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Former Vice President Joe Biden recently was accused of inappropriately touching and kissing a former Nevada assemblywoman, which could affect a potential presidential bid. But The View host Whoopi Goldberg, is coming to his defense.
Goldberg gave her opinion during Monday’s airing of the ABC daytime talk show after reports surfaced about Biden’s gestures.
In 2014, Flores was running for lieutenant governor in Nevada and Biden appeared on her behalf. She claims during a campaign appearance, he smelled her hair, kissed the back of her head and placed his hands on her shoulders. Biden says he does not remember any inappropriate behavior.
Goldberg, while not excusing touching without consent did downplay any suggestions that Biden meant any type of harassment.
BIDEN RESPONDS TO FLORES’ ALLEGATION: Joe Biden responded to accusations by former Nevada lawmaker Lucy Flores of inappropriate touching and kissing. The co-hosts weigh in on his response and how it can affect his potential presidential campaign. https://t.co/oHTfcjFYu5 pic.twitter.com/6W4H4q27Cx
— The View (@TheView) April 1, 2019
“In the old days…some folks of a certain age would say he’s a little overly familiar,” Goldberg said. “But most politicians when they’re, you know, doing this with you, they are and Joe is a hands-on kind of guy. But I’ve never heard anyone — and she said she felt violated and I have to take her at her word — but it would have been nice if she had turned to him and said, you know what, J? I don’t really like this.”
Co-host Sunny Hostin stated she believed the potential 2020 presidential candidate will adjust how he approaches women after the accusations came from Lucy Flores.
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“I don’t know that we will see any more smelling of hair and kisses on the forehead,” Hostin said, per the Huffington Post.
Not only did Goldberg have an opinion, but so did Meghan McCain, another The View co-host and daughter to late Sen. John McCain.t.
“There’s a certain type of retail politician that loves people,” McCain said. “I would put Bill Clinton in that category, I would put my father in that category, I would certainly put Joe Biden in that category. When he came on this show, he was the only politician other than my father to go into the crowd and shake everyone’s hand.”
Despite defending Biden, Goldberg made it clear that she did take Flores’ claims seriously but suggests that Flores and women all over directly detail that they are uncomfortable and request for the man in question to stop.
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“My point is, I want women to get to the place where they can say, ‘Hey, you just made me uncomfortable.’”
Since the accusations emerged last Friday in a New York Magazine article, Biden has responded by stating he would “listen respectfully” but also stating that was under the belief that he did not act inappropriately. Flores responded on CNN stating Biden lacked the understanding of how women should be treated.