sexual harassment in his own campaign, his followers might want to rethink this line of attack.

Biden treated Hill with the utmost respect. He kept the hearings going for longer than any other SC confirmation on record. It wasn't a court and GOP senators like Alan Simpson had a right to ask questions. It also wasn't a circus though RW critics accused Biden of running one. If he'd kept it going another week and put the porn store clerk on the stand they probably would have been correct.

In brief, this is a RW tall tale. I watched it live, some of it at least, and I looked at the tapes and transcripts more recently, and it didn't happen the way it's commonly painted.

As for the Anita Hill thing, this is at least the 20th attempt to resurrect the issue and it just doesn’t seem to stick no matter how much those who dislike Biden want it to.

That’s probably because this isn’t 1991, and most rational people hold Clarence Thomas responsible for his own behavior, not Joe Biden.

The argument made by HuffPo is largely revisionist. Like you, I lived it.

as the op article does say, Biden in later years became an advocate for women especially with his bill on violence against women. If he runs and becomes the nominee, he can say that he was wrong as a young Senator who was given the responsibility of chairing the Judiciary committee. He could then speak of his decades of work later that was in support of women.

While he can not change what he did in the around 30 years ago, he can show that he evolved into who he is now. Trump, on the other hand, has recent problems on this issue. This is an issue only in the primary. In the primary, he will being running on the skills and character he has now AND the good ..and bad .. of his past.

In 1991, there were Senators who took to the floor who questioned the way the hearings were run. One was a long term friend of Biden's -- John Kerry, who among other things spoke of there being only 2 women Senators. https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4751436/senator-kerry-1991

Yours is the first 'defense' of then Senator Biden's role in the Thomas hearing, and I appreciate seeing it. I hope others will too.

I was around at the time, but unable to watch, due to being on jury duty (in DC!) at the time.

Bookmarked this thread.

It’s going to be a tough road for both of them compared to the other candidates.

They have been vetted everyday and all that have announced it will announce have sturdy records of accomplishment.

When applying for the job of an executive.

Governorships provide for great training.

his 2016 campaign. I recall the victims were barred from recording the meetings discussing their claims. Sanders needs to explain.

Personally, I’m more interested in what he proposes to do.

(or not) will depend on 'how' he answers. If he's honest, transparent and is able to design a narrative about 'back in the day' vs the moment we find ourselves in? He'll be fine. Because the distinct advantage Biden has--besides his experience and foreign policy chops--is the affection and respect a large swath of the electorate holds for Uncle Joe. People like him. That's important.

This will be the case for all our candidates. There are no saints invited to this hoedown; they'll all be scrutinized, inside-out, upside-down. Aka . . . vetting. In addition, we'll find out where they stand on policy issues, what critical problems they're passionate about and what reforms/progress they envision during their prospective tenures. We'll get to judge how realistic and doable those policy points are.

Then the elephant in the room: can they win? Can they take the Trumpster and his odious enablers to the woodshed? Can they win with an indisputable, undeniable majority? Because Trump is already setting up a possible loss in 2020 as a frigging coup.

So, Biden has questions to answer and speak to along with every single candidate out there. Because they're all undeniably human.

Is some of my earliest political memories and I remember my whole class was aghast by it. I don't think he has a political career post #metoo.

He apologized for the behavior of his staffers in 2016 and claimed he will pay attention this time.