Susan Page of USA Today joined The 11th Hour host Brian Williams on MSNBC Friday night to discuss the allegations of sexual harassment and assault surrounding Joe Biden and argued that it is a "great unfairness" that Biden is hurt more by such allegations than President Trump because, unlike Trump, Biden is running as a "decent human being."
After playing a clip of Trump on The Dan Bongino Show, where Trump denied allegations against him and said he does not even know some of the women, Williams told Page, "he went on to say the most interesting thing, which was almost to express -- to sympathize with Joe Biden, though I find it notable that both of you contend this may not do it, this may not end it."
Williams' observation is important. Contrary to what Nicolle Wallace said earlier on MSNBC, few conservatives have pronounced Biden guilty. The controversy for Biden and his party is that under the rules they made during the Kavanaugh hearings, Biden should be presumed guilty.
Yet, Page offered that it is ironic that MeToo, which was motivated in part by Trump's election, might bring down his opponent:
Here's one great irony. You know, the MeToo movement was in part the energy we've seen around women and around in this issue is in part a reaction to Donald Trump's election. He helped create this landscape that has made it necessary for Joe Biden to take seriously and treat seriously these allegations by Tara Reade as much as he would want to just dismiss them completely out of hand. He has to treat them with respect. We expect that now.
Page concluded by arguing that unlike Trump, who is running as abrasive and politically incorrect, Biden is running as a decent man who cares and that unfairly hurts Biden more:
And here's another great unfairness politically, which is for Donald Trump, these accusations did not cost him his brand, which is 'I can get things done. I can stand up for American interest. I'm not afraid to be politically incorrect.' Joe Biden's brand is 'I'm a decent human being. I'm an empathetic man.' And so these accusations go to something that's more central to Joe Biden's appeal than in the case of Donald Trump.
If MeToo and the politicians that attached themselves to that movement were consistent that might be true, but since Biden has the right politics it seems unlikely.
Here is a transcript for the May 1 show:
MSNBC
The 11th Hour with Brian Williams
11:35 PM
BRIAN WILLIAMS: Susan Page, he went on to say the most interesting thing, which was almost to express -- to sympathize with Joe Biden, though I find it notable that both of you contend this may not do it, this may not end it.
SUSAN PAGE: Yeah. It may not. Different tone. Donald Trump took a different tone than Joe Biden did in addressing these allegations. Here's one great irony. You know, the MeToo movement was in part the energy we've seen around women and around in this issue is in part a reaction to Donald Trump's election. He helped create this landscape that has made it necessary for Joe Biden to take seriously and treat seriously these allegations by Tara Reade as much as he would want to just dismiss them completely out of hand. He has to treat them with respect. We expect that now. In part, that's because of Donald Trump. And here's another great unfairness politically, which is for Donald Trump, these accusations did not cost him his brand, which is "I can get things done. I can stand up for American interest. I'm not afraid to be politically incorrect." Joe Biden's brand is "I'm a decent human being. I'm an empathetic man." And so these accusations go to something that's more central to Joe Biden's appeal than in the case of Donald Trump.
