Don't Put a Muzzle on Biden
So Senator Joe Biden is the pick. The wait for the text message is over. Everyone can go back to their business.
The temptation for Barack Obama's team will be to keep Biden on a short leash, as the pundits have been advising. Senator Biden is notorious for speaking before he thinks, which often gets him into trouble and has plagued his political career. In 2006, for example, Biden displayed made an exceptionally insensitive comment when he said, in front of C-SPAN cameras, "in Delaware, the largest growth of population is Indian Americans, moving from India. You cannot go to a 7/11 or a Dunkin' Donuts unless you have a slight Indian accent. I am not joking."
Biden's penchant for poorly-thought out remarks violates an important characteristic for vice presidential candidates in this 24 hour, instant media age--pick someone who won't make an embarrassing mistake and turn into a liability for the campaign.
But Biden's quick verbal skills can be an asset for Democrats, and they should risk giving him room to speak his mind. The fact is that Democrats have not had a good "attack dog" as their vice presidential nominee for a long time. Just think of 2004, when Senator John Edwards sat there in a televised debate with his polished smile as Vice President Cheney systematically eviscerated his record and the Democratic Party in general.
Biden is a different kind of vice presidential candidate. During this campaign, Biden has offered some of the most biting comments about how Republicans have conducted the war on terrorism and foreign policy. In one debate, Biden offered a devastating critique of then Republican candidate Rudy Giuliani--and implicitly the entire Republican Party--when he said that all of Giuliani's sentences consisted of "a noun, a verb, and 9/11." Biden has called Bush's administration the "worst" in modern history with regards to foreign policy and argues that "every single thing they've touched has been a near disaster." He has been equally tough in his criticism of Senator John McCain. "The administration's policy and John McCain's view-- and I love him--are abject failures. We have never been weaker in relative terms than we are today," Biden said of their foreign policies.
This is the election when Democrats have the opportunity to go on the attack. The incumbent president is overwhelmingly unpopular, the economy is facing tough times, there is real confusion and uncertainty in foreign policy, and the Republican candidate only has tepid support from key factions in his own party.
From a strategic perspective, this is not the time for Democrats to play nice. Biden is the perfect candidate to take on this challenge, a man with a wealth of foreign policy expertise and political experience, yet a hardened politician who is willing to be as aggressive with the GOP as they have been with Democrats in recent elections. Democratic operatives should take the risk and give Biden some room to say the things that Obama himself probably can't say.
Julian E. Zelizer is a professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School. He is the co-editor of "Rightward Bound: Making America Conservative in the 1970s" (Harvard University Press) and is completing a book on the history of national security politics since World War II.
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Your reference to the 2004 VP debate did not go unnoticed. I remember the embarrassment of Edwards' smiling prettily, leaving a war criminal like Cheney in the role of Ward Cleaver talking down to the Beav. It was sickening.
I've seen Biden in action- Biden will not smile and stroke his hair like a schoolgirl on a date with the captain of the football team. Joe Biden will tear McCain's VP nominees arse off and hand it to him in an ashtray. I cannot wait to see it.
Obama/Biden 08!!!!!!
"tear McCain's VP nominees arse off and hand it to him in an ashtray"
A pretty image. Thanks!
To my thinking after absorbing the move by Senator Obama in picking Senator Biden is as follows Short and to the point.
Once more when I was loosing faith in my candidate he has shown the judgement that has made him our choice to lead this GREAT country back to where we were from. America!
I absolutely love an Obama/ Biden joint ticket. John McCain has been unrelenting on slamming Obama as confused, inexperienced, elitist, unpatriotic, naive, and vacuous. It's time for the dems to start slinging some mud McCain's way. Biden has a long enough memory to sling it right back at McCain and tear down the vile vitriol he has been spewing in his attempts to win at all costs.
Biden slams McCain and Bush, Al Qaeda in Iraq:
http://www
I agree good choice. Sometimes Obama cant say or do what needs to be done to get the truth out, but joe can..MCain has met his match.....
Amen!
Just one minor comment: It's "losing" not "loosing" (I am determined to get people to spell that correctly. Also, it's "judgment.
agreed. i'm an independent and was very unimpressed with obama, but i like biden and he would have been my pick for president. obama definitely scores points with me for this. i think i know who i'm voting for now.
Just heard Joe described as a towel snapper! LMAO!
Amen. Saddle up Joe. Its time to kick some Republican butt!
Biden will be the next person to shape US China policy and maybe our wallet. See his experience on China issues: - Defense; Taiwan; Trade; US Debt; Human Rights; Tibet: http://www
Indeed he will; no muzzle for Joe.
Independent for Obama/Biden '08
I agree ..........
Ergo the reason for the McCain attack ad against Biden right out of the gate, which certainly wasn't properly thought out.
IF BIDEN REALLY BELIEVES OBAMA IS NOT READY TO BE PRESIDENT, THEN WHY DID HE ACCEPT OBAMA'S OFFER TO BE THE VP CANDIDATE?
So McCain's attack ad FLOPPED the moment it was aired.
Biden will do what Obama is uncomfortable in doing ..........
OBAMA MADE A GREAT CHOICE IN CHOOSING BIDEN.
No-one is ever the PERFECT candidate, but Biden brings the RIGHT BALANCE to the ticket.
I fully support Joe because he has a proven record, but it's going to get tough. It's time to sit back and watch what happens at the convention.
Let loose, the hound. You'd better run, Johnny; Mr. Noun, Verb, and POW!!
We just need to make sure Biden spends more breath tearing down McSame than does talking about how great he himself is.
Biden's abilities speak for themselves. He has one of the least assailable resume's in Congress. That is unless measured against the criminal "Right Wing". The chickens will be coming home to roost. UHrah!!!!!
What's in McCain's resume that he achieved on his own? ..........
He has ALWAYS had to use CONNECTIONS in order to get anywhere in his life ..........
On his own what and where would McCain be right now? ..........
A retired civil servant who had a desk job, and who as Biden would say, is nothing more than just a NOUN, VERB, POW broken record....
We live in a world crafted by political correctness where speaking the truth is often considered offensive. With regard to Biden's Seven Eleven comment; have you taken a cab in New York City lately? Let Biden do what he does best, at least we'll have a straight talk express that actually talks straight.
Let 'er rip, Joe! Can't wait to see him take on the repubs at their own game.
Obama made the best choice, and it's a winning choice. Biden can say ALL the things Obama cannot. Obama does not look weak for picking Biden, quite the opposite - it shows he has enough confidence to pick someone who is strong in areas where he has less expertise.
Obama/Biden '08
A Winning Team
a whole lotta HOPE seasoned with some sharp SARCASM
works for me :)
It works for me too, Kellygrrrl!!!!
Independent for Obama/Biden '08
Kellygrrrl, Nice to see your aproval. One never knows which way you will come down in your posts.
I am very happy with the choice. No more roll over and play puppy!
Our opposition can go down with attacks on their entire political carreers. We do not even need to change words and make light of the candidates qualifications, their actions and statements and votes or lack thereof will be our loudest and most vicious attacks on these neo-cons.
Biden will TAKE IT TO THE CLINTONS and MCCAIN - and end their triangulation strategy against Barack Obama.
It takes a bully to deal with bullies. Perfect choice.
Quick! More tin foil... your hat's slipping.
http://www
August 23, 2008
Op-Ed Columnist
Voters Want More From Obama
By BOB HERBERT
“I refuse to sit back like we did in 2000 and 2004. This administration is the worst administration in American foreign policy in modern history — maybe ever. ... Every single thing they’ve touched has been a near-disas
A populist message and a willingness to take the fight to his opponent is Barack Obama’s ticket to the White House.
He’s got 10 weeks to show if he’s got the right stuff.
Bidens' not a bully, he's FEISTY!
You mean like Richie Cunninghams father? Feisty!
I bet he would be a bear in a fight! He could be on my side any time.
I agree Julian, not short leash ... UNLEASH. The country needs this an Obama victory.
Let Biden be Biden.
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