As Twitchy reported, Lucy Flores (and now at least two other women) went public with her story about how Joe Biden’s unsolicited hair-sniffing and neck-kissing made her very uncomfortable. One of Biden’s accusers said he touched her inappropriately backstage at an It’s On Us event.
Biden, now being woke, said he didn’t recall the Flores incident but believed she was right to come forward with her story.
And now Alyssa Milano has jumped into the fray and is doing a lot of mindreading: she believes that Biden’s intent has never been to make anyone uncomfortable … but we thought it was the woman’s reaction that mattered, not the man’s intent. And oh yeah, she also believes women like Flores should come forward with their stories — although “we cannot assume all women’s experiences are the same.”
So we sort of believe women now? We don’t know; you figure it out:
I am proud to call Joe Biden a friend. He has been a leader and a champion on fighting violence against women for many years, and I have been fortunate to accompany him to events with survivors where he has listened to their stories, empathized with them, and comforted them. pic.twitter.com/cI0jsKlu3P
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) April 2, 2019
2. That's who Joe Biden is – a warm, generous individual who believes its on all of us to pay attention to women's stories and experiences.
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) April 2, 2019
3. Biden started Its On Us because he believes to meaningfully change our culture, everyone – including those often left out of the conversation like college athletes and fraternity brothers – needed to be part of the movement.
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) April 2, 2019
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4. Joe Biden’s response that he never meant to make anyone uncomfortable and that he'll listen and learn from anyone who says otherwise is exactly the leadership we need to build a culture where women are heard and are equal.
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) April 2, 2019
5. I respect Lucy Flores' decision to share her story and agree with Biden that we all must pay attention to it. But, just as we must believe women that decide to come forward, we cannot assume all women's experiences are the same.
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) April 2, 2019
6. I believe that Joe Biden's intent has never been to make anyone uncomfortable, and that his kind, empathetic leadership is what our country needs. Especially now.
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) April 2, 2019
We like how Milano reminds us that It’s On Us showed us that college athletes and fraternity brothers are often left out of the conversation: kind of like the Duke lacrosse players, and the UVA fraternity featured in Rolling Stone’s campus rape hoax. Can those men be part of the conversation now, or are we still pretending due process isn’t a thing?
We have a fabulous prize for whoever can translate this sentence into plain English: “… just as we must believe women that decide to come forward, we cannot assume all women’s experiences are the same.”
What?
Yeah okay #IbelieveSOMEsurvivors ? pic.twitter.com/4NtENkMJlA
— Rosie memos (@almostjingo) April 2, 2019
“I believe women. Except for this one. I mean let’s hear her out. But he definitely didn’t do it. Believe me I would know. I’ve met him.”
— Sailor Bluto (@Ughfine88) April 2, 2019
EXACTLY.
My God……
— Shane Avery (@ShaneAvery) April 2, 2019
You're canceled. What the hell is wrong with you?
LOOK at how that man gropes, pets, smells, and kisses more than 50 little girls and women in video clips taken from CSPAN. I double-dog DARE you to leave up these tweets when you're done.https://t.co/wfXhVqILFW
— Jill for #Bernie2020 #NotMeUs ???✡️✏️ (@WinningWordsPro) April 2, 2019
If he was as empathetic as she claims he is, then he would have already stepped down because he'd understand how many people are fucking uncomfortable with him. Being lovey dovey =/= empathy. Empathy is feeling what the other person is feeling.
— Christopher Behrens (@xtophersaurus) April 2, 2019
Alyssa, you need to stop. This is not allyship. It is entirely possible for Biden to both A) have good intentions and feminist policy positions AND ALSO B) exhibit unexamined misogyny in his lack of respect for women's physical space and boundaries. Please don't discredit women.
— Claire Willett (@clairewillett) April 2, 2019
The fact that he has never made YOU uncomfortable doesn't mean he's never made anyone ELSE uncomfortable. His treatment of you, a high-profile celebrity peer, may not be identical to his treatment of women in way more vulnerable positions.
— Claire Willett (@clairewillett) April 2, 2019
This is embarrassing. *This* is yalls feminist icon?
— coffee spoonie (@coffeespoonie) April 2, 2019
Let’s also not forget what a kind and empathetic soul he was to Anita Hill
— The Hoarse Pissipper (@nosleeptilbed) April 2, 2019
Amazing how much nuance you can summon up when a Democrat is the accused.
— killmaven (@Killmaven) April 2, 2019
Girl. This is a bad look on you. Biden can be all of the good things you stated and still have made women uncomfortable.
— Danielle (@ReelSmartCookie) April 2, 2019
YES! Let's make it about the man's intent and not the woman. "I didn't mean to date rape you, I thought you wanted it because you came to my room." #everydaysexism
— Thought Criminal (@Thawt_Criminal) April 2, 2019
intent does not overrule impact. it doesn't matter what joe biden "intended" to do when he routinely, for decades, behaved inappropriately and harmed women.
— amilyn jellicoe (@LetsTurnDayGlo) April 2, 2019
Lordy Alyssa, no. Tone deaf.
— Melinda Byerley (@MJB_SF) April 2, 2019
great, now do Kavanaugh.
— knitted charm (@knitted_charm) April 2, 2019
Believe women! But actually wait, like, because some women have different experiences? So maybe don’t! And I mean… he’s super not creepy to me so he must not be to anyone else! That’s how that works!!
— kelly p. bergin (@kellybergin) April 2, 2019
So let’s make an excuse to be hypocritical! Got it.
— LesFuqua (@lesfuquajr) April 2, 2019
I mean gee, who could better lead us forward in a post-#MeToo era than a guy involved in it? See ladies, cozy Joe's just supportive, that's why there aren't pics/videos/personal accounts of him nuzzling men.
— diana lot (@pricksahoy) April 2, 2019
Your credibility w/#MeToo is shot. Not b/c you believe his intent wasn't to make someone uncomfortable (although unwelcomed touch is inappropriate), you did "I-never-had-an-inappropriate-moment-with-him". That only proves you'll speak up 4a friend. Doesn't impact situation.
— Inquisitive Citizen | Caring Activist | Avid Voter (@AimeeWilson) April 2, 2019
Are you kidding? This is an appalling response from someone who claims to be a vocal supporter of the me too movement. I would encourage you to really listen to the critique you’re going to get here and consider the folks you hurt with statements like this.
— Gennifer Hutchison (@GennHutchison) April 2, 2019
What happened to believing the victim? #MeToo movement? Have you seen masses of his videos? He was even harassing young girls! You can see how uncomfortable he made his victims! Guess I should have known what to accept from you! pic.twitter.com/997rE5O7rp
— ANJANA D. KUMAR MHT (@anjanadkumar) April 2, 2019
…would it be okay for creepy Uncle Joe to walk up behind your daughter and put his hands on her, sniff her head and talk in low tones??? What is your definition of sexual harassment? Where do you draw the line? Asking for a friend…
— John Yates (@jdyates51) April 2, 2019
Intent doesn’t excuse creepy behavior.
— Andy Door Eh???? (@hashbrowndore) April 2, 2019
Believe all women – except the ones that accuse your political allies. Gotcha ??
— Peter Lloyd (@Suffragentleman) April 2, 2019
It doesn’t matter what his intent was. What matters is the consequences of his actions. The guy is clearly a creep. There’s no justification for whitewashing his actions.
— Joe Marshall (@marshall5912) April 2, 2019
His intent isn't the relevant issue here. How he made her feel is. You'll stand up against people unless they're your friend? Great. Ugh.
— Andreth (@AndrethSaelind) April 2, 2019
Believe women, unless of course they are coming after a Democrat you like in other words… so many saying the exact same lines about Ms. Flores on the Democrats side that were said about Dr. Ford on the Republican side, maybe think about that aspect a bit…
— Lowell Anthony (@LHAFluvialMorph) April 2, 2019
So when Joe Biden touches you the way he does and you're OK with it, that's consensual. I'm fine with that. Your body, your choice. The problem is that for many other women who he comes in contact with, it's not.
— Democratic Restoration Movement ? (@NoFascistLies) April 2, 2019
You CANNOT know what his intent was!
— mikeobs (@mikeobs) April 2, 2019
This is absolutely devoid of critical self-reflection or integrity. These sets of tweets do so much to undermine any good work that you've been doing. Plenty close to Trump, Kavanaugh, etc., feel they know what is in these men's hearts too — this is willful ignorance.
— OA from the dimension where she tweets a lot (@MemeVVitch) April 2, 2019
Still waiting for that "april fools" follow up tweet cuz this is definitely. not. it.
— Aka Manto (@crustose_rex) April 2, 2019
Wow. I guess all that #BelieveWomen stuff doesn't matter when he's on our team, right?
— Merle B (@MerleTalk) April 2, 2019
Yeah, Joe Biden’s not a creep who makes women feel uncomfortable — Alyssa Milano’s met him and can vouch for him, OK?
What a joke.
Related:
'Binders full of women'? Another woman accuses Joe Biden of inappropriate touching https://t.co/wUSrLvmGB8
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) April 1, 2019
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