Joe Biden’s Brief Oscars Appearance Left The Internet Wanting More

As expected, Joe Biden gallantly stepped onto the Oscars stage to introduce his “friend,” Lady Gaga, during Sunday evening’s ceremony. This joint appearance was conceived after Gaga signed on to perform “Til It Happens to You” from the Hunting Ground documentary, which zeroed in the prevalence of college-campus rape. Gaga delivered a powerful rendition of the song that produced many misty-eyed folks. However, it was Biden’s introduction that set the stage perfectly.

Although Biden prefaced his comments with a self-deprecating statement — “I’m the least qualified man here tonight” — he soon struck a serious note. No, he did not announce his presidential candidacy, but Biden did urge the audience to visit ItsOnUs.org and take the pledge launched by the Obama administration. Biden also spoke directly towards all women who have suffered from sexual assault:

“Despite significant progress over the last few year, too many women and men, on and off college campuses, are still victims of sexual abuse and tonight I am asking you to join million of Americans including me, President Obama, the thousands of students I’ve met on college campuses, and the artists here tonight to take the pledge.

“A pledge that says, I will intervene in situations when consent has not or can not been given. Let’s change the culture. We must and we can change the culture. So that no abused woman or man, like the survivors you will see tonight, ever feel they ever have to ask themselves, ‘What did I do?’ They did nothing wrong.”

Biden’s powerful speech left much of the Internet hoping for a surprise addition, perhaps one announcing a Biden ticket with Chris Rock? That’s far too much to ask, but Biden did give Rock $20 for Girl Scout Cookies.

The rest of the Internet had reactions, which (sadly) did not include cookies.

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