come to his rescue. Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.), in a reminder of the old Lindsey Graham, remarked, “I just want to say Joe Biden is my friend, and I know him very well, and whatever he did it may have been inappropriate but it was not driven by malice or misconduct.” Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) also vouched for him, as has Meghan McCain.

Biden conveyed in his message why he touches people — to soothe, empathize and encourage. In saying that he would resist the notion that politics has to be “antiseptic,” he showed that he’s in public service not for glory but to help others. In short, he helped voters remember the positive qualities he’s well known for, which even political opponents attest to.

[Cha]

94. Thanks for this, Goth

[LanternWaste]

89. It's also turning into an effective way to minimize the MeToo movement as well.

Biden will move past this. Democrats and progressives will move past this. Independent and undecided voters will move past this.

But it's chum in the water for the MRAs and anyone who still alleges "it's stuff like this that makes MeToo look bad..."

[BlueFlorida]

92. The smears didn't work

and I think they backfired on one campaign in particular.

[joshcryer]

95. It's actually a very bad weapon.

It's originating from the same group who dismissed Planned Parenthood and Black Lives Matter, and they're presuming that they can weaponize the very things they dismissed as relevant issues.

They can't.

[samnsara]

102. this will backfire on them..his polls are going up already...

..people are seeing thru this

[Gothmog]

115. Joe Biden is a honestly decent human being

Link to tweet

Decorum seemed far from Biden’s mind when he went off-schedule to stop by the Cabinet Room on June 10, 2013. He slung an arm around my husband, who was about to be nominated by President Barack Obama as the chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers; he hugged my in-laws, whom he had never met; and then he homed in on my kindergartner. The vice president sat down and whispered to my anxious kid about the small Schleich knight he was clutching. My son relaxed, and slumped back into Biden’s lap. At that point, an aide interrupted to say that Biden was overdue for a meeting with Kosovar Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi. Still, he refused to rush. He called over my daughter and his photographer for this photo:

Why am I telling another “Biden being Biden” story? Because I believe that the character of the person who occupies the Oval Office is of the utmost importance, and because I believe that Biden, far from a bad man, is an unusually good one.....

Biden’s disregard of this protocol is telling. He enters a room, just as he enters a debate about union rights or domestic violence, with a predisposition to lend an ear to the least powerful.

Judging from the reaction to the recent spate of Biden stories, time is up on avuncular attention, now interpreted as at best pernicious paternalism and at worst septuagenarian sexual harassment. In the cultural revolution under way in America, men like Biden are invited to offer their head if their prior actions deviated from the new norms.

No doubt, character counts. I, for one, admire Biden’s deviant decency.

[Gothmog]

118. In Defense of Joe Biden: A Hug When I Needed One

Link to tweet

At age 33, I had been a life-long Republican. I worked for, what many might describe as the “dark side and/or Darth Vaders of politics”, including George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, and Sarah Palin. I was conservative in my upbringing, values, and beliefs. I stayed true to those feelings yet still found myself drawn to Joe Biden. Our affable, blunder-prone, yet seemingly oh-so-real Vice President.....

I was anxious, sad, and seriously swollen with emotion but was able to get a chance to meet the Vice President. Many of the local Democrats remarked “what are YOU doing here?” when I showed up in line at his photo opportunity. I explained my affection for VP Biden because of what I had been through, and no one blinked an eye, everyone understood. He was a good man. No matter your party.

When my turn came up to have my brief meet-and-greet and photo taken with Vice President Biden, I was nervous. Why AM I here?? But immediately, he knew my story (his staff had briefed him) and he brought me in for a long, big hug. It was exactly what I needed. We discussed Beau and my father. We talked about the recent loss of my mother — he understood family tragedy. He was close, nose to nose at times and hand in hand, but it was in that personal touch that I KNEW he was a human. Not a Vice President, or a politician, or someone that was giving a speech later that night. He was a real person, who had been through real things. Just like me. We must’ve talked for five minutes — far more than the paying Democrat contributors got! — but it was so genuine, no one would complain. Especially Mr. Biden, communicating and comparing stories with me was clearly a highlight for him amidst his political duties. I left with a giant smile on my face, the first in days, and was uplifted for a long time after. I met my hero, and he was exactly what I had expected him to be.

My point in telling this story is that, while Vice President Biden has a very personal and affectionate way about him, it is only because he loves people. He loves people’s stories. Man, woman, child. Father, mother, son, daughter, spouse. He knows people are hurting and can relate and offer genuine support. And human touch is the most basic form of relaying that. There is no ulterior motive — he just wants to get close to everyone. Because he cares about their stories. And is human. And THAT is what matters most and crosses all party lines.

[Gothmog]

123. Early State Democrats Stand With Biden As Touching Scandal Falls Flat

Link to tweet

Progressives and advisers to Bernie Sanders hoped that they could keep Biden out of the race with a scandal that centers around personal space. The scandal though never really dominated the news like they hoped it or accelerated enough to damage the former vice president’s potential candidacy. Biden is still leading in the way too early polling, and he has seen no erosion in his support since the touching scandal started.

The challenge that any Democratic candidate faces is that Joe Biden has deep roots and a huge national organization of party officials. Biden is beloved by the party rank and file, and it is going to take more than what his political adversaries tried to turn into a scandal to stop his candidacy.

After seeing the behavior of porn star paying off, Access Hollywood tape accused sexual assaulter Trump, Joe Biden’s behavior doesn’t rise to the level of disqualifying in the minds of many Democrats.

Democratic voters may choose a different nominee, but Joe Biden is showing why he is going to be hard to beat in 2020.

[Gothmog]

124. This so-called scandal/hit job failed

Link to tweet

One almost sensed from the breathless coverage of women who decided years later to object to former vice president Joe Biden’s non-sexual hugs and pats and kisses on the head that they expected the media to think it would be a fatal or near-fatal blow to Biden’s presidential chances. Not only was it not fatal, it didn’t register as particularly relevant to most Democratic voters. He was atop the polls before these stories aired, and he is atop them now.

Biden has been in the public eye since the 1970s, and unlike Hillary Clinton, who claimed the public never really knew her, voters feel like they know Biden pretty darn well. Many voters don’t remember anything before his vice presidency, his demonstrably warm relationship with President Barack Obama, his remarkable dignity after the death of his beloved son Beau, and his emotional goodbye to the late senator John McCain. He has established a level of emotional intimacy with voters that few politicians attain. He’s the chatty next-door neighbor, the avuncular relative and the co-worker who remembers everyone’s birthday.