Democratic politicians and presidential candidates were thrown into a tailspin over the weekend after former Nevada Lt. Gov. nominee Lucy Flores (D) alleged last Friday that Joe Biden inappropriately touched her during a campaign rally in November 2014.

As Red State‘s Elizabeth Vaughn documented with pictures on Saturday, Biden has a history of this type of sleazy behavior, which has been an “open secret” of sorts for years in Democratic/media circles.

"Matt Lauer" talks with Joe Biden during halftime. Can’t wait til the women start coming forward about this groping and inappropriately touching pervert next. #SundayNightFootball pic.twitter.com/HTmBmmnva4

— 🌹AЯI 💯ᖉ∩ƨƨ!ɐu ᗷO⊥ ❌ (@ari_russian) November 13, 2017

In a statement Sunday, Biden – who is widely believed to be readying himself for a presidential run – addressed the allegations from Flores, stating that “not once — never — did I believe I acted inappropriately” but that he was willing to “respectfully” listen to what Flores had to say.

2020 candidates, too, are responding to the allegations, and are more or less saying that Biden needs to “answer” for what’s been alleged and that Flores “needs to be believed.”

But where is Barack Obama?

After a bruising primary campaign in 2008, candidate Obama picked Biden to be his vice presidential running mate because he believed it lent his campaign ticket maturity and experience, especially on the foreign policy front.

President Obama was so fond of Biden by the time their second term was winding down that he gave the man political insiders call “Uncle Joe” the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Here’s what Obama said of Biden at the time:

“And all of this makes, in my belief, the finest vice president we have ever seen. And I also think he has been a lion of American history.

The best part is, he’s no where close to finished. In the years ahead as a citizen, he will continue to build on that legacy internationally and domestically. He’s got a voice of vision and reason and optimism and love for people and we’re gonna need that — that spirit and that vision as we continue to try to make our world safer and to make sure that everybody’s got a fair shot in this country.

So all told, that’s a pretty remarkable legacy, an amazing career in public service. It is, as Joe once said, “a big deal.”

Biden’s behavior is not just something he’s exhibited privately where not many are around to witness it. He’s done these things at public events that everyone, including the former president, could see. It’s pretty clear once you review the evidence that these are not just friendly, innocent hugs and caresses.

Where is Obama now that a respected member of his own party has gone public with #MeToo accusations against his former second in charge? What did he know and when did he know it?

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—Sister Toldjah is a former liberal and a 15+ year veteran of blogging with an emphasis on media bias, social issues, and the culture wars. Read her Red State archives here. Connect with her on Twitter.–