Hillary Clinton, GOP Senators Cheer Biden VP Pick

Obama spokesman Bill Burton sends around warm statements about the Biden VP pick from three GOP Senators (who, it should be noted, buck the party's rhetorical line on a relatively regular basis).

Sen. Chuck Hagel: U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel issued the following statement today following Senator Barack Obama's selection of Senator Joe Biden as the presumptive Democratic Vice Presidential nominee: "Joe Biden is the right partner for Barack Obama. His many years of distinguished service to America, his seasoned judgment and his vast experience in foreign policy and national security will match up well with the unique challenges of the 21st Century. An Obama-Biden ticket is a very impressive and strong team. Biden's selection is good news for Obama and America," Hagel said.

Sen. Richard Lugar: Tbilisi, Georgia - U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar made the following statement today en route to Tbilisi. "I congratulate Senator Barack Obama on his selection of my friend, Senator Joe Biden, to be his vice-presidential running mate. I have enjoyed for many years the opportunity to work with Joe Biden to bring strong bipartisan support to United States foreign policy..." LINK

Sen. Arlen Specter: Pennsylvania's Arlen Specter, a Republican who serves on the Judiciary Committee with Biden and often rides Amtrak with him to Washington, also offered praise. "No one on the Democratic side knows more about foreign policy than Sen. Biden," Specter said. "He's been an articulate spokesman on the subject. He also knows about domestic policy. He's been a leader on crime control." LINK

Also, from Sen. Hillary Clinton:

"In naming my colleague and friend Senator Joe Biden to be the Vice Presidential nominee, Senator Obama has continued in the best traditions for the Vice Presidency by selecting an exceptionally strong, experienced leader and devoted public servant. Senator Biden will be a purposeful and dynamic Vice President who will help Senator Obama both win the Presidency and govern this great country."

Comments

[wbramh]

Change means different things to different people.
In this election, it means replacing greed and deception with fairness and honesty.
I don't much care whether the latter comes from inside or outside the Beltway.
But I do care very much for my Country, and we couldn't find a better man to represent decency than Joe Biden.

[OleSmartee]

I'm holding out hope that the convention will take the opportunity to seriously look at Hillary, and give her the nomination. Why? Not because I supported her in the primaries -- I DIDN'T. But, the sinking poll numbers for Barack -- and now this weak pick for a VP -- make me think SHE should be our candidate. Yes, FOR PRESIDENT. She can make Obama HER veep choice.

And no -- I'm not stirring the pot, nor a PUMA -- I just want to win, and I've lost confidence in what we're getting.

[Actionmac]

not a PUMA or stirring the pot... hmmm, just didn't think through your comment.

I will let it go and just say, your wrong PERIOD.

[swoosie1]

Oh how you all drink the Obama kool aid! I am personally appalled, but of course not surprised by this immense political gaffe made by Obama in picking Biden. The very idea of that windbag being VP is disgusting and even thought everyone seems to be making it seem ok, you could just see that the air was let out of the Obama campaign tires with this selection. I could say that Obama looked very vapid and even spaced out during the debut today. He sat on his chair with no expression when Biden made that first awful gaffe in calling Obama, "Barack America" rather that "Barack Obama' and folks it made my hair stand on end to know that we are just at the beginning of this train wreck.

[obiter]

Who cares if Biden makes a "gaffe" of saying "Barack America" - he sometimes minces words when giving a speech: shock-horror. Look at the current president. Biden is one of the most honest and capable people from Capitol Hill and his record shows it.
And I'm so fed up with the "kool aid" cliche. You don't even give an opinion of who should have been selected in Biden's place.
The train wreck is the CURRENT administration - and the state of the USA if McCain wins on Nov 4. So maybe you should do a bit of kool aid drinking of your own and drop the hissy fits.

[cosmic]

"oh crap, they picked Biden"
- John McCane

[johjac]

Too funny, cosmic!

[Softnsweet]

Swoosie are you aware that we can read your profile. You are running scared because Obama made a excellent choice.

[OleSmartee]

Barack America.

So the question is: Was he named for the country, or was the country named for Him?

[queenisabella]

really think it's a gaffe????

[BGDiNLV]

Can you hear that???? That's McCain crapping his pants!!! Today is a good day to be a democrat!!!

[LisainNYC]

Of the 4 statements issued, which seem heartfelt expressions and which seems tepid and forced, as though it was squeezed out from a person who just last week was still referring to Obama as her opponent?

She needs to get with the program.

[JohnDewey]

"Of the 4 statements issued, which seem heartfelt expressions and which seems tepid and forced..."

I would say that the following was the most tepid & forced:

"No one on the Democratic side knows more about foreign policy than Sen. Biden," Specter said. "He's been an articulate spokesman on the subject. He also knows about domestic policy. He's been a leader on crime control."

I'm no fan of Senator Clinton's public persona, but for me, her statement reads as deliberate and carefully chosen, but neither tepid nor forced. Overall, I think she usually does a good job of speaking well of her fellow Democrats - a better job than many of her most ardent supporters.

[uclafan]

I support 0bama/Biden, however I think they should give her a HIGH position in their administration.

If they announce it now, like they announced Caroline Kennedy's ambassadorship, it will go a long way.

[Actionmac]

she can't be trusted... that's a big problem, then there is bubba.

[Tommygun264]

Appoint HRC to the Supreme Court. It's a lifetime appointment and she will give Scalia, Alito, Roberts and Thomas hell.

[chroma]

I totally agree.

[campgranata]

read the resumes of the supreme court justices and see if Hillary Clinton is qualified to be a supreme. she has little experience lawyering, no bench experience, is clearly not a constitutional scholar and has shown poor judgment in both her private and public life.

[Softnsweet]

Obama will not forget Hillary, I would put money on it.

[JiminNC]

I think there should be a new cabinet post with HRC installed ... Secretary of Republican Persecution ... payback time!

[Actionmac]

I like that position for her... get sum.

[Oldtt]

All I read here is how tough Biden is, how he will bash the McCain crowd, how he will make them tremble, etc. . Is this a tacit admission that Obama is not tough enough or knowledgeable enough to take on the GOP without material help? It's starting to resemble a scene from My Bodyguard. If Biden is so smart, tough, and experienced, what does Obama himself bring to the ticket? Barack has now reversed himself on a raft of pledges made to his supporters, plus hired an old Washington insider to serve as his campaign gunslinger. Why are his supporters ecstatic?

[Tropiholic]

Then you'll complain about the "angry black man"? What do you want?You can't have it both ways.

[Wilson201]

So true!

[LizM]

Hey, Oldtt...

I would just say, first, that Senator Biden may know his way around the halls of power in Washington but he is about as far away from being a "Washington insider" as you could possibly get. I think this will become quite apparent to you once you really get to know who Joe Biden is and what he is all about.

All the talk about Biden today simply signifies how incredibly strong this ticket is - change we can believe in coupled with a capacity to make that change happen.

I don't think people (read: the media, blogosphere, and pundits everywhere) have even begun to realize just how formidable this partnership will be, come election day and beyond. This ticket is going to attract the strong support of a wide and deep swath of Republican and Independent voters clear across the country who have been itching for the opportunity to vote for change. Opportunities like this come along once in a lifetime, if we're lucky.

In other words...don't worry, be happy!

[JohnDewey]

"Is this a tacit admission that Obama is not tough enough or knowledgeable enough to take on the GOP without material help?"

No, it's a fairly explicit (and traditional), strategic gambit. The idea is to select a Vice Presidential candidate who will act as the attack dog/bad cop/enforcer [insert tired metaphor here]. This is supposed to free the Presidential candidate to be inspirational & unifying. Attacks on the opposition are usually farmed out to surrogates, and the VP is pretty much the Surrogate-In-Chief.

I imagine that many of his supporters are ecstatic and/or just plain pleased that Senator Obama has not made the same mistake that Gore & Kerry did. Both men chose VP's who were unwilling or unable to dispense with the Nice Guy persona & go on the attack.

[laire]

Oldtt,

The vp has the experience and can really go after McCain Obama is a leader not an attack dog. Stop drrinking your hateraid

[JLee]

It's the nature of the position. Presidential candidates should stay above the fray; it's the Number 2's job to go for the top guy tooth and nail. And when it comes to attack dogs, Biden is top notch, both fierce and honorable. And yes, he's better at it than Obama would be. They're different individuals with different strengths, I don't see what's wrong with that.

[realiybased2]

First, I need someone to tell l me why Bill Clinton has agreed to speak at the convention. He is still bitter walking around with a BIG CHIP on his shoulder and has hardly said anything about the democratic convention and holding this stubborn grudge. Go back his history and see what kind of campaign he ran in Arkansas and the Presidential and all the corruption during his reign in Arkansas and he has the nerve to be pissed about Hilary's campaign. Has he bothered to call Biden and congratulate him. What about all the flack that Obama his been sujected during the primaries and now but still manage to maintain class.

I think Bill Clinton should pull out of the convention because he is not with it. Just like when he was caught red handed in the Whitehouse w/Monica, he still looked dead into the camera and say, "I did not have sex with THAT woman? He needs to get over himself. His behavior is unacceptable, especially for a former President.

[NotMcCain]

Carter, Gore, Obama and Senator Clinton are all speaking. How could Bill and his giant ego stay home?

I'm a little worried about his Thursday speech.. Hopefully, he'll think it's in his interest (and Hillary's) for him to stay on message and TRY to check his own vanity at the door..

[jlover]

1strepublic14thstar............you are being ridiculous......stop being bitter........alot of people are still upset about 2000....WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED 8 YEARS AGO....you have to try and move on,let's concentrate on 2008 ...and obama is NOT a one man show....he needs your help.my help,and alot other people's help....that is why he picked joe biden...i glad you are voting for him...thank you !

[wdw101]

i will neutralize his vote though

[nellie]

Not unless you live in the same state. Electoral map, baby!

[rosal]

All by yourself wonder woman? Hahahahahaha

[Tropiholic]

you only get one, just like everyone else, cry me a river

[Rashomon]

Biden gives Obama the backbone he will need to win. He's tough, experienced, competent and he's not pretentious. He tells it like it is - and I think many Americans will respond well to him.

[Hallie]

Obama dissed a Clinton. He's got backbone and then some.

[barbwiregrrl]

I thought he was a bove the fray of doing that?

[Oldtt]

With all his experience 'dissing' a fellow Democrat, he should make short work of McCain.

[LisainNYC]

I think Biden is a great choice, but not because Obama has no backbone. He has plenty.

However, it is distasteful to many Americans for the person on the top of the ticket to go on the attack. It makes the candidate look petty and unpresidential. Additionally, Obama knows that "the angry black man" would scare many voters away. He knows what he's doing.

[gr8abz]

Biden can fight too. Swiftboaters take note. When attacked Joe counters -- hard and fast. He will make you pay double as they say in the ring.

[rageagainstmachine]

gr8abz (I'm jealous by the way!), completely agree with you. If you want a perfect example, checkout this video from C-span where Biden is on the floor of the senate excoriating the Bush administration Iraq policy.
http://sensico.wordpress.com/

[moxieme]

A Remarkable choice which legions of Americans are thrilled to embrace! Now its onward and upward. If the Repubthugs want to continue conducting their campaign in the manner they have, and based on the release of their attack ad, they do, then we are more than prepared to play hardball. They just don't get that we have grown weary and angry of the neocons hijacking of OUR nation. The soomner they realize this is ONE America, they better off we'll be. We are not looking for perfection. I don't expect anything that Sen. Biden says will be so devastating that it would cost the Dems the election. Once again, the media is going to do a daily watch, scrutinizing and spinning every word that falls off his lips. I have come to the conclusion the MSS is a special interest group, in the pocket of the Repubthugs.

[Jezreel]

Superbly articulated. I couldn't agree with you more.

[ObamanextPresident]

"I have come to the conclusion the MSS is a special interest group, in the pocket of the Repubthugs".

Yes, I was amazed to read the adoration that Senator Chuck Hagel actually expressed for the winning Obama-Biden ticket. Ms n b c only reported a very small portion of it. Signs of things to come from M S M?

Also, I was dismayed at the number of satellite feed losses that occurred this afternoon just as Obama surrogates were beginning to draw a sharp contrast between an Obama/Biden administration and the McCain policies that have hurt and will hurt this country so devastatingly. I certainly hope this was an isolated incidence.

[JackND]

There's a potent campaign ad right there.

And I hope it isn't true that O'bama has pulled advertising in red states like this one that he had been targeting, because the ad crafted from these comments MUST be aired here.

[sdguppy]

One of the reasons I love Obama is he hires really smart, competent people. Just like they had the caucus game down, they have a STRATEGY to win this election. He is spending the money where it matters most (he can't fix things if he doesn't get elected) so even if he doesn't place ads he's got staff and volunteers working on calling and registering voters. He knows what he can and can't do in Red states.

In swing states, we need to get more Dems registered SOON so he will be encouraged to spend more on advertising. If you haven't volunteered yet, please consider doing so. One hour a week, or every two weeks by supporters could turn the tide! I have a newborn and I am finding the time, can anyone else reading this find one hour to spare?

[luvobama]

Everything Obama does is brilliant. It is refreshing to see intelligence for a change. Obama/Biden08

[teacupsnpots]

I hope Joe is as tough as I have seen him in the past.

No time to be an effete gentleman, now is the time to take the gloves off and hit hard and keep hitting.

No more "above the fray" that Obama has unsuccessfully chosen to do. What a wimp!

I wish the ticket had been the other way around.

You know, if McCain chooses Romney people will also wish their ticket was the other way around, too as that would have been a great matchup - an economically brilliant Romney who knows how to make social programs work and a street fighter like Joe Biden who can slam anything through anywhere.

Please, please, Joe, go at them like an attack dog and don't stop until they are vanquished.

[Scottiedog]

I think Joe will go at Grandpa McCain like a Spider Monkey on Crystal Meth. He'll also kill Mittens in any debate.

McCain economic message: "We feel your pain. I haven't bought a home in 2 years and had to let some of my cleaning staff go."

[doctorwang]

"I think Joe will go at Grandpa McCain like a Spider Monkey on Crystal Meth."

I like!

[SurrealPumpkin]

You joke. I know a woman who was talking about how her family had suffered during the depression. They had to let the upstairs maid go. I kid you not. I suspect that she supports McCain.

[InfiniteShibumi]

The problem is that people assume gentleman is synonymous with effete. It's not. I like that Obama tried so very hard to keep above the fray -- isn't that what people have been griping about...forever? Now that we have a candidate who knows how to bite his tongue, still his hand and mind his manners, he's chastised as effete. It's harder to be strong and restrain oneself than to let go guns blazin' at the first provocation.

But it seems you're right. So many are itching for a fight, (I hear and read) that I am beginning to think it is the majority-held sentiment. No wonder Americans are viewed as bellicose cowboys

[SimonNZ]

I'll take bellicose Democratic winner over noble Democratic loser any day.....................

[peacebypiece]

Here is an example of " an economically brilliant Romney".....

http://www.massresistance.org/romney/ampad_062607/index.htm

[peacebypiece]

and another example of "an economically brilliant Romney ".....



http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2007/07/29/romneys_economic_record/

[InfiniteShibumi]

Interesting that this assessment isn't more generally known or diffused. Thanks for getting the ball rolling...

[08politicaljunkie]

What social programs did Romney make work?

Michigan is the poorest state in the nation. It has the worst economy in the entire country. Michigan's economy plummetted in 2001.

[SurrealPumpkin]

MSM always associates Romney with Michigan, but he was Goveernor of Massachusetts, one of the other "M" states. He grew up in Michigan.

[wearyvoter]

Mitt's dad was the governor of Michigan in the 1960s.

[wdw101]

there are no social programs that work.......(at least of the give me programs)

[barbwiregrrl]

Nope: Mississippi is the poorest state with Puerto Rico being the poorest Commonwealth

Mississippi " $15,853
Puerto Rico " $8,185

Here is a link
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/States_of_the_United_States_by_income