Biden knocks Huckabee Sanders's tweet criticizing stuttering moment: 'It's called empathy. Look it up'

Former Vice President Joe BidenJoe BidenDearborn office of Rep. Debbie Dingell vandalized Pfizer to apply for COVID-19 booster approval for 16- and 17-year-olds: report Coronavirus variant raises fresh concerns for economy MORE knocked former White House press secretary Sarah HuckabeeSarah SandersHow Biden should sell his infrastructure bill Trump expected to resume rallies in June Andrew Giuliani planning run for New York governor MORE Sanders over a since-deleted tweet that appeared to mock a moment of stuttering in the waning moments of Thursday's Democratic presidential primary debate in Los Angeles.

While talking about Americans he has met along the campaign trail, Biden recalled a child telling him "I can't talk," and mimicked the child's stutter over the word "I." Biden has publicly spoken about his own struggles overcoming a stutter.

Almost immediately, Sanders tweeted, "I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I hhhave absolutely no idea what Biden is talking about." 

She then followed it up with a tweet saying, "To be clear was not trying to make fun of anyone with a speech impediment. Simply pointing out I can't follow much of anything Biden is talking about."

Both tweets have since been deleted.

"I’ve worked my whole life to overcome a stutter," Biden tweeted in reply. "And it’s my great honor to mentor kids who have experienced the same. It’s called empathy. Look it up."

I’ve worked my whole life to overcome a stutter. And it’s my great honor to mentor kids who have experienced the same. It’s called empathy. Look it up. https://t.co/0kd0UJr9Rs

— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) December 20, 2019

Sanders apologized soon after, saying "I actually didn’t know that about you and that is commendable."

I actually didn’t know that about you and that is commendable. I apologize and should have made my point respectfully. https://t.co/fbmVAqDoWI

— Sarah Huckabee Sanders (@SarahHuckabee) December 20, 2019

However, before she was able to tweet her apology, lawmakers and commentators had responded.

Sen. Brian SchatzBrian Emanuel SchatzCongress should reject H.R. 1619's dangerous anywhere, any place casino precedent Alabama Republican touts provision in infrastructure bill he voted against Telehealth was a godsend during the pandemic; Congress should keep the innovation going MORE (D-Hawaii) said, "Sometimes I delete tweets that I regret."