Biden called Anita Hill earlier this month to express his regret

[dalton99a]

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/25/us/politics/joe-biden-anita-hill.html

Joe Biden Expresses Regret to Anita Hill, but She Says ‘I’m Sorry’ Is Not Enough
By Sheryl Gay Stolberg and Jonathan Martin
April 25, 2019

WASHINGTON — Former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. called Anita Hill earlier this month to express his regret over “what she endured” testifying against Justice Clarence Thomas at the 1991 Supreme Court hearings that put a spotlight on sexual harassment of women, according to a spokeswoman for Mr. Biden.

But Ms. Hill, in an interview Wednesday, said she left the conversation feeling deeply unsatisfied and declined to characterize his words to her as an apology. She said she is not convinced that Mr. Biden truly accepts the harm he caused her and other women who suffered sexual harassment and gender violence.

“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,” she said.

She said she cannot support Mr. Biden, who as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee in 1991 oversaw the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, until he takes responsibility for what he did and is also troubled by the recent accusations of improper touching.

[pnwmom]

1. If he did say, "I'm sorry for what happened to you" then I can see why she's not satisfied.

That statement doesn't acknowledge that HE himself bore a great deal of responsibility for what happened to her. He wasn't a helpless witness. He was in charge of the damn hearings, and he could have disallowed some of the witnesses -- like the one who accused her of having a made-up condition of "erotomania." And he was in the position to call her three corroborating witnesses to testify. He failed to do that because he'd promised the Republicans he'd finish on a certain day, and to call those witnesses he'd have needed a little more time.

“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,” she said.

She said she cannot support Mr. Biden, who as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee in 1991 oversaw the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, until he takes responsibility for what he did and is also troubled by the recent accusations of improper touching.

Last month, at an event in New York honoring students who fight sexual violence, Mr. Biden acknowledged his role in a moment that remains seared in the minds of many women.

“She faced a committee that didn’t fully understand what the hell this was all about,” he said. “To this day, I regret I couldn’t give her the kind of hearing she deserved. I wish I could have done something.”

The problem with Biden's non-apologies is that he DIDN'T give her the hearing that she deserved -- but he COULD HAVE. He could have done a lot, but he's painting himself, the head of the Committee, as powerless to conduct a fair hearing.

[LongtimeAZDem]

2. It's not Biden's fault that she brought a charge that could not be substantiated

[pnwmom]

3. It's Biden's fault he didn't ALLOW her to substantiate it -- with the testimony

of three corroborating witnesses he didn't allow to testify.

And why didn't he? His excuse was the Committee had a deadline. But that deadline was entirely self-imposed.

[mucifer]

4. Kinda looks slimy doing it right before he announces his candidacy. He could have done it long

ago when he was vp or even before then.

[LongtimeAZDem]

5. Damned if he did, damned if he didn't. If Professor hill doesn't want to support him,

that's her prerogative.

[delisen]

9. Possibly she wants justice/equality for all women. Joe B

calls on the eve of a big career move to supposedly apologize after decades.

Possibly it seems to Anita Hill as well as others to be self-serving.

Women's rights are human rights. The are not just "women's issues."

I don't know what J. Biden has been doing to address the human rights of women dung his eight year vice presidency. I am assuming that he has actually done quite a bit. I think he needs to highlight these action now at the beginning of his campaign and not let others position him as " the guy they'd like to have a beer with."

The first big statement and march against Trump was by women just 2 months after his installation. Record numbers of women took seats in the mid term elections just 5 months ago.

No Democratic candidate is going to win without culture change for women.

[matt819]

6. If sorry isn't good enough, what is?

Groveling? Suicide? Money? Shunning?

[delisen]

10. Supporting one of the strong women running might work. nt

[IronLionZion]

7. Clarence Thomas is still on the Supreme Court, plus we have Kavanaugh

so that sends a dangerous message to young women and men everywhere that there aren't consequences for such behavior.

[loyalsister]

8. She has a point

It's a stretch to say that Trump as president AND Kavanaugh on the SC has nothing to do with the 1991 failure to say, without wavering, that a sexual predator does not belong in a powerful position especially not government.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

12. I believe Anita Hill.

And I'm not terribly interested in what he has to say after all these years, and a month before he declares. This is weak sauce.