Following jokes former Vice President Joe Biden made Friday in reference to multiple allegations of unwanted contact, Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., said it is not appropriate for people to make light of such complaints.
“I don’t think anyone should make jokes about it,” Bennet said during a CNN interview Sunday. “This is an important time in our country’s history when women are coming forward and able to say when they’ve been made to feel uncomfortable. People’s voices should be heard on that. On the question of whether it’s disqualifying or not, that’s up for the voters in the Democratic primary in a general election to decide. I do think people shouldn’t make jokes or make light of it.”
Eight women have come forward with stories of uncomfortable touching from Biden in recent weeks. Biden has said he feels “badly” about how women had perceived his behavior but that he was “not sorry” regarding his intentions because they were never malicious.
But during an event Friday, he cracked jokes Friday at the about unwanted touching.
“I just want you to know I had permission to hug Lonnie,” Biden said, referring to Lonnie Stephenson, president of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, who introduced Biden at the group’s conference in Washington, D.C. At another point, while putting his arm around a young boy on stage, Biden said, “By the way, he gave me permission to touch him.”
Bennet also said in the interview that he expects to be able to join the crowded field of 2020 Democratic presidential candidates despite an unexpected prostate cancer diagnosis.
“I don’t have any symptoms. I feel as good this week as I did last week and the week before that. There was no way I would know I had prostate cancer if I hadn’t had the screening,” Bennet, 54, said.
“I’m looking forward to running in 2020. This obviously was unexpected, but we caught it early. It’s something that I think we’re going to be able to treat and I don’t think it should keep me off the trail,” he added.
Bennet touted his Medicare X bill, which would create a public option where anyone could buy a Medicare plan. Unlike “Medicare for All,” which some Democratic presidential candidates support, Medicare X would leave much of the healthcare system intact and preserve private insurance. Bennet argued his plan would more effectively provide healthcare for everyone and reduce costs.
“We say, Okay, our first plan to do that is take insurance away from 180 million people who get it from their employer, 80% of whom like it. People around the table in that conversation would say do you have any other plan? Because they know their friends an neighbors aren’t going to give up insurance they like. That’s why I developed Medicare X with [Sen.] Tim Kaine,” Bennet said.
