I will stipulate that Biden makes some people uncomfortable...

[louis c]

...I would estimate that Joe Biden has interacted with at least 10,000 people while a candidate for office and as an office holder. I actually know people who have been hugged by him and encountered him.

I would assume that some people were offended by this interaction. I do not disbelieve them nor do I dismiss their discomfort. Every person has the right to what they interpret to be their "space". I am not one of those few people. I don't mind a hug (I am a male). I try to keep my distance if it is a stranger, but I'm also not a politician. If I met Joe Biden (as one of my fellow union reps did) and he grabbed my arm during a handshake and drew me into a hug, it would be an honor, as it was to my fellow Rep. Can I see another person being offended, especially a female? Yes I can. But intent does mean something. Can I see others, even females, feeling cordial and accepting of such a gesture? Yes I can.

I think these warm gestures are far more accepted than not. But please, let's not put them into the category of Sexual Harassment or assault. That diminishes those actual actions.

If these accusations force Joe Biden from the Democratic race, or cost him the nomination, God help the Democratic party. Please stop doing Trump's work for him. If Biden did something egregious, like ask for sex or grab someone's private parts, I'd abandon him myself.

But a hug, a kiss on the forehead or cheek. Come on. Let's remember, that early on in Biden's career, he lost his wife and 2 kids in a bad car accident while he was in Washington when he was first elected to the Senate. He needed hugs and encouragement. I think that interaction has stayed with him through the years and explains a lot of the way he interacts.

There is a good chance Joe Biden is the only person who stands between us and 4 more years of Donald Trump. Let's not tear a good man down because a few people may have felt "uncomfortable", justified or not.

[brooklynite]

1. What is you basis for saying that ONLY Joe Biden can beat Donald Trump?

[louis c]

4. Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan

...by the way, you left out the part where I say "there's a good chance that only Biden...."

[brooklynite]

6. And yet you answered the question...

[louis c]

7. Penn., Wisc. and Mich. are why "there's a good chance that only Biden...

...can beat Trump."

There are two parts to my answer. First, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin wins us the presidency, if the candidate can hold all the Hillary states in 2016.

The second is the caveat that "there's a good chance". Now, can I see other possible scenarios of other candidates finding a path to victory? Yes, I can. But those paths are far more difficult, IMHO.

Every poll has Biden beating Trump in the 3 key states I mentioned and running 8 to 12 points ahead of him, nationally.

No one lese does as well.

[Butterflylady]

34. He is also popular with the repugs that can't stand orange face

He knows the workings of Washington, has the most experience, and above all has likability regardless of whats been put forth lately.

But then again, we don't really need that, do we.
(last sentence is sarcasm)

[DownriverDem]

22. Here's how Biden can win

Folks want normalcy. Biden can provide that. Biden can win the flyover states. Biden can win the blue collar voters since he's always had a close relationship with them. Biden can win the electoral college. Biden running with a progressive Dem woman (Harris?) would be a formidable ticket.

No offense to anyone, but a far left leaner will not win the election of November of 2020.

[brooklynite]

27. Agreed, but there's a lot of room for candidates between Biden and "far left"

[Demsrule86]

28. Like who?

Maybe Beto...but not a sure thing.

[brooklynite]

30. Buttigieg, Klobuchar, Hickenlooper, Harris, Inslee, Bullock.....

[Demsrule86]

41. How will they win PA,WI and MI?

This is the blue wall which defeats Trump.

[Perrenial Voter]

48. I have been wondering about this myself. Revolutionary movements usually take on characteristiccs

the mirror opposite of the regime they are trying to bring down (e.g., in Iran a secular monarch overthrown to establish religious republic). To some extent this happens in presidential politics too. There is no doubt that 2016 was an election about change and disruption of the status quo, which is why Clinton was the wrong candidate for that election. The question is to what extent have 2 years of Trump's craziness changed the electoral milieu. To me, it seems like it hasn't changed the younger cohort that much. But for older voters I think it has. The real problems seems to be finding someone who can win both the primary and general elections. At this point, I think either Biden or Sanders could beat Trump, based on the massive differences in their favorability ratings. Kamala Harris probably could too. But if there is a nasty primary battle, perhaps none of them will be able to.

[hlthe2b]

2. Yeah.. those who he is most likely to beat in the election or their supporters.

He clearly makes them VERY uncomfortable.

[DownriverDem]

23. Not me

Biden is Biden. Don't you wonder who is behind this crap?

[pangaia]

3. Well said...

[SWBTATTReg]

5. your candidate is a nice guy, but he's a joke as a candidate. ...

Your own words, that you used to describe my candidate in another posting.

And to my credit, I've always liked Joe and wonder why now all of these allegations are popping up out of the woodwork seemingly. I still, believe it or not, have him (Joe) in my possible support column if need be.

[louis c]

8. Biden has the largest lead of any candidate, head to head against Trump...

...I want to win, not run an "experimental candidate".

I work in the political sector of my union. I only want to talk to the white, male, blue collar voter about why the Democratic candidate is better than Trump. I don't need to be discussing, well, other things.

[marylandblue]

9. No matter what, you will be discussing many other things

The Trump.machine relies on playing up his opponents negatives. The stuff against Biden is being driven by Trump and his hidden sympathizers. This and much more will be thrown at Biden and every other candidate.

There is no candidate that can't be attacked from many angles. So I look more at how they respond than the substance of the attack. I'd like to see Biden jump in the raise and forcefully defend himself while articulating his vision. Waiting now just lets this fester.

[watoos]

18. Biden's hugging issues will not even be an issue in the general election.

Do you think that Republicans want to argue this issue with a candidate like Trump?

Biden's biggest critics right now appear to be Democrats with Trump stirring the pot.

I go to 5 or 6 other liberal internet sites and I don't see the posters there bashing our own candidates.

So far we can't vote for Bernie, there goes the young voters.
We can't vote for Tulsi because she met with Assad.
We can't vote for Biden, there goes the union vote.

Pretty soon all of our candidates will be bashed.

[marylandblue]

36. That's my point, all of our candidates will be bashed.

Do the Republicans want to argue about hugging with a candidate like Trump? You bet! The biggest criminal in the world, the one who wouldn't release his tax returns, and used his foundation like a piggy bank, called Clinton a criminal. He's already got the creep Joe moniker.

There are lots of other things in Biden's background, bigger issues than hugging to go after. They did it to Kerry. They did it to Gore. And Trump will go there.

Because as long as we are talking about whatever stupid issue they pick on, we are not talking about policy or abilities. The point is always to distract from the Republican's real deficiency, and Trump is the master of this technique.

Only Obama escaped this type of attack. Foe o e thing, his record was shorter so less to attack. He knew that, that's why he started to run as soon as he got to the Senate and didn't wait for another term. Harris is following Obama's path.

The other thing that helped Obama is his communication skill. He deflected attacks with good speeches, exciting rallies and turned the conversation back to his theme of hope and change.

So I am not looking for a long resume-- too much to defend. Short resumes and communication skills are the ticket. Like Bill Clinton and Obama. Someone who can turn the conversation in the direction it needs to go. So far, in Biden's first test, he has not demonstrated his ability. We know he didn't because we are still talking about hugging, not Biden's policies.

[SWBTATTReg]

10. Even though your words don't say it, ...

we all can figure out what you really mean with what you are saying here and are afraid to bring it up..."I don't need to be discussing, well, other things."

Wow.

This is really nice for a party of inclusion and togetherness (the democratic party). All for one and one for all, eh? I'll come out with what you can't seem to gather the strength to say...someone doesn't want to deal w/ a gay candidate...and doesn't think that Pete has a chance.

Nothing about qualifications or skills the mayor has, or anything like that, eh? Just plain bigotry, despite the fact that he won w/ an overwhelming % in South Bend? I think the mayor has done a pretty good job so far and he being gay hasn't seemed to be a roadblock yet (as it shouldn't), and hasn't even come up as an issue.

[louis c]

12. Inclusion is nice...winning is more important

We're not trying to win over the 30% to 40% (of which I am one) of the most tolerant and progressive voters in this country. We need to win a majority of the 10% to 12% of the most ill informed voters who make the difference between winning and losing.

This election is too important to just make a statement.

[MoonRiver]

11. Name recognition...nuff said

[louis c]

13. Comfort level by moderate voters...

...and my dream ticket is Biden for Pres. and Harris VP.

[MoonRiver]

14. I would be fine with that. But I'd rather Harris be at the top of the ticket!

[Demsrule86]

29. I was on the Harris side until she attacked Joe.

[Celerity]

15. Was Obama an "experimental candidate"? What about Sec. Clinton? How about ANY of the women

running now? What about Kamala Harris, who both a POC AND a women?

I only want to talk to the white, male, blue collar voter about why the Democratic candidate is better than Trump. I don't need to be discussing, well, other things.

Did you not have to talk to them about 'other things' in 2008, 2012, 2016?

So many slam any talk of trying to win back Trump voters, but that is exactly a big part of what you are talking about by saying Biden is the only one who can 'win back the Midwest' and then double down by adding the white male thing to it. How is he going to do that? A wink and a nod?


BTW, I am a POC and a lesbian myself (West Indian partial background, who can be really anti LGBTQ), extremely familiar with this subject, and the African American community is historically more socially conservative than white Democrats, yet...

Chicago elects its first openly lesbian mayor

https://www.ft.com/content/b0989b6e-55a8-11e9-91f9-b6515a54c5b1


75% of the vote and her opponent was also African-American, so it was a wash racially. She won EVERY ward in the city.


I absolutely do not buy into this 'other things' tosh, nor do I for a second think that is is Biden or we lose, Biden or it will be a rout for Trump.

[watoos]

19. Joe Biden gets the union vote.

I am proof of that, it's why I voted for Biden in the primary and not Barack Obama. I was a local union officer for 26 years and Joe was our guy.

[Celerity]

21. many other of our wonderful candidates would also get the union vote

Biden gets the union vote (or wins the Midwest) therefore Biden is the only one who can win the election commits the logical fallacy of affirming the consequent.

[Demsrule86]

31. They wont.

[Celerity]

33. must be nice to have an infallible crystal ball

Should we just cancel the debates and the primaries, seeing as it it Biden or bust?

[Demsrule86]

40. We must have a primary. But Only Biden and maybe Beto

athough I have doubts about Beto can carry the three states we need.

[Celerity]

46. so only white hetero males need apply

gotchä, yep

glad that is cleared up

[Demsrule86]

50. I want to win. These guys can win the rustbelt.

I don't believe a woman can win . And as a fervent Clinton supporter that saddens me. Also geography is in play. We must destroy Trump.

[Celerity]

52. we both agree that we need to destroy Trump

I do not think Joe Biden is the only person, or even the best person, to do that.

I also profoundly disagree that a woman cannot win.

We shall see.

[Demsrule86]

55. We shall see. But Biden has the best chance.

[louis c]

53. Yes. Obama was an experimental candidate and so was Clinton

I worked my ass off for both.

But don't kid yourself. If the economy didn't implode and put this country on the brink of a depression on September 15, 2008, Obama would have lost. If McCain wasn't such a human being and instead a racist was running to exploit Obama's ethnicity, he would have lost.

11% unemployment and a minus 9% GDP as a result of Republican economic policies that scared the shit out of everyone so much so, that even a racist would take a chance with an African-American President. I was working on the Obama campaign in New Hampshire during the week of September 11 to 18. Going into that week, McCain had a slight lead in the polls and had the momentum. On September 15, the economic world changed and the Democratic nominee couldn't lose.

I do believe that Hillary lost in 2016 because just about 3% or 4% of the voters just couldn't see a woman President. I have close friends who usually voted Democratic who told me that. Needless to say, they are white males over 55 without a college education. In these razor thin elections we have to take into account these Neanderthal voters. We don't just need to convince people on DU that a candidate should be President. Unfortunately, the election in 2020 is in the hands of these folks who make up that 3% to 5%. We can't give them an excuse to vote against the Democrat. Not any excuse.

[DownriverDem]

24. Okay, I have to ask

We couldn't get a woman elected. Do you honestly think Pete can win? I don't. I'm not naive. Think November not the primaries.

[Demsrule86]

32. I agree sadly.

Last edited Wed Apr 3, 2019, 12:22 PM - Edit history (1)

[Demsrule86]

43. The joke will be on us if we take the candidate the GOP fears and nominate

the candidate the GOP desires and lose 20.

[mopinko]

16. little gestures can give a big glimpse at person's heart.

for some people, those hugs are signs that they feel entitled to do whatever they want to any "little people". those should be called out, but it is what they signify more than what they mean themselves.
in joe's case, he has a lifetime of work to show what the intent is.

we need to be able to see the grey areas, and make sense out of them.

[DownriverDem]

25. It's clear

You don't know Biden at all.

[LongtimeAZDem]

39. +∞

[marieo1]

20. Hugs for Joe Biden

I have always respected and loved Joe Biden. He is about the only politician that is a 'real' person. He isn't afraid to let his feelings show and acknowledge people that he really cares about - hugs and warmth come easy for Joe Biden. I would rather that kind of a person than one that is standoffish. I really believe there is an ulterior motive behind trying to hurt one of our really kind, caring people in this country. Doesn't it make one wonder the motive behind these accusations at this late date?

[DownriverDem]

26. Good guy

Not only that, Biden can win. I wish folks would focus not on who they like, but who can win.

[yellowwoodII]

35. Harper's Magazinee article--No Joe

I urge people to read this article from "Harper's Magazine." It describes Biden's willingness to compromise on issues that we Democrats care about.

https://harpers.org/archive/2019/03/joe-biden-record/

I don't care about his handiness. I do care about his "hawkishness."

No. Joe.

[Demsrule86]

44. I urge you to consider that if Trump wins we are fucked.

[yellowwoodII]

49. I know how this feels

It's not a good feeling. But I shut my eyes and voted for Hillary Clinton, another hawk, in the last general election, and we still got Trump. So why not go with integrity instead?

[Demsrule86]

51. Biden is not a hawk. Biden has integrity.

The mid terms show how we win...a moderate candidate. This is not 2016. Trump is an incumbent. We need MI,PA and. WI. to win. Joe can win those states. Make a case for the other candidates.

[louis c]

54. I live in Massachusetts and voted for Warren for Senator...Twice

She would be our most unelectable candidate in 2020.

She would be lucky to break 150 electoral votes against Trump.

[stonecutter357]

37. K&R

[azureblue]

38. All this noise over Joe

and so little over Trump's assaults. "Grab 'em by the pussy", indeed. Attacks against Joe, in this context, smack of rank stinking hypocrisy. Focus your indignation on the molester in office.

[Gothmog]

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

[Demsrule86]

45. I agree. And if we lose there goes progressive policy for a generation.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

47. I don't know whether Biden is the *only* person who can defeat Trump, but

let's not allow any of our candidates to be swiftboated, because we don't know yet who has the best chance and we are shooting ourselves in the foot if we allow any of them to be forced out.

[Gothmog]

56. Biden is one of the Democrats who trump fears

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.”

[Gothmog]

57. I like this statement by Joe Biden

Link to tweet