Just wow.

to the vast majority of people, a 54 year old is not a "kid."

Good luck trying to change people's mind who think this a ludicrous attack on Biden.

No, it wasn't a "gaffe".. but keep on digging.

which was:

Why aren't the terms "old man" and "kid" equally objectionable in a professional setting?

If she had come out and greeted him by saying, "Hello, old man!" I doubt you'd be defending her.

of your ridiculous questions.

Neither of those terms is an appropriate greeting in a professional setting.

Lauren Bacall movies...

Old man is an endearing term as well, in as how’s your ole man (husband) which is quite different and apart from how ya doing kid.

taken seriously.

I see no difference in an "endearing" "how are you doing, old man?" and "how are you doing, kid?" -- yet I know people would be objecting to the first much more than I see them objecting to the second.

between Senator Harris and VP Biden. I assume you know that Biden endorsed her in her Senate run and did fundraising for her.

I do understand your need to absolutely destroy Joe Biden.

This was Biden’s self deprecating humor that there were no hard feelings over the last debate.

Attempting to demonize Biden like this is doomed to failure.

everyone of his age. If he makes it to the general, that won't be helpful.

Generally they involve similar word parsing and/or taking things out of context.

This was a friendly exchange between Harris and Biden, who have know each other for a while.

You are one of my favorite posters on DU. I hope you’ll go back to writing positive threads about the candidates you like and attacking the Trump administration

I don't know why.

This one, for example.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100212337551

And here's another one from today that has nothing to do with Biden, though it does concern the primaries.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287223757

has paid attention in the Democratic Primaries Forum!

Darn!

Kid is affable and affectionate. They know each other and have a relationship. He endorsed her. This reeks of looking for a reason to be outraged. I can’t even anyone who chooses to view this as an issue seriously

I'm a lifelong Mariners baseball fan, and it was not demeaning to Ken Griffey, Jr. to have fans call him "The Kid".

If Biden had said that same thing to a male, we wouldn't even be talking about it.

What a silly thing to get upset about. He meant it as a friendly greeting, nothing more.

I can't even, either!

just as I expect biden calling harris kid was a term of endearment


this one is just foolish

that was a term of endearment? That's a bunch of malarkey, as Joe might say.

He isn't her father. He's a peer.

really?

in the broader context, calling someone old is generally insulting, and calling someone young generally is not.

And in this case, being considered old IS an issue Biden legitimately has to deal with; being considered young is NOT an issue Harris has to deal with. So one arguably calls for some sensitivity, the other does not.

tired of that.

Let us not rest in denial regarding who is sitting in the White House....I certainly am not...

Let's not feed into the media game of cheering us on into self destruction.....Don't sweat the small stuff.

I'm giving it a thumbs up because of the op's own ageist comment. I wonder if they even recognize it? That is pure gold.

How is this a a winning image for Democrats?

Bothers you...Those gunning for him haven't been able to take him out though, and those in the media pulling for Warren haven't either.. Folks know he is our best and probably only chance to beat Trump...last night just cemented this.

Trump won last night.... thanks to some really foolish remarks by some candidates and those attacking other candidates. Also, attacking the Obama legacy is wrong and is hurtful to our party and our 2020 electoral chances.

The world's on fire. Border crisis. Predator in the White House. Deplorable countries are our friends. And this is worth thinking about? Not.

would be perceived by many to be patronizing. I wouldn't think that Biden deliberately would say something diminishing, that would remind people that she is black, and that black men were often diminished by being called, "boy."

So I figured it was just a gaffe.

https://www.newsweek.com/joe-biden-kamala-harris-go-easy-me-kid-1452062

One analysis from popular Twitter account "Feminist Next Door," accused Biden of dropping a "single sentence quip intended to simultaneously diminish Harris and characterize her as overly aggressive."

"He'll say it was a joke, which is what his supporters will claim while belittling critics as humorless and aggressive. Women know it well," the account tweeted.

Another social media user, Rev. Laura Everett, agreed, writing: "'Go easy on me, kid' may pass to some as folksy banter, but underneath is centuries of sexism and racism, and a presumption of privilege where niceness avoids critique."

Activist Susan DuFresne also condemned the remark as "blatant sexism," writing in a tweet: "While watching the beginning [of the debate] I told my husband it seemed Kamala Harris was upset-like someone said something to her. Later, heard Joe Biden told her, 'Go easy on me, KID'."

uses self-effacing humor. In a sense, he was flattering her, because yeah at 54 she’s only a kid
to someone in his seventies. Kid is also gender neutral and friendly but not over-familiar. I saw his remark as a “no hard feelings for last time,” and an acknowledgement of her power as a debater but certainly not a literal plea.

He is an older man. If that repulses you or you think it renders him unfit for office, vote for
a younger candidate.

Terms like this aren't appropriate in a professional setting.

she said “can’t promise you, old rascal,” or some such variation, I would not be wasting space here
painting him as the victim of her ageism, which of course is not analogous as a non-PC evil in our
liberal world to sexism or racism.

In any case, as I said, the OP is meant to stir it up by ignoring context and intent to make something sinister and incriminating out of an utterly benign comment meant as an ice-breaker.

And when you can’t argue for malignant intent, professional disrespect, a telling pattern of racism and sexism, you will then yourself, go ageist.

That's my take as well It really was more self-effacing and probably intentionally so.

Once again, much ado about nothing.

that was left out.

smh!

and of course they will find something.

He has far more experience than she does. That is the one advantage of age. They want to have it both ways. Hilarious.

His way of breaking the tension, it seems.

This is what you get with Biden; it's what makes him endearing and also what drags him down.

"dragging him down". The majority are coming to his defense of this ridiculous attack.

and it sure gets tiresome.

No Bogey wasn't calling Ingrid Bergman a child. Geez.

but I couldn't quite get it out.. I knew it was just an expression.. but.. "outrage"!

Mahalo, crazytown, for the source!

we will always have Paris

conflict in the previous debate.

it would have been different if he was making a serious point during the debate and said "listen kid, ..............................." .

I've been hard on Biden about some stuff, but I have no problem with this whatsoever.

was emphasizing his own age. He was actually born in the same year as that very old movie.

And Ingrid Bergman was 27 in 1942 -- half the age of Kamala Harris now. In that era, an older man calling a 27 year old woman a "kid" wouldn't have the same impact as an older man using that term TODAY to describe a professional, accomplished 54 year old.

Would you have defended Kamala if she had greeted Joe as "Old man"?

TRUMP PUTS BABIES IN CAGES AND Biden said ' kid`...the horror! Harris did not aquit herself well last night. She appears unable to defend her record as AG and DA. She eill need to find an explanation.

It wasn’t a gaffe. It wasn’t an insult. It was a joke between the two of them—and likely understood it would be overheard—to acknowledge the last debate and show lack of animus. If she’d said “I’m on you, Grandpa!” And laughed it would have been the same.

Jesus. We’ve got things to worry about. This isn’t one.

his old school charm.

In fact, many of us feel we could use an “ old hand” to mop up after Trump, which will not be easy for the inexperienced. We also feel we want an elder statesman type known
and respected on the world stage to sort out the horrible hash Trump has made of foreign policy.

Can Harris get Iran back to the negotiating table? Reassure our allies so they don’t ar: themselves with more nukes?

We are perilously close to a nuclear conflict. Old as in wise and experienced is not a pejorative.

Anyone who has problems with age will need a re-examination of their myths, their ageist issues, if
they are to do the most natural thing in the world: age.

Why don’t you ask yourself why you feel the need to defend your candidate when it was between the two of them and nothing degrading?

… a scandal! The media should recall Trump and Rubio comparing their penis size during a Republican debate... the Democrats brought up fair points and were much better!

... have become prime examples of the Law of diminishing returns.

This poutrage is likely getting more eye rolls than anything else.

If you want to support your candidate, why not post something positive instead.

He was just being nice. I don't think he meant to degrade or be misogynistic. No, people who complain over these things are just petty.

Really?

than for a professional, accomplished woman to be called a "kid" at 54?

exactly.

It's all a matter of perspective!

If he called me a kid it would make me feel young and it would be a nice complement. Calling someone an old man makes you feel horrible.

Or would it be disrespectful?

there would be no doubt that it was rather meant as a compliment between friends and a statement based on respect than the opposite.
Is there a reason you always omit the part that leaves no doubt that Biden's intentions and the tone were benign?

even a smidgeon.. but watch out there's someone trying to convince us otherwise.

Mahalo, oasis

But petty,petty! Who cares?

The news is emphasizing how the Dems attacked Obama last night. He has a 97% approval rating with Democrats and Obamacare has an 87% approval rating.

Attacking the popular President instead of Trump is a mistake and the hosts encouraged the constant attacks. Lord, even Al Sharpton agrees with me. Attacking Obama smells of desperation!

How about that, Cha?

attack President Obama besides de Blasio?

Attacking Obama is beyond desperate.. I think it's venturing into the Twilight Zone.

Mahalo, True Blue American for the stats!

On Morning Joe, then Al Sharpton said,” Attacking Obama smelt of desperation!”

They also called it pack on Biden night, and they sure tried to, but he piled on a few licks of his own about certain people’s past!

I blame the moderators for giving them so much time. Inslee did well.

Sad to see anyone at DU is bothered by this.

People seem to be very worried about Biden, aren't they?

Jesus Christ on a Trailer Hitch.

I would say ‘Poor baby’ but can’t cause he’s playing his elderly card

levity!

“ Are we good?”

using this as a deadly serious attack.

Sharpton said!

GIve credit to Cory Booker. He dad say, “ Trump is enjoying this!”

Nance Gregg said it all in this thread,” Is this Satire?”

that attacked President Obama besides de Blasio?

Mahalo!