About Anita Hill

[ancianita]

I HEAR HER. NO amount of apology will ever undo the damage done to her.

Remember: that is her only point.

It's not fair, however, to come from that position for the next eighteen months. It invites in women voters a stubborn one-issue mentality of hardening one's judgments early, then clinging to them. They disable themselves from fending off Republican attacks later because they won't do any more of the important homework on their party nominee.

No one mistake should define a politician for life, all other accomplishments weighed.

I hear her. To cling desperately to the idea that Biden still is who he was then, is to deny any politician's undeniable right, capacity and willingness to evolve.



This is a Big Issue.

Here's how Joe can repair the damage:

nominate Anita Hill for confirmation to SCOTUS when Ginsberg retires.

Justice Hill has a nice ring to it.

[DURHAM D]

1. Anita is 62 years old and would be the first to say

that she is not qualified to be on the bench.

That said, she is way more qualified that Thomas was.

[BannonsLiver]

2. It's not really that big of an issue

I realize some here desperately want it to be so it might somehow benefit their candidate but most people care about things that impact them directly, like jobs and healthcare. Those issues will trump a 30 year old committee hearing every time. Doesn’t make her wrong, it’s just reality.

[mobeau69]

8. Speaking of issues, is Joe going to forcefully stand up for net neutrality?

F**k Comcast.

[BannonsLiver]

9. I don't know, why don't you ask him?

[mobeau69]

15. You brought up the topic of issues so I thought you'd know.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

16. Fuck that. I lived through that shit.

Biden stepped on his dick big time with that decision. And he has never owned it.

[BlueFlorida]

19. Those were different times

Will you also blame the founding fathers for not abolishing slavery?

[zentrum]

27. Are you kidding?

Yes, I blame them.

Owning slaves wasn't all attitude "of the times"? Slavery made many of them personally very rich landowners. So the thinking was purely self serving and financial. Follow the money. (Washington freed all his slaves when he died, so surely he knew it was wrong.)

Secondly, not abolishing slavery was the only way to draw in the Southern States. Purely a political calculation. Nothing to do with it being "different times".

They knew.They knew. And allowed it and grew rich off it anyway.

Can you blame Hitler for his treatment of Jews and disabled people? Wasn't that just "different times" too?

[BlueFlorida]

55. ok, you convinced me

I am never going to vote for George Washington for President.

[zentrum]

90. Are you sure?

[Cuthbert Allgood]

36. "Different Times." Then Joe needs to own it. He hasn't.

And, frankly, yes. I think it was bullshit that the founding fathers just kicked the can of slavery down the road instead of dealing with it just because they knew it would be tough dealing with it.

[BlueFlorida]

56. Alrightythen

Beating a dead horse is enjoyable for some people.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

67. BINGO!!! ... looks like we hava winner!!

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

[progressoid]

82. different times?

Tell that to Anita Hill. To her face.

And tell that to any people from that "different time" who went through those experiences.

Different times. SMDH.

[BlueFlorida]

93. Would you like to read essays from the 70's? nt

[progressoid]

96. I lived through the 70's. What would reading 70's essays do?

[BlueFlorida]

97. ummm well, there are essays

written by a Bernard Sanders back in the day. Google them and you'll see them.

[progressoid]

98. Oh, I see. So you've changed your position and now it's OK to:

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

66. It was a mistake on Joe's part and that's why he should apologize to Anita for his OWN actions.

It's a no brainer... perhaps, he's just getting bad advice from his advisors to remain steadfast in refusing to admit he made mistakes and apologize for them.


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

[Cuthbert Allgood]

68. I don't think that's so hard.

But apparently I don't understand things.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

71. It's NOT hard... pride just makes it UNNECESSARILY hard!!

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

[elleng]

32. It seems to be, for ### here 'at least.'

[mobeau69]

3. She's much too old for SC.

Besides, it would just add fuel to the fire about this. Joe needs to get this behind him. The View didn't go well at all.

We don't need this kind of crap to deal with. What a freaking mess!

[BannonsLiver]

14. Lol at the concern

I watched his view appearance. It was completely unremarkable. Maybe you should try boosting Mayor Pete rather than being so negatively focused on Biden’s candidacy. Give it a whirl. It would probably be more productive than that silly OP from last night.

[mobeau69]

17. I'm concerned about winning the election.

I've posted a lot about Mayor Pete by the way.

[helpisontheway]

43. I saw a clip of Biden from THE VIEW on Andrea Mitchell's show and I cringed a bit. He should

have worked with a strategist to come up with satisfactory responses before he joined the race. Now all of them want to pounce on him because he is the front runner and was a former VP. Hope this Anita Hill crap does not haunt him for the rest of the campaign. It is so obvious that TRUMP is terrified of Biden. He knows Biden can take some of precious blue collar worker base away...

[emmaverybo]

61. Get Thomas and Repugs to apologize

Republicans cynically chose a black conservative male to become only the second black person in history to become a SC justice. Thomas called the hearing a high tech lynching, referencing, actually misappropriating, myths of black male sexual abuse against women that led to their horrific murders and the still prevailing white male efforts to stop people of color, particularly black me, from power positions.
Thomas and Repugs created a chilling political effect on the hearing Dems. Biden made some attempts to challenge Thomas. No he did not stop the Repugs from attacking Hill. That is not hearing protocol. Yes, he and Kennedy pulled their punches.
But neither rigged this horrible thing and the smears that continued we’re not their making.
No response will be satisfactory for Hill.
She continues to lay all responsibility for the hearing and its aftermath at Biden's feet. She looked for the chairman’s protection against her lying perverted harasser and her women hating craven attackers.
She did not get it. Neither did Blasely.
Maybe hearings are not the answer.
How bout a thorough vetting before a nominee goes forward? Polygraph,psych testing and interview, total investigation of finances, relationships, past, character...if you apply to be a Federal Marshall, you will be subjects to months of background checking.
Personally, I don’t believe the fiasco was caused or furthered by Biden.
He is the face on a flawed and ugly process, but should not be the face of it. He has praised her, reviewed his part, explained the process, but since he did not vote for Thomas, was not her attack dog, he should not apologize for those who were. At this point damned if he blames them and Thomas, damned if he makes a thousand apologies.
If it is a deal breaker for you as a voter, then it is. We need to move on and make a much better process by which any one with the power of the SC is chosen.

[femmedem]

89. Yes. He needs to address it. The WaPo article also makes him look weak, able to be pushed around.

I'm sure he's learned since then. He has a lot more experience. But I wish he would sincerely apologize to Ms. Hill, and I hope he has a strategy for if someone starts playing tapes of him unable to control Sen. Hatch. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/joe-biden-was-in-charge-of-the-anita-hill-hearing-even-he-says-it-wasnt-fair/2019/04/26/a9a6f384-6500-11e9-82ba-fcfeff232e8f_story.html?utm_term=.dfa6efc5b44a

[WeekiWater]

4. "nominate Anita Hill for confirmation to SCOTUS when Ginsberg retires. "

[ancianita]

11. ...

[WeekiWater]

13. Will I be forgiven if I don't issue an apology?

[ancianita]

21. Of course! I wasn't 100% behind myself on the suggestion and knew I'd get flack. No problem!

[loves_da_dems]

5. Damn right

One mistake. Plus he has already apologized and said if he could do it again, she would get a fair hearing. Uncle Joe has evolved, he's woke,.

[DesertRat]

118. I'm not sure what you mean by Joe is "woke"

What does that mean?

[loves_da_dems]

119. Woken up, aware

He had some problems back in his younger days, the crime bill, the Hill hearings. I don't think he would do those things now. He's woke up.

[DarthDem]

6. Interesting

I believe that Biden should invite Professor Hill to a one-on-one discussion, with perhaps a Biden aide and a friend of the professor's in attendance to promote comfort and yet keep the circle small. This would be in the style of the "beer summit" from the early days of President Obama's first term. If Professor Hill declines, that's understandable, but in my opinion she then loses some of the power of continuing to make negative comments while resisting outreach efforts by Biden. If she accepts, then I think that's wonderful.

[delisen]

39. Beer summit ? Negative comments?? You must be joking?

[DarthDem]

44. ?

No, I was quite serious.

[drray23]

51. Very bad idea. Good thing you are not a campaign advisor.

The last thing joe Biden should do is get stuck on this issue and let it take over his campaign.

[DarthDem]

54. LOL

No disrespect, but you don't have any idea what I do (and it shows).

I'd make this offer soon, and if she doesn't accept, it's over. There is no way the issue would "take over his campaign" no matter what. Oof.

[marylandblue]

63. He called her a few weeks ago to apologize.

But she did not accept it because he didn't take responsibility for his actions.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

65. Seems a bit late.. and for whom is Joe apologizing?

Why not just come out and say directly he's sorry for his own actions? Or, did Joe finally do so and I missed it?


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

[flor-de-jasmim]

7. What? Have her have to sit and look at C.Thomas every day???!!!!

Of course, I know she wouldn't have to accept, but that would award him another victory, in a sense, if she chose not to. And I say this as a 65-year old woman.

[lunatica]

10. Anita Hill was and still is an American icon we all learned from

Women learned to respect themselves and men started learning new respect for women.

It was a National lesson we all needed, and we’re better people for it though we still have a ways to go.

[ancianita]

12. A kind way to look at him and us all. Thanks.

[honest.abe]

18. It was shame what happened but that is very long time ago..

and few remember what Joe's role was in this. Unfortunately many are desperately trying to bring it back to damage him now.

[delisen]

38. No It is Indelible on the hippocampus for thousand upon thousands

It was the event in which we were confronted with the fact that the male club of the Senate would never be able to deliver justice for half of the population until our half changed the gender make-up of Congress.

[honest.abe]

45. I suspect if you did a survey of current voters a small percent..

would recall the event and even smaller percent would remember Joe's involvement.

[delisen]

62. Possibly that is what you want to believe nt

[marylandblue]

70. It was a major news event of the time, and it brought about a shift in attitudes

that reverberate to this day. Few people who lived through it have forgotten. I did not initially recall Biden's role in it myself, but now I do. I also don't care if he apologizes or not, because I am not the one who deserves an apology and I do think he would do it differently today. But there are women for whom it remains a sore spot who would see it differently.

I don't think this is fatal to him, but he does need to own his past, both the good and bad of it. There is a lot to look at and it will all come out. The problem of having too long a record has hurt other politicians. The things that maybe made sense back then no longer make sense and become hard to justify.

If he can't handle his past deftly, he can't win. This is an "electability" factor unique to Biden, because he has such a long and prominent record.

[honest.abe]

72. I remember the event because Im an old fart but I didnt recall Biden's involvement..

until I saw these posts on DU.

I think its unfair to bash someone for something that happened decades ago and particularly since he didn't attack Anita and he actually voted against Thomas.

If we are going bash Biden for this shouldn't we also be bashing Elizabeth Warren for actually being a Republican at that same time period. She was probably rooting for Thomas.

[marylandblue]

73. Sure it's unfair, but that's politics. Everything you ever did will be used against you.

I don't know what Warren thought of Anita Hill, but she wasn't involved in it, so it's not as important. She's already gotten more grief about about a box she checked in 1986 than she'll ever have about Anita Hill.

And she's already addressed the former Republican thing. Good answer too. She opened her eyes to the concentration if wealth and power in this country and swung from moderate Republican to progressive champion. Everything she has done since proves it.

Biden's more ambiguous. He took some conventional moderate positions back then that don't seem so moderate today. I don't fault him for that. But he needs to weave that into a narrative of how he got to where he is today and where he wants to go from here. For me, at least, "back to 2008" is not a satisfying answer.

[honest.abe]

78. If you think its unfair then you should drop it.

Just because others want to drag up ancient history to bash a candidate, it doesnt mean you have to chime in.

[marylandblue]

80. I'm just talking about what I think Biden should do about it.

I would like him to respond more effectively than he has. That part is not unfair. Responding well to negative, misleading, even totally false attacks is a necessity to beat Trump. That's what makes a candidate truly "electable" in my book.

[honest.abe]

81. This issue wont affect him in the general.

Dont worry about it.

[marylandblue]

84. Every real or imagined fault of his would be an issue in the general

Republicans did it to Dukakis, Gore, Kerry and Hillary. Only Obama and Bill escaped because they had effective responses, but that didn't stop the Republicans from continuing their negative campaigns even after the elections. Trump is just the ultimate master of the negative campaign, not some aberration we don't have to worry about.

[honest.abe]

94. Its a non-issue in the general.

Guaranteed.

[marylandblue]

95. I'm afraid you haven't been paying attention. And there are no guarantees in life.

[honest.abe]

99. Im afraid you are pushing a non-issue... guaranteed.

[marylandblue]

100. Yeah whatever. I'm not even sure you realize what issue I am pushing.

Or how it will become a problem.

Must be nice living a life with guarantees in it. My guarantee was broken when I was 28, when something I though never could happen, happened. I'm still living with the consequences. I hope it never happens to you.

[honest.abe]

102. Perhaps I dont understand your comments.

My beef is that so many are bashing Joe with this issue and its simply not fair.

Sorry about whatever happened to you when you were 28.

[marylandblue]

104. Ok, I have nothing against Biden. But this is going to be a highly negative campaign cycle.

After the Democratic candidates are done bashing each other and one emerges victorious, we get to hear it all over again, only this time it will come from Trump, much worse, and 24/7.

Every candidate is a human being and every human being has vulnerabilities that can be exploited. And if you have a long career like Biden's, you are going to have a lot of things in the distant past that Trump can exploit. Happened to Kerry. Happened to Hillary. It will happen to Biden. He isn't immune. And Trump is the master of the negative campaign. His one true talent is getting the stupidest BS covered by the news. Sort of an idiot savant that way.

The point is not whether it's fair or unfair. And it doesn't matter if it's true or not, because Trump is not trying to prove his point, but to change the conversation. As long as we are talking about Hillary's er, I mean Biden's past, we are not talking about real issues that matter. Trump loses on issues. He has no knowledge about any real issues, so he never wants to talk about them. But if we talk about what's wrong with Biden, if the media is digging into Biden's past, then Trump wins because we never talk about anything real. That's how Trump operates.

So my concern, with Anita Hill, and a few weeks ago, touching; and a few weeks from now, maybe busing; or maybe just some obscure vote he made in 1978; is that he can't shift the conversation back to where it needs to be, or at least he can't do it fast enough. He has not demonstrated this ability in the past. A really minor scandal took him down in 1988. He is not demonstrating this ability now. These non-scandals will weigh him down in the primaries. If he nonetheless survives the primaries, Trump will crush him in the general, simply by jumping from one non-issue to another, faster than Biden can react.

That's why I think "this" is an issue. Where "this" is not any real or imagined vulnerability but how skillfully he counters the attack and changes the subject. That's what I'm commenting on.

Biden is not my first choice, but I'd be happy if he were the President. I'm just trying to give Biden supporters some perspective on how this might play out. I don't guarantee it will happen the way I say it will. But don't be surprised if Biden starts sinking from these unfair attacks. Not because of the attacks themselves, but because he can't get a handle on how to respond and turn it around.

And this is also why I like Buttigieg. Because he does have the ability to turn attacks around, like he did with Pence. IMO, it's the number 1 requirement to beat Trump.

[honest.abe]

106. Thank you for this thoughtful and detailed post.

I do have similar concerns regarding Joe. He might not be as quick and aggressive as our other candidates but maybe he doesn't need to be. My preferred candidate is Harris, obviously. But Im ready to jump on the Biden bandwagon if he is our best shot at taking Trump out.

BTW, I also live in Maryland, near College Park.

[marylandblue]

120. I'd be happy to join Biden six months from now, if he's doing well then, and my guy isn't.

We're neighbors, I live in Montgomery County.

[honest.abe]

121. Cool. I work in Rockville. Used to live there too a few years back.

Cheers.

[Demit]

20. I suspect Anita Hill has long given up expecting a proper apology.

She has noted the kind of apology he's given, the "sorry you felt that way" kind, and said she appreciated it as far as it went, but he didn't convey any sense that he had responsibility for what happened. And as we know—because Biden was recently on camera saying it to reporters—he's not sorry for anything he's ever done.

[ancianita]

24. I never read full reports on what was said. We might not ever really know, imo.

As long as you brought it up, I don't think you can see "we know" about his not being sorry for anything he's ever done, though.

I'll see if I can find out more on that claim, thanks.

[Demit]

40. Heres the link to the video where he makes that sweeping statement:

https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2019/04/05/joe-biden-not-sorry-for-intentions-sot-ip-vpx.cnn

[treestar]

115. as for this apology issue, wouldn't there be a huge number of other

who should apologize, from Thomas on down? People who were a lot worse at the time?

[zentrum]

22. It wasn't one mistake.

He set the tone for the hearings. He was the Committee Chairman. Four female witnesses came forward to support Hill's credibility, but they were not called, due to what the Los Angeles Times described as a private, compromise deal between Republicans and Biden. He should apologize to those four women too actually.

He hurt every woman and young girl in the country and contributed to the continuing silencing of women for the next decades, over the harassment they experienced. It wasn't just about Hill. It was millions of women who went back into the silent shadows.

Was the disastrous crime bill one mistake? (Thousands, if not millions POC disproportionately damaged.)
Was the vote for the Iraq War just one mistake? (Millions dead over an illegal war.)
Was the vote to end Glass-Steagall financial regulations one mistake? (He himself says this was his worst mistake. Millions and millions of middle class people hurt.)
Was the pairing up with the notorious racist Strom Thurman to oppose busing one mistake?

Also, it's insulting that you say vast number of women may have a "one-issue mentality" as if they won't be capable of thinking critically about a candidate in toto, or do their "homework.

Her point, BTW, about "apology" was not her only point. She said she wanted to hear more about exactly what he was going to do to change the situation for all women and girls. I suggest you do some more, ahem, "homework".

[ancianita]

25. Okay, I'll do that. I just wanted to get out my first thoughts on what I've read on social media.

You're right that he did a lot of damage.

I think that often, male leaders have little idea of what they do when addressing women's issues. They do it badly or not at all.

That doesn't excuse Biden.

I hope he addresses that problem in the debates. He can't win or lose, but he can be honest.

[zentrum]

30. Agreed.

[marlakay]

48. He said on the view one of the witnesses

Was told to come and sign if she didn’t want to which she did. Makes you wonder what changed her mind and he didn’t mention the other 3 which was odd and made me wonder why he brought it up.

Instead of clearing the issue I felt like it got more mucked up and this was his first appearance.

He does need to work with someone on better answers to give.

[zentrum]

57. I know what you mean.

A lot of my female friends talk about his weird looking plastic surgery eye-lift. Which is unusual in a male who's not in show biz. Their conclusion is ---they can't figure out who he really is. "Uncle Joe" or who?

[Skya Rhen]

69. Keep it classy!

[BannonsLiver]

74. Already reduced to personal attacks on his appearance

That’s how we all know you’ve lost the argument.

[progressoid]

85. It's a fact we have to deal with. Many voters aren't going to vote on substance but on appearance.

On the flip side of the coin, are we liberals going to stop attacking Trump's hair and weight?

[BannonsLiver]

86. We don't have to stop

Trump is in a class by himself. His past and present behavior makes it ok to pillory him in any way people see fit.

In contrast, Joe Biden is a much better person in every conceivable way. So given that, I don’t buy into the false equivalency.

[BannonsLiver]

77. And yet...

The latest look at Iowa, conducted by Monmouth University, shows Biden netting 27 percent of the caucus vote, which delivers him an 11-point lead over second-place Bernie Sanders, the independent senator from Vermont. But Biden's share of the female vote is even greater, at 37 percent.

Combined together, all the female candidates garner just 22 percent of the female vote.

That amounts to a 26-point lead for Biden with Iowa women.

In New Hampshire, a Saint Anselm College survey puts Biden in the lead with 23 percent. Sanders is again second with 16 percent.

But among women, Biden's number is even stronger. He takes a field-leading 25 percent of the female vote, producing a 10-point lead over Sanders among the fairer sex.

https://www.usnews.com/news/the-run/articles/2019-04-15/joe-bidens-early-polling-lead-is-powered-by-women?src=usn_fb&fbclid=IwAR3CVeyJVPIB9mvaPuidXH64eMhvOfnzzJSo3TJeqKXuI9gXHH5ru5s6Up8


This must be very difficult for you, seeing your hateful, sad narrative challenged and debunked with data.

[zentrum]

83. Temper, temper.

It's in his own history itself. The past votes he himself now disavows, in large part, as "mistakes" are facts. None of the narrative I listed has been debunked. Do your own homework.

You didn't like my remark about his appearance? You missed the main point---that my friends can't figure out the semiotics of that or who he really is.

You find facts stated during a primary season discussion to be "hateful"? Interesting. If he's the Democratic nominee, will of course support him----I'd just like to not snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

[treestar]

116. I guess it is not fair to balance that with the positives

[Indygram]

23. Biden has been my second choice but this REALLY bothers me, A LOT

First, let me begin by saying that I think the hands on shoulders invasion of space thing is complete and total BS and what he said in that video he put out was sufficient on that issue and anyone still making a fuss over it are politically motivated.

Now in regards to Anita Hill...he CHOSE to reach out to her to apologize. If he was going to do that then he NEEDS to actually apologize sincerely and not give this half-assed NON-apology happy horseshit. Yes, it happened 30 years ago, which was a different time. But Biden did NOT leave it 30 years ago...he contacted her.

Now that he reached out to her he NEEDS to give a real apology, period. I am so deeply disappointed in how he responded to Joy Behar when she gave him a perfect opportunity to give a sincere, public apology.

"I'm sorry about how you were treated." is NOT an apology. That is a statement that completely absolves himself from how she was treated. If he played no part in how she was treated then he would not need to apologize at all. ANYONE who "apologizes" by saying crap like, "I'm sorry IF I hurt you." or "I'm sorry you got hurt." is not taking responsibility for what they did so their so called apology feels fake and meaningless.

If he can't come out and apologize like an adult then he's going to the near bottom of my list just barely above Gabbard and Sanders. That really makes me very sad because I really like Biden a lot. I am SO disappointed in him right now.

[ancianita]

26. This hurts him. Not just the women he hurt. He's got to think and feel this through much better.

Just because women are forgiving, doesn't mean he's earned it.

So far, he's not doing it right.

[Indygram]

28. Someone needs to educate him on how obnoxious non-apologies are

Just because the two words "I'm sorry" are in a sentence does NOT make it an actual apology.

[BannonsLiver]

31. I know you really want that to be true but....

Oops...


https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.usnews.com/news/the-run/articles/2019-04-15/joe-bidens-early-polling-lead-is-powered-by-women%3fcontext=amp

And...
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.usatoday.com/amp/3552784002

[ancianita]

34. Very interesting. Doesn't mean he doesn't have to have better thought about the issue if it comes up

Thanks for the new polling info.

[BannonsLiver]

35. I'm sure he will be

[Demit]

46. Sorry, didn't read past your accusation that people "making a fuss" are politically motivated.

Your boundaries are not everyone else's. There's not just one correct way—your way—of reacting to a situation. Try not interpreting everyone else's motivation.

[Indygram]

49. If you don't read what someone says you should not reply to them

It's incredibly rude.

Biden's video statement on the hands on the shoulders and hugging were perfectly appropriate. Continuing to harp on it after that and treating him like a freaking sexual predator was over the top and wrong. I know all about boundaries seeing as I am a survivor of domestic and sexual violence and have been raped multiple times and it took me many years to stop flinching as if I were about to be beaten whenever someone made a sudden movement around me. I'm actually extremely upset at how his innocent overtures of trying to be supportive (in the same fashion as a little old aunty that pinches and kisses your cheeks) was treated like a #MeToo situation. Also, the woman who kept making an issue of it admitted there was political motivation.

[Demit]

52. Sorry, didn't read past your calling me rude.

[Indygram]

53. blocked

eom

[zentrum]

103. What also bothers me

...is that plenty of men back then would NOT have treated Hill as he did.Even though it was this thing called "different times".

He was the Committee Chairman and absolutely set the tone, as well as preventing the 3 to 4 other women testifying in support of her, because he apparently made some deal on the side with Republicans.

Furthermore, it is really a tragedy for this country that we have Thomas.

If Biden had let the thing unfold with a different atmosphere and with those other women testifying, we may have had sparks of "Me Too" happening two decades earlier---and not had to wait for the Kavanaugh hearings.

[Indygram]

107. My issue isn't with the hearing itself

Although he did make mistakes. People didn't get much in the way of sensitivity or diversity training back then. She was hurt, though, and it was not fair to her.

My issue is that she didn't seek him out...he sought her out. If he was going to do that then he needs to apologize correctly and not offer up a non apology just to make himself feel better about what happened. That's why I am upset over it.

[zentrum]

109. Got it.

[delisen]

29. Cling desperately?? You are misrepresenting Anita Hill

Joseph Biden is not taking responsibility. He prevented corroborating witnesses from testifying.

You are misrepresenting what Anita Hill has said. Her "only point" is not that no amount of apology will ever undo the damage done to her.

Current Vanity Fair account on NY Times report:

For Hill, though, the one-on-one with Biden was apparently too little, too late. Soon after news of their conversation broke, The New York Times published Hill’s own account of their discussion, which she said left her feeling ”deeply unsatisfied” and could not characterize as a full apology. “I cannot be satisfied by simply saying I’m sorry for what happened to you. I will be satisfied when I know there is real change and real accountability and real purpose,” Hill told the Times, adding that she would not be supporting Biden's candidacy. Biden “needs to give an apology to the other women and to the American public because we know now how deeply disappointed Americans around the country were about what they saw,” she said.

Joseph Biden is not the victim and I find his latest statements bizarre.

Please also remember that she had every expectation that her statement to the FBI would be confidential. She sought no publicity. She was betrayed not by the FBI but Congre. I don't believe the source of the leak was ever investigated and held accountable. Perhaps you can find that source now.

Anita Hill, a very religious woman was nationally humiliated, and could have been totally destroyed if not for her strong character, by a congressional committee headed by a Democratic senator who denied witnesses the right to testimony that could have backed Hill. Counless numbers of us watched it, experienced it. Eleven Democratic senators voted for Thomas.

To minimize or deny that pivotal experience is an insult not just to Anita Hill.

I think Joseph Biden needs to come to terms with his role. He still has time and a platform in to do so.

[ancianita]

37. You are right. And he still does have time and a platform.

[True Blue American]

33. Joe believed Anita.

He did not vote for Clarence Thomas, who scraped by in the vote.

Anita should consider that before not accepting his apology.

[delisen]

42. All the worse. and when the senators voted Clarence

Thomas Ould be confirmed. it as a no-risk vote

[Skittles]

79. so why the need to humiliate her?

I never understood why he did that, I still don't

[madaboutharry]

41. I am can to say something that is unpopular.

I think that Anita Hill is being unreasonable. The Anita Hill hearings were an affront to all that is just. No argument there. However, I am someone who believes that certain situations need to be viewed through the lens of the time in which they occurred. Certainly there is never an excuse for unlawful behavior or the behavior that Thomas was accused of, but when it is a "cultural" issue, like responding to a claim of harassment, then I think there are cases in which we need to withhold judgment. This is especially true when an individual, as Joe Biden has done, has gone on to demonstrate that they have learned from their mistakes.

I think Joe Biden could have done a great deal more during the Anita Hill hearing. He should have shut down his republican colleagues' planned character assassination. At the same time it needs to be recognized that the world was a very different place 30 years ago. I don't think it is fair to hold anyone to standards that did not exist at the time.

Would it be a relief if he would swallow his pride and say that he fucked up? Yes, it would. Still, I understand Joe Biden's stubbornness on this issue. He has gone as far in his apology as he thinks is fair. I truly think that cluelessness along with living in the "man" bubble contributed to the mess it turned out to be. But I believe him when he says he believed her complaint and never meant her any malice in the way he conducted the hearing.

I am just putting this out there. Joe Biden is not my top choice, but I think he needs to be evaluated by the whole of his life, not one terribly conducted hearing which he says he regrets.

[honest.abe]

47. Yes, and to keep things in perspective Elizabeth Warren was a registered Republican at the time.

She was probably rooting for Thomas. Shouldn't we be bashing her also?

[True Blue American]

50. I am a woman

And agree with you. I actually remember the Hearing. It was uncomfotable to watch because ted Kennedy and others who had acted badly in their personal lives looked very uncomfortable having to pass judgement.

Joe was only one person. Keep that in mind. He did call Anita and apologize. She should have accepted. Joe was just one vote, but he did not vote for Clarence.

[Indygram]

58. If he had not contacted her to apologize it would be one thing

But you can't just reach out to someone to apologize and then give a fake ass non-apology. You just can't.

[Skya Rhen]

59. Whoa! Keep it classy...

[USALiberal]

60. A real apology would mabe made this a non issue. Nt

[Indygram]

64. exactly

It's shocking to me how many people don't realize how awful non-apologies are.

[nolabear]

92. Please tell me what a real apology would be.

Pretend you’re him. What would you say that would be enough? I’m not snarking; I’ve been trying to figure this out.

[USALiberal]

101. He did not say he treated her badly. He should have said "I treated her badly". IMO nt

[Indygram]

108. I can give you an example

"I'm sorry for the part I played in how you were treated. Is there anything I can do to make it right?"

Sincere apologies include the apology, acknowledging what you did and offering to make amends.

When you reach out to someone to apologize giving a non-apology doesn't cut the mustard.

[Trumpocalypse]

87. Great post nt

[leftofcool]

75. How about we ask Christine Ford what she thinks?

Since this was all so long ago and all.

edited for typo on "Ford"

[demmiblue]

76. The attacks on Anita Hill yesterday were beyond disgusting.

I'm glad most of DU took many of those (low post count) posters to task.

[Trumpocalypse]

88. The damage done to Hill was done by Republicans

not by Biden. Blaming Biden is like blaming the British for the Holocaust.

[emmaverybo]

91. Yes!

[treestar]

114. [phone]

[ucrdem]

105. Careful what you wish for.

She went to work for Clarence Thomas twice, the second time after being harassed. Then she went to work for an Evangelical law school. What makes you think you'd like her rulings?

[ancianita]

111. Not wishing. Just making a suggestion. I hear you about all that evangelical leaning (ewww).

I'm not even here to make her case, just to put perspective on a problem everyone wants to blame Joe Biden from almost 30 years ago, when I was teaching 180 kids a day and raising a toddler.

The whole thing reeked of theater. Injustice seemed baked in, as it usually is for women at all levels.

I didn't get stuck there, though. And I'm not constantly aggrieved about how rigged against women it all is. Once you can ruin a woman presidential's legitimate win -- with men across continents in sync if not conspiring against her -- there are only a few options left, short term.

And a long career was the ongoing reality for Anita Hill. There will be plenty of experience left for all the other females in this system -- party politics or government -- to get. For men it can be a long game. For women it is a millennial game.

You won't get another squeaky clean Obama from this party, either, one who has the requisite experience and good will of the Senate and international community, when they have to, at the same time, clean up yet another destructive elephant mess.

This thread has echoes of the usual primary clay pigeon shooting zone.

[Raven123]

110. Seriously? However unintentional, this post seems a bit disparaging to Anita Hill and women voters

I don’t know Anita Hill, but I am old enough to remember some of the “hearing.” You know, the expedited one, negotiated by Biden and Sen Danforth. Had to hurry and get on with the process, you know. Sound familiar? Seems a bit similar to the Kavanaugh hearings.

I don’t know what Biden said to Anita Hill, but if it is similar to what he has said publicly, I wouldn’t blame her for not accepting his apology. Stuff did’t just happen and frankly an apology under the duress of running for President may be perceived as disingenuous. A 20+ year interval between the hearings and the apology might be a part of it too.

As for suggesting that we must not dwell for fear the ladies will be “disabled” and won’t think clearly when voting, I ask again. Are you serious?

[ancianita]

112. Please read what I read to ucrdem above. If that isn't satisfactory, let me know.

[treestar]

113. Why is it all Biden's fault?

Really? He was a Democrat and not there trying to let Thomas get on the court. Thomas got on the court. It's been 30 years. But it was not like Biden did that all by himself. Probably he voted against him. Was everyone else there an angel to Anita Hill, in acting as if it were already 2019? And he'd be running against the pussy grabber!

[ancianita]

117. Joe takes the pile on today over things his Republican committee members wanted.

The Republicans on his committee were the ones who treated Anita Hill badly. Joe is now taking the heat for all of them.

Sounds repetitious, but the more visible politicians take the heat for the rest who pressure them and/or support them.

Joe will get most of this sorted out in favor of one thing -- his plan to beat Trump.