Former Vice President Joe Biden drew heat from progressives Thursday for offering some cordial words about his successor — prompting him to walk back his remarks.

Speaking at an event in Omaha, NE, Biden — in comments reported by Reid Epstein of the Wall Street Journal — called Vice President Mike Pence “a decent guy.”

In Omaha, Joe Biden calls Mike Pence “a decent guy, our vice president.”

— Reid J. Epstein (@reidepstein) February 28, 2019

The remark drew prompt outrage from many progressives:

In a decent world, this would disqualify Biden. https://t.co/mFtFRoIYNK

— Dan Gillmor (@dangillmor) March 1, 2019

Mike Pence believes in gay conversion therapy and allowed an HIV outbreak to happen in Indiana. No, Joe Biden, Pence is not a decent guy. He’s scum. https://t.co/QAHQQ6Nurp

— Adam Best (@adamcbest) February 28, 2019

Actually Mr. Biden, a person that supports conversation therapy on young gay kids is not a decent guy. https://t.co/bLirgq360F

— Robert Garcia (@RobertGarciaLB) February 28, 2019

LOL, and he actually thinks he’d have a chance in a Democratic primary? Joe can stay out and go out a winner. I can’t fathom why he’d want anything else. https://t.co/0yHdsQ8u1x

— Markos Moulitsas (@markos) March 1, 2019

I’m sorry joe Biden calls mike pence a what now https://t.co/sd0LnS6Hkj

— Imani Gandy (@AngryBlackLady) March 1, 2019

Oh, say it ain’t so, Joe. https://t.co/JKFe2KTb20

— David Simon (@AoDespair) February 28, 2019

Tomorrow, Joe Biden will woo Democratic primary voters by touting his work on the bankruptcy bill while wearing an “ALL LIVES MATTER” shirt. Chik-Fil-A will be served. https://t.co/GdQlvKQlbM

— Ian Millhiser (@imillhiser) February 28, 2019

So Biden is anti-millennials, pro-Mike Pence. Got it. https://t.co/PwKXpJsWrl

— Jordan Zakarin (@jordanzakarin) February 28, 2019

.@JoeBiden you’ve just called America’s most anti-LGBT elected leader “a decent guy.”

Please consider how this falls on the ears of our community. @DrBiden https://t.co/Cw2beknTj7

— Cynthia Nixon (@CynthiaNixon) February 28, 2019

The tweet from Nixon drew this response from the former vice president:

You’re right, Cynthia. I was making a point in a foreign policy context, that under normal circumstances a Vice President wouldn’t be given a silent reaction on the world stage.

But there is nothing decent about being anti-LGBTQ rights, and that includes the Vice President.

— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) February 28, 2019

from Mediaite https://ift.tt/2BYig6K