Joe Biden-Caricature by DonkeyHotey, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0/Original
Joe Biden just can’t seem to help himself. The former vice president spoke at a Pride weekend fundraiser on Saturday in Seattle. According to the Seattle Times, guests had paid a minimum of $1,000 to dine at the home of public relations executive and gay rights activist Roger Nyhus and to meet the candidate.
Biden told the crowd that, as vice president, he was one of the first Obama administration officials to support same-sex marriage. He spoke about how far the country has come in terms of recognizing the rights of the LGBT community.
According to the Seattle Times, Biden said that “just five years ago, it would have been acceptable for a businessman to make “fun of a gay waiter.””
His remark was not received well by guests who called out, “Not in Seattle!”
It wouldn’t have been acceptable anywhere in the U.S. to make fun of a gay waiter five years ago or even fifteen years ago. In fact, why would anyone make fun of a gay waiter anyway?
Afterward, he attended a second fundraiser at the home of former Microsoft President Jon Shirley and his wife Kim. Attendees had paid $2,800 each to attend this event. The host presented Biden as “the best candidate to beat Donald Trump,” and said he would restore “honor, dignity, compassion and honesty to the White House.”
The Shirleys are known for their fine art collection and their home is filled with pricey paintings and sculptures. Following Shirley’s warm and complimentary introduction, Biden said it was “great to be back in this great museum.”
How to win friends and influence people!
Here we are sixteen months out from the election. Biden has had a rough week. He had spoken endearingly of his segregationist former colleagues. Kamala Harris turned those remarks into a club with which she bludgeoned him at the debate. Those comments, on top of his flip-flop-flip on the Hyde Amendment, also cost him the support of one of his largest fundraisers, San Francisco based lawyer Tom McInerney. According to FiveThirtyEight’s post-debate poll, Biden’s support dropped 10 points after his poor performance.
This man simply can’t stop himself from making unforced errors.
When Biden was riding high last December, he said “I am a gaffe machine.” In reference to President Trump, he added, “But my God, what a wonderful thing compared to a guy who can’t tell the truth.”
Or maybe not.
Perhaps Biden was correct when, during the debate, he said “my time is up.”
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