Joe Biden Is Barack Obama's Vice Presidential Running Mate

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is calling his running mate, Joe Biden, "a leader who is ready to step in and be president."

Obama and Biden appeared together Saturday at a huge rally in Springfield, Illinois, their first joint appearance since Obama tapped Biden to be the Democrats' vice presidential candidate.

Freshly printed signs saying "Obama/Biden" sprouted in front of the Old State Capitol as thousands gathered for the rally.

Comments

[ltyr2002]

I like Biden. He was my favorite in the primaries, but he got NO traction against Hillary and Obama.

While I like Obama's choice of Joe for VP, one thing I actually like about Obama, I am surprised the polls are not showing a bump in Obama's favour.

Could it be that choosing a seasoned political veteran with lots of foreign policy experience has actually had the effect of underscoring Obama's own inadequacies and done harm to his chances?

I would have thought the opposite, but perhaps that's not how middle America sees it. Time will tell...

[ObamaLover]

Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden says he is a 30-year friend of a key figure in the Tony Rezko trial. Rezko is the Chicago businessman and friend of Barack Obama who has been convicted on several counts of fraud and bribery.

The Chicago Sun-Times reports Chicago lawyer Joseph Cari Jr. helped Biden with his presidential runs this year and in 1988 and has been a financial contributor. Three years ago Cari admitted to taking part in an $850,000 kickback scheme that prosecutors say was part of a political fundraising operation for Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. That scheme was overseen by Rezko. Cari is awaiting sentencing.

[newsweek1945]

LOCK HIM UP; LEAVE BIDEN ALONE. I DON'T THINK HE'LL COMMIT YOU PROGENY TO, POSSIBLY, ONE HUNDRED YEARS IN IRAQ!

[Yehudi97]

What a dopey choice for VP that was. I remember Biden plagiarizing some english politician's speech back in the 90's. I don't think this choice was any better than choosing Hillary. What was the big idea behind this? Choose a lackluster career politician with a questionable history? Biden does not bring anything to the ticket, besides making Obama look good by comparison.

[Dan1967]

McCain will be 72 years old this Friday and his policies are the same policies as Bush. Do you want 4 more years of the same old policies that have our country in the mess that it is in now?

McCain is for NAFTA, and Obama is against NAFTA. Barack Obama will keep jobs in our country and he will fight for the rights of American workers.

McCain owns 7 houses and he will give tax breaks only to the richest of Americans who make over 200,000 per year. Barack Obama will give tax breaks to the middle class and the poor.

Will McCain have a military draft if he is elected President? He can't have a 100 year war without a military draft.

The Republicans are the party of the rich and the rich oil companies. The Democrats are the party of the people. Get to the polls in November and vote for Barack Obama and lets get a win for the people!

VOTE FOR BARACK OBAMA AND LETS GET A DEMOCRAT WIN IN NOVEMBER!

[blondbrain]

Choosing Biden as a veep was brilliant! Barack Obama should have experienced, respected, intelligent, formidable human beings in his corner to compliment and strenthen his capabilities. I am so looking forward to voting in November for the first time and I am not eighteen. Its troubling how some Americans seem so perfect in their judgements and opinions about Baracks pick, but would they rather a circus clown? I dont get the criticisms. And also to the Clinton radicals to threaten to vote for Mccain? That really shows the unfortunate fiber of their beliefs. And to their lack of dedication to new democratic leadership for our country. Their resentment seems sort of hateful and confusing. Its time to embrace our democratic nominee and support Barack Obama for President.

[Yehudi97]

I don't know about Biden. He doesn't inspire confidence. By the way, from what I am hearing on the radio, etc., these Hillary supporters seem to be very similar to their candidate, mean, nasty and vengeful.

[swimmtrunx]

NoBama.
No thanks.
Biden for VP?
Are you kidding??!!
That joker has run for president 4 or 5 times now and has yet to break out of even the starting gate each and every time. Yet Biden’s supposed to deliver some sort of nationwide turnout of blue collar workers? This is the same guy that had to drop out of his first bid because he was plagiarizing other candidates speeches, right?
And so much for Obama’s campaign pledge to not having any lobbyists on his campaign. Biden’s other son is a hard-core lobbyist whose specialty is pimping big time department of defense contracts.
As far as I’m concerned it just shows his lack of preparedness. Wet behind the ears. Green. I was wary about him once he clinched the nomination, but I said to myself, what the heck? Let’s see what he’s got.
Backtracking on the timeline for his withdrawal from Iraq.
Backtracking on his pledge to accept public financing.
Blowing a VP nomination with some joker people haven’t taken seriously for 2 decades when he runs for president on his own ticket.
So far Obama’s shown himself to be graceless, sloppy, and ham-fisted.
Apparently the kid’s a rank amateur.
It’s cute that he thinks he’s ready but frankly it’s extremely obvious that he’s not.
Send this guy back to the minors.
He’s obviously not ready for the big show.

[pmrubin]

Does anyone, anywhere, still take republicans seriously when they talk about qualifications? They've just spent eight years carrying water for an entire administration of dilettantes, criminals and know-nothing bullies. When exactly did they start giving a damn about the president being qualified for his job?

Nevertheless, let's be damn clear about this: we've picked a strong, smart guy from a working-class background, young, good-looking, a family man, a senator, a Harvard law professor, a constitutional expert with a sense of humor and a mean free-throw. He's an accomplished guy and a terrific candidate, and they know it. They are pissed. America is ready to give the good guys a chance.

[turner5spot]

I think Biden is a great choice. Sure he's a just a crusty old entrenched white guy that has been in the senate forever, but he does fill the Obama voids. He knows about foreign policy, he's not an elitist, and he seems to actually like the country. He may even know how many states there are (in case Barry gets tripped up with that question).

Barry fills in some of Biden's weaknesses also. He's not a bigot, or a pompous windbag. Best yet, he may be able to introduce Joe to some more "articulate" and "clean" African Americans. Evidently, those are a rare breed in old bigotted Joe's mind.

[skaterdon66]

All of you just don't get it...the American people will not elect someone as radical as Obama....McGovern got swamped....Dukakis (the tank commander), lost....Gore in 2000,(oh forgot, the GOP stole that one), and Kerry in 04...none of these are America's "cup of tea." The Dems will control congress...the GOP will have the WH...gridlock & bickering will continue.... Pelosi and Reid will snipe and whine..and don't forget ..they presided over the most "do-nothing" congress in our history...so get used to it.. The silver lining is that we get to keep more of our earnings, with Obama still in the senate.!!

[Truthortradition]

The fact that Obama picked good old Joe for his running mate is just further proof to me that the Democratic party has a practice of placating women so they can get their vote----------but they continue to dismiss us as true leaders. Sure, they gave Nancy Pelosi a high seat on the throne, but for the most part, men like Obama and Joe clearly feel women should continue to sit at the back of the bus.
I know that McCain prefers that we push the bus----so he's not my choice either.
Bottomline, I'm disenfranchised. I hope Hillary supporters raise H E L L at the convention.

[lamar]

It's just the same old thing, over and over and over...every candidate is for CHANGE. Let's get behind CHANGE..got any spare CHANGE??? Meanwhile the only thing that actually changes is the amount of money in the pockets of the corporations. It grows and grows, and we don't even have any real names to put with the faces we never see. We see the good old boys, over and over again. Smiling and acting like they care about the issues in our lives. If we're willing to believe the TV...then we deserve everything we get. I don't hear alot of uproar about the selective counting of the votes we cast.. I don't hear much about the extraordinary gas prices we've become accustomed to while Exxon imakes more profits than ever before..What I hear is boring boring boring, just like Biden. What is he gonna change?

[WereAllInThisTogether]

I agree. Lets give up. Corporations blah blah blah.... White Male Power structure blah blah blah....

Grow Up.

Obama/Biden 08

[Sebastian11]

Stop squawking and get to work. Do you want another 4 years of Bush? You will get your chance when the right woman comes along. Obama had to choose the candidate that best helps him reclaim the White House from the bandits. Women will be in a much better position with Obama and Biden in the White House. If you feel you have bad now, consider 4 more years of Bush. A nightmare!!!

[Think82]

Biden authored the Violence Against Women Act

[KarenJW]

Barack Obama as President of the United States with Joe Biden as his running mate, what an amazing opportunity for America! It is so sad to see the depth of racism in America. There is no reason that the polls should be close in this race, given the marked disparity between the candidates, the American economy, the war in Iraq, America's standing globally .............. The media's portrayal of Senator Obama, the man that we Americans supposedly "don't know", is a complete and utter spin of the truth! The fact is, the Republicans and media do "know", but everything they know is positive. There's nothing scandalous that they can run with so they've resorted to any and everything to distract the American public from the real deal......­......Bara­ck Obama, is good for America. John McCain IS George Bush! Barack Obama has the respect of the rest of the world.....­....jealou­s Republicans can call him a celebrity, superstar, whatever! Republicans only wish that McSleep could receive a fraction of the positive feedback that Obama does.

Senator Obama, the black man in this race, knows that the pressure and negativity that he receives has its roots in racism, pure and simple! He and Biden need to step up their game.........if they want to win they need to fight fire with fire. When they take up office in the White House, President Obama and Vice President Biden can effectively implement a new style of politics..­..........­.........b­ut they have to get in first!

[turner5spot]

Maybe Obama can introduce Joe to a few more "articulate" and "clean" African Americans. Evidently, they are a pretty rare breed in the bigotted mind of Joe Biden..

[WereAllInThisTogether]

could it be he called Obama articulate because Obama is an intelligent and Ivy League Educated politician who is, dare i say it, articulate?

[mach]

MR. RUSSERT: I want to go back to 2002, because it’s important as to what people were saying then and what the American people were hearing. Here’s Joe Biden about Saddam Hussein: “He’s a long term threat and a short term threat to our national security.”

“We have no choice but to eliminate the threat. This is a guy who is an extreme danger to the world.”

“He must be dislodged from his weapons or dislodged from power.” You were emphatic about that.

SEN. BIDEN: That’s right, and I was correct about that. He must be, in fact—and remember the weapons we were talking about. I also said on your show, that’s part of what I said, but not all of what I meant. What I also said on your show at the time was that I did not think he had weaponized his material, but he did have. When, when the inspectors left after Saddam kicked them out, there was a cataloguing at the United Nations saying he had X tons of, X amount of, and they listed the various materials he had. The big issue, remember, on this show we talked about, was whether he had weaponized them. Remember you asked me about those flights that were taking place in southern Iraq, where—were they spraying anthrax? And, you know, what would happen?

[roninracer]

The only thing that really concerns me about Biden is illustrated in the following article:
http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquirer/news/2008/08/25/obama-picks-hollywood-sock

This guy's record of backing censorship and privacy is pathetic.

[sf94127]

Obama has failed to make peace with the Clintons, failed miserably and it will very likely cost him the election. Don't blame the Clintons, they are the ones who Obama disrespected through stupid pettiness.

So if he can't make peace with the Clintons how is he going to fare with Russia and Iran?

NoBama.

[missmuffette]

What?
Bill & Hill are not king and queen of the effin' world, Obama doesn't need to go around kissin' Bill's HUGE egotistical butt...
By the way 60+ ladies, stop blaming Obama for Hillary losing it was the lack of planning and execution in the Hillary campaign. It's a fact she, lost the nomination a long time ago by losing her lead after Iowa, do some research, you'll find that Hillary NEVER had a plan past the first 2 primaries, she thought she had it in the bag and didn't had a plan B, she blew it end of story! Oh, my the way Hillary hired her friend, Patti Solis Doyle to be her campaign manager, a person who never ran a campaign EVER, who does that? A person how doesn't have the judgment to lead!

What I would say to Bill "big baby" Clinton (not so much Hillary) and you is get over yourself.

By the way, if Hillary is such a role model for women and a hero of feminism, why would she stay with her infamously philandering husband!?! Unless she got something out of it... like oh, say, the presidency? I would have ten thousand times more respect for her if she would have left bill.

Oh, and don't get me started on the ethical issues surrounding HRC, ie: Travelgate, Filegate, White Water, etc...

A Mama 4 Obama!

[eddiebly]

If Hillary's 18 million supporters are so great, they why cant they retire her damn debt?
Then they are mad at Obama because he will not release his mailing list of donors WTF?

First of all Obama is busy running for President if she hadn't noticed.
Second Obama probably told her I aint releasing anything until you release your delegates.

HE WHO HAS THE GOLD MAKES THE RULEZ!!!
Obama is being gracious considering he is holding all the marbles.

[sf94127]

You are the proto-typical OLover: you hate Hillary more then McCain.
Keep going, you will elect McCain. Thanks in advance.

[Laserbeam]

"Hate" was only mentioned by you. I've now read two of your posts, and both seem to be aimed at fostering discontent - at the least. What conclusion does my mind find most likely? That you are a troll, and are "failing miserably" at your efforts to breed more misery. Thank goodness.

[ilovemydoggy]

Doesn't Biden seem boring? I don't see a lot of charisma, do you? Is it just me?

Baby boomer viewpoints: http://www.Vaboomer.com

[Nancyok]

Not at all! I've lived in Delaware the last 15 years and Joe is anything but. No one can make Obama's inspirational abilities, but you'll see. Joe's forte is not the big speech...it's the spontaneous biting, spot-on responses that his opponents don't see coming. He will rock the VP debate.

Plus our allies love him and respect his candor and world view.

[roninracer]

his "world view" is a bit short-sighted especially when it comes to the internet IMHO.

[jojojo]

I think he has enormous charisma of a sort different from Obama, which is perfect, no?

Biden's a guy who grew up poor, and who took a second mortgage on his house to put his kids through college. He understands regular people and, more important, looks and sounds like he understands regular paycheck-t­o-paycheck people. Those blue-collar folks will identify with him because he really is like them, from the same roots. Obama comes from humble roots too, but, let's face it, doesn't often sound that way.

I think Biden is a fine choice, both because he helps get Dem ticket elected, and also because he actually is an admirable, very highly qualified leader and legislator.

He's also outspoken in a tough way that'll cover Obama's back against smears.

[TrooAmerican]

Biden is Awesome! you should go out to his website and check some of his speeches on his youtube channel there.
The man speaks truth and dignity while showing one of the BEST underlying senses of Understanding and Empathy of Any legislator.
Joe Biden has integrity and character at the top of the ladder. He quite possibly could be one of the most moral, compassionate, sensible, and wise elected politicians of our lifetimes.

[roninracer]

"Joe Biden has integrity and character at the top of the ladder. He quite possibly could be one of the most moral, compassionate, sensible, and wise elected politicians of our lifetimes."

If this is the case then why has he sided consistently with the RIAA and MPAA in their pursuits to control and censor your use of the internet?

He won't stop until the Hollywood corporations can control your internet use or put you in jail.

Try again please!

[Laserbeam]

Yes, it's just you.

[Nancyok]

I have one word to say to anyone who gets in your face about Barack picking Joe in some way highlighting a supposed weakness on foreign affairs:

LEADERSHIP

It takes a strong leader to surround himself with wisdom and strong personalities and differing backgrounds and opinions, so that they can cull that wisdom from many sources to make sound judgements. I realize that most Republicans aren't very familiar with this L-word, so you may have to educate them a little.

Being a leader doesn't mean just being the "decider" as much as it means being the "listener and thinker". It means sometimes compromising and (oh here is one they definitely might need some help with) INSPIRING people to work together towards a common good.

It's called Leadership…and I'm pretty comfortable that my Presidential choice is just elite enough to understand complicated concepts like this!