Feminist activist Gloria Steinem criticized former Vice President Joe Biden after an accusation that he inappropriately kissed a Nevada politician emerged this week.
“Maybe Biden and other male politicians should observe their female counterparts,” the 85-year-old co-founder of Ms. Magazine wrote in an email to the New York Times on Sunday, adding that since “women candidates are unlikely to hug and kiss men they don’t know, male politicians could refrain from hugging and kissing women they don’t know.”
Lucy Flores, 39, was running for lieutenant governor of Nevada in 2014 when she alleges that the former vice president planted “a big slow kiss” on the back of her head without her consent. In a statement, Biden defended his behavior, saying he never thought he was acting inappropriately to women while campaigning or while serving in public office.
Biden, 76, has long history of being touchy-feely with women. He is expected to announce a bid for the Democratic party’s nomination for president in the coming weeks and has been ahead in the polls nationwide.
