Why would Lappos accuse Biden? In her own words...

[Demsrule86]

I find this despicable. ME TO being used as a political weapon againt a decent man. Her story is ridiculous.

“If Biden truly supports women and gender equality he would step aside and support one of the many talented and qualified women running,” she added. “The same goes for the other men who have thrown their hat in the ring. Women are 52 percent of the population. We are not a minority, we are the majority. It is time we are represented as such. After 45 male presidents it is time we elect a woman.”

[TheCowsCameHome]

1. Another Gillibranding in the making.

Just what this party needs about now.

N.O.T.

[Demsrule86]

2. We are going to lose if this continues.

[TheCowsCameHome]

5. ...from within.

I never thought I would live to see days like these.

Unreal, and sickening.

[Demsrule86]

6. It is sickening.

[NurseJackie]

33. It's a continuation of the ugly kneecapping and "ratfucking" that we've seen before.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ratfucking

[Demsrule86]

56. I hope it passes. I think we lose without Biden.

[WeekiWater]

11. When has Gillibrand ever insinuated that women can't complete with men? NT

[SFnomad]

14. You mean ... Sandering, Harrising, Warrening and Bookering too (among others), don't you?

Continuing to try and blame Senator Gillibrand for what happened to Franken is a crock, a big steaming pile.

[Demsrule86]

15. I don't blame her but she was the first to cave...

[TheCowsCameHome]

16. It was a big steaming pile.

I agree, but for different reasons.

[SFnomad]

18. And to continue to blame Senator Gillibrand is the biggest steaming pile of them all n/t

[NurseJackie]

34. She was the first and the ringleader.

[SFnomad]

37. What happened to Senator Franken happened because of Senator Franken, not because of

Senator Gillibrand. Blaming her for it is just one big load.

Dozens of Senators called for his resignation, if Senator Gillibrand hadn't asked for it, he'd still be gone. When there were 1, 2, maybe 3 accusers, he might have been able to make it through that. Once there were 5, 6 and then 8 accusers, I knew he was toast. It was just a matter of time. And the calls for his resignation didn't happen until then. To blame Gillibrand for all that is just, well, ludicrous.

[NurseJackie]

40. ...

Blaming her for it is just one big load.

and

To blame Gillibrand for all that is just, well, ludicrous.

No it's not. She knew what she was doing, and so do I. Don't give me that bull. She was the fucking ringleader throwing gasoline on the fire and stirring everyone up into a frenzy. Franken was forced out after being denied due process and the investigation he asked for. He could have been defiant and refused to resign until he received the investigation he wanted, but he also knew that the bandwagon jumpers had already made up their minds and that standing up for himself and his reputation would damage and divide the party even worse that was happening at that moment. He sacrificed himself, his honor, his career, and his reputation for the sake of a quick (albeit unfair) resolution.

I'll never forgive her for what she did and what she started. If not for her, others would have been more patient and more willing to allow him to "have his day in court" (so to speak). It's her fault, she's to blame, and nothing that anyone else says will convince me otherwise.

I'll never forget. I'll never forgive.

[SFnomad]

41. What a steaming pile n/t

[Tipperary]

46. Wow, you really like that metaphor.

[SFnomad]

48. Yes ... I do, is that a problem? n/t

[NurseJackie]

47. Charming.

[Tipperary]

50. I thought so too!

[True Blue American]

77. And I would never

Vote for her. Self aggrandizing. She loved the Clintons when they backed her,then came out against them.

[Historic NY]

58. I'm from NY and shes a DINO plain and simple....

her past history shows. Funny thing about that.

[Cha]

75. Really? How so, Historic NY?

Thanks!

[WePurrsevere]

82. I'm from NY too & while 10 yrs ago I might have leaned towards you being correct...

knowing that while she served in congress she was known as a 'Blue Dog', I'm also very familiar with how conservative the 20th district that she was elected to represent tends to be since I grew up, lived there for most of my life and still have family there.

Once she was appointed as a senator however her stances/voting record moved decidedly left and she has pretty much stayed that way since per these sites:
https://ballotpedia.org/Kirsten_Gillibrand#Lifetime_voting_record
https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/kirsten_gillibrand/412223
https://votesmart.org/candidate/political-courage-test/65147/kirsten-gillibrand/#.XKM71N8pBTs
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_positions_of_Kirsten_Gillibrand

You can compare her voting record to other senators on Propublica:
https://projects.propublica.org/represent/members/G000555-kirsten-e-gillibrand/compare-votes/115
Just to give a few examples: She voted with Bernie 96% of the time; Warren 97%; Harris 95%.
If you do a search on their names you can see where they differ.

Because of her voting record since becoming a senator, a couple of years ago I would have gladly backed her run to become our parties nominee, and I'll of course do so if she's nominated, but her judging & jumping on the Al Franken resignation train without looking more into the situation first left a bad taste in my mouth so I'm very much undecided now.

[exboyfil]

3. This type of thinking will get Trump

reelected. Biden has just as much right to run for the Presidency as anyone else. He is not my first choice, but he would make a good President.

It doesn't change my vote in the general election, but I know some who will sit out if this thinking becomes mainstream in the Democratic party.

[Demsrule86]

4. I agree with you.

[Bengus81]

7. Ok though when she puts HER hand on him for a selfie............

The pic is on Twitter and making the rounds..........

[Demsrule86]

8. Exactly.

She is not credible.

[Mike Nelson]

9. Ugh...

… there's the rub... "step aside" … because he's first in the polls... this reminds me of Al Franken. Biden should be looked re: issues like the Anita Hill hearings ... but, this is garbage. He's not a sexual predator.. he's been overly affectionate and is capable of understanding and making changes in this behavior. This should not be something to make him "step aside."

[Demsrule86]

13. This is just plain wrong.

[Kahuna7]

45. Al Franken would be leading in the primary polls if he had decided to run...

all those people who demanded his resignation are now running for president. Funny that.

[Mike Nelson]

61. That's true...

… and I do remember... but I'm not looking for perfection. I would have to wait way to long... and I would never like anyone.

[WeekiWater]

10. That is horrific.

Can you imagine the woman who wins without males represented in the field? It's really a degrading comment toward women.

[Demsrule86]

12. Yes it is.

[Kahuna7]

17. Because she supports someone else. Just a guess.

[Demsrule86]

19. She wants a woman or says so. She also writes grants...publicity stunt?

[herding cats]

20. When I read the article her saying all the men should step aside did stand out to me.

I reread it to make sure I'd read it correctly even. It's a blatantly divisive statement and it does a serious disservice to all our amazing women running. Dividing us on gender lines looks like a tactic to try and get Democrats to lose. Even if that's not her intent, that's all that would come out of that foolish argument.

As to her other claims, I'll wait and see what the other people who were there have to say.

[Kahuna7]

23. Thank you. I'm sick of our party being separated by gender and race...

We need everybody. I'm an black senior citizen. I am tired of seeing white men dissed as if we can win without them. Keep it up and eventually they will get the message.

I voted for Obama and Hillary because I had faith in their characters and that they cared about all Americans and would do a job for us all. I support Biden because I believe he is in the best position to win and bring the country and our alliances back together. I want a positive influence for our kids.

As I said, I'm a senior and I know where the Democratic party stands on the issues. I'm not worried about that. I want to win. I happen to think many of the candidates are running too far to the left. Take bringing up reparations as a litmus test. Get away from me with that nonsense. It will never fly so why bring it up? That's electoral malpractice.

[LuvNewcastle]

28. I think such issues are meant to divide us and make us lose.

Either they're so stupid that they believe it will work, or they're outright working for the GOP. People like that should be ignored.

[Kahuna7]

39. Unfortunately it's so called liberal pundits who are on cable

all day. Today Heather McGhee was on with Nicole Wallace and stated that Biden never touched men. Really? I promptly tweeted two pictures to her of Biden embracing two young black men. Since that time, I've collected another two pics of Biden touching men.

[LuvNewcastle]

42. Looks like they're on a mission.

The fuckers are going to destroy his candidacy and get someone nominated who will lose. I wish these idiots weren't given platforms to engage in this shit.

[Kahuna7]

49. Just like everyone else they have their favorites and their biases show....

McGhee did mention her faves.

[herding cats]

67. I'm not a fan of any Democrats disregarding candidates out of hand due to their gender,

Race, sexual orientation, religion, etc. That's not who we are as a block and it's always going to be divisive and destructive. As you said, we're about substance on the core values the majority of us share.

There's no perfect candidate, we all know that. Just as we know there's no perfect person or elected politician. I understand idealizing and wanting your idea of perfection, but this isn't the cycle for me to indulge in my own personal idealistic fantasies. I'm basically to a point where my ideals mean much, much less to me than saving the country from 4 more years of destruction.

I'm in it to win it with who ever wins the nomination this cycle. I've been donating to a handful of my top picks and when my primary comes I'll be voting for the candidate left I believe has the best chance of beating Trump. That's where I am for 2020. Winning means everything this cycle.

[Demsrule86]

35. Weaponizing me too hurts us all.

[herding cats]

69. I suspect there's some level of misunderstanding by some.

Feeling disrespected to some is an outrage, which I can see, but for those who've suffered sexual assault and abuse at the hands of a true predator the feelings are deeply different and more terrifying. Watching some people try and conflate the two sometimes causes me to react emotionally.

[Demsrule86]

73. I had to take a pill...fist time this year. It is very upsetting.

And not because I like Biden although I do. He is a kind gentle man.

[herding cats]

74. I can understand that and you're good here.

I understand the points you're making and why they matter. People who don't know, never truly will.

I'm deeply sorry someone you respect as a gentle person is currently being raked through the coals and equated, by some, as the exact opposite. Just remember while all this impacts our real lives, it's not necessarily reminiscent of what our realities are. This is political fodder at this moment. That's all that's taking place here. They're playing on our emotions for better or worse.

Reminding myself of this helps to try and keep me separated and focused. It's not fool proof, but it's a starting point. I hope it helps a tiny bit.

[Demsrule86]

83. Good Idea and thanks for the mail too. It helped.

[peggysue2]

21. Which is why these attacks serve no one's interests

Least of all those women who have genuine grievances of sexual harassment and assault. Neither this complaint nor Flores' accusation fall into a serious category and only undermine the whole issue of giving voice to women and their stories. As a woman, this makes me angry and disgusted with the women involved, not Joe Biden.

This whole mode of political attack needs to stop! We have an election to win in 2020 because Trump and his fascist enablers are an existential threat.

To the country. To everyone.

[LongtimeAZDem]

22. "Step aside . . . or else."

[SFnomad]

24. Where have we heard similar to that before? n/t

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

27. "Nice little candidacy ya got there. Be a shame if something happened to it."

[ms liberty]

25. Yea, she doesn't have an agenda at all

[UniteFightBack]

52. Yes this thank you. Be a little less obvious for fucks sake. nt

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

26. Beware of people with agendas.

What about the other male candidates? Are they going to be "disqualified" as well by vague accusations of some non-sexual but uncomfortable encounter at some point, which will be tacked to the hide of the #metoo movement and in an effort to make the point that only a woman should be nominated?

Even ostensibly good goals can be damaging in the hands of people who have decided their agenda must be furthered at all costs.

[Demsrule86]

36. That is what the GOP does...the end justifies the means,

[Kurt V.]

29. We are not a minority, we are the majority.

damn straight. now lets act like it.

[atreides1]

30. Interesting

Women are 52% of the population and how many of those women are Republicans???


Women are just as competitive as men, and women who vote Republican are just as stupid as the men who vote Republican!!!

[Drunken Irishman]

68. Yup.

Let's be real: it's non-white women who consistently vote Democratic. If it was left to white women, we'd have a Republican president every time. Trump won white women with 54% of the vote in 2016.

How many non-white women are running for president? One. By her logic, we should support her since that would truly advance equality.

[DonCoquixote]

31. well Ma'am

As much as there are women whop do deserve the office (Liz Warren being my clear pick, as she was VOCAL and ACTIVE before many), the last thing we want is to make this a gender test, unless you like the idea of a Palin or Haley or Joni Ernst or any number of truly horrid conservative administrations where the leader would indeed be every bit as much of a woman as you.

[BlueFlorida]

32. In other words, the women cannot win unless the men step aside?

Hillary won against a man who never stepped aside.

[sheshe2]

54. Great post.

Agreed.

[left-of-center2012]

38. Another accuser claims Joe Biden once rubbed noses with her !

Amy Lappos, 43, says Biden grabbed her by the head and rubbed noses with her during a 2009 political fundraiser in Greenwich.

“It wasn’t sexual, but he did grab me by the head,” Amy Lappos told The Hartford Courant on Monday.

[Demsrule86]

57. Ridiculous

[jalan48]

43. Identity politics run amok.

[Demsrule86]

59. Yes bad year for this.

[OilemFirchen]

44. I fucking hate stridency.

Yes I do.

[Demsrule86]

60. Air do too.

[UniteFightBack]

51. Oh yeah I see the "SHE ADDED" PART TELLS IT ALL. nt

[MustLoveBeagles]

53. She's an extremist and has no credibility

I don't want a litmus test. Let the voters decide who our next candidate should be.

[Historic NY]

55. Another reason not to contribute.....

I told a fundraiser that I died. I had 300 calls last cycle and it shaping up to the same bullshit. I was a major contributor in 3 election cycles, not any more. People like her have axes to grind real or imagined. Her explanation confirms that.

[guillaumeb]

62. Do you doubt that she is telling the truth about the alleged incident? eom

[LongtimeAZDem]

63. Do I doubt it? Yes. Is there enough info to know for sure either way? No.

[Demsrule86]

64. Yes I do...political. and it is an insult to those of us who faced assault.

[guillaumeb]

65. What if Flores was not supporting another candidate?

Perhaps that is an issue for some.

[Demsrule86]

66. But she is. However I think the nature of the attacks are stupid. Noses and shoulders

I'll see that and raise you a concussion and a fractured wrist plus assorted bruises, cuts and swelling. These women insult real victims like me and yes that is what happened. I despise them.

[herding cats]

70. Damn, I'm sorry.

For what it's worth, I get how you're feeling.

I'm not saying feeling disrespected isn't a problem, I fully realize it is. It's just one that has layers and nuances not the same as actual coercion, violence and rape. There are very distinct differences here.

[Demsrule86]

72. Women won't be believed if politically motivated women tell such stories.

[True Blue American]

78. 1000+

[Thekaspervote]

76. +1000

[highplainsdem]

71. Yes, I doubt it, given what she said in the quote in the OP.

[still_one]

79. It is very simple, if Biden's touchy-feel style is a show stopper for some, don't vote for him. If

someone believes our candidate "must" be a woman, than don't vote for any of the male candidates in the primaries.

Biden is going to run. If some folks don't like that then don't vote for him,

That is the bottom line

[Cha]

80. K!

[still_one]

81. Sje is entitled to her opinion, as we all are, but in the end it will be up to the voters whether

the Democratic nominee is chosen based on gender, or based on where they stand on the issues

[treestar]

84. We don't want the first female president to be a charity case

We want one who really wins over the men running against her.

[MineralMan]

85. The many talented and qualified women running are worthy of support.

Every individual should support the candidate of his or her choice. Tearing down other candidates is not how that is done, though.

Boost your favorite. That's how you do it.

I'll be watching to see which candidate gets the Democratic nomination next summer. That's the person I'll be voting for, whoever it is. If a man is the nominee, then I'll vote for that man. If a woman gets the nomination, she'll get my vote.

Champion your favorite candidate, instead of trying to kick another candidate out of the race.