If It's Biden For VP, Get Ready For More Talk About Race

It's almost hard to believe there's a single stone of veep-related speculation yet to be unturned and over-examined, but here's one: If Delaware Sen. Joe Biden becomes Barack Obama's running mate, we can expect another cycle of news analysis regarding the impact of race on the presidential campaign.

Of course, on Tuesday afternoon Biden told reporters "I'm not the guy." (LATE UPDATE: A source close to Biden tells the Huffington Post that this has been Biden's stock answer for weeks, and as such is not terribly significant.) But if you believe our own well-connected Steve Clemons, the Delaware Senator may have the cover of plausible deniability, since he's been radio silent with the Obama campaign in recent days.

So, with all the usual caveats, here's how Biden's potential selection could affect the sometimes dormant, sometimes live-wire issue of race in the campaign.

In part, this reality stems from the fact that Biden hasn't always struck the most sensitive tone when it comes to talking about race. Referencing the Indian-Americans he'd met in his home state of Delaware, Biden once said "you cannot go to a 7-Eleven or a Dunkin' Donuts unless you have a slight Indian accent." While the Senator clearly meant to praise the hard work and entrepreneurship of his state's fastest growing minority group -- and was even speaking to an Indian-American supporter at the time -- his comments were nevertheless fodder for embarrassment.

More famously, and even more damaging, Biden kicked off his presidential campaign in early 2007 by describing Barack Obama in highly inelegant, loaded racial terms. "I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy," Biden told the New York Observer. "I mean, that's a storybook, man."

Jesse Jackson and Barack Obama both endeavored to let Biden off the hook, but the damage to Biden's campaign was still palpable.

Given this history, there are several possible ways that Biden-as-VP nominee could reignite the debate between the campaigns of Barack Obama and John McCain over race. First, McCain could declare any further parsing of racial subtext in the campaign to be null and void, given Biden's own checkered linguistic past. If Obama were to tread at all close to his talking points warning of racially-charged remarks from Republicans, McCain could attempt to label the Democratic ticket as hypocritical on the subject.

Notre Dame Professor of Political Science Darren Davis believes that Biden's selection as a running mate would bring an unneccessary amount of scrutiny to a topic Obama should actively be trying to avoid. "Obama needs to stay away from issues of race as much as he can, and although he brushed off Biden's comments early in the primaries, he cannot be seen as embracing a VP whom many thought was racist and insensitive toward Obama himself. ... Imagine how much fun the Republicans would have with that," Davis said.

However, it's easy to imagine a somewhat counter-intuitive angle on the Biden-race angle. With many white voters potentially uncomfortable with the strictures of politically correct verbiage, Biden could stand out as a sympathetic figure. As Obama's running mate, he could say, "I know how tough this is to navigate sometimes, and I'm living proof that folks with the best intentions trip wires they don't mean to trip from time to time." Having consolidated his standing as someone who has earned a few scars in the PC-wars, Biden could speak out against any GOP gambits that explicitly attempt to capitalize on vague feelings of "foreign-ness" regarding Obama -- such as McCain's "an American president for America" tag. Speaking as someone who knows the difference between innocent slips and the real deal, he could conceivably have some standing on the issue.

Davis disagreed with that hypothesis, saying that Biden's checkered PC past "would not endear whites to Obama, but it would raise questions about Obama's decision making."

But either way, if Steve Clemons is right about Biden being the pick, it's not hard to see how that could spark some new lines of debate on the race question.

Comments

[Savetheworld]

"Obama needs to stay away from issues of race as much as he can"...

Funny that this comment comes from a Political Science professor. Hello, Obama is a black man running for president...whether he likes it or not, he can't stay way from the issue of race. It is intrinsic to his candidacy.

And as for republicans having a field day with the Biden selection, their dispicable civil rights record gives them no room talk.

[kevingiampa]

This article betrays the political acumen of a fourth grader. See if you can find anything on Biden from before the past year. Surprised you didn't write, "If Biden the choice, he'll have to answer for his 'I'm not the guy' comment. I'm sure Biden will lose Obama the black vote. Research, think, and write something useful.

[ladyv]

If Biden is VP, Obama should introduce him as the "clean, articulate Joe Biden." By doing that, the corporate media will be forced to refer back to that incident to explain the remark, which will point up the fact that Obama isn't an angry black man just waiting to jump on every little verbal faux pas old white people make.Win win win.

[Binx101]

That could be a game wining comment.

You've written - in my opinion - the most meaningful comment on this matter I've read all day.

Thanks

Binx101
The Almost Daily Binx
http://binx101.wordpress.com

[elvispretzel]

Joe Biden would certainly make the race even more interesting. He's one feisty mo-fu. I like the way he's a fighter on many issues I agree with, but I'm uncomfortable with his stance on bankruptcy and the drug war.

Bayh represents DLC, a democratic group that used Obama's name without permission. I think it's best to wash away all associations with DLC, which is too close to Lieberman-type politics. I want someone more progressive.

Kaine is not dynamic. When I saw his response to one of Bush's state of the union, I was not impressed.

I still think Wesley Clark would be the best choice for Obama, but ultimately it's gotta be someone Obama has some synergy with.

Biden isn't bad. What the hey... who else could talk about "successful dumping?"

At least with Biden, he'd be able to give Jon Stewart and Steve Colbert plenty of material to work with....

[NPRLuvr]

Biden would be a HUGE mistake. Republicans have been pushing his name because, like HRC, they can't wait to reproduce years of gaffs, missteps and mistakes this guy has made. Non-stop GOP attack ads. Bayh would not be much better.

Let's face it, Republicans are going to launch vicious attacks against whomever is selected Democratic VP. Anyone who's been an opponent is going to result in non-stop Republican ads. Obama NEEDs to stay true to his theme of change and choose someone who's consistent with this theme. Integrity and good judgement matter most, not longevity. McCaskill, Kaine, Sebelius would be great choices. McCaskill's the best of the 3.

[Bernice]

Let the republicans spend their money attacking Biden. It will give Obama a break and give Biden lots of opportunities to attack McCain.

[Soothsayer08]

This is "silly season" again. Must every word uttered by a candidate be parsed and scrutinized and twisted. Joe Biden or no one else is perfect. His qualifications are what is important, not what someone said someone said years ago.

[notthistime]

exactly soothsayer08

[dudervision]

Not to mention all the body language analysis Fixed News use.

[vshdst]

Darrin Davis is way off the mark.

This is America, and race, will always matter! Acting like it doesn't, is foolish. American history is replete with negative racial and ethnic references. This country was founded on the slaughter of native Americans and the enslavement of Blacks. Racism is so deeply rooted in this country that it permeates everything this country touches.

For a Notre Dame instructor to make such a suggestion, calls his credibility into question.

Biden is a good choice.

I know the difference between racist statements that are hurtful and damaging, and language that is not politically correct.

[UncommonSenz]

"Racism is so deeply rooted in this country that it permeates everything this country touches."

Institutional racism does affect many segments of American life, but that statement is ridiculous. It does not permeate "everything", and pretending it does takes away the ability to point out when racism really does affect something.

Claiming that everything is affected by racism (or sexism for that matter) only serves to weaken the charge when it is warranted.

[Kenji]

You really think it doesn't permeate everything in America?

Okay, name one area completely free of that baggage.

[poeticsinger]

I wish they would give it a rest! There isn't ONE PERSON he could pick as Veep that doens't bring both positives and negatives. LET HIM PICK WHO HE WANTS!

I'm fine with Biden...Go Joe

[makatak]

Absolutely, absolutely, absolutely ... 100% correct. Who among "U.S." is perfect? I mean on Saturday we heard / witnessed a pastor lie in church before his congregation on national TV. Rich Warren informed the congregation before either candidate appeared on stage that the candidates has participated in a coin toss, that Barack Obama won, and therefore he (BO) would be interviewed first. He admitted the next day that in fact he KNEW that John McCain was running late, WAS NOT ON THE PREMESIS, WAS NOT IN THE GREEN ROOM, and MOST CERTAINLY WAS NOT IN THE "CONE OF SILENCE".
Say it again, out loud ... please!

[nomoron]

I've thought Biden was the best pick for several months now. He still has absolutely the best line of the campaign season thus far...."A noun, a verb and 9/11." Of course, that jewel was directed at Rudy G., but it was on the mark in so many ways. Many democrats have been complaining BO doesn't hit hard enough, but let me assure you Biden is the attack dog Obama needs. His intelligence, eloquence and wit are just what the doctor ordered in beefing up a campaign making too many people nervous.

[Kenji]

You're right. He can play rough with some home truths Obama can never utter. And is there a person in either party who knows the talking-head game better than Biden.

Sunday mornings, here we come!

[strength]

There will always be someone that thinks each pick is great, good, bad, and disasterous. So whatever! I think Biden is exactly what Obama needs and maybe wants, everyone keeps trying to put Obama's campaign into the normal bubble of thought, but he has proven that he is not running this campaign like others have, and thats good, because he may win this thing because he isnt going to run it the way the media think it should be run. I cant wait to see biden attacking the right for all the crap they are pulling, heard a ad in tampa today that was filled with lies.

[ltyr2002]

He should pick Dennis Kucinich.

[drkazmd65]

True - But he won't.

Dennis was the best Democrat runnig for President. The only real liberal and progressive (although Gravel could give him a run for a while). Dennis would make a great VP, but he doesn't look enough the part.

I would have voted for Dennis for President, if he hadn't already dropped out by the time MD voted. Instead - I voted for Gravel (one of the 0.5% in MD that did).

[SEQUOIABISON]

If its Biden you know his acceptance speech will go on and on long after the lights are turned off at the convention in Denver.

I like Joe in many ways but basically he is a pro war bag of wind, the antithesis of what Obama represents.

Obama/Clark

For a return to sanity in government and a soft spoken VP that will not try to steal the limelight.

[YankeeCanuck]

Biden is far from being pro-war. He, with most others voted to fund the invasion for six months-- with a re-assessment for further funding. Given the mood of the entire country, it's not surprising. BUT, after that time Biden pushed through measures to give the troops proper equipment, and armored vehicles.
He was among the first to be very outspoken that the solution to Iraq was NOT military, but political. He and Brownback and Boxer worked long and hard on an amendment that eventually was at last passed overwhelmingly-- but still sits on the president's desk.

He's a middle east expert, known to political leaders there. He has encyclopedic knowledge and can talk. A lot, and eloquently. That's about the only thing you got right.
It takes a lot of reading, and perhaps watcing CSPAN (yeh i know it can be a snooze) but that's how one finds out what's going on.
Not from the mass media.

[SEQUOIABISON]

I have watched Biden his entire career.

And basically I have a lot of uncertainty about him.

From the perspective of a very liberal democrat who wholeheartedly supported Kucinich my observations of how Biden handled his Chairmanships in the Senate led me to think he is a bit arrogant, self-righteous and condescending.

Despite his efforts to distance himself from the war he was a strong advocate for eliminating Saddam Hussein, to me a sign of poor judgment and completely the opposite view Obama took when he was in a primary battle for the IL Senate.

As chairman of the Senate Narcotic committee he established the Drug Czar using Nixon type tactics to eliminate drugs helping to fill our prisons to overflow, the US is now the largest incarcerator of its citizens in the world.

He pushed for the very undemocratic Credit Card Bankruptcy Bill, which favors the Delaware Banks and puts the average voter in debt to them forever.

So while Biden has done some good democratic things overall he does not fit the characteristics I think our nominee is looking for?

Obama/Clark

[Amalek]

If it's Biden, get ready for a LOT more talk. That man might get a charley horse in his tongue.

It's Hillary. The latest polls which show Mcsame ahead by 5 will force this. Interesting question - why are these polls not on huffpost while they headline everywhere else?

[veteran1964]

Everyone and their dumb POLLS. Who in the hell are these pollsters calling? Retirement communities? I am 62 years old and been a registered voter for over 40 years and had a listed phone and now two cell phones and NEVER have been called on a poll. Plus, the last 1000 voters we signed up for this election ALL HAVE CELL PHONES and no basic service at home. The 100,000 students that signed up in N.C. for Obama all have cell phones and I bet not one has been called by a pollster.
These polls are BS. They have no darn idea who is registered and who has a cell phone or home phone. They call the same damn people all the time. So the next time you read a poll, go to the nearest retirement community and join in with their polling. People have to realize also that if a candidate is ahead by 2% on a POLL, that can mean half a million to a million votes. So for the pundits out there....GO VOTE.....GO VOTE....GO VOTE...That is the best POLL ever!

[notthistime]

thank you veteran1964.

[indeevoter]

Maybe because it's an outlier, Einstein. ALL the other polls done over that same time period show Obama still in the lead.

[vshdst]

because the polls mean nothing and the sampling is questionable.

[imjustawitchywoman]

Do you know who is giving Obama the "race problem"? THE MEDIA

For the sake of a story......they beat this issue to death......poll it to death. An early Poll taken early in the Primaries said that less then 6% of voters cared about a Presidential Candidates race.

But the Media tries to keep things interesting. True the Clinton's made race and issue......but I still think the percentage of people who will not vote for Obama strictly because he is black is under 10%.

Obama WILL be our next President because people do not care if he is black, blue or purple.....he offers us HOPE for the CHANGE this great Country of Ours so desperately needs.

Ask any of the NEW 65,000 Donors, in July, to his Campaign. That makes a total of over 2,000,000 Donors. WOW. Doesn't sound like Obama has much of a "race" problem, to me.

To the Media : Get a grip.....and then give us REAL stories about REAL issues that concern American's.

Yeah....thats right.....try something new.

[dudervision]

Thanks so much for that post!

[w8aminute]

The scrutiny involved with everything anyone ever said is just so unbelievable.
Let He Who Is Without Sin Cast The First Stone....