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Associated Press

Former vice-president Joe Biden on Friday joked about of his recent controversy about crossing physical boundaries with women, and signalled in a resolute speech to union activists that is he is ready to run for president as a moderate Democrat in party that has been drifting left.
At the beginning of the 40-minute speech Biden, 76, embraced Lonnie Stephenson, the male president of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. He told his audience: “I just want you to know, I had permission to hug Lonnie.”

He later repeated the quip about a boy he invited up on stage.
The remarks won cheers from the manily male audience, but angered women Biden has tried to convince he “gets” their concerns about his famously touchy-feely style.

During his speech, and afterward to reporters, Biden defended his focus on the “personal connection” in politics.
“I’m sorry I didn’t understand more. I’m not sorry for any of my intentions,” he insisted. “I’m not sorry for anything I’ve ever done – I’ve never been disrespectful, intentionally, to a man or a woman.”
Biden all but declared he is running for presidency, telling reporters he is “putting everything together, man”. He noted his lawyers warned him to speak carefully about his intentions but said he expected to “be standing before you all relatively soon”.
He also suggested his strategy. In a nostalgia-soaked speech, Biden made clear he would position himself outside the progressive wing of the party and seek support from traditional Democrats and the working-class voters who backed Donald Trump in 2016.
I’m sorry I didn’t understand more. I’m not sorry for any of my intentions
Joe Biden
Biden said criticism of his bipartisan leanings was coming from the “far left” and repeated his appeal for compromise. He bemoaned modern politics being “so damn elitist”.
“The vast majority of the members of the Democratic Party are still basically liberal to moderate Democrats in the traditional sense,” Biden said. As to where he falls on ideological lines, he said, “I’m an Obama-Biden Democrat, man. And I’m proud of it.”
But signs of changes in the party have been evident in recent complaints about Biden’s history of publicly affectionate behaviour with women.
Nevada politician Lucy Flores said she was uncomfortable when Biden kissed her on the back of the head backstage at a 2014 campaign event.
Her account was countered by scores of women – from prominent lawmakers to former staff – who praised him as a warm, affectionate person and a supportive boss. But several other women have also come forward to recount their own awkward interactions with him.

Flores panned Biden’s remarks on Friday, tweeting: “To make light of something as serious as consent degrades the conversation women everywhere are courageously trying to have.”
Ultra Violet, a women’s rights group, also reacted sharply:
“Joe Biden’s ‘jokes’ were shameful, and not how a so-called champion of women should act,” the group posted on Twitter. “He sent a very clear signal to women today – he just doesn’t respect them.”
Biden did say the controversy “is going to have to change somewhat how I campaign”.
Biden’s advisers had signalled before the speech he was not going to mention the physical-touching controversy.
The criticism of Biden’s form of affection is a symptom of what ails not just politics but American life, said Denise Johnson, an attendee from Mechanicsville, Maryland.
“He’s a warm and affectionate person. He’s sincere and he speaks from his heart,” said Johnson, who works for the IBEW in Washington. “But in the society we live, we’re losing that warmth. We need to get it back. This could actually rally for him.”

WELCOME BACK JOE! pic.twitter.com/b2NbBSX3sx
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 4, 2019

Friday was the second time in two days that President Trump attacked Biden on Twitter. Despite more than a dozen women who have accused Trump of sexual misconduct, on Thursday the president posted a doctored version of a cellphone video Biden released addressing the controversy over his touching.
In Trump’s version, a Biden avatar approaches Biden from behind and appears to grab his shoulders.
Trump has denied the allegations of sexual misconduct, and on Friday he told reporters he saw no reason to avoid going after Biden on the issue. “Yeah, I think I’m a very good messenger and people got a kick out of it,” Trump said.


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Joe Biden jokes about ‘touching’ complaints as he tries to get votes from electricians’ union

Former Vice President Joe Biden speaks at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Construction and Maintenance conference on April 05, 2019 in Washington, D.C. Former Vice President Joe Biden on Friday called President Donald Trump a "tragedy in two acts" for the way he characterizes people and is consumed with personal grievances. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images/TNS) *FOR USE WITH THIS STORY ONLY*

FILE - In this Oct. 15, 2014 file photo, Nevada state Democratic Assemblywoman Lucy Flores speaks during a debate with Nevada state Republican Sen. Mark Hutchison in Las Vegas. Flores, the former Nevada politician who accused Joe Biden of inappropriately kissing her on the back of the head in 2014, rose from a tough childhood through top Nevada political circles before becoming an outspoken critic about sexism and harassing behavior in politics. AP Photo/John Locher, File)

Former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, left, is greeted by Lonnie Stephenson, international president of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), while arriving to speak during the IBEW construction and maintenance conference in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Friday, April 5, 2019. Biden twice joked about asking for permission to hug people during his first appearance since the emergence of complaints from women about how he touched them, avoiding any serious discussion of an issue that's threatened his expected presidential campaign. Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg

Joe Biden speaks at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers conference in Washington on April 5, 2019. Photo: Bloomberg

‘Join the straight arm club’: Nancy Pelosi suggests a different way for Joe Biden to interact with women

(FILES) In this file photo taken on February 17, 2015, Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter (R) speaks beside his wife Stephanie and US Vice President Joe Biden during a swearing-in ceremony in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, DC. - Joe Biden, who is leading polls for the Democratic presidential nomination, on Friday , March 29, 2019 faced a misconduct accusation by a Nevada ex-lawmaker claiming the then-vice president inappropriately kissed her before a campaign event. Lucy Flores, the state's Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor in 2014, said she was beside the stage awaiting her turn to address a rally when Biden put his hands on her shoulders from behind, then leaned in and smelled her hair. (Photo by Saul LOEB / AFP)

Former US vice-president Joe Biden has said he never acted inappropriately toward women. Photo: Reuters

‘He would go down fast and hard crying all the way’: Donald Trump insists he would beat Joe Biden in a fight

Former vice-president Joe Biden. Photo: AP

‘Right-wing trolls’: Joe Biden’s team hits back hard in row over uninvited touching, as second woman says he acted inappropriately

Former US vice-president Joe Biden delivers remarks in Dover, Delaware, on March 16. Photo: Reuters

Then-Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor and Nevada Assemblywoman Lucy Flores, left, introduces U.S. Vice President Joe Biden at a get-out-the-vote rally at a union hall on Nov. 1, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nev. Flores wrote that she felt demeaned and disrespected when Biden touched her offstage at a 2014 campaign rally. She said she felt Biden's hands on her shoulders and froze. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images/TNS)

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‘I’m not sorry for anything I’ve ever done,’ said former vice-president, in comments that were condemned by his accusers and women activists



‘I’m not sorry for anything I’ve ever done,’ said former vice-president, in comments that were condemned by his accusers and women activists.


United States

Joe Biden

Joe Biden jokes about ‘touching’ complaints as he tries to get votes from electricians’ union

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;} ‘I’m not sorry for anything I’ve ever done,’ said former vice-president, in comments that were condemned by his accusers and women activists

‘I’m not sorry for anything I’ve ever done,’ said former vice-president, in comments that were condemned by his accusers and women activists