Joe Biden Draws Heat For Calling Mike Pence ‘A Decent Guy,’ Promptly Walks Back

Former Vice President Joe Biden drew heat from progressives Thursday for offering some cordial words about his successor — prompting him to walk back his remarks.

Speaking at an event in Omaha, NE, Biden — in comments reported by Reid Epstein of the Wall Street Journal — called Vice President Mike Pence “a decent guy.”

In Omaha, Joe Biden calls Mike Pence “a decent guy, our vice president.”

— Reid J. Epstein (@reidepstein) February 28, 2019

The remark drew prompt outrage from many progressives:

In a decent world, this would disqualify Biden. https://t.co/mFtFRoIYNK

— Dan Gillmor (@dangillmor) March 1, 2019

Mike Pence believes in gay conversion therapy and allowed an HIV outbreak to happen in Indiana. No, Joe Biden, Pence is not a decent guy. He’s scum. https://t.co/QAHQQ6Nurp

— Adam Best (@adamcbest) February 28, 2019

Actually Mr. Biden, a person that supports conversation therapy on young gay kids is not a decent guy. https://t.co/bLirgq360F

— Robert Garcia (@RobertGarciaLB) February 28, 2019

LOL, and he actually thinks he’d have a chance in a Democratic primary? Joe can stay out and go out a winner. I can’t fathom why he’d want anything else. https://t.co/0yHdsQ8u1x

— Markos Moulitsas (@markos) March 1, 2019

I’m sorry joe Biden calls mike pence a what now https://t.co/sd0LnS6Hkj

— Imani Gandy (@AngryBlackLady) March 1, 2019

Oh, say it ain’t so, Joe. https://t.co/JKFe2KTb20

— David Simon (@AoDespair) February 28, 2019

Tomorrow, Joe Biden will woo Democratic primary voters by touting his work on the bankruptcy bill while wearing an “ALL LIVES MATTER” shirt. Chik-Fil-A will be served. https://t.co/GdQlvKQlbM

— Ian Millhiser (@imillhiser) February 28, 2019

So Biden is anti-millennials, pro-Mike Pence. Got it. https://t.co/PwKXpJsWrl

— Jordan Zakarin (@jordanzakarin) February 28, 2019

.@JoeBiden you’ve just called America’s most anti-LGBT elected leader “a decent guy.”

Please consider how this falls on the ears of our community. @DrBiden https://t.co/Cw2beknTj7

— Cynthia Nixon (@CynthiaNixon) February 28, 2019

The tweet from Nixon drew this response from the former vice president:

You’re right, Cynthia. I was making a point in a foreign policy context, that under normal circumstances a Vice President wouldn’t be given a silent reaction on the world stage.

But there is nothing decent about being anti-LGBTQ rights, and that includes the Vice President.

— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) February 28, 2019

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