I need to say some things about Joe Biden, and hopefully can do so in such a way as not to create too much pie. But I have seen more than one article on Daily Kos this week encouraging Joe Biden’s candidacy, in which opposition to him was mischaracterized as trivial and labeled “purity”. Well, if you wrote one of those, you just pissed off a bunch of feminists.
Let’s review the record:
1) Joe Biden treated Anita Hill abysmally, which allowed Clarence Thomas, noted “conservative” misogynist, to be confirmed to the Supreme Court. Vox: The Joe Biden and Anita Hill Controversy, Explained. He weakly apologized to Hill now that he is running for president and she did not accept his apology, although she has said that she will vote for him if he is the nominee, since he is better than *rump. I think we all recognize that.
2) Joe invades women’s personal space and is too handsy. Elle: Joe Biden: How to Deal With a Handsy, Older Man. He apologized:
Social norms are changing. I understand that, and I’ve heard what these women are saying. Politics to me has always been about making connections, but I will be more mindful about respecting personal space in the future. That’s my responsibility and I will meet it.
But then he unapologized (emphasis mine):
"I’m sorry I didn’t understand more," he reportedly said. "I’m not sorry for any of my intentions. I’m not sorry for anything I have ever done. I’ve never been disrespectful, intentionally, to a man or a woman."
Then he turned around and joked about it:
(Lonnie is the middle-aged white man who introduced Biden at this event.)
These do not appear to be the words and actions of a man who has really listened and who sincerely intends to change his ways.
3) Biden is not a reliable ally in the fight to get rid of the Hyde Amendment. The Hyde Amendment prohibits the use of government money for abortions with very limited exceptions. Planned Parenthood: The Hyde Amendment. That means that many poor women do not get abortions, or do without other basic needs to pay for them. There are some private donations to cover the cost, but they are not enough to meet the need. Until now, Joe Biden was okay with that. Now he supposedly understands why we need to strike down the Hyde Amendment. But will he really push for it? He has flip-flopped more than once (the first 2 minutes of this video are on topic):
If he gets into office, will he flip flop again? I think there is good reason to be concerned.
“I do not view abortion as a choice and a right,” the 2020 Democratic presidential candidate said in a videotaped interview with Texas Monthly. “I think it’s always a tragedy. I think it should be rare and safe,” he added. “I think we should be focusing on how to limit the number of abortions.”
https://www.theguardian.com/...
purity politics?
Now, I suppose the argument depends upon your definition of “purity politics”. To me, it means expecting our candidates to have ZERO flaws. We don’t expect that. Everyone is flawed. And the longer you have been in politics, the more your flaws will be exposed. This is not so much about the past. If you have serious flaws and they become an issue, you need to make repairs, such as sincere apology and demonstrating that you have “evolved”. But Joe Biden’s flaws, most importantly, are still not repaired. In particular, we are concerned how he will act as president, and in a time of the rollback of abortion rights we need a leader who is a strong advocate for women’s rights. All women’s rights, including the rights of poor women. We also are tired of looking like fools, and we don’t need a leader who might act inappropriately around women and world leaders.
Joe Biden has not conducted himself in such a way that women are ready to move on. He needs to demonstrate that he will do better. Are you an ally of women and/or Joe Biden? Then do NOT trivialize his flaws! You will not win further female support for Biden that way.