Democrats Don’t Want To Know What Joe Biden Is Hiding

 

Joe Biden's Lack Of Transparency Surrounding The Delaware Documents Makes One Thing Clear: He Wants To Shove His Senate Record Under The Rug And, Despite The Obvious Hypocrisy, Democrats Are Willing To Help Him Do It

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DURING BRETT KAVANAUGH'S CONFIRMATION PROCESS DEMOCRATS WERE ADAMANT THAT ALL DOCUMENTS FROM HIS TENURE AT THE BUSH WHITE HOUSE BE MADE PUBLIC

Democrats were particularly interested in "mining" potentially millions of documents Kavanaugh engaged with during his time working as Staff Secretary and White House Counsel for President George W. Bush.

Willian Burck, George W. Bush's attorney, worked on his behalf to oversee decisions about which documents were withheld under presidential privilege , as Bush is well within his rights to do.

Democrats complained repeatedly about Burck's oversight, some even publicly published information that Bush had released to the committee with the agreement it remain confidential.

DEMOCRATS INSISTED THAT THE PUBLIC HAS THE RIGHT TO ACCESS DOCUMENTS FROM KAVANAUGH'S TIME IN THE WHITE HOUSE

Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) slammed President Bush for applying executive privilege to "deny us the ability to have access to those documents" saying, "this committee has a right to fully vet this nominee."

In his self-described "Spartacus" moment Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) defended his decision to leak confidential documents saying, "This is not about the Presidential Records Act … I stand by the public's right to have access to this document."

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) was also critical of the decision to withhold documents, "we simply can't hide these documents from the American public."

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) also railed against withheld documents, bemoaning that "the public still doesn't have 96% of Kavanaugh's documents."

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) praised Senators who released confidential documents saying, "Republicans know how extreme Brett Kavanaugh's record is, so they're making up rules to hide it from the public."

TWO YEARS LATER DEMOCRATS' STANCE ON TRANSPARENCY IS LESS CLEAR

Nearly 2,000 boxes and more than 415 gigabytes of electronic storage containing Biden's Senate records , were donated to the University of Delaware, and set to be released in early 2019.

But just one day before Biden announced his 2020 presidential bid, the university announced that the documents would not be made public until two years after Biden "retires from public life," ensuring no one can access the documents during his campaign .

The University of Delaware has also stonewalled investigations into why they changed the policy, denying public records requests for copies of the initial agreement and any changes to it or correspondence about it.

Allegations of sexual assault by a former Senate aide have renewed questions about access to the Delaware Documents, but Biden has remained steadfast in refusing to make them public, insisting that the records don't contain any relevant information.

In 2019, the Biden Campaign dispatched operatives to The University of Delaware's library in the past year to review his secretive Senate records.

THE DEMOCRATS WHO LOUDLY FOUGHT FOR THE KAVANAUGH DOCUMENTS ARE UNSURPRISINGLY LESS OUTRAGED AT BIDEN'S DECISION TO WITHHOLD RECORDS

The same Democrats who were convinced Kavanaugh was hiding something are now willing to take Biden at his word:

Sen. Elizabeth Warren in 2018: "The Republicans are cherry-picking through the many documents and papers Brett Kavanaugh touched as a judge. It makes me wonder what they're hiding."

Sen. Elizabeth Warren in 2020 : Biden's denial was "credible and convincing."

Sen. Kamala Harris in 2018: "The American public has a right to know who he is and there is so much on the line and so much at stake."

Sen. Kamala Harris in 2020 : "The Joe Biden I know is somebody who really has fought for women and empowerment of women and for women's equality and rights."

Sen. Bernie Sanders in 2018 : "Why are they afraid to show the American public what he has written? What in those documents don't they want the American people to see?"

Sen. Bernie Sanders in 2020 : "I just don't know enough about it to comment further."

When Sanders was asked about the allegations again some three weeks later, he declined to comment , instead pointing reporters to the previous comments.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar in 2018 : "By ramrodding this through for political reasons, by denying us the access to the documents, we're denying the public the right to see what's out there."

Sen. Amy Klobuchar in 2020 : "He answered questions directly and has been open and transparent with the American people, and I am proud to be supporting him."

BIDEN'S EFFORTS TO PREVENT THE RELEASE OF THESE DOCUMENTS IS AT ODDS WITH HIS ATTITUDE ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL WHERE HE TOUTS HIS DECADES OF SENATE EXPERIENCE AS A SELLING POINT

Biden has made his decades of Senate experience a " central issue of his campaign ," even claiming that he had " the most progressive record of anybody running ."

But as pressure mounts for Biden to release the Delaware Documents, he is less than eager to shed light on his Senate years, saying the records contain speeches, positions, and interviews from his time as Senator that " could be fodder in a campaign ."

It's no surprise Biden is nervous that a shining a spotlight on his Senate record would hurt him politically, his troubling legislative record has already drawn controversy .

Biden's record as a Senator is " hardly that of a progressive crusader " in fact, it may be a liability as he gears up to face President Trump this November.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT JUST A HANDFUL OF SENATOR BIDEN'S "ACCOMPLISHMENTS" IT'S CLEAR WHY HE DOESN'T WANT TO MAKE THE RECORDS PUBLIC

Biden's signature legislative accomplishment, the 1994 crime bill he authored, is wildly criticized by experts who say it caused the mass incarceration crisis that still plagues communities of color today.

In the 1970s, Biden fought against integrating schools, and as a " leading anti-busing crusader ," he supported segregationist Sen. Jesse Helms' anti-busing amendment.

As the Senate Judiciary Chairman, Biden " angered some women's rights advocates " when he presided over Justice Clarence Thomas's confirmation hearings, in which Thomas was accused of sexual harassment by Anita Hill.

During his time in the Senate, Biden had " a long history of support for the banking industry ."

Biden voted in favor of war in Iraq.

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DURING BRETT KAVANAUGH'S CONFIRMATION PROCESS DEMOCRATS WERE ADAMANT THAT ALL DOCUMENTS FROM HIS TENURE AT THE BUSH WHITE HOUSE BE MADE PUBLIC

During Brett Kavanaugh's Confirmation Process Democrats Fought Tooth And Nail To Get Access To Documents From His Time In The Bush White House

During His Senate Confirmation Democrats Were Particularly Interested In "Mining" Potentially Millions Of Documents Brett Kavanaugh Engaged With During His Time Working As Staff Secretary And White House Counsel For President George W. Bush . "Though the fight over the documents became very public on Tuesday, the conflict has been simmering since Kavanaugh was nominated. He served as both White House counsel and staff secretary during the Bush administration. As staff secretary - a time that he's characterized as a formative experience for his judicial practice - it's possible that he engaged with millions of documents, a trove that Democrats have been interested in mining." ( Vox , 9/4/18)

• Willian Burck, George W. Bush's Attorney, Worked On His Behalf To Oversee Decisions About Which Documents From Kavanaugh's Time As Bush's Associate Counsel Should Be Given To Congress Or Made Public. "Burck, a private attorney, is a Kavanaugh associate who works for George W. Bush and worked with Bush's presidential library and is helping oversee the decisions about which documents from Kavanaugh's time as Bush's associate counsel should be given to Congress or made public." ( The Washington Post , 9/4/20)

Democrats Used The Volume Of Withheld Filed To Argue That Kavanaugh's Hearing To Be Postponed, Despite The Fact That Bush Was Within His Rights To Invoke Presidential Privilege To Prevent The Release Of Any Of The Documents. " Democrats said the volume of withheld files was so great that the session should be postponed. Republicans said, however, that hundreds of thousands of documents have been released and that the White House has the right to invoke presidential privilege to keep sensitive ones out of public view." ( The Washington Post , 9/4/20)

Democrats "Complained About Relying On Mr. Bush's Lawyer Rather Than The National Archives To Decide What To Provide To The Senate." "Democrats have complained about relying on Mr. Bush's lawyer rather than the National Archives to decide what to provide to the Senate, as one part of a larger fight over how many documents from Judge Kavanaugh's years in the Bush administration the Senate and public should be able to vet before his confirmation vote." ( The New York Times , 9/6/20)

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) Protested Burck's Oversight By Waving A Constitution Around "Theatrically" Saying He Could Not Find His Name In The "Advice And Consent" Section. "The first moment came when Sen. Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.) theatrically pulled out a copy of the Constitution and said he could not find the name of William Burck in the section where it says Congress should provide 'advice and consent' to nominations." ( The Washington Post , 9/4/20)

Sens. Mazie Hirono (D-HI) And Cory Booker Both Released "Committee Confidential" Documents Publicly. "On Thursday morning, after this article was published, two Democratic senators unilaterally released several other 'committee confidential' emails. Senator Cory Booker, Democrat of New Jersey, posted a series of emails about racial issues that included the affirmative action-related email obtained by The Times. Separately, Senator Mazie K. Hirono, Democrat of Hawaii, on Thursday published a 'committee confidential' email about policies for Native Hawaiians that could be of interest not only to Hawaii's two Democratic senators but to Senator Lisa Murkowski, Republican of Alaska, a key swing vote who guards the interests of Native Alaskans." ( The New York Times , 9/6/20)

Democrats Insisted That The Public Has "The Right" To Access Documents From Kavanaugh's Time In The White House Accusing Republicans Of "Making Up Rules" To Hide His Record

Sen. Kamala Harris Slammed Bush For Applying Executive Privilege To "Deny Us The Ability To Have Access To Those Documents" Saying "This Committee Has A Right To Fully Vet This Nominee." SEN. KAMALA HARRIS: "It`s a hearing where there are 100,000 pages of documents that no other President has done this but this President has applied executive privilege to deny us the ability to have access to those documents. And this is a nominee who has a long history of being a political operative, a long history of working for various conservative Republican administrations to frankly do a lot of dirty work that has been politically motivated. This committee has a right to fully vet this nominee. The American public has a right to know who he is and there is so much on the line and so much at stake. So to suggest that people who understand the seriousness of this and are protesting the lack of transparency the lack of due process to suggest that they`re hysterical is really to try and I can`t throw out a red hair deal with the real issue which is that this is a hearing that is severely flawed and it should be postponed until we can vet who this nominee really is." (MSNBC's "All In With Chris Hayes," 9/4/18)

In His Self-Described "I Am Spartacus" Moment Cory Booker Defended His Decision To Leak Confidential Documents Saying, "This Is Not About The Presidential Records Act … I Stand By The Public's Right To Have Access To This Document And Know This Nominee's Views On Issues That Are So Profoundly Important." SEN. CORY BOOKER "Now I appreciate the comments of my colleagues, this is about the closest I'll probably ever have in my life to an 'I am Spartacus' moment. My colleagues, numerous of them, said that they too accept the responsibility. There were very serious charges that were made against me by my colleague from Texas. I -- I don't know if they were political bluster or sincere feelings. If what he said was sincere, there actually are Senate rules governing the behavior of Senators. If he feels that I, and now my fellow colleagues who are with me, have violated those rules, if he's not a tempest in a tea pot, but sincerely believes that, then bring the charges. Go through the Senate process to take on somebody that you said is unbecoming to be a Senator. Let's go through that process because I think the public should understand that at a moment that somebody's up for a lifetime appointment that this issue -- does the public have a right to know? This is not about the Presidential Records Act, this is not a violation of the Presidential Records Act, not a violation of Senate rules, sir. But if somebody's going to land those charges, I hope that they will follow through with me and Senator Durbin, Senator Coons, Senator Whitehouse, Senator -- Senator Hirono, Senator Blumenthal, now Senator Feinstein -- Feinstein. I hope that they will bring charges against us, and I am ready to accept the full responsibility for what I have done, the consequences for what I have done and I stand by the public's right to have access to this document and know this nominee's views on issues that are so profoundly important, like race and the law, torture and other issues." (Sen. Cory Booker, Supreme Court Nominee Brett Kavanaugh Confirmation Hearing , Senate Judiciary Committee, 9/6/18)

Sen. Amy Klobuchar Was Also Critical Of The Decision To Withhold Documents, "We Simply Can't Hide These Documents From The American Public." SEN. AMY KLOBUCHAR: "I understand you'd want to take out Social Security numbers and things like that; that's normal. But we simply can't hide these documents from the American public. It is the highest court of the land. And I look at -- I was looking back at -- everyone was citing people -- the founders of this country and I found a quote that really works here, by Madison. 'A popular government without popular information or the means of acquiring it is but a prologue to a farce or a tragedy,' that's what we're talking about here. By ramrodding this through for political reasons, by (ph) denying us the access to the documents, we're denying the public the right to see what's out there. And it's just not how we do things in my state and it's not how we've done things in this committee." (Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Supreme Court Nominee Brett Kavanaugh Confirmation Hearing , Senate Judiciary Committee, 9/6/18)

Sen. Bernie Sanders Also Hammered Kavanaugh On The Documents, Bemoaning That "The Public Still Doesn't Have 96% Of Kavanaugh's Documents." SEN. BERNIE SANDERS: "Today, the Senate Judicare Committee begin hearings on Brett Kavanaugh, President Trump's second Supreme Court Nominee. But the public still doesn't have 96% of Kavanaugh's documents, and yesterday President Trump declared that the White House would not turn over more than 100,000 pages from Kavanaugh's record. If the Trump Administration and Senate Republicans believe Kavanaugh deserves a lifetime seat on the Supreme Court why are they afraid to show the American public what he has written? What in those documents don't they want the American people to see?." ( Sen. Bernie Sanders , 9/5/18)

Sen. Elizabeth Warren Praised Senators Who Released Confidential Documents Saying "Republicans Know How Extreme Brett Kavanaugh's Record Is, So They're Making Up Rules To Hide It From The Public." "Republicans know how extreme Brett Kavanaugh's record is, so they're making up rules to hide it from the public. The American people deserve to know a SCOTUS nominee's views on issues like race and abortion. I stand with @CoryBooker and @MazieHirono." ( Twitter Feed , 9/6/20)

TWO YEARS LATER DEMOCRATS STANCE ON TRANSPARENCY IS LESS CLEAR

Biden's Senate Records, Currently Being Kept Secret At The University Of Delaware, Were Originally Set To Be Released To The Public On December 31, 2019

The University Described The Terms Of The Agreement As Keeping The Papers Sealed "For Two Years After Biden Retires From Public Office." "Starting in 2011 and for years after, the university had described the terms of the agreement as keeping the papers sealed 'for two years after Biden retires from public office." But this year, on the day before Biden announced his presidential campaign, the university changed the way that it described those terms.'" ( Washington Post , 7/11/19)

Biden Donated A "Massive Trove" Of Records From His Decades Long Senate Career To The University Of Delaware Wight Years Ago Under An Agreement That They Could Be Made Public By Early 2019. Those questions might be answered in the massive trove of Senate records he donated eight years ago to the University of Delaware under an agreement that they could be made public by early this year." ( Washington Post , 7/11/19)

Originally, The University Of Delaware Had Described The Agreement Over Biden's Senate Records As "Keeping The Papers Sealed 'For Two Years After Biden Retires From Public Office.'" "Starting in 2011 and for years after, the university had described the terms of the agreement as keeping the papers sealed 'for two years after Biden retires from public office.' But this year, on the day before Biden announced his presidential campaign, the university changed the way that it described those terms." ( Washington Post , 7/11/19)

But Just One Day Before Biden Announced His Presidential Campaign The University Changed Its Terms Saying That The Documents Would Not Be Made Public Until Two Years After Biden "Retires From Public Life," Ensuring No One Can Access The Documents During His Run. "But this year, on the day before Biden announced his presidential campaign, the university changed the way that it described those terms. Instead of citing his departure from 'public office,' the university said the documents would not be made public until two years after Biden 'retires from public life' or after Dec. 31, 2019, whichever is later. It did not define what is considered 'public life.'" ( Washington Post , 7/11/19)

The Documents Currently Being Safeguarded At The University Of Delaware "Fills 1,875 Boxes And Also Includes 415 Gigabytes Of Electronic Records." "The collection of documents that Biden donated to his alma mater fills 1,875 boxes and also includes 415 gigabytes of electronic records. It includes committee reports, drafts of legislation and correspondence." ( Washington Post , 7/11/19)

The University Of Delaware Has Also "Denied Public Records Requests For Copies Of The Initial Agreement That Biden Signed, As Well As Any Changes To It Or Correspondence About It." "The university denied public records requests for copies of the initial agreement that Biden signed, as well as any changes to it or correspondence about it." ( Washington Post , 7/11/19)

In 2019, The Biden Campaign Dispatched Operatives To The University Of Delaware's Library In The Past Year To Review His Secretive Senate Records. "Joe's Biden's campaign dispatched operatives to the University of Delaware's library in the past year to rifle through his secretive Senate records there, Business Insider reported Thursday -- raising the possibility they accessed documents related to Tara Reade's accusation that he sexually assaulted her when she worked for him in 1993." ( Fox News , 4/30/20)

Allegations Sexual Assault By A Former Senate Aide Has Renewed Questions About Access To The Delaware Documents, But Biden Has Insisted That The Records Don't Contain Personnel Information That Would Corroborate The Claim

Allegations Of Sexual Assault By A Former Senate Aide Has Renewed Questions About Access To Documents From Biden's Senate Career, Housed At The His Alma Mater The University Of Delaware. "Former Vice President Joe Biden's denial Friday of a sexual-assault allegation against him by a former Senate aide has renewed questions about access to documents from his Senate career that are stored at his alma mater, the University of Delaware." ( The Wall Street Journal , 5/1/20)

WATCH : When Biden Was Pressed On Why He Would Not Release The Delaware Documents, Even Only Those Pertaining To His Accuser, Biden Insisted They Did Not Contain Any Personnel Files . MIKA BRZEZINSKI: "The point I'm trying to make is you are approving, and actually calling for a search of the National Archives records of anything pertaining to Tara Reade. I'm asking, why not do the same in the University of Delaware records, which have raised questions because they were supposed to be revealed to the public and then they were sealed for a longer period of time. Why not do it for both sets of records?" FORMER VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN: "Because the material in the University of Delaware has no personnel files." (MSNBC's "Morning Joe," 5/1/20)

THE DEMOCRATS WHO BRAVELY FOUGHT FOR THE KAVANAUGH DOCUMENTS THEY SAID WERE ESSENTIAL TO "FULLY VET" THE NOMINEE ARE UNSURPRISINGLY LESS OUTRAGED AT BIDEN'S DECISION TO WITHHOLD RECORDS

The Same Democrats Who Were Convinced Kavanaugh Was Hiding Something Have Been Backed Biden As He Keeps The Delaware Documents Under Lock And Key

Sen. Elizabeth Warren: "The Republicans Are Cherry-Picking Through The Many Documents And Papers Brett Kavanaugh Touched As A Judge. It Makes Me Wonder What They're Hiding." ( Twitter Feed , 8/16/18)

• Sen. Elizabeth Warren: Biden's Denial Was "Credible And Convincing." ( The New York Post , 5/4/20)

Sen. Bernie Sanders: "If … Kavanaugh Deserves A Lifetime Seat On The Supreme Court Why Are They Afraid To Show The American Public What He Has Written? What In Those Documents Don't They Want The American People To See?" ( Sen. Bernie Sanders , 9/5/18)

• WATCH : Sen. Bernie Sanders: "I Just Don't Know Enough About It To Comment Further." (CBS' "This Morning, 4/16/20)
• When Sanders Was Asked About The Allegations Again Some Three Weeks Later He Declined To Comment, Instead Pointing Reporters To Those Remarks. ( The Vermont Digger , 5/7/20)

Sen. Amy Klobuchar: "By Ramrodding This Through For Political Reasons, By Denying Us The Access To The Documents, We're Denying The Public The Right To See What's Out There." (Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Supreme Court Nominee Brett Kavanaugh Confirmation Hearing , Senate Judiciary Committee, 9/6/18)

• Sen. Amy Klobuchar: "He Answered Questions Directly And Has Been Open And Transparent With The American People, And I Am Proud To Be Supporting Him." ( The Minnesota Star Tribune , 5/6/20)

Sen. Kamala Harris: "The American Public Has A Right To Know Who He Is And There Is So Much On The Line And So Much At Stake." (MSNBC's "All In With Chris Hayes," 9/4/18)

• Sen. Kamala Harris: "The Joe Biden I Know Is Somebody Who Really Has Fought For Women And Empowerment Of Women And For Women's Equality And Rights." ( USA Today , 5/4/20)

BIDEN'S EFFORTS TO PREVENT THE RELEASE OF THESE DOCUMENTS IS AT ODDS WITH HIS ATTITUDE ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL WHERE HE TOUTS HIS DECADES OF SENATE EXPERIENCE A SELLING POINT

Biden Has Made His Decades Of Senate Experience A "Central Issue Of His Campaign," Even Claiming That He Had "The Most Progressive Record Of Anybody Running"

Despite Biden's Effort To Make His Senate Experience A "Central Issue Of His Campaign," The Former Vice President Has Been "Confounded" By Questions About Controversy Surrounding His Time The Senate Particularly On Racial Issues. "Joe Biden's effort to make his lengthy experience the central issue of his campaign has been confounded by questions about his actions during almost four decades as a U.S. senator, on issues including criminal justice, busing and the hearings into the nomination of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas." ( Washington Post , 7/11/19)

In 2019, Biden Said Criticisms Of Him from The Left Are "Unfounded," And Bragged That He Has "The Most Progressive Record Of Anybody Running." "At a speech in Delaware to members of the state Democratic Party, Biden argued that criticism from members of the 'New Left,' a term used to define progressive who align with principle espoused by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) during his 2016 presidential campaign, was unfounded. 'I'm told I get criticized by the 'New Left,'' Biden told the audience. 'I have the most progressive record of anybody running for the ... anybody who would run.'" ( The Hill , 3/16/19)

But As Pressure Mounts For Biden To Release The Delaware Documents He Is Less Than Eager To Shad Light On His Senate Years Saying The Records Contain Speeches, Positions, And Interviews With People Overseas From His Time As Senator That "Could Be Fodder In A Campaign"

WATCH : Former Vice President Joe Biden: The Fact Is That There's A Lot Of Things, Of Speeches I've Made, Positions I've Taken, Interviews That I Did Overseas With People, All Of Those Things Relating To My Job, And The Idea That They Would All Be Made Public In The Fact While I Was Running For Public Office, They Could Be Really Taken Out Of Context . VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN: "Because look, the fact is that there's a lot of things, of speeches I've made, positions I've taken, interviews that I did overseas with people, all of those things relating to my job, and the idea that they would all be made public in the fact while I was running for public office, they could be really taken out of context. They're papers or position papers, they are documents that existed and that - when I met, for example, when I met with Putin or when I met with whomever, and all of that could be fodder in a campaign at this time. I don't know of anybody who's done anything like that. And so the National Archives is the only place there would be anything having to do with personnel records. There are no personnel records in the Biden papers at the university." (MSNBC's "Morning Joe," 5/1/20)

It's No Surprise Biden Wants To Hide The Truth, His Senate Record Wont Win Him Any Points With Progressives Instead Highlighting A Problematic Legislative History

While, At The Time, Biden's Votes In The Senate Were "Within The Mainstream Of The Democratic Party," The Democrat Party Is Now "Far More Sensitive To Discrimination Against Gays, Sexual Harassment And Racial Inequality." "Many of Biden's positions were well within the mainstream of the Democratic Party at the time he took them. But the party is now far more sensitive to discrimination against gays, sexual harassment and racial inequality than when Biden first came to Washington." ( Los Angeles Times , 3/18/19)

According To MSNBC, Biden's "Record Is Hardly That Of A Progressive Crusader" And His Candidacy Will "Perhaps Pose More Political Problems Than It Would Solve." "Biden has been a loyal and effective vice president-and a recent personal tragedy of unimaginable proportions is generating broad sympathy for him and his family right now. But over his long career, Biden's record is hardly that of a progressive crusader. And his candidacy would perhaps pose more political problems for the Party than it would solve." ( MSNBC , 8/25/15)

In 1994, Biden Was "The Main Senate Author" Of The Violent Crime Control Act, "Which, Among Other Steps, Encouraged States To Incarcerate More People." "Biden was the main Senate author of the 1994 Violent Crime Control Act, which, among other steps, encouraged states to incarcerate more people. There's now widespread agreement that that approach was disastrous. 'We now know with the fullness of time that we made some terrible mistakes,' one expert said last year in reference to the law. 'And those mistakes were to ramp up the use of prison.'" ( MSNBC , 8/25/15)

In The 1970s, Biden Was A "Leading Anti-Busing Crusader," And Supported Segregationist Sen. Jesse Helms' Anti-Busing Amendment. "As a young senator in the 1970s, Biden pandered to conservative constituents by turning himself into a 'leading anti-busing crusader,' as one chronicler of the episode recently put it. Speaking in support of an anti-busing amendment offered by the segregationist Sen. Jesse Helms, Biden called busing 'a bankrupt concept.'" ( MSNBC , 8/25/15)

"Biden Has Frequently Voted To Ban So-Called 'Partial Birth' Abortions," And In 2008 He Admitted His Belief That "Life Begins At The Moment Of Conception." "Biden has frequently voted to ban so-called 'partial-birth' abortions, and has avoided voting when other abortion legislation was being considered. He said in 2008 that he believes life begins at the moment of conception, though he wouldn't impose that judgment on everyone." ( MSNBC , 8/25/15)

As The Senate Judiciary Chairman, Biden "Angered Some Women's Rights Advocates" When He Presided Over Justice Clarence Thomas's Confirmation Hearings, In Which Thomas Was Accused Of Sexual Harassment By Anita Hill. "As Senate Judiciary chairman, Biden angered some women's rights advocates with his handling of Clarence Thomas's contentious 1990 confirmation hearings, in which Thomas was accused of sexual harassment by a female subordinate, Anita Hill." ( MSNBC , 8/25/15)

During His Time In The Senate, Biden Had "A Long History Of Support For The Banking Industry." "Biden's home state of Delaware is home to numerous credit card companies, and he has a long history of support for the banking industry. He was a lead sponsor of an industry-backed 2001 bill that would have made it much harder for struggling Americans to declare bankruptcy, and voted for a similar 2005 measure that passed. Among the leading opponents of those bills? A Harvard law professor named Elizabeth Warren." ( MSNBC , 8/25/15)

Biden Voted In Favor Of War In Iraq. "Biden voted for the Iraq war. Clinton's vote for the war was perhaps the single most important reason she ultimately lost the Democratic presidential nomination in 2008 to Barack Obama." ( MSNBC , 8/25/15)

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