Joe Biden can’t catch a break as he tells Seattle supporters that it would have been acceptable five years ago for a businessman to make ‘fun of a gay waiter’
Joe Biden told supporters on Saturday that in 2014 it would have been acceptable for a businessman to make fun of gay people in the service industry.
Although the former vice president was attempting to illustrate how far the country has come in terms of gay rights, he just dug himself deeper as he continued to plague his own campaign with gaffes.
While speaking to about 50 supporters during a fundraising event in Seattle, Washington, which took place the second to last day of Pride Month, Biden said that five years ago it was accepted for businessmen to make ‘fun of a gay waiter.’
Those at the home of public relations executive Roger Nyhu, where the event was hosted, made it clear those in the liberal city would not have condoned those type of sentiments.
Joe Biden told supporters at a fundraiser on Saturday that in 2014 it was acceptable for a businessman to make ‘fun of a gay waiter’ as he continues to make gaffes on the campaign trail
The supporters at the private event in Seattle, Washington, where about 50 attended, pushed back on Biden’s claims. Saying, ‘Not in Seattle!’
‘Not in Seattle!’ attendees jeered, according to his presidential campaign pool report.
Biden tried to get back the crowd, and clarify his statement, by telling them that businessman wouldn’t be welcomed at the restaurant again.
“Today, that person would not be invited back,” the 76-year-old candidate said.
He suggested that it was widely acceptable to insult and mock homosexual people in 2014, a year before the Supreme Court ruled the defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional.
Biden was former President Barack Obama’s VP in June 2015 when the Defense of Marriage Act was repealed, opening the pathway for federally legalized same-sex marriage – which followed shortly after.
Even before announcing his candidacy earlier this year, Biden was faced with public mistakes, including dating back to his time as Vice President.
He also faced widespread criticism when at least seven women came forward and accused Biden of making them feel uncomfortable during physical interactions. The women stopped short of alleging the former vice president had sexually assaulted them.
Biden made the comments on the second to last day of June, which is pride month – a month dedicated to celebrating the progress of the LGBTQ community
In June 2015, when Biden served as VP to Obama, the Supreme Court repealed the Defense of Marriage Act, which paved the way for federally legalized same-sex marriage
Most recently, Biden has faced criticism earlier this month after he lauded his relationship with pro-segregationist lawmakers and defending the stances he held on bussing decades ago.
At the second night of the first round of Democratic primary debates, California Senator Kamala Harris, who is black, confronted Biden on his comments. She scored a viral moment when sharing a personal story about how she was bussed as schools were being integrated in California when she was in school.
Biden, widely seen as the front-runner, has defended his past, saying that his comments about segregationist lawmakers were taken out of context and that it was a “mischaracterization” to say he was anti-bussing.
Ahead of 19 Democrats descending on Cedar Rapids, Iowa earlier this month, which Biden was noticeably absent from, he said the poll didn’t mean much to him right now.
His lead in the polls has been steadily slipping as some of the other 24 candidates running in the primary gain traction.