Biden Shredded at LGBT Forum for Previously Calling VP Pence a 'Decent Guy'
Interviewer wants to know how ex-vice president 'can be trusted' after 'offensive' remarks
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If there's a moment that sums up how lost Joe Biden has become in the Democratic 2020 race, it was when he was asked this week, during an LGBT forum, how he "could be trusted" after he once referred to Vice President Mike Pence as a "decent guy."
During an interview with Cedar Rapids Gazette columnist Lyz Lenz while he was participating in an Iowa candidate's forum sponsored by GLAAD, the current Democratic presidential frontrunner was slammed over comments he made about his predecessor earlier this year.
In March, Biden faced criticism after he called VP Pence a "decent guy" during a speech in Omaha.
The remarks triggered some on the left because of Pence's position on LGBT rights.
Biden's remarks about Pence came as he discussed foreign policy and how the international community responded to Pence during the vice president's speech at the Munich Security Conference earlier in February.
"The fact of the matter is it was followed on by a guy, who's a decent guy, our vice president, who stood before this group of allies and leaders and said, 'I'm here on behalf of President Trump,' and there was dead silence. Dead silence," Biden recounted as he spoke at the Chuck Hagel Forum in Global Leadership at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
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While Biden was being questioned by interviewer Lenz, she grilled him on his "offensive" comments, saying:
"In 1994, you did vote for 'don't ask don't tell,' and in 1996 you voted for the Defense of Marriage Act.
"You did vote to repeal both of those, but you have also praised Vice President Mike Pence as a 'decent guy.'"
The audience booed in reaction to Lenz's last line.
Biden responded to her, "You're a lovely person."
"I'm just asking the questions that people wanna know," Lenz replied, gaining loud applause.
"Alright, fire away," Biden responded.
To which Lenz said, "So, I guess it goes without saying Pence is opposed to LGBTQ rights, so, the question that arises from these is, how can LGBTQ people trust that you won't compromise on issues that put them at risk, in order to cross the aisle to people like Pence?"
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Biden went on to tout his credentials as "the first person nationally to come out" in support of gay marriage.
Lenz bragged later on Twitter, "As I was walking off the stage with @JoeBiden he said to me dryly, "You're a real sweetheart."
She then told her followers, "This is why," posting footage of their exchange.
This is why. https://t.co/xW3ys8fasX
— Lyz a real sweetheart (@lyzl) September 21, 2019
WATCH: Fmr. VP Biden is asked at LGBTQ presidential forum why he should be trusted not to compromise on issues, following statements Biden made praising VP Pence as a "decent guy." pic.twitter.com/u88WbzCKYj
— NBC News (@NBCNews) September 21, 2019
On social media, folks were quick to note the fact that the forum's audience considered calling a political foe a "decent guy" was worthy of ridicule.
I love that calling Mike Pence a "decent guy” is lumped into the same category as voting for Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and DOMA. https://t.co/yjaa0Xqhxa
— T. Becket Adams (@BecketAdams) September 21, 2019
T. Becket Adams of The Washington Examiner tweeted, "I love that calling Mike Pence a 'decent guy' is lumped into the same category as voting for Don't Ask, Don't Tell and DOMA."
