Wednesday, 27 Nov 2024

Opinion | Joe Biden and the Debate Over Apologies

To the Editor:

Re “Can Joe Biden Be Forgiven?,” by Lucy Flores (Op-Ed, April 30):

I believe that the reason Mr. Biden is not doing a satisfying apology to either Anita Hill or Ms. Flores (and anyone else he was too physical with) is that he is still hoping to appeal to President Trump’s male voters, and he doesn’t want his apology to be campaign fodder for Mr. Trump, however well meaning it may be.

The problem for Mr. Biden is that he may be overestimating what an apology means to men at the expense of underestimating its meaning to women.

Gayle Pickard-Fishman
Englewood, N.J.

To the Editor:

Studies have revealed that those who refuse to apologize after hurting others feel more powerful as a result. Conversely, those who do apologize feel less powerful, even as they stand to benefit by repairing a fractured relationship.

As disappointing as it may be, it should come as no surprise that both our president and those vying for his position seem oddly allergic to those two little words: I’m sorry.

David D. Turner
New York

To the Editor:

If Lucy Flores had registered a complaint about inappropriate touching with either Vice President Joe Biden or the Democratic National Committee privately, it is unlikely her motives would have been questioned. Or if her complaint had been timely, it is likely the activity she questioned could have been corrected and other women might not have been similarly offended.

That her complaint was public, timed to a hotly contested political era, and aimed at a strong potential candidate she does not endorse made the entire episode highly suspect.

Saul Adler
Dunwoody, Ga.

To the Editor:

This is a message to Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden. It is time for you both to step out of the forefront and help other candidates get elected. You are both too old in my opinion (I’m 70), and you are only going to muddy the waters.

If we have any hope of getting Donald Trump out of office next year, we need younger, smarter and more politically savvy candidates. I know you think you have something to say, but you don’t!

Please back out now and give your money to someone who might actually have a chance of beating Mr. Trump.

Judith Williams
Hebron, Ohio

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