Democrats Turn on Joe Biden Over Sexual Assault Allegation: #TimesUpBiden
Dems respond to sex attack claim, Biden denies accusation
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Democratic presidential frontrunner Joe Biden is facing mounting calls to drop out of the 2020 race after allegations of a disturbing sexual assault emerged against the former vice president this week.
Last April, Biden's former staffer, Tara Reade, told the Northern California newspaper The Union that the then-Delaware senator touched her inappropriately on multiple occasions.
Reade worked in Biden’s Senate office from December 1992 to August 1993.
This week, Reade offered a more detailed account to liberal podcaster Katie Halper, alleging that in one instance Biden attacked her in a secluded area and sexually violated her.
She accused Biden of allegedly throwing her against a wall and putting his hands underneath her clothes before forcing his hand up her skirt and penetrating her.
Reade says this particular incident happened in 1993 when she was in her mid-20s and Biden was 50.
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The former Capitol Hill staffer recalled the alleged incident to Halper, saying that the senator pushed her into a "side area" and began kissing her, asking: “Do you want to go somewhere else?”
When she attempted to resist his advance, Biden said, “Come on, man, I heard you liked me,” according to Reade.
As it became clear she was not receptive to his advances, she said that Biden became irritated before telling her: “You’re nothing to me. Nothing.”
Reade said she then became upset, at which point he allegedly grabbed her by the shoulders, telling her, “You’re OK, you’re fine. You’re OK,” and then walked away.
Reade recalls how she was later “shaking” in a stairwell and “trying to grasp what had just happened and what I should do or what I should say.”
Reade told The Union she raised Biden’s misconduct with the U.S. Senate personnel office at the time.
The newspaper confirmed with a confidant of Reade’s that, at that time, she had talked about inappropriate touching by the senator.
Biden’s campaign issued a statement Friday calling the accusations “false,” Fox News reported.
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Many have doubts about Biden's denial, however.
On Friday, the hashtag “#TimesUpBiden” was trending on Twitter, as was “#IBelieveTara.”
Not surprisingly, at least some of those speaking out against the former vice president are Sanders supporters.
One tweeted, “‘Biden is nothing’ but a prelude to a Trump second term. #NeverBiden #TimesUpBiden.”
‘Biden is nothing’ but a prelude to a Trump second term. #NeverBiden #TimesUpBiden pic.twitter.com/Z1yKRzAOO5
— đšBecca đžđ˛đŁđ (@Becca4Bernie) March 27, 2020
Another wrote, “Biden has been groping and sniffing people for a long time, is it really hard for some people to believe he’s done more than just that? #TimesUpBiden #BlueMAGA #DropOutBiden.”
Biden has been groping and sniffing people for a long time, is it really hard for some people to believe he’s done more than just that? #TimesUpBiden #BlueMAGA #DropOutBiden pic.twitter.com/4D5OpsbZbf
— Boomersaurus Rex (@BoomersaurusRex) March 27, 2020
Still another Twitter user bluntly stated, “I’m not voting for a rapist. #TimesUpBiden.”
I'm not voting for a rapist. #TimesUpBiden https://t.co/brgT6RuUXN
— gato fumador âź (@QueenInYeIIow) March 27, 2020
One took a shot at actress Alyssa Milano, who was very outspoken about believing Christine Blasey Ford’s allegation against then-Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh in 2018 but does not appear to be rallying to Reade’s side.
Another tweet that aged well.#IBelieveTara https://t.co/wX4o2aDRDs
— Chris Richards đšđâ¤ď¸đ °ď¸ (@EclecticRadical) March 26, 2020
In Ford’s case, she could not offer a time or place where the alleged assault happened.
In early April of last year, as stories and videos of Biden’s inappropriate touching of women over the years began to circulate, he conceded his conduct has made people uncomfortable.
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
Biden said he now realized the “boundaries of protecting personal space have been reset, and I get it.”
Well, it has never appropriate to reach up the skirt of a staff member.
What became clear during the Kavanaugh hearing is that Ford’s story had holes in it.
Maybe Reade’s story will not hold up under further scrutiny, either.
But Biden must not get a free pass simply because there is a “D” next to his name.
