Obama Shouldn't Bide His Time On Biden

It was supposed to be self-deprecating, but like all jokes, it had a kernel of truth to it. Joe Biden plaintively observed at the Governors' meeting in Philadelphia on Tuesday that "Since the race is over, no one pays attention to me at all." Forget Barack Obama's cabinet picks on foreign policy. They're not the problem. Giving Biden the shaft is.

Perhaps Obama has a role in mind for Biden. But so far, there's no evidence that he does. Instead, Biden appears to be relegated back to the old, passive role of stand-in for the president. George H.W. Bush became famous for attending funerals on Ronald Reagan's behalf. Does Obama have something more planned for Biden?

Biden's wealth of experience in the Senate, where he chaired the foreign relations committee and oversaw an excellent staff, mandates that Obama tap him to play a major role in foreign policy meetings. Biden is intimately familiar with world leaders and could play a big role in repairing relations with Europe. No, he shouldn't have the kind of powers that Dick Cheney exercised. But that's not even a remote possibility given the kind of firepower that Obama has assembled in his cabinet.

Instead, Biden should have an equal voice, but he seems to be fading into the woodwork. The danger is that he'll simply serve as a decorative ornament in the Obama administration, wheeled out to help defend policies that he has played little, if any role, in devising. Maybe Obama is just biding his time on Biden. But it would be more comforting if there were clear signs that Biden will assume more than a token role.

Comments

[zenaby56]

I would have voted for Biden if he had made it through the primaries. I am verrrrry interested to find out what his role will be. I'd like to see more of him, if not talking, at least standing around with Obama. If they truly have a team, then, let's see the team. Biden has too much to offer to not be more visible.

[LizM]

Biden has too much to offer not to be more vocal!

[Cambridge9]

Have we forgotten that when President-elect Obama chose Joe Biden as his running mate it was because Biden is the kind of man who will give his best opinions and be in the room when decisions are made. That's good enough for me!!

[mikep007]

Will the author of this rant-article please note that it is not day one yet for the Obama administration. Please withold your judgement till 6 months after the they begin in January.

[Jezreel]

I'm sure VP -elect Biden appreciates your concern for his political future, Jacob Heilbrunn. You may be surprised to learn that the President-elect and Vice President-elect worked out their relationship and responsibilities before he accepted the position. Mr. Biden is a very intelligent and highly skilled politician. His experience and intellect are valuable assets to the Obama-Biden administration.

Joe Biden is neither naive nor lacking in intellectual capital and he would not have given up his very influential and secure Senate position for the VP slot if he did not believe he would have another base of power and influence in the new administration.

Also, I think you may have read too much into Mr. Biden's comments to Gov. Palin. My take was that Biden was contrasting the Gov.'s apparent growing celebrity status with his own very substantive position as America's next VP. His sphere of influence and power has actually increased since the election. But she remains in the spotlight - which makes her appear vacuous and overly ambitious.

Judging by her comments after the governors met with Obama and Biden, Palin also understood Biden's comments that way. She said, and I'm paraphrasing now; I tried to convince the American people that governors make better Presidents because we have executive experience. Obviously, the people were not convinced. That's why we now have VP-elect Biden instead of me.

[ManyColored]

Look, Biden has a track record of putting his foot in his mouth publicly. But he has a lot of experience, particularly in foreign policy. Therefore the best course of action is to let him give a lot of private input while staying away from public statements. That doesn't mean he will be relegated to the back room. It just means that he will be used where common sense dictates he can serve the most effectively, in private negotiating with the Senate on legislation (one-on-one), and with whoever he can work with in private. Hardly ignoring him.

[LizM]

...continued...

But, the state of journalism or the idiotic storyline on Biden that those who purport to practice it have produced and cultivated is not what I find most distressing today. What I find most disheartening is the number of people who so easily and uncritically buy into - hook, line and sinker - the media-conceived and driven national and multi-faceted myth of epic proportions that has plagued Biden throughout this presidential primary and election season and, indeed, through much of his distinguished career.

Of course, I am not surprised that such an inaccurate assessment of who Joe Biden is and what he is all about is so pervasive. It is entirely understandable because when the media, particularly the national press, and their precious pundits are not ignoring Biden, they are dismissing his leadership and denigrating his statesmanship by their constant misinterpretation and out-of-context reporting of his words and actions.

Still, I find it absolutely incredible that so many who know so little about Joe Biden can presume to know so much about the man. I remain hopeful, however, that during the course of the next several years more people will come to recognize, understand and appreciate the wise leadership and experienced statesmanship of Vice President Biden.

[LizM]

I think you may have Biden pegged all wrong, MC.

The media and blogosphere have a track record of being wholly incapable of understanding a word Senator/VP-elect Biden says - the vast majority of them are just not smart enough.

Joe Biden, on the other hand, has a long history of intelligent and insightful analyses on any number of critical national security, foreign/domestic policy and constitutional issues always infused with honesty, candor and integrity. He also has been blessed with a refreshing sense of humor, especially of the self-deprecating kind, which is also often misinterpreted by a largely lazy and incompetent media and blogosphere.

...continued...

[Pulemerci]

Joe Biden is very smart with a high IQ. Just ask him.
You see, it's the people who think they are smart (and actaully have to tell people how smart tthey are) when they are no smarter than you or I, that are the most dangerous. Fortunately he will be gearing up for ceremonies and funerals and won't be any where near the situation room.

[JJK]

I agree with the Poster who observed that Biden would have worked his role out with Obama before he accepted the nomination.

My view is that, since Rahm Emanuel has no visible foreign policy credentials and indeed has already been embarrassed in that area by comments made by his father, Biden will be the Consensu Builder and Conciliator for the outspoken and opinionated Foreign Policy team that Obama has put together. He knows and, more importantly, has worked with all of the major players over the years.

[diogeron]

Give Biden AND Obama more credit. Biden is far too experienced to not have talked about this with Obama before taking the nomination. Also, at this point, do the people who want "change" really give a damn about the traditional roles of the VPs, like Mondale or Cheney?

[Mildmannered]

Bush has left our country in such terrible condition that there are scores and scores of important, vital things which our federal government needs to do. Don't worry Joe, there will be plenty for you to do.

[Pulemerci]

Biden had a role, to give Obama's thin resume some creds. He will be relegated to state funerals and ceremonies from now on. They won't let him near a mic due to his verbosity and propensity to commit incredible gaffes. See you in 4 years Joe.

[SparkyDash]

I see...sounds like you have some ax to grind. You're giving Biden a lot of power over you-something he doesn't need nor want. He is a far bigger person than you.

[basschakra]

let's see...smart cabinet picks, smartly run campaign, smart person period, but yet he forgot to discuss with BIDEN, his 1st selection overall, what role he'd play in his admin!!??!! you're not serious right???

(so does my edited version make it past moderation this time??) ;o)

[basschakra]

it's laughable that my Campbell Brown comparison in regards to this article would halt my previous post!!???!! (kinda free speech within your rules i would think) regardless, thanks for the edited post.

[lisakaz2]

I think you're right. The msm is trying to stir up trouble. Just because he isn't in the msm every day doesn't mean he isn't doing anything. Why has Biden been in Chicago. Isn't he helping with the cabinet picks? I think ppl oughta cool their jets. He hasn't even been inaugerated yet.

[notconfindtweenhatnboots]

Anyone who thinks that GHWB just sat around waiting for world leaders to die, so he could pack up his black suit and umbrella is, I think, rather naive.

GHWB was the former long-term director of the CIA and still had those connections as well as his hand in other branches of the government. It's reasonable to believe that he played a role much more like
Bush's current VP does- but did it much more subtlely and competently.

[LeonBNJ]

Obama chose Biden mainly to shore up his weakness in international issues. I suspect that Biden will be a key advisor to Obama in that area, a connection to the Senate and key Senators who he worked with. I suspect his will be a very important, perhaps behind the scenes role. Yes, I suspect he will have to do the funeral rounds of certain active and past political leaders, especially those not of top allies, but that is part of the VP's job as any President already had a full table of issues to deal with.

[RangeofLight]

The goofy, clumsy, weird Biden is going to find things mighty lonely out there away(Thank you, God !) from the only job he's ever had: US Senator. Think Dan Quayle II. Bu-Byeeee, Joe.

[lafrance]

I think things were discussed long ago about Biden's role. I seriously doubt he is going to be twiddling his thumbs and attending funerals.
It's likely his role is just not that obvious right now or doesn't come into play that much until after he actually gets into office.

[den1953]

Vice President Biden is there because he is a steady no BS guy he will tell it like it is and will get along with anyone he is down to earth and is everything Cheney ain't! He will get the job done and do it right with out reservations.

[CalliDem]

As much as I like Joe I don't trust him much anymore. When he stood up and made the comment about "guaranteeing" that Obama will be "tested" he lost my respect. I think BO recognized that Joe just doesn't know when to keep his mouth shut.

[LizM]

...continued...

He was warning those community leaders that the next President is going to inherit an extremely difficult set of challenges - a monumental mess on the scale of magnitude comparable to the "Augean stables", no less! (A classical reference wholly lost on the media, I might add) And, tough decisions are going to have to be made - decisions that may not appear at first to be either the right decisions or very popular. But, he told the audience, those decisions would be sound decisions. In fact, he warned Obama"s supporters that popular decisions would probably NOT be sound! He was, in essence, urging and pleading with the audience to understand this and to not only stick with the President during such times but to be vocal and public about their support for him when the iron hits the fire.

Senator Biden"s message was both profound and powerful and, in the final analysis, a remarkable validation of Barack Obama and of the exceptional President that he would be. In other words, Senator Biden has your back, Barack! Sadly, based on his own comments following the press coverage of these remarks, the President-elect may not know this.

It is obvious, from the barrage of their misguided reporting, that Biden"s critics, throughout the media and blogosphere, have not even bothered to listen to his full remarks. But, truth be known, they wouldn"t have understood them anyway.

[RussellH]

Thank you for giving us clarity and context that the MSM did not give! Even though the McCain campaign tried to use his out-of-context comment on Obama being tested as grist for their smears, they failed. How fitting that "failure" is now the watchword for the Republican party!

[JTCan]

Well said! Biden just doesn't get the media coverage most of the time. He IS holding meetings of his own. I think he and Obama have defiantely worked out where he will be most effective....his credentials are too strong for Obama not to have recognized his usefulness where ever he is needed.

[Jezreel]

LizM your commentsare spot on. Thanks for takingtime to thoughtfully and tactfully add context and meaning to our VP's previous comments. He was right and so are you.

[SparkyDash]

Liz, you're my friggin' hero

[LizM]

...continued...

In addition to all of that, you must also know what Senator Biden actually said - words and context matter and, so far, the critics have rarely reported the comments in question accurately or completely.

Senator Biden has a long history of studying how the international community - friend and foe, alike - respond to new American leaders. He was pretty much guaranteeing that there would be an international crisis of some sort, possibly emanating from any number of hot spots around the globe, within the first six months of an Obama/Biden administration - of ANY administration, to be sure, but...remember the audience!

...continued...

[LizM]

CalliDem,

Predictably, Senator Biden"s remarks to an influential group of Obama donors and supporters have been completely misinterpreted by the vast majority of the media and blogosphere. They have failed to understand the underlying crux of the matter that was so forcefully and eloquently outlined by Senator Biden.

Senator Biden"s comments were not only forceful and eloquent, but they were bang on, as per usual. In order to understand the meaning of what he said, you must first know who his audience was. This was a gathering of select Obama donors and supporters who are leaders in their own right with influence in their respective communities.

Secondly, you have to understand that Senator Biden is the leader among Democrats - and Republicans, for that matter - on issues related to foreign policy and national security and know that his impeccable and unimpeachable credentials are second to none. He has served with seven Presidents - up close and personal - and has dealt with world leaders and parliamentarians for the better part of the last 35 years.

...continued...

[lafrance]

CalliDem, and Biden also said they will find out obama has a spine of steel.
Did you forget that.
You know the media loves to cherry pick soundbites.

[SparkyDash]

Sounds like CalliDem also likes to cherrypick soundbites or let the media and McCain ads rule thoughts.