Investigative journalist does a deep-dive into Biden's Role during Anita Hill's testimony — and we should all know it
1. Whenever I read something online regarding some person's past actions, I refuse to take it at face value. I rese… https://t.co/OdEQGntrjk— Kurt Eichenwald (@Kurt Eichenwald)1556131135.0
I will admit that I really don’t want Biden to run. I think his time has passed, and like a certain other old person running (and a couple of younger ones), their main traits are being white, male, and recognized. But I think it’s good for all of us to know the story of what happened with Anita Hill’s testimony and the part played by Biden. It’s not what I’ve heard, and I think it’s far better if we all know the real story.
@JoeBiden 3...there are things that are attributed to the hearings that were in fact statements from conservative j… https://t.co/HKXdJ951Da— Kurt Eichenwald (@Kurt Eichenwald)1556131288.0
So, a lot of people remember the hearing the way they wanted to.
@JoeBiden 5...by Republicans would today be seen as quaint. No screaming, no obnoxiousness - except for maybe Senat… https://t.co/qKG1TNpQES— Kurt Eichenwald (@Kurt Eichenwald)1556131470.0
Let him begin:
@JoeBiden 7...he also was very gracious to Hill, and apologized to her for being involuntarily dragged into this -… https://t.co/FXPyYFULic— Kurt Eichenwald (@Kurt Eichenwald)1556131857.0
Her name being leaked in order to help a Republican nominee, where have I heard that before?
@JoeBiden 9...Biden also made clear - he had consulted Senate counsel about the limits of what he could do as chair… https://t.co/f8mzNW9GIu— Kurt Eichenwald (@Kurt Eichenwald)1556132155.0
So the Senate purposefully made it harder for Hill’s testimony to be taken seriously. The parallels are striking.
@JoeBiden 11...and.... https://t.co/iu4aDhQwsP— Kurt Eichenwald (@Kurt Eichenwald)1556132360.0
So Biden brought in people to corroborate her story.
@JoeBiden 13...there was one witness who was clearly inappropriate, ranting about what she believed about Hill, and… https://t.co/FaBuOX0ZxH— Kurt Eichenwald (@Kurt Eichenwald)1556132589.0
The GOP was acting like our GOP even back then. But Biden was there to defend Hill.
@JoeBiden 15...when a witness tried to attack the credibility of Hill by saying she never filed a sexual harassment… https://t.co/uylyA7K20t— Kurt Eichenwald (@Kurt Eichenwald)1556132812.0
@JoeBiden 16...and the second biggest allegation: That he allowed Republicans to say that Hill's statements about T… https://t.co/VcrzMXvtFd— Kurt Eichenwald (@Kurt Eichenwald)1556132907.0
Biden went after the GOP witnesses.
@JoeBiden 19...kept successfully tearing them down. Then, one of the biggest falsehoods. Other women were blocked… https://t.co/1LNSjwqxjR— Kurt Eichenwald (@Kurt Eichenwald)1556133545.0
@JoeBiden 21...the primary issue, which came up in the hearings, was that Wright had said in her interview that she… https://t.co/JZObBUOAgb— Kurt Eichenwald (@Kurt Eichenwald)1556133750.0
@JoeBiden 23...there was another big problem: Thomas's testimony about why he fired Wright.... https://t.co/OxeTrWgA6S— Kurt Eichenwald (@Kurt Eichenwald)1556134127.0
@JoeBiden 25...and her letter to the former supervisor at EEOC, and the testimony of why she was fired for using a… https://t.co/keFlfWK8Ai— Kurt Eichenwald (@Kurt Eichenwald)1556134294.0
@JoeBiden 27...called Wright. It would have been a bigger loss than an advantage. I am not saying Wright did not te… https://t.co/tshQNh2fy5— Kurt Eichenwald (@Kurt Eichenwald)1556134464.0
@JoeBiden 29...I know some people will remain unconvinced. Certainty of belief always outweighs original documents… https://t.co/8IEfqFEqqv— Kurt Eichenwald (@Kurt Eichenwald)1556134604.0
Looong thread short, Biden, unlike conventional wisdom, did quite a lot to try to validate Hill’s testimony, and treated her as good as he could. Biden’s regrets, that he talks about how, are that he couldn’t figure out how to do more.
