By John Lindstrom
Publisher
Posted: April 3, 2019 3:42 PM

Politics is a touchy-feely business. Well, it has been a touchy-feely business, with glad-handing, back slapping, the occasional headlock to argue out positions.

Now comes former Governor Jennifer Granholm to suggest the touchy-feelyness may need to be limited.

Her comment, via Twitter, stems from the question of whether former Vice President Joe Biden behaved inappropriately in his dealings with a Nevada legislator, Lucy Flores. Ms. Flores' complaint was that Mr. Biden touched and kissed her hair during a campaign.

This is not a small matter, since Mr. Biden appeared to have been on the verge of declaring he would run for president before this issue arose (and there are some observers who feel he might be the strongest Democrat to challenge President Donald Trump, especially in the Midwest states like Michigan, Wisconsin and Ohio that Mr. Trump won).

The issue has also generated a growing debate, much of it, to gauge by social media, between women over what is and is not appropriate and whether this is keeping with or taking to an extreme the still evolving message of the #MeToo movement.

Ms. Granholm commented on Twitter, "Having hugged dear @JoeBiden a number of times, I am 100 percent certain that his intentions are to show empathy, warmth and support. "

She added: "AND in this era we all (me too, as a hugger) might reevaluate initiating contact beyond a handshake since so many feel it's an invasion of personal space."

Ms. Granholm is a renowned hugger. In her run for governor in 2002, she reached the point where she hugged instead of shook hands at some locales. At a Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame banquet during her administration, inductee and legendary Detroit sports reporter Joe Falls not only got a hug, he asked for a kiss and she gave him one.

Ms. Granholm's tweet generated considerable comments. Many encouraged her to continue hugging, many supported Mr. Biden, many said they had stopped hugging – at least one suggested it was out of fear of possible repercussions against him – and a number said a discussion on appropriateness was needed.

However, one person complained that the Democratic Party may come across as a party of scolds. Another worried that what might come of the #MeToo movement will be fear and not respect.

Will we see a more straitened political behavior going forward, at least in regard to human contact? Oh, probably. Will it improve the tone of politics? Well, ummm, let's just wait and see, shall we?