Ahead of the race to the White House in 2020, a second woman has come out to accuse the former United States Vice-President, Joe Biden of what she described as inappropriate touching.
According to the woman, named Amy Lappos, about ten years ago, Joe Biden had touched her with both hands and rubbed noses with her. Amy Lappos’s accusation came after another woman, known as Lucy Flores had earlier accused the ex-VP of kissing her at the back of her neck at a campaign event.
In response to the accusations, Joe Biden has said that he did not believe he has ever acted inappropriately as insinuated by the women.
These accusations came after many people believed that Joe Biden the former Delaware senator who served as a vice president with Barack Obama’s in 2009-17 is a possible front-runner in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination.
The allegations have repeated received an overwhelming supports from some front runners gunning for the Democratic Party nomination, but the House of Representatives Speaker, Nancy Pelosi has stated that the allegations should not rule out a 2020 run for Joe Biden.
In making her accusation, Amy Lappos, aged 43 who was a former aide to a Democratic congressman, told the public that Joe Biden touched her inappropriately in 2009 at a private home in Hartford at a fundraiser. She further elaborated by saying that Joe Biden entered the kitchen to thank a group of aides, before wrapping both hands around her face and pulling her in to rub noses with her.
In making her accusation, Amy Lappos called on Joe Bidden not to run for the White House, saying: “Uninvited affection is not okay. Objectifying women is not okay.”
In narrating her own version of that she described as an inappropriate behavior, Lucy Flores stated that in 2014 when she was running as the Democratic candidate for Nevada’s lieutenant governor, Joe Biden flew in to support her. She narrated that as she prepared to go on stage, Joe Biden placed two hands on her shoulders from behind, smelled her hair then planted “a big slow kiss on the back of her head”.
In response to the accusation, a spokes person for Joe Biden directed journalists to the statement he issued on Sunday, 31st March, 2019 which reads, “In my many years on the campaign trail and in public life, I have offered countless handshakes, hugs, expressions of affection, support and comfort. And not once – never – did I believe I acted inappropriately.”
He added that “But we have arrived at an important time when women feel they can and should relate their experiences, and men should pay attention. And I will.”
The former Vice-President Joe Biden has been described by many as someone who have a very “touchy feely”. He is known to be physical, with everyone. He is also known as one of the most empathetic politicians around – the guy who calls when you have a problem, and just listens.
But now two women say the “touchy” behaviour was a problem and the “feely” behaviour was inappropriate. This needs context. Physical contact with supporters has been a necessary part of political campaigning for decades. The candidate who tries to run for office and refuses all physical contact with voters would soon be dismissed as cold and aloof.
So clearly there’s a line politicians have to walk. Physical but not in the wrong way. And I’d posit that most women know exactly which side of the line any physical contact falls on – appropriate or inappropriate. We just know it. And women my generation put up with inappropriate contact for years, assuming it was part of the cost of having a job in a largely male environment.
The accusations against Joe Biden have continued to gain the support of a number of candidates for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination. Senator Elizabeth Warren said Joe Biden “needs to give an answer”, and Senator Amy Klobuchar said that in politics “people raise issues and they have to address them”.
But for Nancy Pelosi the accusations against Joe Biden are not enough to disqualify him. But she added: “He has to understand in the world that we’re in now that people’s space is important to them, and what’s important is how they receive it and not necessarily how you intended it.”
