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Finally, Biden
- Filed under: Obama, Presidential
- Date: Aug 23,2008
Joe Biden. Barring the most elaborate smoke screen in the history of politics. Move Delaware from "Safe Democrat" to "Safe Democrat" on your maps.
CNN: Sen. Barack Obama has picked Delaware Sen. Joe Biden to be his running mate, multiple Democratic sources tell CNN.
ABC’s George Stephanopoulos: “You were asked is he ready. You said ‘I think he can be ready, but right now I don’t believe he is. The presidency is not something that lends itself to on-the-job training.’”
Sen. Biden: “I think that I stand by the statement.”
(ABC’s “This Week,” 8/19/07)
Glad it wasn't Hillary and my prediction was wrong. What a slap in the face that she wasn't even vetted.
First thought: Probably a wash and won't even matter much after the Obama created hysteria about his pick. A better pick than Kaine or Bayh would have been though. This is also the third straight election in which the Democratic VP nominee is a senator whose term is expiring. Lieberman ran both races in 2000, Edwards did not run for reelection in North Carolina in 2004, and no word on whether Biden will stay in the Senate now that he is the pick.
More:
1. This makes it less likely, IMO, that McCain chooses Romney. Clearly McCain is going to exploit what Biden has said in the past about Obama, and well he should. McCain and Romney had some very terse words for each other in the primary - though I doubt Romney ever said he stood by his statement of McCain not being ready for on the job training. The Democrats running commericals of Romney and McCain going at it undermines the McCain message that Obama-Biden aren't even on the same page. But all the "professionals" seem to think it will be Mitt.
2. I find it curious he picked a Democrat from a deep blue state like Delaware.
3. I won't agree with Eric at Plunderbund that much, probably not even the rest of the year, but his comment of "MSM saw this as an overt challenge and they beat the campaign on this one," strikes me as correct. The media was determined to break the story before the text.
4. In the end, we all probably analyzed this way too much.
30 Responses for "Finally, Biden"
Biden — the perfect foil for Palin!
Biden is a superb pick for many reasons, Ben. I interpret the understatement of your post here to support that.
Shows how much Nader is out of touch, huh?
Interesting…that a GOP'er, like you Ben, would be so concerned about a Democrat, like Hillary, getting "slapped" in the face by a fellow Democrat because she wasn't "vetted".
Interesting.
Biden is a pretty good pick….not excellent….but pretty good.
Biden doesn't inspire me all that much and Obama will probably not see any bump in the polls. And like Ben said, he won't deliver a battleground state (although he may have some influence in PA). I guess Biden is supposed to be Obama's version of Lyndon Johnson; a veteran Senator that can push legislation through Congress. So much for the Obama/Bloomberg ticket I was hoping for.
If MCain pick a woman v.p. they are a lock to win.
The Biden pick is completlely uninspiring and he is a total loose cannon.
I stand by my earlier prediction…. Democrats sweep everything but the White House.
The overt racism of this pick is staggering. The Democrats HAD to pick a white male because their candidate is getting hammered in the internal polls by this group, even among Democrats!
"The overt racism of this pick is staggering."
The only potential "racism" I can fathom in the Biden pick is in the minds of those who don't want to vote for a black candidate, you know, for whatever reason.
Those who wouldn't vote for a black candidate, no matter who it might be, are the ones who might also suggest a black candidate picking a white running mate was an act of overt "racism".
With clueless thinking like that…any white running mate chosen by Obama would be an "overtly racist" choice. Which, ironically, seems racist. I mean, right?
Why would racism come to mind on this day, when Obama is such an articulate, clean young man?
Oh yeah.
Classic stuff Reverend!
Ask your own party (union members) why the AFL CIO commies are panicking and spending money to SHORE UP what should be solid democrat supporters!
That's why after a 10 state winning streak Osama gets his CLOCK CLEANED IN Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, etc. etc. etc.
Loses the White House, wins everything else.
Dems win the Ohio House this year, Strickland loses the Gov. in 2010.
I quite like Biden. But I think the main story about Obama's pick is that he stared at the electorate and blinked. New politics- yeah, right. This has been going on all summer of course, but Biden is now the incarnation of that theme.
I also like Palin. Obama's safe (and male) pick would make a McCain/Palin ticket attractive to many centrist women who are still pining for Hillary. She's very strongly pro-life though, so she won't be attracting too many hardcore feminists. Still, it'd be a bit more than a pro-life man could get.
I hate to break to it the Palin supporters, but I cant see it happening.
Biden's clearly not going to be a choice for those who felt the selection of VP could be an attempt for party unity. As the news that Clinton wasn't even vetted becomes digested, it's going to be taken as another smack in the face to her supporters. Some are already taking it that way. That was going to be a problem for anyone that was not Clinton but Biden was the least favorite of many of those who wanted Clinton.
It's been interesting seeing the reaction from some of the blogs on this, in the 100 or so I looked at this morning, I've yet to see one state picking Biden made them decide that they could vote for Obama now. Either they were already for Obama no matter who he selected or picking Biden confirmed they couldn't support Obama…
I should have stuck with my original feeling that Obama would never pick Clinton, but I thought she'd at least be vetted. When AP reported it wasn't Bayh or Kaine? I thought OMG…he is going to pick Clinton.
The focus on Biden's lobbyist connections and his son being one is already starting…It's going to be interesting to see who McCain picks and what impact that has though I'd be shocked if he picks a woman and even if he did? It could very well be seen as trying to pander to voters. Unless he picks Clinton (lol).
Ben:
I know you can't see Sarah Palin, but wouldn't the choice of a woman running mate now be just as much of a grand slam as you think Lieverman would be? In that vein of thought, what woman is left that would create such excitement? HILLARY!
Of course, I hope that wouldn't happen and it's very, very unlikely, but heck, as long as McCain is considering a Democrat why not her?
Lisa Renee - I'm going to disagree with you on the part about thinking that the Biden pick will further alienate people who voted for Hillary: "it's going to be taken as another smack in the face to her supporters. Some are already taking it that way. That was going to be a problem for anyone that was not Clinton but Biden was the least favorite of many of those who wanted Clinton."
I really don't believe that. I believe anyone who voted for Hillary who won't be okay with Biden may very well fall into that segment that never votes when their candidate doesn't get the nod on the ticket at all.
If anything, Biden possesses the very things that made Clinton a possible pick in many people's minds.
If people weren't going to be satisfied unless it was HRC, then that's the issue. I can't imagine anyone satisfying them enough otherwise.
But- that's my sense.
I must be missing something. How does this help Mr. Obama?
Racism? Despite this absurd slant I love the pick. Nobody is as entertaining as Biden. Now when the VP guy talks I will listen.
Jill, I'd suggest reading some of what is out there, Biden is not being embraced by many of those who stated they wanted to see Clinton as the VP. While you may be a fan of Biden? Some of them aren't feeling it.
Nor is he comparable to Clinton on a great many issues, like his NARAL rating as just one example, he's 60% - hers was 100%. Then many women found his behavior during the Anita Hill time period less than stellar…
A few of the comments I've come across:
I too am underwhelmed, and getting increasingly disappointed with Obama each day.
Oh wow, an old white centrist dude who's a six-term Senator with race, gender, civil rights, and honesty problems. I am overcome with the Hope and Change.
This is proof positive that Obama does not now, nor did he ever, give a damn about women and the challenges we face. In fact, it's a slap in the face, if you ask me. Biden is a HORRIBLE choice for women. Absolutely horrible.
All of the Change rhetoric and build-up to pick Biden. Don't get me wrong, I think he was the best bet (since he was never going to pick Hillary) but he is still an uninspiring choice.
We're sure Biden's 200 voters are simply thrilled. The rest of us, well, just call us marginalized and invisible.
Biden is clearly Obama's version of Dick Cheney.
I could go on, there are hundreds…
Lisa Renee, I'm reading just as many who are thrilled. I stand by my calculation - the number of voters who will find him acceptable versus the number of voters who weren't going to be swayed unless it was HRC or another women was the measure. Is it a sure thing? Of course not.
But another dimension that I haven't seen yet discussed here or elsewhere has to do with the wives: What does a female pick for VP look like next to a vibrant and capable woman like Michelle Obama? How will any even minimally competent woman as McCain's choice make not only McCain look but Cindy McCain? Those are image problems for the 100 million+ people in the voting population.
If I believed that holding on to the disappointment and belief in the correctness of HRC being the nominee would actually impact future actions by other individuals who do not share that same level of those emotions would actually make a difference somewhere down the road, I wouldn't be so sold on feeling positive now about the ticket.
But I do not foresee that position as being one that actually helps women, or this country.
Obama himself made gaffes related to sexism as did his campaign. But the real offenders aren't the ones who will suffer if that position isn't held by HRC or a different woman in this cycle.
We suffer - our elders and our kids. And in exchange for what?
The number of programs that work to life women and help them lift themselves far outnumbers the groups that have formed to motivate people with spite. IMO, rightly so and hopefully with more successes (Stephanie Howse who just replaced Fannie Lewis in Cleveland City Council did WHP Go Run among other experiences).
The media and the perceptions of people watching and listening to the media is what needs to be impacted - withholding or switching a vote because of perceived wrongs against women by the media won't affect the media one iota. It only affects us.
Jeff Coryell with views from the Ohio delegates at the convention - many of the words I've used to describe why the nod to Biden works are in there. We get what we put into it - if we want better options, we have to support them. Or be them.
[...] has a fantastic back and forth with debate and opinion and analysis from all perspectives) and The Point and in person - I was at three different social events yesterday and at all three, people wanted to [...]
How is it….that Democratic women….concerned about women's causes, including choice,…..would even consider voting or campaigning for Mr. McCain?
I understand the disappointment of Hillary supporters….if the tables were reversed….I would have been disappointed with a Hillary nomination. However, I would not, for one nanosecond, consider voting for an anti-choice, anti-worker, anti-family, neo-con like McCain. If the nomination had gone the other way in the Democratic primaries, I not only would have voted for Hillary….I would have encouraged others to do likewise.
So….are Democratic "Hillary" women going to make the election about the country….or about themselves?
Just asking.
biden is a good pick for a guy that has no experience….except for fringe movements.
http://www.obamathecommie.com
Jill, you really think Jeff would find a delegate who stated they didn't support Biden? That would be news if he did.
I just returned from an Obama House party here in Toledo, every single person there had questions about Biden. Not one of them felt he was the right choice.
Not all of them were former Clinton supporters…
So I guess for some strange reason, I must be reading posts and running into people who feel differently.
Reverend, that depends on the woman, we are not all one you know, for many it's has come down to this being a point in time where they have had enough of the Democratic Party when it comes to a presidential race and they are either going to not vote at all, vote down ticket, vote McCain, vote third party or vote Obama.
The most telling thing is there are county chairs out there telling people rather than not voting to vote third party.
If McCain picks a woman? Things could change dramatically as to how some feel. We'll find out on Friday what he does.
[...] poll was conducted before Joe Biden was named the VP nominee, so if there's a bounce, it's not reflected here. I'm doubtful there is one [...]
Lisa Renee - Why would a delegate who wants to cast their vote for Clinton not say so? That makes no sense to me.
I didn't write that I believe everyone thinks Biden is great. I wrote that I have met people who are very pleased with him. I've also read plenty of people who agree that there are problems with Biden.
Does that surprise anyone? It doesn't surprise me. I was only writing my experience and observations in the 48 hours (then, 24 hours) since the announcement.
Are you thinking that there really are no people who like this choice? I don't understand what I'm reading as your protests.
FYI - here is a scathing analysis of just how awful the Biden pick is, from the Jerusalem Post:
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1219572110730&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
[...] Ben is right. We'll probably not agree much. He does see the Obama VP announcement similar to how I saw it. The campaign was bested by CNN and the MSM saw this campaign plan as on overt challenge to them. They won. The question is, does that matter? Was this a success or failure? [...]
Jill, if you are a person who has made it clear that you don't support what's happening, there are consequences. If you are an elected, which many of the delegates are? You aren't going to say anything but the party line. The message the delegates are supposed to be sending is unity…even some of those I know personally who are there who are not happy about Biden? Are putting on the party unity smiley faces…
I'm surprised you asked me that question, it's really clear what has been happening to those who have not "gotten over" it.
[...] CNN has it. No link yet. In your face, Keeler! [...]
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