Former Vice President Joe Biden pledged in a video posted to Twitter Wednesday to be more “mindful” and “respectful” of people’s personal space amid shifting social norms.
He also implied that he is going to run in 2020, saying that he expects to talk to people about a range of issues “in the coming months.”
“The social norms have begun to change and have shifted, and the boundaries of respecting personal space have been reset and I get it. I get it,” he said, sitting on a couch in a blue suit. “I hear what they’re saying — I understand it. And I’ll be much more mindful – that’s my responsibility. And I’ll meet it. ”
He added that he’s an affectionate person and feels that it has been his “responsibility” to make a “human connection” throughout his career.
“Over the years, knowing the things I’ve been through and I’ve faced, I’ve found that scores if not hundreds of people have come up to me and reached out for comfort and solace — something, anything that may help them get through the tragedy they’re going through,” he said. “It’s just who I am: I’ve never thought of politics as cold or antiseptic, I’ve always thought of it as connecting with people.”
“I’ve worked my whole life to empower women, I’ve worked my whole life to prevent abuse,” he concluded, alluding to his spearheading of the Violence Against Women Act in the 1990s. “So the idea that I can’t adjust to the fact that personal space is important, is more important than it ever has been is just not thinkable — I will, I will.”
Social norms are changing. I understand that, and I’ve heard what these women are saying. Politics to me has always been about making connections, but I will be more mindful about respecting personal space in the future. That’s my responsibility and I will meet it. pic.twitter.com/Ya2mf5ODts
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) April 3, 2019
Got my BIDEN-FRANKEN 2020 bumper sticker!
Just watch some Seinfeld, Joe.
You, or your team, didn’t think to have this response ready to go a month ago?
That is moderately damning regardless of whether you think Biden is a friendly old grandpa or ERMAGERD FRANKEN GOT RAILROADED or whatever. Piss-poor preparation.
This won’t be enough. They only want the accused to respond so they can flay them for perceived slights in and the manner of the response. Nothing is good enough but the pound of flesh evidencing that power has been wielded over that person…and the never-acceptance of sincere responses (even if they are sometimes flawed) and efforts to change are why backlash forms and progress is stymied.
Well if that’s all it takes why can’t Franken start and exploratory committee?