Democratic frontrunner and former vice president Joe Biden and Senator Kamala Harris met for the first time at CNN’s Democratic debate and he was plunged into hot water when he called her a “kid” after they shook hands at the start of their second encounter.
As the California senator walked to the stage of the Fox Theatre in Detroit to shake Biden’s hand, he can be heard telling the 53-year-old congresswoman:
Go easy on me, kid.
Joe Biden tells Kamala Harris on stage: "Go easy on me, kid" #DemDebate https://t.co/D4paMNybMW https://t.co/Gz7SBiJ6jR— CNN Politics (@CNN Politics) 1564618385
Harris appears to smile at Mr Biden before she's heard to simply say: “How are you doing, you good?’
Kamala Harris' press secretary was one of the first to raise eyebrows over the word
Kid? https://t.co/KDvxxIwoXz— Ian Sams (@Ian Sams) 1564617982
Many viewers online cringed at Biden’s words and thought they were patronising.
I know Bidenisms and "kid" certainly is one, but urging a 54-year-old U.S. senator and opponent "go easy on me, kid… https://t.co/cjG170UHrQ— Jennifer Epstein (@Jennifer Epstein) 1564618241
Biden was "obnoxious"
Yes, Joe Biden said, “go easy on me kid” to Kamala Harris when they shook hands. Yes, that is totally obnoxious.— Jessica Valenti (@Jessica Valenti) 1564618123
"Bet you $100 she didn't think it was funny
We’ve checked the audio. @JoeBiden definitely said “Go Easy on Me Kid” to @KamalaHarris … Bet you $100, she didn’t think it was funny. Wow.— Maeve Reston (@Maeve Reston) 1564618158
Why should Harris go easy on the former vice president, anyway?
There were some who insisted it was merely a term of endearment
@JessicaValenti Lmao ya'll never heard of a saying? She's clearly younger than him so he said it in a friendly way but go awwf 🙄— ♒ Feb 8 🥳 (@♒ Feb 8 🥳) 1564624317
Even those who didn't think Biden was being intentionally rude, sighed
Would Biden have called a male colleague a "kid"?
Honest question for folks that cover Biden: does he say "kid" to grown male colleagues? Just wondering. #DemDebate https://t.co/GoJrN3Ku5Z— Charlotte Clymer 🏳️🌈 (@Charlotte Clymer 🏳️🌈) 1564618166
Kamala Harris eventually responded to the backlash generated by Biden's words
"I didn’t really think much about it,” she said.
We’re both on that stage running for president … nobody’s going to define me on that stage.

Too busy slayin'
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