Joe Biden just doesn’t seem to get the simple concept that he needs to keep his hands to himself. Whether or not he is making innocent or friendly gestures, if you’ve been accused of violating the personal space of several women, just stop touching everybody.
It’s really that simple.
At a campaign rally on Tuesday, the former vice president seemed to abandon that simple strategy and was caught in an exchange with a 10-year-old girl that even leftists described as ‘awkward’ and ‘creepy.’
The New York Times reported on the moment in which the girl asked Biden about the polarized state of the nation to which he responded at length with his thoughts.
Biden then added, “I’ll bet you’re as bright as you are good-looking,” before, as the Times reports, he “put his hands on her shoulders.”
Even that report noted Biden’s history of making women uncomfortable before relaying that this particular “moment was received with laughter.”
Joe Biden, who has publicly stated that he would stop touching women without their permission and would respect their space, touches a young girl at a campaign rally
Biden tells her, “I bet you’re as bright as you are good looking” pic.twitter.com/CtAVELvYrX
— Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) May 28, 2019
Creepy
While it may have been met with laughter in the room, even some staunch leftists and journalists on social media were left taken aback by the moment.
Washington Post political reporter Felicia Sonmez described it as “a somewhat odd moment” and added that Biden had filmed a statement in which he “vowed to respect women’s personal space.”
“Seems he hasn’t quite gotten the message,” she added.
Others weren’t so diplomatic in their assessments.
— Katelyn Burns (@transscribe) May 28, 2019
just #creepy https://t.co/3CBfeC04dt
— ROSIE (@Rosie) May 28, 2019
What the hell?
Please escort this man out of politics. He doesn’t get it.
This is so damn creepy.
This may be a tipping point, honestly. https://t.co/QG4UzGqGzm
— Shaun King (@shaunking) May 29, 2019
Can’t Keep His Hands Off
Several women accused Biden of inappropriately touching them and making them feel uncomfortable, a torrent that started with former Nevada Assemblywoman Lucy Flores who alleged the potential 2020 candidate inappropriately kissed her and smelled her hair.
Some of the uncomfortable moments captured in images have involved young people.
Biden isn’t doing himself any favors, issuing insincere apologies for the incidents, then refusing to apologize, then making jokes about it.
WATCH: A woman just yelled at Biden that he can “kiss [her] anytime!” at event in NV. Biden responded by doing the Sign of the Cross: @CBSNews pic.twitter.com/2REYPvsCjv
— Bo Erickson (@BoKnowsNews) May 7, 2019
At the very least, Biden, a seasoned politician, should understand the optics in continuing to make such gestures.
Even his wife has figured that out.
Watch her hands…. pic.twitter.com/RcXZxZL0Go
— Caleb Hull (@CalebJHull) May 19, 2019
