On Jan. 28, 2020, reporters in Muscatine asked Joe Biden whether or not Bernie Sanders can unite the democratic party. Biden replied, “We have to unite. I’m not going to make judgments now. I just think that it depends upon how we treat one another between now and the time we have a nominee.” 

Later that day, Biden treated a fellow democrat about as badly as he could have. 

Local activist Ed Fallon, a former state senator and radio host, politely asked Biden to clarify his stance on pipelines. Biden replied, “Go vote for someone else”. Does Biden plan to unify the party by telling any democrat who asks a tough question to vote for someone else?

It gets worse. 

Fallon replied that he would support Biden in the general election. Biden poked Fallon in the chest and said, “You’re not going to vote for me in the primary.” Fallon reiterated that he would support Biden in the general election, and asked for a photograph with Biden.

Biden responded with incredulity, saying, “You’re asking for a picture of me, coming up and telling me you don’t support me.” Does Biden plan to unify the party by denying photos to anyone who doesn’t support him in the primary?

Fallon again reiterated that he plans to support Biden in the general election. Biden grabbed the zippers of Fallon’s jacket and said, “You believe that Bernie can do something [on climate] by 2030.” Fallon interrupted, saying that he plans to caucus for Tom Steyer. Biden then criticized Steyer for his past relation to the coal industry—Steyer once ran a hedge fund that invested in coal. Does Biden plan to unify the party by criticizing other candidates non-political, professional lives? The interaction ends with Biden poking Fallon in the chest and walking away. Fallon was polite throughout—he appeared to be amazed at how badly Biden was treating him.

Biden says that whether anyone can unify democrats “depends upon how we treat one another between now and the time we have a nominee.” If Biden stays in the race, democrats are in serious trouble.