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Tag: inappropriate touching
Saturday Night Live: Sudeikis Returns To Spoof Grabby Joe Biden

Saturday Night Live: Sudeikis Returns To Spoof Grabby Joe Biden

Joe Biden’s grabby habits as a retail politician may once have served him well — but in the #MeToo era he seems, well, out of touch. So last night’s SNL cold open spoofs the former vice president (played by a returning Jason Sueikis) — and it should be a teaching moment, except that he has so much trouble learning.

The supporting cast includes Kenan Thompson and Cecily Strong as Biden advisers, Kate McKinnon as an exasperated sensitivity trainer — whom he greets with an Eskimo kiss — and Leslie Jones as a potential voter.

Will this problem take Biden down before he even declares his candidacy? It’s too early to tell, but this opening sketch hilariously illustrates why he’s in trouble now.

During Union Speech, Biden Jokes About Inappropriate Touching Furor

During Union Speech, Biden Jokes About Inappropriate Touching Furor

Reprinted with permission from Alternet.

While speaking at a union conference for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers on Friday, former Vice President Joe Biden joked at least twice about the allegations made against him that he has inappropriately touched women and made them uncomfortable.

Biden is widely believed to be preparing to launch a 2020 bid for the presidency, and he remains at the top of most polls of Democratic voters.

His first joke about the issue came at the top of his speech after he hugged the man who introduced him.

“I just want you to know, I had permission to hug Lonnie,” he said.

Later, when he was joined by a group of children on the stage, the vice president pulled one of the boys close to him.

“By the way, he gave me permission to touch him,” Biden said again.

Earlier in the week, Biden had released a video on Twitter that attempted to address the allegations that have been made against him while he promised to improve his behavior. His jokes on Friday that sentiment seem less than sincere, instead suggesting that he doesn’t take the allegations seriously. This may be a clever public relations strategy — downplaying the allegations against him might be a useful deflection for many voters — but it’s disrespectful of the women who are already facing blowback for speaking out about his behavior.

Watch the clips below:

Danziger: Clever Misdirection

Danziger: Clever Misdirection

Jeff Danziger lives in New York City. He is represented by CWS Syndicate and the Washington Post Writers Group. He is the recipient of the Herblock Prize and the Thomas Nast (Landau) Prize. He served in the US Army in Vietnam and was awarded the Bronze Star and the Air Medal. He has published eleven books of cartoons and one novel. Visit him at DanzigerCartoons.com.

Joe Biden Posts Video Response To Charges He Touched Women ‘Inappropriately’

Joe Biden Posts Video Response To Charges He Touched Women ‘Inappropriately’

Former Vice President Joe Biden — widely believed to be on the verge of announcing his bid for the 2020 Democratic nomination —posted a video on Twitter Wednesday responding to recent reports from women who say he has inappropriately touched them in the past.

The women have said that his attempts to make physical contact and show affection made them uncomfortable and were inappropriate. One woman, Lucy Flores, said he grabbed her shoulders from behind and kissed the back of her head unexpectedly. Another, Caitlyn Caruso, said Biden put his hand on her even as she “squirmed” and he hugged her “a little bit too long.” D.J. Hill described him sliding his hand down her back, making her “very uncomfortable.”

In his video, Biden appeared to try to downplay the claims made against him, saying that he makes “gestures of support and encouragement” to “women and some men.” He admitted that his actions have made people uncomfortable but said that as a politician he’s always tried to make a “human connection” with other people.

He also attributed the complaints against him to the fact that “social norms are changing.” While he pledged to be “more mindful and more respectful of people’s personal space,” his explanation for his behavior seemed to try to excuse it as being from another era. He could have simply admitted that he overstepped some boundaries and that it was inappropriate, but when politicians apologize, the temptation to make excuses is often irresistible.

Watch the video below: