The Washington Post is facing intense criticism over a headline on the sexual assault allegation against former Vice President Joe Biden by former Senate aide Tara Reade. Various witnesses have come forward to support Reade by saying that she told them of the assault in the 1990s and a new clip has emerged on CNN of Reade’s mother raising the controversy on Larry King Live in 1993. The Washington Post, which had exhaustive and hard-hitting coverage of the allegations against Justice Brett Kavanaugh, crafted one of the most convoluted headlines humanly possible: “Developments in allegations against Biden amplify efforts to question his behavior.” Unlike the Kavanaugh stories, the headline focused the story on efforts to discredit Biden as opposed to the assault allegation by Reade.
The headline was seen by critics of the double standard being applied to the Biden allegation. It raises similar objections to how Democratic leaders and commentators spent years protecting Bill Clinton from an array women alleging everything from sexual harassment to rape. A more obvious headline would be “Two Additional Witnesses Come Forward To Support Biden Accuser.”
Post Politics
✔@postpolitics
Developments in allegations against Biden amplify efforts to question his behavior https://wapo.st/2yLiK1k
Developments in allegations against Biden amplify efforts to question his behavior
A former neighbor and a former work colleague are reported to have corroborated claims of harassment and assault by a former Biden Senate aide.
washingtonpost.com
It is important to note that columnists and reporters like Washington Post reporter Matt Viser do not write headlines or approve them.
There has been an almost universal spin in the media to portray the Biden allegation as a political story of how Republicans are seeking to use the story against him. There is a true element to that story. However, the disconnect with the Kavanaugh coverage is quite extraordinary. There was little equivocation in either the headlines or the stories.
The disconnect is even more striking among Democratic leaders. I previously wrote on the position of Democratic senators, before Christine Blasey Ford even testified, that they believed her and opposed Kavanaugh. That was an allegation from high school that had not been previously voiced in public. Yet, Democratic senator denounced anyone who did not believe Ford based solely on her account. Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, declared that all men need to “shut up”:
“Not only do women like Dr. Ford, who bravely come forward, need to be heard, but they need to be believed. Guess who’s perpetuating all of these kinds of actions? It’s the men in this country, and I just want to say to the men of this country to shut up and step up. Do the right thing for a change.”
Other Democratic senators could not go public any faster with immediate support for Ford as a clear victim. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D., Conn). stated “Let me just say right at the outset: I believe, Dr. Ford. I believe the survivor here.” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., NY) declared “I believe her. Many, many, many Americans believe her. Many, many women in America who have been taken advantage of certainly believe her.” Sen. Kirsten GIllibrand (D., NY) said “I believe her because she’s telling the truth.”
A wide array of members demanded that the Congress must believe women who raise such allegations or they are abusing these victims. Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who just endorsed Biden yesterday, attacked those who did not simply accept the word of Ford: “Senate Republicans chose to send a clear message to all women: do not speak out, and if you do – do not expect to be heard, believed or respected.”
Reade specifically struck out at Sen. Kamala Harris (D., Cal.), who was one of the most vocal politicians demanding that Ford’s allegations be accepted and Kavanaugh rejected. Reade stated “Kamala Harris is my representative and I reached out to her for help. No response.” She also blasted Hillary Clinton, who Reade says she supported in past elections, for endorsing Biden. In an apparent reference to Bill Clinton Reade added “Hillary Clinton has a history of enabling powerful men to cover up their sexual predatory behaviors and their inappropriate sexual misconduct.”
At the time (and today with regard to the Biden accusations) I was concerned about the lack of a presumption of innocence before any testimony had even occurred. After telling all men everywhere to “shut up” and just stand with Ford, Hirano was pressed on whether Kavanaugh has “the same presumption of innocence as anyone else in America?” For most people, the question would be an easy one to answer in the affirmative, Hirono demurred and declined to say that she would afford Kavanaugh this core presumption of the rule of law. She said that she would “put his denial in the context of everything that I know about him in terms of how he approaches his cases.” She said that she would consider his “ideological agenda” and her view that “he very much is against women’s reproductive choice.”
Once again, I have always maintained that women need to be heard and taken seriously in raising these allegations. I have also objected to those who would toss aside due process and simply accept accusations without investigation. Notably, while most are remaining silent and refusing to respond to media inquiries, some Democrats are now adopting that approach for Biden and, rather than saying that Reade must be believed, they are now saying that she must be heard. Biden supporter Alyssa Milano tweeted out “I hear and see you, Tara.” She notably did not say “I believe you,” in sharp contrast with the Ford allegation. During the Kavanaugh hearing, some of us were slammed for not treating the Ford allegations as per se dispositive.
However, there is no denying the fact that the many in media and the Democratic leadership have, again, adopted a sharply different approach to a story where a leading Democrat is accused of sexual assault. There was no equivocation and circumspection during the Kavanaugh controversy. The spin is staggering and the silence is deafening.
I would believe Biden if he said about this, “I can’t remember!”
https://twitter.com/ReadeAlexandra?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
lets hear Tara’s side of the story folks, see if she is credible or not
Biden is presumed innocent of her charges, that he forcibly shoved her against the wall and went up her skirt and jammed his fingers in her hooohaaa.
She failed to report a crime, and there was a tardy revelation, but just as we have heard from others who do seem credible who were to ashamed to tell at the time, perhaps she can be deemed credible as well?
Or are the Democrats afraid of that and dont’ want people to listen to her?
Or is this a judgment call, that Biden is more important than her, so case closed!?
Ironically, one can claim that media outlets like the New York Times have behaved responsibly in their coverage here. We cannot simply default to automatically believing every person who claims to be a victim.
If rags like the Times are now going to be more responsible, then good.
They’ve got a long way to go in regaining most American’s trust.
” one can claim that media outlets like the New York Times have behaved responsibly in their coverage here. We cannot simply default to automatically believing every person who claims to be a victim.”
Steve, true, but we know or at least can assume from prior experience that this is due to bias and not a change in behavior. If you note a change in behavior let us know. I’ll buy you a beer.
If you still think the NYT has any credibility left, then you have bigger problem to worry about disdain of hypocrisy.
Biden represents the right wing of the Dem. party. If he exits the race, no big woof.
“The headline was seen by critics of the double standard being applied to the Biden allegation. It raises similar objections to how Democratic leaders and commentators spent years protecting Bill Clinton from an array women alleging everything from sexual harassment to rape.” A DOUBLE STANDARD you say?!? OMG, can this be true? What A COVERUP Culture is itself a scandal? The use of 3 different types of coverup payment methods to abused workers and others, by our elected Representatives. ALL USING OUR TAX DOLLARS.
Congressional Ethics Committees are toothless, worthless, and more symbolic than anything else. This committee has not single public punishment against a Senator in the past 10 years!
Congress has walked away from one of our nation’s founding principles, which is ACCOUNTABILITY.
All caused by self policing. What a friggin joke.
Bob Miller you’re an empty puppet
It is all about abortion politics; which is the only issue Democrats really care about.
Democrats???
John Wood:
It’s the one issue that holds the party together. Nothing more orthodox than unfettered abortion rights.
OMG! You just said that???
Homosexual marriage (an oxymoronic contradiction in terms), LBGT rights, Unconstitutional Affirmative Action Privilege, Unconstitutional Generational Welfare, Unconstitutional “Fair Housing” laws, Unconstitutional “Non-Discrimination” laws, Unconstitutional Forced Busing, Unconstitutional Rent Control, Unconstitutional Minimum Wage, Unconstitutional Right to Strike Laws, Unconstitutional “Comparable Pay” Laws, Unconstitutional Social Security, Unconstitutional Medicare, Unconstitutional Obamacare, Unconstitutional, Lunatic, Suicidal, Greenie Weenie, Enviro-Wacko Regulation, etc., etc., etc.
WOMEN ACCUSING TRUMP
# 1, Jessica Leeds (early 1980s)
The allegation: Leeds said Trump grabbed her breasts and tried to put his hand up her skirt when she was seated next to him in first class on a flight in the early 1980s. “He was like an octopus,” she said. “His hands were everywhere.”
Afterward, she fled to the back of the plane. “It was an assault,” she said.
After Leeds went public, Trump mocked her at a campaign rally, suggesting she wasn’t attractive enough to sexually harass. “Yeah, I’m gonna go after — believe me, she would not be my first choice, that I can tell you,” he said.
Since then: “It is hard to reconcile that Harvey Weinstein could be brought down with this, and [President] Trump just continues to be the Teflon Don,” Leeds told the Washington Post a year after she first came forward.
In December 2017, Leeds and several other Trump accusers held a press conference and appeared on Megyn Kelly Today. She recalled that she encountered Trump at a fundraising gala in New York three years after the airplane incident. “And he says, ‘I remember you, you were that [she does air quotes] woman from the airplane.’ He called me the worst name ever.” She confirmed to Kelly that the word was “c*nt.”
Edited From: “What Happened To The 20 Women Who Accused Trump Of Sexual Misconduct”
New York Magazine, 2/26/19
Lets all applod the NY Ragazine for liabaling a yet to be public elected representative.
The sex workers organized as “SWOP” also have expressed dislike for the hypocritical Kamala Harris
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/sex-worker-industry-skeptical-of-kamala-harris-conversion-to-backing-prostitution-decriminalization
“Several 2020 Democratic presidential candidates are supportive, or at least open-minded, about decriminalizing prostitution. When the topic comes up in candidate forums or media interviews, Sens. Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren, and Bernie Sanders have expressed varying degrees of support.
But in the case of Harris, a California senator, it’s drawing rolled eyes and broad skepticism from sex worker advocates. They cite Harris’ crackdown on prostitution during her time as a line prosecutor in Alameda County, San Francisco district attorney, and California attorney general.
Alex Andrew of the Sex Workers Outreach Project, isn’t happy with the flip-flop.
“Kamala Harris isn’t a trustworthy person,” Andrew told the Washington Examiner. “A lot of the facts of that debate are being exposed as false.”
Interesting watching the Pinkos tie themselves in knots trying to justify their double standard.
Their mental gymnastics don’t disguise their intellectual dishonesty.
The point of corroborating contemporaneous testimony, I guess, is to show that the accuser has told a consistent account over time. Ford has been consistent over time.
However, the story that Reade tells now is not the story she told last year, before primary voters weighed in.
If she had said this last year, perhaps primary voters could have taken it into account in their voting. But Biden is the nominee now, and if the choice is between Biden and Trump and the issue is how many people each has sexually assaulted – then I would still go with Biden.
I say this as someone who did not vote for Biden in the primaries
yes, Reade has been inconsistent, on top of failing to timely report it to police. These indeed detract from her credibility.
I think the bigger story is how the Democrat leadership has downplayed the allegations and the mass media blacking them out.
The leadership of both parties are not known for objective treatment of the news, so the Democratic leadership would not be expected to be even handed or fair – big headline!
To this point the responsible press has been thorough and fair and given Reade about the treatment her erratic story and behavior warrants. With these 2 new contemporary corroborations the coverage will change. If we accept that her allegations were accurate, then we can choose between 2 sexual predators in November. Which one was worse and which one will be the better president. Easy call for me and I think most Americans though with more hesitation.
The Parrot Pecker is a fast talker. From previous exchanges we are aware of his occupation. I can see where he gets his ability to twist and turn uncomfortable actions and facts even though they lack substance. Though he might have convinced some of his customers (no one wants to feel like a fool) I’ll bet their friends took notice.
Junior, I agree about Reade up to yesterday, but the 2 corroborating witnesses from ’93 – absent further revelations – are very damaging. I agree that between Biden and Trump, this just takes “sexual predator” off the table – a most unfortunate and depressing reality. But absent his dropping out, no hesitation on my part voting for him. I was not a Biden supporter in the primary and if my candidate had prevailed – Amy – I think November would have be a blow out.
I call for a full on sleaze off. Trump, Biden and Barty OK.
Bring it. Put all sexual allegations on the table and investigate hard for everyone. Let’s see where it takes us.
Can Billary referee?
One can not open up the Wash Post on the web unless one pays them a subscription. So I won’t read that rag.
The culture of the Democratic Party has no room for integrity or treating like cases like. You can see what that looks like at the Post or you can read your own comment boards and see how partisan Democrats reason. Pity, but that’s the world we live in. None of these people have any value as civic actors.
Trump supporters have no standing to discuss character.
Then sSupporters of the Democratic party have no standing to discuss the law.
btb:
Forever fitfully and unsuccessfully trying to silence the opposition all the while building its credibility.
The point of Turley’s post is not whether Reade’s case has merit, it’s the hypocrisy on display by Democrats and their media allies. We are not to remove our foundational innocent until proven guilty standard based on the quantity of allegations. That’s mob rule, not justice.
When JT writes about Fox and the GOP’s treatment of Trump’s own goal on sexual predation, he’ll have standing. Until then he doesn’t.
When JT writes about Fox and the GOP’s treatment of Trump’s own goal on sexual predation,
When JT gets into the fiction-writing business, then he’ll cease having a legal blog and join the rest of the MSM.
Wow……can we go over the myriad of accusations against Trump and his admissions regarding his easy attitude to consent when he sexually assaults people?
No new evidence regarding Biden but hey Trump can do anything right?
Perhaps Americans feel in their hearts that a powerful leader needs to be a hyper aggressive male?
I am just asking a question. If we consider the many stories about many different presidents, not only is it clear that covert philandering is accepted– but even sexual aggressiveness?
This is a dangerous question, and an unwelcome one, Im sure!
But if Biden wins— as our Democrat friends hope– the question will grow.
Meanwhile, lets see what leftist Dr Jill Stein says about Biden:
https://www.facebook.com/drjillstein/videos/1846225442180411/
I didn’t quite understand what Mr Biden said in those clips.
Kurtz – I’ve always kept in mind what one of my professors repeated: “Politics is the art of compromise.” So it’s not a matter of getting who you want, but selecting the best available candidate, based on your own priorities. I’ve never looked to a politician for moral guidance; he or she is simply a political representative who will hopefully represent my interests in voting for and against various pieces of legislation. So no, I don’t think a powerful leader needs to be a hyper-aggressive male. It should certainly be someone strong and respected, so other countries fear us. I’d rather have Margaret Thatcher than some embarrassment like Bill Clinton or a weakling like Barrack Obama. I do see Trump as an alpha male. Biden isn’t alpha, he’s just a sleaze who abuses his power over others.
The comparison to Kavanaugh is misleading. We heard Ford testify under oath for several hours and was quite believable. Ford did not tell a different story the previous year and then say, no, actually this other more serious thing happened.
What? actually Ford’s testimony was even staler, more tardy, and even less credible than Reade’s
For example, there’s still scant proof Ford and Kav ever met.
It’s without a doubt Joe had his moments alone with Reade, however
If we go down the line item by item, comparisons will not favor Biden.
The key difference is just how Democrat leadership and their collaborators in the mass media are ignoring this one but they hauled the other one out before Congress for examination under the microscope.
Not only is their ‘scant proof’, there is no evidence at all she ever met Kavanaugh or Judge. There isn’t even an argument from circumstance that it’s at all likely she’d ever have met them. Mark Judge has published a number of books over the years, among them a couple of memoirs. I think most were issued by Spence, which is out of business. Kavanaugh and others make cameo appearances therein. Without a doubt, she’s read them.
Sworn testimony is evidence. Under the Federal Rules of Evidence, as well as state evidentiary codes. And Mark Judge’s book “God and Man at Georgetown Prep” corroborates Ford’s testimony that he was working at the Potomac Safeway as a stock clerk, where she testified that she ran into him while shopping with her mother.
People are on to you, This is a turd.
This is a turd.
You’ve got that right. I gotta hand it to you, normally contributors wait for others to evaluate their own comments. You on the other hand didn’t want to wait. More evidence you’re just making your daily journal entries.
I think the Larry King stuff is weak sauce. I assume it is her Mom, but she does not mention a sexual assault. The Mom is deceased so we can’t ask her what she was talking about. Not really corroborating anything. Could just as easily be corroborating the version Reade told last year.
The neighbor – her maybe she remembers a story her neighbor whom she had lost touch with for 20 years told her. Maybe she didn’t remember it exactly but her friend helped her recollection.
Anyway, a lot different than when you have two dozen accusers – as Trump did. I have a hard time believing all those women are lying – here there is only really one. When you have 23 more accusers I will take more interest in this issue.
at the very least, are not the Democrat leadership and their feminist cheerleaders and the mass media scolds, losing what they usually call a
“teachable moment?”
as in, whether allegations are true or not, let’s just observe for the people out there, that it is NOT ok, for an old boss, to shove a young lady staffer up against the wall in a deserted hallway, and shove his filthy fingers up into her body, under her dress!
Don’t we usually hear that there should be some communication of “CONSENT” prior to initiation of sexual activity? Im sure boys have been thrown out of university and charged withe less.
One might hazard a kiss but it seems like this story is disgustingly aggressive and if it is true, the act was a clear offense of sexual assault.
And what about all the things i have heard for decades about sexual harassment? where are these advocates today, the same ones who wanted to and did make title vii lawsuits out of mechanics posting calendar girls on the wall at work?
I guess if you are an industrial worker, you’re a nobody, who can be fired for a trifle, but if you’re a Biden, you are very important! Too important to be troubled with such gadflys.
Anyhow where’s even the people to decry the “hostile workplace environment” due to all of Biden’s well documented groping?
Total silence!
Is feminism a total fraud? I just ask.
Less evidence against Kavanaugh turned into a farce of “innocent until proven guilty” yet this is being swept under a very thread bare rug at this time. Perhaps the MSM should just concede that they are not as persuasive as they thought they were and we, the public, not as stupid as they thought we were.
Unless I have missed something, it is unfair to characterize the mother’s brief call to Larry King as “raising the controversy.” The mother is unidentified (her daughter says it is her mother’s voice), the mother talks about an unspecified problem with an unnamed Senator, whom the daughter did not want to name “out of respect” for him. That’s pretty thin.
Sapel12013 You missed the rest of the story as they say. Reade said on the night of the alleged assault she spoke on the phone with her mother, who was “adamant” that she call the police. She said she did not call the police. Reade said she recalls her mother telling her sometime after the alleged assault that she had called into Larry King’s show.
“I think what makes me emotional is that I was really hard on her and I said, ‘Why would you do that, it’s scary to me,'” Reade told CNN. “I had told her not to do that and she did and she did it on her own and I know now. I wish I could go back and I could hug her and say thank you for being a good mom and trying to protect me.” This is why the search for the tape was done. CNN then claimed there was no tape. It’s more than Blaise Ford’s supposed witnesses who denied being there.
Sure, San Luis Obispo, California (population 40,000) must have been just swimming with women whose daughters were, in August of 1993, lately discharged from employment by a United States Senator coincident with reported sexual misconduct by said Senator.