Joe Biden: #MeToo, Unless it’s Me, Too

As Joe Biden deals with his own accusations of sexual misconduct, the mainstream media wrings its hands and quietly waits it out. 

Joe Biden is a staunch supporter of the #MeToo movement, the international movement aimed at empowering women to expose sexual abuse and its perpetrators.

The movement derives its name from the idea that women should come together and share their stories of sexual abuse, using the combined strength of their voices to bring down powerful men who could otherwise silence them.

Though controversial for its tendency to assume all accused are guilty, and to socially crucify any man who receives allegations of sexual misconduct, the movement enjoys tremendous support from the Democratic Party.

Biden, a loyal Party Member, has historically spoken in lock step with the movement’s spirit. In 2018, he went so far as to say that any woman who accuses a man of sexual assault should be presumed to be telling the truth.

It is true that throughout history, women have often suffered great injustice by men in positions of power, kept silent over fear of social and economic consequences. It is a step in the right direction that greater transparency is forcing such men to face public judgement, and to fix the systemic issues that allowed it to happen for so long.

That said, the presumption of guilt is problematic when it comes to any crime. One may well ask Mr. Biden, “Do we throw out the presumption of innocence, a cornerstone of our legal system, when it comes to this specific allegation?” Perhaps a more important question for him: how does this concept hold up when you’re the accused?

Him Too 

"Rising exclusive: Joe Biden accuser Tara Reade speaks out" – YouTube
Previous Joe Biden staffer recounts sexual misconduct from 80shttps://t.co/ejW1xj7lMo

— Paul Frank (@paulrfrank) March 27, 2020

Much to mainstream media’s silent dismay, Joe Biden has joined the growing group of men publicly accused of sexual misconduct. Biden’s charge, launched by a former staffer Tara Reade from his years in the senate, is that he physically assaulted her when they were alone together.

Per Reade:

“He said, ‘come on man, I heard you liked me’… And then his hands were on me and underneath my clothes. And yeah, and then he went — he went down my skirt but then up inside it, and he penetrated me with his fingers.”

The allegation is damning, and under normal circumstances would make major headlines. However, two key factors make it a non-story for most media outlets.

One factor is the tsunami of coverage that the coronavirus pandemic is reasonably receiving. The other is that the accused is the presumptive presidential nominee for the Democratic Party.

Time’s Up says Maybe Next Time 

Time’s Up is an organization closely tied to the #MeToo movement. Founded largely by elite Hollywood backers in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein revelations, it is dedicated mainly to raising legal defense funds for victims of sexual violence, with a focus on high-profile, powerful men who used their position to coerce and silence less advantaged women.

Reade’s allegations would make her a clear candidate for such an organization’s support, if it weren’t for who she accused. The organization informed her that they could not fund an allegation against Biden given his presidential candidacy, as it would jeopardize their status as a nonprofit.

Not mentioned, as The Intercept reports, is the fact that Time’s Up’s managing director, Anita Dunn, is also a top adviser to Biden’s campaign.

With a different cast of characters, such a scandalous scoop would not fail to make the news, as we’ve seen with the litany of other men accused in recent years. Most media outlets, however, have been eerily quiet in the wake of the allegations made two days ago.

The stakes may be too high for the #MeToo party to get on board this time.