I'm Just Sayin': The Idiotic "Biden Undercuts Change" Argument
The most idiotic punditbabble we've heard in the wake of Barack Obama's choice of Joe Biden -- advanced by the AP's Ron Fournier, NBC's David Gregory and others as if they were channeling John McCain's talking points -- is the notion that Biden undercuts Obama's message that it's time for a change.
Exhibit A, in this silly argument, is Biden's 35 years in the United States Senate. The simplistic formulation argues that because Biden is an old hand in Washington, he undermines Obama as a standard-bearer for change.
First of all, consider the absurdity of the suggestion that a brilliant, young, black president wouldn't represent an historic, transforming leap forward in American politics. On its face, this is nothing more than Rovian hyperspin.
Barack Obama personifies change -- no matter who his running-mate is.
But there's a further point (and thanks to Newsweek's Howard Fineman for picking up on it): That what Biden represents is a guy - perhaps uniquely qualified - to implement the change that Obama represents.
With his knowledge of the ways of Washington, his vast experience in the Senate, his insider savvy, Biden brings to the Democratic ticket a glimmer of hope that all the things Obama wants to accomplish - from foreign affairs and health care to economic and tax policy - might actually get done in the next administration.
McCain's people desperately did not want Obama to pick Biden for precisely this reason, along with the fact that Biden actually knows McCain, he's an Irish Catholic from Scranton, he's a family man who can rub elbows in union halls and he's a terrific debater and attack surrogate.
Without someone like Biden on the ticket - with a governor perhaps or a less effective senator - Obama risked looking like a dreamer, not a doer. But with Biden at his side, the Democratic ticket suddenly can offer itself as a pragmatic, can-do engine for change.
Biden doesn't detract from the message of change: he drives it home.
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great article. i couldn't agree more.
Yes, and don't forget, Biden thought McCain would make a great vice-president for Kerry. Obama must have liked Biden's clean comment about him.
Joe was right that a bipartisan ticket would have been a game-changer for America. As for the clean articulate African-American comment, that was Joe with his foot in his big mouth, big-time, but there's much more to him than a single gaffe.
Although it was insensitive on a broader sense, the "African American" comment ascribed many positive attributes to Obama (in such a way that it could be seen as a sleight against Jackson/Sharpton/Braun-Mosley/etc. IF that's how you want to take it). I don't know why Obama would be concerned on an interpersonal level.
More importantly: Biden's colleagues, of every race, have said that it was awkwardly worded but that they know - from years of close working relationships - that there were two interpretations and the intent was the positive one, not the negative.
Well, I'd say the fact that Obama picked him despite the clumsy comment should put an end to any claims that Obama is oversensitive to anything that can be construed as racist. DespiteObama has NOT played the race card, but McCain sure is playing that POW card as if it's the only one in the deck.
Although McCain and Edwards exhibit the same lack of morality or "straight talk"
ie Cheating on wife. Hindsight shows he would have been a better pick than Edwards. North Carolina went repug.
Obama needs not only the great mind of Biden but his knownledge of the Political Landscape.
Where the bodies are buried is what I mean. After all these years he know too much and he knows who is envoluved.
Biden is a self made man he does not owe anyone so the freedom will allow him to help Obama bring real change.
But first get back our CONSTITUTION and our Bill Of RIGHTS!!!!!!!!
You're right.
I'll admit, my knee-jerk reaction was that Biden stepped on Obama's message. But after about 5 minutes thinking, i concluded, as you have, that Obama will need someone like Biden, who has a long history with his fellow congressmen, in order to implement real changes in Washington.
Spot on! Obama has the vision and Biden can make it happen.
Obama/Biden 08
Thank you. It really is a dream ticket. Biden was my first choice waaaay back in 1988. I originally was thinking Edwards/Biden or Biden/Edwards this time around, but thank goodness for Barack Obama's brilliant campaign.
Excellent.
Biden - gotta love him.
Obama /Biden --- time to cruise to the big house and report for duty.
OOPS
That election come November - just to let everyone know - it will be the biggest blow out Republican defeat EVER!!!
Let them vote... but the outcome is a sure thing.
Obama / Biden 08
I hope it is a blow out. If it isn't the Republicans will cheat as they have in the past. I still wonder if despite whatever outcome, if bush will transfer power. The guy has to know that what he has done has been grounds for treason. He's destroyed this country, our militairy and the lives of 100,000's in his illegal interventions.
...thank you very much....i couldn't agree more....i'm tired of the pundits "creating" news with the kind of blathering they do (especially david "dancing-with-karl" gregory)....i especially love it when they report what someone says..and then "interpets" it for them and us...whatever happened to the 4th branch of government? they are more like stenographers shilling for the "maverick" guy or the current resident and his ilk....if anyone doubts that check out the ap washington bureau chief, fournier's latest....
All the older anchors on the networks are negative, snide and sarcastic. Most of the times I mute the tv unless its Keith O and Rachel M.
They ask stupid questions and literally make issues of non issues insulting my intelligence on a daily basis. They all need re-training for modern day 2008.
The funny part is even with the mute on I can spot a Mc Cain clone. Look deep ...they have 'old spirits and mechanically spout the same old 'lyrics'.
I agree with you so much, the MSM hasn't produced or reported on any 'NEWS' in years..
If you remember Rathers interview with Moyers, they, the reporters are all more interested in keeping their millionaire life style of big house, long vacations and expensive cars and schools and clothes.... God forbid they should live a working class lifestyle...
Gregory looked like an automaton as he delivered that stupid idea, like he had someone's hand up his backside .
It fell pretty flat amongst the 4 people he was sharing air with, like they all wondered where Gregory was getting his koolaid from.
Ummm, that's how David Gregory always looks.
He is pretty much just a mouth piece for what passes as "conventional wisdom"
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