Text of Biden's statement

[LongtimeAZDem]

"Folks, in the coming month, I expect to be talking to you about a whole lot of issues, and I'll always be direct with you. But today I want to talk about gestures of support and encouragement that I've made to women and some men that have made them uncomfortable.

And I've always tried to be, in my career, I've always tried to make a human connection. That's my responsibility I think. I shake hands. I hug people. I grab men and women by the shoulders and say 'you can do this,' And, whether they're women, men, young, old, it's the way I've always been. The way I've tried to show I care about them and I'm listening.

And over the years, knowing what I've been through, the things that I've faced, I've found that scores, if not hundreds of people who've come up to me and reached out for solace, comfort, something, something, anything that may help them get through the tragedy they're going through.

And so it's just who I am. And I've never thought of politics as cold and antiseptic, I've thought about connecting with people. As I said, shaking hands, hands on the shoulder, a hug, encouragement. And now it's all about taking selfies together.

You know, social norms have begun to change, they've shifted. And the boundaries of producing personal space have been reset and I get it. I get it. I hear what they're saying. I understand it. And I'll be much more mindful, that's my responsibility. My responsibility and I'll meet it. But I'll always believe — governing, quite frankly, life, for that matter, is about connecting, about connecting with people. That won't change, but I will be more mindful and respectful of people's personal space, and that's a good thing. That's a good thing.

I've worked my whole life to empower women, I've worked my whole life to prevent abuse. (I've written a) and so the idea that I can't adjust to the fact that personal space is important, more important than its ever been is just unthinkable. I will. I will."

[oasis]

1. Joe's sincerity comes shining through. Thanks for posting.

[bigtree]

2. "...my responsibility"

"My responsibility..."

[Gothmog]

3. I like this statement by Joe Biden

Link to tweet

[Peacetrain]

4. Thank You President Biden...

Well said, well said..

[NurseJackie]

5. The next President of the United States.

[Demsrule86]

8. I hope so. Did you know there is talk about Ohio going with the popular vote? I was quite shocked

to hear that. After what Trump has done in Ohio...causing Lordstown to shut down and attacking the union...Biden might win Ohio.

[NurseJackie]

10. I had not heard that. That's great news. Thanks for letting me know.

[Demsrule86]

11. I do think with a good candidate, we can take Ohio...Trump has hurt workers here.

[FBaggins]

6. Works for me

[Demsrule86]

7. He is such a good man. Obama was right.

[SFnomad]

9. I always knew this was going to become an issue for Biden, I just didn't know how he would handle it

Depending on your point of view, you'll call what Biden has done ... connecting; invading personal space; or being "handsy" ... but it's all the same thing, describing the same events. And unless you're trying to remove Biden as competition or have some ax to grind with him, I don't think anyone could see this issue as being part of the #MeToo movement. It does a real disservice to people that truly have been assaulted or sexually harassed. Does this mean Biden hasn't made people uncomfortable? No, but being made uncomfortable in a short, single incident isn't necessarily harassment either.

Will this be the end of this issue for him? Probably not. But I hope this statement of his begins the process of putting this to rest.