Joe Biden was one of several Democrats who immediately and rightly criticized President Trump for comparing the Democrats’ impeachment inquiry to a “lynching.” But as it turns out, Biden made a similar statement in a 1998 interview with CNN during the Clinton impeachment proceedings.
“Even if the president should be impeached, history is going to question whether or not this was just a partisan lynching or whether or not it was something that in fact met the standard, the very high bar, that was set by the founders as to what constituted an impeachable offense,” then-Sen. Biden said.
While Biden has called Trump’s lynching comments “abhorrent” and “despicable,” in 1998 appearance on CNN, Biden said impeachment could end up being viewed as a “partisan lynching.” https://t.co/4jGo8hSQSZhttps://t.co/6p210g7M6l pic.twitter.com/UkJiXLsHOG
— andrew kaczynski? (@KFILE) October 22, 2019
Both Biden and Trump were wrong to liken a legal, political process to what has historically been an often-race-motivated, mob-driven, vigilante murder. Because in doing so, both men made light of a deep stain on America’s character. It was an inappropriate comment to make in 1998, and it’s an inappropriate comment to make now. As Biden said yesterday, “to even think about making this comparison” is ridiculous.
But Biden clearly doesn’t have much room to talk. When confronted with his past comments, Biden reluctantly offered a halfhearted apology before turning his attention back to Trump. “This wasn’t the right word to use, and I’m sorry about that,” Biden said.
And here’s the kicker: “Trump, on the other hand, chose his words deliberately today in his use of the word lynching and continues to stoke racial divides in this country daily.”
This wasn’t the right word to use and I’m sorry about that. Trump on the other hand chose his words deliberately today in his use of the word lynching and continues to stoke racial divides in this country daily. https://t.co/mHfFC8HluZ
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) October 23, 2019
So Biden is asking to be judged under a completely separate standard, as if his words were just an accident? He isn’t convincing anyone. He should have just left it at “I’m sorry about that” instead of trying to point the finger back at Trump with this transparent excuse.
Biden should know this by now: If you’re going to issue an apology, then at least make it a good one.
