So, I haven't really talked about this before, but it seems relevant to the discussion here.
Please note that I fully acknowledge that Biden's over-physicality can be very inappropriate, and has certainly made some people feel uncomfortable. Even I have had physical contact with the man that made me uncomfortable. It's not "OK", and his resistance to adjust his behavior on this front for a long time (he seems to be doing at least somewhat better now) is not a a good look.
But, all that said, I think there is some context that those from the outside that see examples of this on video or wherever might not be aware of, and which somewhat explains why most of those who interact with Biden in person don't view these actions as
sexual in nature.
- Biden is old. Very old, and as part of that he has old-fashioned instincts on things like personal space that many people of his generation continue to hold. And not only is he old, Biden was elected to the US Senate before he turned 30. That means, for a very large part of his career, the political term "kissing babies" was not simply an expression. It was actually a pretty core element of American politics, to the point where it was considered an honor by many parents for politicians to physically kiss babies brought to them, and not just babies. This to some extent included children, teenagers, and sometimes even adults. It wasn't "weird" in American politics for this to happen, even if the kids weren't into it. And sometimes this is still asked for today, although on a much, much reduced scale, and even then is rarely granted by most politicians.
- Secondly, Biden was deeply, deeply affected by the death of his first wife and daughter. I have personally heard him talk a lot about how that experience changed him, and how one of his biggest takeaways was the need to consistently, and often physically, show people that they are appreciated, cared about, and loved. That's one of the core reason he traveled from Delaware to DC almost every day as a Senator, he feels it's important to physically be a presence in the lives of the people he cares about. And so he hugs and sometimes kisses (on the cheek, forehead, or head) both men and women around him as a sign of what is overwhelmingly considered among his staff and acquaintances to be platonic but genuine and deep affection.
- Lastly, a lot of the people he works with and has met throughout his entire career and to this day give him incredibly positive feedback when he engages with them physically. "Biden hugs" have, in the vast majority of my personal experience and accounts given to me, been considered deeply comforting, and even something to look forward to. They do, very often, make people feel better, make people feel like they have done a good job, are valued, and are cared about. He has received far, far more enthusiastic responses to this practice in his life than negative ones.
Again, I don't meant this to downplay the basic inappropriateness of some of his actions, or minimize the impact he has had on those who have been understandably made uncomfortable or worse by this aspect of his character. I am simply trying to provide better context for how Biden is understood by those around him, and why people from the outside looking in might not be able to understand why their impression of what he does does not often line up with most firsthand accounts.
