Beto praises 'courage' of Biden accusers, questions whether former VP should enter 2020 race

[Autumn]

Former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke became the latest 2020 Democratic presidential hopeful to weigh in on the allegations of unwanted touching and kissing leveled against former Vice President Joe Biden.


O’Rourke, who currently sits third in the polls alongside Sen. Kamala Harris of California and behind Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, praised the “courage” of the women who have come forward to accuse the former vice president of inappropriate behavior.

“We need to listen to those who are raising their stories who have the courage to come forward to share their experience and also to be part of the conversation about either his candidacy or how he fares as a contender for the nomination if he jumps in,” O’Rourke said Wednesday during an appearance at the National Action Network conference.

O’Rourke added: “I think ultimately that will be a decision for him to make but I’m glad people are willing to and have the courage to step up. They must be heard and must be listened to.”

http://590kid.com/beto-praises-courage-of-biden-accusers-questions-whether-former-vp-should-enter-2020-race/

[montanacowboy]

1. This guy is going nowhere

I don't care for him one bit and I am getting tired of all this finger pointing.

Why don't we ask the SOB of a President Pussy Grabber to step down from office? Why don't you do that Beto?

[JustAnotherGen]

4. Totally

For me - I'd like to see half the 'rage' directed at the 45/140.

[Autumn]

8. I think all of our candidates have suggested one way or another that Trump step down from office

[sacto95834]

12. I think the DEMS

were horrified by the orange creature's behavior (I know I was)....which was pushed aside as locker room talk. Denials were issued to all the women who came forward w/stories of harassment. We as a human beings were certainly vocal about our displeasure and questioned Trump's fitness for office. Nothing happened.

Now the Republicans are mostly silent about Biden.....most due to fact they overlooked Trump's transgressions. Biden's action should be questioned as well. Is he a product of his time? Probably, when men were used to treating women in a more derogatory manner. Did he have evil in his heart? Probably not. But he must be made to answer for his actions. No way is his actions as horrifying as Trumps, but it's a matter of degree.

To treat Biden differently would by hypocritical. We should not have one standard for people we like and people we don't - in this case politicians.

I believe the women who came forward. Their objections must be given our attention. To question their motive would be a mistake. Many abuse victims won't speak for years and years. They may even seem in public to doubt other victims. It may be a coping technique. Many victims cannot face what was done to them and will never come forward and perhaps never fully heal. Victims who FINALLY have the courage to speak about their shame should not be shunned. Haven't they suffered enough? What kind of society are we?

[WeekiWater]

14. Where did he point a finger in his statement. NT

[WeekiWater]

2. Where does he question whether Biden should enter? NT

[Autumn]

6. I didn't like the headline either. nt

[IndianaDave]

23. Yes - That Headline is Pretty Misleading

Beto does say that these women's statements should be considered when deciding whether Joe Biden should run for president, but Beto doesn't really say that Joe shouldn't run. He's not literally pointing a finger at Joe, but he does infer that this is a serious question to consider. The headline is too simplistic.

[customerserviceguy]

27. The media loves a catfight

If they can goad supporters of a candidate to attack another candidate, and they get to cover that, it sells newspapers, as they used to say in the old days.

The media has a vested interest in making this into a conflict at every stage of the game, not just the general election.

[Gato malo]

3. Beto benefits greatly from Biden not running

All candidates do.

[namahage]

21. One more than most.

I see posts attempting to paint Beto and Kamala as anti-Biden, when they said nothing more than what Elizabeth Warren said four days ago--and what Bernie said vis a vis his endorser/endorsee:

https://www.salon.com/2019/03/31/bernie-sanders-supports-joe-bidens-accuser-we-need-to-change-the-culture-of-this-country/

"I have no reason not to believe Lucy," Sanders told "Face the Nation" when asked about the accusation by former Nevada assemblywoman Lucy Flores. "And I think what this speaks to is the need to fundamentally change the culture of this country and to create environments where women feel comfortable and feel safe. And that's something we've got to do."
...
When asked if he thought Biden should refrain from running for president in 2020 because of Flores' accusations, Sanders demurred from saying that it was disqualifying.

"Well, I think that's a decision for the vice president to make. I'm not sure that one incident alone disqualifies anybody," Sanders explained.

Note that said posts were NOT by Biden supporters...

[Butterflylady]

5. Jumping on the bandwagon.

Wow, judging before Biden has a chance to rebut!

[BlueStater]

7. There are more appealing options than Beto.

He got a lot of press coverage from his run against Cruz, but the glow is going to recede once he's on the debate stage IMO. It's incredibly easy to look good when you're running against one of the most unlikable politicians alive today. Not so much when you're running against about 13 other candidates, many of whom are far more polished than you are.

[shanny]

18. I agree...but not just "polished."

I think Beto was an excellent candidate in Texas against Cruz, and would have been against Cornyn in 2020. I don't think he is an excellent candidate nationwide, in a very progressive climate.

[Demsrule86]

9. This is a radio station in Idaho...a progressive bastion I am sure (sarcsasm)

And from what I read there and elsewhere he did support the women ( I disagree with him) but said this...

“We need to listen to those who are raising their stories who have the courage to come forward to share their experience and also to be part of the conversation about either his candidacy or how he fares as a contender for the nomination if he jumps in,” O’Rourke said Wednesday during an appearance at the National Action Network conference.
O’Rourke added: “I think ultimately that will be a decision for him to make but I’m glad people are willing to and have the courage to step up. They must be heard and must be listened to.”

So perhaps the post should be adjusted.

[WeekiWater]

17. It's a copy and paste of what Fox is running with.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.foxnews.com/politics/beto-praises-courage-of-biden-accusers-questions-whether-former-vp-should-enter-2020-race.amp

The NYT and NTPost aren’t running with the same headline. I’m sure 590 the kid is bookmarked in their browser.

[Demsrule86]

19. I see ...can we post Fox shit? I avoid it.

[WeekiWater]

22. 1) You find a Fox article you want to distribute.

2) You google the headline to find some obscure place like 590 the kid.

3) Ignore the last line: “Fox News’ Bryan Llenas and Gregg Re contributed to this report.”

4) You run with it.

[Demsrule86]

25. I don't want to anyway. But thanks!!!

[WeekiWater]

26. Not do I.

I simply see that as how one lands at such an obscure site.

[AnyDemocrat2020]

10. That's a misleading shit-stirring headline. Beto did

not question whether Joe should run.

[d_b]

11. lol he'll be next

Bet on it.

[sacto95834]

13. People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. N/T

[FloridaBlues]

15. I would say most Dem candidates really don't want him in the race and it's showing.

[Thekaspervote]

30. Then why is Biden so far ahead of everyone else if Dems don't want him to run??

[MyNameGoesHere]

16. Yep there be min

Onions.

[Vinca]

20. Beto should realize that what Biden is being accused of is probably something he's done many

times himself without thinking about it. If we put the whole lot of them under a microscope - male and female - few would pass the current purity test of treating everyone they encounter as if there is a shell around them.

[Gothmog]

24. I really like this statement by Joe Biden

Link to tweet

[liberalmuse]

28. I'm waiting to hear what our candidates say or don't say.

I would say Beto's statement is a FAIL as far as I'm concerned. I'm hoping people decide to use a little common fucking sense about what constitutes sexual assault versus someone who is very affectionate towards both men and women, mind you, but that is asking too much of the human race. True assault victims already have a struggle and we really need to define what constitutes a sexual violation or sexual assault, and it has to be better than, "He touched me on the shoulder or waist". What was the intent? Was it sexual, affectionate familiarity or by someone who is receptive to your saying, "I'm not comfortable with how close you are to me"?

[Lancero]

31. That's the issue though...

So many people are trying to conflate the issue with assault - Which has pretty clear lines as to what is and isn't - when it's more along the lines of harassment - Which is more dependent upon what a person tolerates.

More outgoing people - Like Biden - don't see the issue with hugging and the like. They're extroverted, they thrive on contact - It's entirely natural to them.

For more introverted people, who dislike random physical contact? A person randomly hugging you would be something that they'd take issue with.

[Peace06]

29. Beto on Biden

Bad form, Beto.

[highplainsdem]

32. Disappointing, and very foolish. Is Beto going to bow out the first time a woman he met

years ago comes forward to say he made her uncomfortable? Even if her story has huge holes in it and she apparently has political motives?

If not, then he's being a hypocrite here.