UPDATED Biden says he never "acted inappropriately" in first statement after Lucy Flores accusation

[DonViejo]

BY JASON SILVERSTEIN

MARCH 31, 2019 / 9:40 AM / CBS NEWS

In his first statement since a Nevada political candidate accused him of inappropriate touching, former Vice President Joe Biden on Sunday said he did not believe he ever "acted inappropriately," but would listen to suggestions saying otherwise. Lucy Flores has said that Biden kissed the back of her head during a 2014 campaign event.

"In my many years on the campaign trial and in public life, I have offered countless handshakes, hugs, expressions of affection, support and comfort," Biden's statement said. "And not once — never — did I believe I acted inappropriately. If it is suggested that I did so, I will listen respectfully. But it was never my intention."

Biden added that he "may not recall these moments the same way, and I may be surprised by 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."

Flores, a Democrat who served on the Nevada State Assembly, wrote a piece for New York magazine's The Cut on Friday alleging that Biden "inhaled" her hair and then kissed her before a campaign rally in 2014, when she was running for Nevada's lieutenant governor.

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https://www.cbsnews.com/news/joe-biden-says-he-never-acted-inappropriately-in-first-statement-lucy-flores-accusation/

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UPDATE

Link to tweet

[democratisphere]

1. I'm sick of so-called Democrats doing hit jobs on our Democratic finest.

Al Franken, Ralph Northam, Justin Fairfax and Joe Biden know what I mean.

[mitch96]

7. +1 seems like a political hit job. Thats just me... ymmv....nt

[democratisphere]

8. Me too..................................!

[trueblue2007]

20. me too, i agree with you. You called them so-called Democrats doing hit jobs .... CORRECT

PEOPLE WHO DO THIS CAN'T BE DEMOCRATS. sO SAD AND I HAVE TEARS AND I TYPE THIS.

we have to stop the mean-ness !!!!! Please people: Love is the answer.

[dalton99a]

2. Biden is a good and decent person. He doesn't deserve this.

I believe Joe.

[MustLoveBeagles]

3. This

[hlthe2b]

5. This morning is my first comment on any of these threads. I gave Ms. Flores due attention but...

I find her lacking in credibility.

[David__77]

4. I'd be happy to vote for Biden should he become the nominee.

If what Flores described- Biden touching her shoulders and kissing her head- occurred, I don’t see it as disqualifying.

[Kashkakat v.2.0]

6. Can someone tell me when the alleged head kissing happened? IMHO, if its been in the last 2 or 3

yrs (post me-too) then that does illustrate a certain tone-deaf ness on his part deserving of criticism, but shouldn't disqualify.

If it was before Trump, before me-too, then just frickin FERGET ABOUT IT.

I say this as a woman who is a fierce defender of women's rights - the most fundamental of which is to inhabit our bodies and be safe. Im old enough to remember before there was the concept or a name for "date rape." It used to be the woman's fault for being there and allowing it to happen. That changed maybe, oh, 20-30 yrs ago. Sexual harassment has been addressed in the workplace for about that long.

These other more ambiguous things , the unwanted flirty touching and such happening in a social setting - that's only now coming under scrutiny and perhaps some cultural shifts around it only now happening.

[emulatorloo]

13. 2014, at a political rally for her he was helping her with (endorsing her), standing in line

I believe they were about to go on stage. Lots of people around. Biden put his hands on her shoulders and gave her a kiss on the back of the head. Those are the facts.


My interp is that he saw she was nervous about the rally and speaking, and sought to reassure her that she’d do great like he would his son or even Obama.

I agree that he probably made her uncomfortable, Biden should back off on the hugging.

Is he a harraser or a groper. No

[WhiskeyGrinder]

9. Why does he have such a crappy crisis communication response?

"It was not my intent to make her or anyone feel uncomfortable and I'm sorry I did." Why is that hard?

"If it is suggested I did so, I will listen respectfully." That's exactly what's happening here, my dude!

[Goodheart]

11. Oh come on... a kiss on the back of somebody's head?

I'm sure I've kissed babies on the tops of their heads. GASP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[WhiskeyGrinder]

12. I bet you apologize when people say you've done something to make them uncomfortable, though.

[emulatorloo]

14. We've seen this play before. As soon as he apologizes , press misrepresents it claims he's "guilty"

Then DU’ers and the Twitterverse start baselessly claiming he is a “groper” and a “pervert” because he “admitted it” by apologizing.

He has been very respectful to Flores in both of his statements

[MoonRiver]

18. I'm a woman, and I feel uncomfortable touching other peoples' babies or children.

For one thing, strangers can scare young children. For another, we all carry germs on our bodies, and a lot of parents are concerned about that, with good reason.

[shanny]

16. comes across as a dodge, doesn't it?

the basic non-apology apology: "I'm sorry if anyone was offended," not "I'm sorry if I offended anyone."

[Goodheart]

10. I think Ms. Flores thinks too highly of herself

[shanny]

15. He says he BELIEVES he never acted inappropriately.

Thing is, his belief is not what matters. It is what the women believe. I'm sure some were fine with it. I'm equally sure some were not. It's nice that he is willing to listen to them and consider his behavior.

[nolabear]

21. No, he says he didn't believe, and follows with a vow to listen.

Joe said he didn’t believe he was doing anything wrong at the time but is open to what she and others are saying about being uncomfortable. I believe him. I’ve watched him at countless events and rallies and he envelops men, women and children alike enthusiastically. He sounds to me like a man who is so not skeevy he couldn’t imagine others would be freaked out. And now he is aware and willing to change.

[bahrbearian]

17. Inapporpriate behavior

, Voting for IWR, help writing the Patriot Act, AUMF, crime bill Hyde amendment ....

[Trenzalore]

19. No good deed goes unpunished

There is no allegation of assault. There is an allegation he made someone uncomfortable. Someone who he raised 500,000 for and is a supporter of Senator Sanders.