| | | | Joe Biden is still looking for a good answer on Anita Hill |  | | For much of the past year, Joe Biden has been trying to find an answer that works when it comes to the treatment of Anita Hill during the 1991 Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearings for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.
He tried again Monday in an interview that is set to air on "Good Morning America" on Tuesday. Said Biden:
"I believed her from the very beginning, but I was chairman. She did not get a fair hearing. She did not get treated well. That's my responsibility. As the committee chairman, I take responsibility that she did not get treated well. I take responsibility for that."
That goes further than what Biden told "The View" last week, and his general tone in the past as it relates to the way Hill was questioned about her allegations that Thomas has sexually harassed her in the workplace. The hearing -- and Biden's handling of it -- has drawn the ire of many who, in the age of the #MeToo movement, point to a group of powerful white men interrogating a black woman as everything that has long been wrong with politics.
(If you have not watched the hearing -- or at least part of it -- you should. Although it was in 1991, it feels like 100 years ago in terms of how the senators act.)
What changed? Well, two things:
1) Biden is now officially running for president
2) Hill told The New York Times that she did not accept Biden's apology for his actions then
Over the past few days, Biden has realized that simply saying that you wished things had been different back then -- which is what he has been saying up until now -- isn't enough. And that the Anita Hill issue isn't simply going away.
The Point: With his answer on "GMA," Biden is trying to close this wound. To stop the bleeding. To move on. Taking full ownership of the situation -- as Biden is doing here -- seems like the best way to make that happen.
-- Chris | |
JUST IN: ROSENSTEIN IS OUT | | Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein has submitted his resignation letter to the White House, effective May 11.
For more on this developing story, head to CNN.com. | | "I love those short sleeves, such beautiful arms. Great definition."
-- President Trump joking as he accepted a sleeveless jersey from the Baylor Lady Bears basketball team (the first female team he's invited to the White House solo), plus a fast food spread. He added he might give the jersey to the first lady. | | | FIRST IN THE POINT: 🗓 MARK YOUR CALENDAR! 🗓 | | Two of Iowa's marquee events of the primary cycle have their dates officially set -- and you, Point readers, are the first ones to know!
Mark your calendars for Progress Iowa's iconic Iowa Corn Feed on July 14. This is the fifth year for this annual speaking engagement with every 2020 Democrat (and thousands of expected attendees) -- and this year's free event will be in Cedar Rapids. Then comes the Progress Iowa Holiday Party on December 19, a tony event that invites every 2020 candidate and is to be held at the Hoyt Sherman Place in Des Moines this year.
Other Progress Iowa event dates to note: - June 12: A town hall discussion about gun safety in Iowa City
- August 8: Sound of Progress musical, a "musical featuring adaptations of theater favorites in order to highlight progressive issues and encourage Iowans to take action."
- October 16: First in the Nation Film Festival, featuring short films by Iowa directors about progressive issues related to Iowa.
More from Lauren on the 2019 calendar of can't-miss political events for 2020 candidates. | | | Wait, Bon Iver and Bruce Hornsby did a song together? YES! It's called "Cast-Off." | |  | | Today's topic: Happy Infrastructure Week! | |
LAUREN'S CAMPAIGN TRAIL LATEST | | Joe Biden: Held his first campaign event of 2020 today in Pittsburgh, telling the crowd that if he is going to beat Trump, "It's going to happen here." He also recently hired former Bernie Sanders press secretary Symone Sanders.
Cory Booker: Will have a fundraiser hosted by Hollywood celebrities and donors including Ben Affleck on May 29.
Beto O'Rourke: Released a plan to fight climate change with $5 trillion in investments and net-zero emissions by 2050.
Pete Buttigieg: Lunched with Al Sharpton in Harlem as the South Bend mayor sought advice on winning over African-American voters and how to talk about his sexuality. | |  | | From Brenna: "Did your grandma ever epically shade your manners at a meal? Watch that play out between two adult men! Al Sharpton loaned Mayor Pete Buttigieg one of his napkins during a lunch meeting today. Share The Point with your grandma!" | | | | | | |
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