At women’s event, Biden praises former Sen. Packwood

Vice President Joseph R. Biden joked Friday that he is “getting old,” and then moments later probably wished he could take back the remark.

At a Democratic event for women Friday, Mr. Biden spoke fondly of a former senator who was drummed out of office for sexual misconduct.

Mr. Biden was addressing the Democratic National Committee Women’s Leadership Forum and criticizing the Republican Party for its treatment of women when he spoke favorably about former Sen. Bob Packwood of Oregon as someone who worked with Democrats.

“It’s Republicans who were involved, guys like [Maryland Sen.] Mac Mathias and Packwood and so many others,” said Mr. Biden, who will be 72 in November. He is contemplating a run for the presidency in 2016.

The vice president had just come from a White House event urging young men to speak out about sexual assault. At the DNC event, he was promoting the prevention of domestic violence.

Mr. Packwood resigned from the Senate in 1995 after a total of 19 women came forward with allegations of sexual misconduct. The Senate Ethics Committee voted unanimously to expel him for sexual and official misconduct.

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Earlier this week, Mr. Biden apologized for using the term “Shylock” to describe people who gave bad loans to members of the armed forces. It is generally recognized as an anti-Semitic slur, and the Anti-Defamation League called him out for it.

DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz introduced Mr. Biden as “a national treasure,” which prompted the vice president to poke fun at himself.

“My God, I’m getting old,” Mr. Biden said.

“I tell you what. I get up every morning and I’m so excited about what I do, I keep thinking, man, nothing’s changed, till I look in the mirror,” Mr. Biden said.