Careful, Joe! "Smart Woman" Jokes a Dicey Game

To begin with, let me say that Joe Biden was not my first choice for the number-two spot on the Democrats' ticket. First, he's not a woman. Second, he didn't do the job when it was his turn to grill the two most dangerous Supreme Court nominees (now justices) in recent times: Samuel Alito and John Roberts. Third, he's prone to making gaffes.

That said, Biden did a reasonably good job today in Springfield, Illinois, showing what he brings to the Obama campaign -- until he got the end. Speaking of his wife, Jill, he described her as drop-dead gorgeous. Nothing wrong with that. Who wouldn't want to be described as such by his or her partner? Then he said, that she "has her doctorate degree, and that's a problem."

It was obviously a failed attempt at humor. Or perhaps I'm just a humorless feminist. Either way, one can only hope this isn't a harbinger of gaffes to come.

The best part? Without a doubt, the sight of Michelle Obama and Jill Biden embracing, hand-holding and seeming to genuinely enjoy each other's company. How often do we get to see a black woman and a white woman like that? Black and white women have waded through a torrent of troubled waters in America. We've never quite recovered from the sexual politics of the plantation. Looking at the contenders for First and Second Lady, I caught a glimmer of redemption.

Follow Adele Stan on Twitter: www.twitter.com/addiestan

Comments

[Ladyteguesian]

I heard the comment wen he said it.. What I came away with was that he regards her as smarter than he is.. It was a great attempt at humor.

[BarrytheWuss]

Joe Bidden Is a smart man who will chew Repugs up and spit them out. However he is a poor choice for VP. The only way to unite the party and win was with Hillary Clinton as the VP. Apparently Barry does not have the backbone we all thought he had.

[lisakaz2]

Totally disagree. In fact, he would have looked weak by picking her. The Dem party ppl think she's important -- fine. But independents hate her and he wants a bigger tent supporting him. The line: did he need her cojones? Sorry.

[scurryscurryandyshere]

With all due respect, I think you missed the point entirely. The joke was in reference to the inevitable "elitist" attacks that come as a result of being educated, like Hillary campaigning in Pennsylvania. Also, the joke got laughs. Watch the tape.

[lisakaz2]

That makes sense. Thanks for pointing it out as a viable interpretation.

[ButterflyWeed]

I was there in Springfield. The love Joe and BO have for their wives is palpable. In a deeper realm, having a woman educator with a PhD is a 'problem' for American public education as it currently is. I hope Jill Biden's problematic intelligence is unleashed on elevating our nation's attention to improving our current public school system.

Jill and Michelle are role models which feministists (like me) and others will benefit from repeatedly. Balancing home, family and career while helping a nation into 21st century goals is no easy task.

I took Joe's humorous comment to imply he has to report to her. I accept that as a good thing. Thanks for calling him to task, as he'll soon have us to report to also.

[gobarackgo]

Joe Biden: FIGHTING FOR CHANGE!

[kokuaguy]

I'm a man and it's obvious you're a Clinton Hater or a woman hater. Senator Clinton would have won the nomination if the fraudulent "crusader for the poor" / fair-haired-boy ambulance chaser had not been in the Ohio Caucus and the NH Primary. Likewise if the delegates were awarded like the delegates in the Republican primaries were, or like the electoral college for that matter. All the reasons that make it sensible for Obama to have chosen Biden apply to Hillary Clinton. I love the young man dearly (and I'm a fan of Joe as well); and I also think Barak will make a great president, but I'd have respected him more if he'd offered the slot to her. If she didn't work out he could always drop her in 2012.

[Nym]

Likewise if that multihouseguy would withdraw, she would have the easy way to the whitehouse she deserves.

[badgerbabe]

Have you never heard of the Violence Against Women Act? Joe Biden is the architect of this legislation that provides the resouces for women to get out of violent relationships every day. The Hillary High Horse is so self absorbed.

[Dianora]

That's a sad world you live in where white women and black women aren't friends. Glad it's not the world I'm living in....

[turangaziza]

Yeah, despite my problem with Biden's comment, I agree that this statement by the author was way out of touch. Also, her disapproval of Biden based solely on gender is simplistic and takes a huge bite out of her credibility.

Adele, you make a good point, but detract from it with this other stuff!

[turangaziza]

Smart women are scary! Get it? They're a danger to the social order! Ha ha! It was meant as a joke! Lighten up! Don't let your slaves learn how to read, am I right folks? I'll be here all week...

That comment pissed me off. For those of you who would say, "shut up, we need to win this election," well, is that how we want to do it? By suppressing dissent in the ranks, Rove style? By relying on talking points memos from Roger Ailes to ensure we're all spewing the same lines? Not to mention, you're just adding to a slap in the face with another slap in the face - not only should I keep to my place and limit my education like a nice marriageable girl, I should allow such an insult to slide by and be silent for fear of spoiling the nice well-meaning gentleman's opportunity to govern me?

I promise you, I want Bush out as much as anyone. Fortunately I'm a woman who's smart enough to be critical of political discourse and support Obama for president at the same time. Is that a problem, too?

[PumaAnn]

The Boy's Club will like that joke. I'm with you. It's sexism.

[lucky54]

But putting up with cheating husband as Hill did is not a sexizm ?? I am glad I don't live by your rules.

[AgeofReason]

Isn't it possible that he was referring to it being a problem because of the "elitist" argument? What percentage of Americans have PhD's? I thought he was adorable when he started talking about his wife.

[charlygardel]

I agree. My first reaction to his "drop dead gorgeous" comment was identical to that of my wife: Biden clearly loves his wife of 20 (?) years and is excited to be sharing this great moment with her. I thought that the "doctorate" comment was a bit awkward way of saying "and she has the brains to match" -- something that obviously wouldn't come across on camera -- and the rest simply a realization that by saying that now she will be pinned as an 'egghead elitist' because she has an education.

For a Republican to have a PhD is a sign of how analytical, smart, logical and well-informed they are. For a Democrat to have a PhD is a sign of how out of touch, all-book-n­o-real-wor­ld they are, and how snobbishly elitist they are. Double standard? Yes. Also applies to actors, who are idiots when Dems, but presidents and governors when Repubs.

[SEQUOIABISON]

Lets not go overboard in finding non-existent petty faults with our candidates, democratic woman have to get over their gender bias and start supporting the ticket.

We all realize Joe can be a loose cannon but this is a fresh start a new beginning and so far Biden has said absolutely nothing wrong, so lets find things that are praiseworthy instead of fabricating problems.

Obama/Biden

[Texvol]

I vote for humorless feminist. Let me add that given the enormity of the damage that a McCain administration is likely to inflict on America in general and the progressive agenda in particular, this is hardly worth commenting on even if I'm wrong. Let's get some perspective, people, and start focusing on the important issues of the day rather trivial slights, real or imagined.

[OleSmartee]

Biden is an extreme chauvenist that is going to plant foot in mouth before the week is out. He's racist -- remember the "Indians in 7-11's and Dunkin Donuts" comment? -- and more snobbishly elitist than any of us now realize.

I'm worried.

And it's not to late to nominate Hillary, and let her pick Barack for VP. Think, people, think!

[rosecar]

You people are ridiculious and if that happened I would not vote for her. You are the racist. Some of us don't think we have to wait our turn.

[jazmatician]

+10 points, "Concern troll"

[ignrnthllblly]

Certainly hope you are not humorless--but Biden's failed attempt failed because the overwhelming majority of hearers lack the frame of reference necessary: being married (sans doctorate) to someone who has been awarded a doctorate. Her gender was irrelevant to the playful jibe. I can recall a pair of married professors from my college days who would meet in the halls between classes and exchange pleasantries--all the while addressing each other as "doctor" as if nothing other than their "formal" relation obtained. Perhaps more people would have understood Biden had he lapsed in '70s slang and said, "It's a trip."

[ndem]

Actually the one thing that worries me about the Obama/Biden ticket is precisely the fact that the wives appeal to me more than the husbands...and some of the big backers of Obama tend to be these same kinds of guys who may SEEM to like an intelligent woman, but don't want them to lead.

Why was it so difficult for Obama to choose a woman? To me it would have made all the difference in the world.

Things REALLY begin to change when women are in decision-making positions.

[southernsepia]

What is it about you ladies that make you think you are owed a place without earning it?

Obama won because he was the best candidate, when a woman happens to be the best candidate she will win.

I am a woman but I find it hard to associate myself with you political whiner ladies - give me, give me!

The choice was his to make, support the candidate or vote for the other guy.

[Passenger57]

There were two women in the running : Sebillius(­spelling?) and Clinton.Obama would have caught flak for choosing a relative unknown in Sebillius,and Clinton...if she hadn't "kitchen-sinked" Obama during the primary,he probably would have picked her.The same argument that McCain is using-that Biden said that Obama wasn't ready-Clinton did 10,000 times worse.Biden voted for the war;so did Clinton. Biden has more experience that Clinton as well.
Obama made the best choice.

[eggman]

Condoleeza Rice, Margaret Thatcher, Evita Peron, Nancy Pelosi, Golda Meir, Cleopatra, Sandra Day O'Connor.

Nope. Nothing about these decision-makers suggests that women in leadership positions are remarkably different from men.

"Decision-making position" is not how I would describe the role of Vice President anyway (Dick Cheney notwithstanding).

[jazmatician]

I'm sorry, if the sex of the person is the first thing you look at, you're sexist. By definition.