‘Pretend you have a cold’: Pelosi advises Biden on women

Associated Press

WASHINGTON

As former Vice President Joe Biden’s camp scrambles to contain any political damage over his past behavior with women, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has some words of advice: Keep your distance.

“Join the straight-arm club,” Pelosi said at a breakfast hour Washington event Tuesday. In other words, keep your handshakes at arms’ length and don’t be touchy-feely.

“Just pretend you have a cold and I have a cold,” Pelosi said.

President Donald Trump weighed in on the matter with more sarcasm. “Welcome to the world, Joe,” Trump said at a fundraising dinner for Republican House races. “You having a good time, Joe?” Trump himself has denied multiple accusations of sexual misconduct on his part.

Pelosi, D-Calif., said Biden “has to understand that in the world we are in now people’s space is important to them and what’s important is how they receive it, not necessarily how you intended it.”

Her remarks at an event sponsored by Politico came as Biden’s aides are striking a more aggressive tone as he considers seeking the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination and faces scrutiny over his past behavior toward women.

On Monday, Biden spokesman Bill Russo blasted “right wing trolls” from “the dark recesses of the internet” for conflating images of Biden embracing acquaintances, colleagues and friends in his official capacity during swearing-in ceremonies with uninvited touching.