Why Joe Biden is Vital and the Right Choice
Associated Press Washington Bureau Chief Ron Fournier has a tough critique out on Barack Obama's choice of Joe Biden as his running mate.
A lot of folks are upset with Fournier. Some went as far to suggest that "FireFournier.com" is available for purchase.
This is going to be a long campaign and we should not be looking for orthodoxy among political pundits about what we are seeing evolve -- but we should be hoping for healthy back and forth debate about political choices and policy.
So my response to Ron Fournier is that he misreads what the Biden selection means in this race. Fournier writes that:
In picking Sen. Joe Biden to be his running mate, Barack Obama sought to shore up his weakness -- inexperience in office and on foreign policy -- rather than underscore his strength as a new-generation candidate defying political conventions.
He picked a 35-year veteran of the Senate -- the ultimate insider -- rather than a candidate from outside Washington, such as Govs. Tim Kaine of Virginia or Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas; or from outside his party, such as Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska; or from outside the mostly white male club of vice presidential candidates. Hillary Rodham Clinton didn't even make his short list.
Taking Fournier at face value -- Obama's decision to get someone to bolster his foreign policy/national security credentials seems like a darned smart move to me. We are entering a period of enormous national security challenges abroad and economic challenges at home. It's much easier for Obama to requisition the econ experience needed to promote health care, infrastructure, education, support for those hit hard by the real estate sub prime crisis, and the like.
National security advice is much more tough. It takes years of absorption of what the world has been doing to itself to understand how to organize an effective, disciplined strategic course for the United States -- particularly at a time when the Bush administration has wrecked whatever global equilibrium previously existed.
So, I applaud Obama for recognizing this. Fournier doesn't even mention the candidate who was neck and neck with Biden, Evan Bayh. While Bayh has many strengths, he seems to be someone who felt that conflicts and crises are great moments to seize as ways to define America's power and define the presidency. Bad call as far as I'm concerned. That's more "tough" than "smart" -- and Biden in contrast is a hybrid of both. Perhaps Fournier thought the same. . .he just doesn't say.
On the issue of supporting Sebelius or Kaine -- both impressive governors. They are nearly as new at all this as Obama. The only reason that either would have made sense is for a combination of regional, red-state oriented outreach combined with the intention that withdrawing form the international scene and focusing more exclusively on development at home was going to be the Obama package. I just think that would have been a mistake to forfeit to McCain the entire national security portfolio debate -- which picking Kaine or Sebelius might have done.
On Hagel, I love Chuck Hagel and would have loved to have seen him as Obama's vice presidential pick.
But Ron -- you are a smart analyst. How can you seriously suggest Hagel as Obama's choice when you know very well that Barack Obama has not "technically" won the nomination? Obama's nomination depends upon the continued support of "super delegates" whose loyalties and support will be declared at the Democratic Convention next week. Had Obama selected Hagel, a sliver perhaps just large enough of irritated super delegates might have abandoned Obama in favor of Hillary Clinton.
Had Obama won the nomination outright, I would have loved more serious consideration of Hagel.
And on Hillary Rodham Clinton, I have always thought that that a ticket with them both on it would be unbeatable. But at the same time, I think Obama and Clinton would have a dysfunctional relationship and dysfunctional presidency. I think that the Obama people failed to reach out as well as they might have to HillaryLand, and this was unfortunate. But I also know that the Clinton team had a lot of attitude issues that they didn't get over until perhaps too late to encourage serious consideration of Hillary.
But back to Joe Biden.
The fact of the matter is that Biden polls well with many groups of Americans -- particularly elder Americans, white working class Americans, African Americans, Juggler Moms, Hispanics, and Jewish-Americans.
Insider or not, Biden is liked by the country -- and he's smart.
And Fournier himself should remember what happened to Jimmy Carter when he tried to be the total outsider who was going to wreck Washington's ways and do it differently. He had no insider to help him maintain the success of looking like an outsider.
Barack Obama has just hired the guy who can not only continue to help Obama look fresh by helping to get the inside game into the right supportive patterns, he has hired someone who is not a knee-jerk, young study on national security issues who knows what poor shape America's global position is today.
There are many reasons why Joe Biden was exactly the right guy for Obama, but the biggest reason is that Biden's competence will help Obama be able to remain Obama.
None of the other candidates, from my perspective, would be able to deliver that as well.
-- Steve Clemons publishes the popular political blog, The Washington Note
Previously:
Joe Biden Gets Call (Maybe. . .) and Yells: "Where is Blinken?"
Joe Biden Won't Forget the Number of Houses He Owns
Why "Radio Silence" Can be a Good Thing in VP Selection
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I like Biden and think he will do a fine job as a candidate and later as a "veep." No doubt when a politician has been around as long as he has, you can always find things to criticize -- legislation he supported or failed to support, certain people he's connected to, character flaws, and so forth. But what matters most at this point only a few months from voting time isn't all that stuff because people hardly have the time or the energy to take it in. You need a bloke what's got not only talent but also some stage presence, someone who speaks with conviction about his ideals and plans. It's obvious that Biden is able to stand up in front of thousands, even millions, of people and sound convincing and animated; he's also good at criticizing McCain fiercely without resorting to "schoolboylike scoff" and brutality. Bill Clinton has this ability, and so does Barack. Most really top-notch pols have it. Some of the others Barack had been considering are fine people, but most of them don't quite have the commanding presence of either Barack or Biden. The Republicans are quite good at "selling their product," and it's high time that the Democrats show they can sell their much better ideas at least as well as the Republicans can sell their bad ideas.
As a Delawarean, let me tell you all a few things about Joe Biden. I won't bog everyone down with his political background (you can find that on CNN or MSNBC) but maybe I can give you some bits of info on someone we like to call Joe. This may be a bit of a yawn to some of those who read this (I am sure I will get some "interesting" comments) and I may be a bit sentimental about Joe but this is a man who IS NOT a millionaire, who DOES ride to work every day on the train, who IS "at home" to his constituents, who DOES go to the local celebrations without a large entourage, who IS interested in helping the working man & DOES NOT live in a huge compound surrounded by security. I am normally cynical when it comes to politics but Joe is someone who all of us here in The First State admire even if you don't agree with his politics (yes, we do have Republicans here). We may be small and only have 3 electoral votes, but we have a real diamond in the rough with Joe - the next Vice-President of the United States! GO JOE!
Oh, and the next time you are driving through Delaware on 95 and you see the Delaware cars with the bumper sticker that just says: GO JOE! - some may be very old and faded - you will finally understand what that bumper sticker
I LOVE THIS!!!!!!!!!!!! I just watched Michelle Obamas speech and all I can say is UMP! Thank God we have this family that wants to try and help us help ourselves get back what was stolen from us by Bush and that McCain wants to continue. Please wake up!! OBAMA/BIDEN'08
I guess most of you haven’t heard Joe Biden rip the Republicans to shreds on foreign policy. He can make independents understand that the Republicans may claim to wear the “mantle of national security,” but they are actually wearing the “Emperor’s New Clothes” – they vaporize once you recognize that every one of our enemies is stronger today than when BushCain went to war.
Worried about what Iran will do next in Iraq? Iran wasn’t Iraq before we invaded. Will al Qaeda in Iraq regroup? There was no al Qaeda in Iraq before we invaded. Radical fundamentalist Islam? Iraq was secular, now 40% of the populace lives under Sharia law.
Our enemies are stronger because we invaded Iraq. The Republicans have no business telling anyone how to keep America safe.
“Failed policy?” Naptime. “Distracted?” Worse. “We are not safer?” Wishy-washy. "Our enemies are stronger." Obviously true, Obviously dangerous tp our country. Important enough to overturn prior assumptions.
Barack can’t convey this message as effectively as Joe can. First, the independent voters – right or wrong - will give Biden more credibility on this issue. Second, this message resonates best when delivered with anger and contempt - not Barack’s style to my observation. Joe is fine with it.
As much as I am inclined to agree with you that Biden was the best choice available and brings a lot to the table, the Senator from Delaware still needs to accept responsibility for caving in to the credit card industry in 2005 when the bankruptcy statutes were revised. He bent over backwards to help an industry that sought to portray people seeking bankruptcy and profligate spendthrifts who were abusing the bankruptcy protection laws. Not a finger was lifted to deal with another set of realties that propel people towards bankruptcy: loss of a job; serious medical condition; divorce; etc. Biden had every chance to undo his untoward tilt to MBNA and its ilk in the time since then. He refused. Will he help guide a change in the law, should Obama win the presidency and follow through on his promise to remedy the imbalance created by the 2005 bill, a bill that Senator Obama opposed and Biden help shepherd through a Republican controlled Senate, or be a force of obstruction. Come clean, Joe, especially if you want to keep your reputation as a lunch-bucket working class Democrat.
I hope the biden boosters are right, but I don't think so. This is someone from a state with 3 electoral votes and no geographic balance at all, with no track record on being able to win votes on a national scale.
This is an excellent point. Delaware is a couple of tolls on the interstate to somewhere else. It is almost as if Mr. Obama did not consider Virginia or Pennsylvania (and Ed rendell) or New York and Ms Clinton. I mean, Biden received about 9000 votes, against Ms Clinton's 18,000,000 and more if you count Florida and Michigan. If you count these states, Ms Clinton won. If you throw out the senseless caucus votes, Ms Clinton won. If the Super delegates decide to change their minds, Ms Clinton wins. Really silly not to pick her as VP running mate, and if just 20% of her voters decide to go elsewhere, McCain wins. If McCain selects a woman and not Romney. he wins.
Perceptions of "reality" are frequently a mixture of what is, what might have been and a bit of what we wish it was. Unfortunately Mr. Clemons has made a jumble of the proportions, with less what actually is and more what we wish it was, and less or too litle of what is. The selection of Mr. Biden as a Vice Presidential candidade by Mr. Obama has triggered this remaiking of history. Mr. Biden, a failed Presidential candidate several times over received about 9,000 primary votes this last time out, instead of the well known and popular Ms. Clinton, who received 18,000,000 votes. Mr. Biden is a career politician with 36 years in politics, thus out of step with Mr. Obama's objective of "new" and "change." He is a millionaire, as are some 75% of members of Congress and not in touch with "common folks" or their needs, and is not well known. That Mr. Biden is seen as adding "gravitas" to the leass that "gravitational" campaign that Mr. Obama has waged of late, may be disputed. Mr. Biden castigated Mr. Obama as being inexperienced and stating that "on the job training for President," was not a good thing. This will weigh heavily in the campaign rhetoric. Mr. Biden also said Mr. McCain "was a leader." Mr. Obama said words have meaning, and unfortunately, Mr. Biden's words may return to haunt him.
At this point, before anything can be changed, the oval office must be occupied. Biden will be instrumental in regain the office. All the non-sense by those who continue to rumble about "this is not the change BO promised" and the rest is simply non-sense.
An African Amercian in the white house is not change? The fact that a seasoned senator who calls it like it is, not only gives his wife props but tells the world he thinks she is smoking, is ok with me. Biden has done six terms and people are babling still.
Biden is the type of Democrat that is needed at this time. One that knows the dance and also does not comes off as a candy ass. Biden represents clout and also the ability to make it clear to those in the world who have the misquided idea that just becasue of D is in the oval office that this country will tollerate being walked upon.
Biden is the father figure BO needs at this time.
Unfortunately, there are those that cannot agree that M. Biden brings more positives than negatives. He may not be a "candy ass" but he also has difficulty with being overly verbose and silly. He is not that much younger than Mr. McCain (70 and 66), has had a hsitory of very serious medical issues, and is really not well known in the real world. Thirty-six years in the unreal world of politics is not a serious qualification for change. The Neil Kinnock plagerism issue has always dogged him, as have the gaffs of wanting to split Iraq into three parts, not voting for the surge, silly opposition to finiding domestic energy, and other serious issues. His 9,000 primary votes indicate his ability to help the ticket--heck Bill Richardson got more votes, and would have been a major foreign policy expert for real, and an attractive candidate for the Hispanic community. In the end, the issues with Ms Clinton could have been mended if she had been selected for Vice President.
"...silly opposition to finiding domestic energy,...
Huh? What "domestic energy" are you referring? Surely it can't be the DHDN nonsense?
I have my doubts also about Biden. Richardson was my man for several reasons, including his record on being pro Second Amendment, which 90 million gun owners in this country will find laking in the Obama/Biden ticket. Though gun rights have been painfully ignored by the media, Biden's record here is as abysmal as Obama's, and it cost Gore the Presidency, and may cost Obama his chance for change as well. I don't know why we cant get a pro gunowner Democrat into the White House, but until such a thing is a possibility Democrats will find themselves on the short side of the ledger in many election districts. As an Independent, I want ALL my rights upheld and expanded. Neither party, as now constituted, will grant me those rights. Gun owners in this country are THE largest constituency of all. They cross all age lines, all race lines, and are of both sexes. Until the Democrats realize this and recognize our rights there will be little to celebrate about that party.
Sen. Bidden is 65 not 66 and Sen. McCain is 71 and will be 72 on Friday.
"Obama's decision to get someone to bolster his foreign policy/national security credentials seems like a darned smart move to me."
I had to laugh when I read this.
Who spoke out against the war?
Who called for a timeline for withdrawal?
Who callled for additional troops in Afghanistan?
Biden bolsters Obama's credentials?
You have got to be kidding.
Even as someone who remains very suspicious of Obama, I am honest enough about the facts to be astonished you were able to put these words to paper.
Hilary is a divisive figure. Witness the turmoil roiling the Dems as her supporters rebel. Her tepid support of Obama is enabling the unruly thrashing about of her minions. She'd better come across as a fiery Obamite, or the Democratic Convention is going to look like a schoolyard melee. How anyone could expect Obama to have seriously considered her for VP, with her husband's destructive attitude adding to the mix, is beyond me. The Republicans would have had a field day with all the baggage she would bring to the debate.
Joe "No Bounce" Biden, on the other hand, presents a docile partner who, if he can restrain his verbosity, could be a very effective attack-dog. He is qualified to step in as president if the unthinkable happens, and I totally agree with the premise that he will allow Obama to maintain an above-the-fray persona during the campaign. Whether Obama can wangle any significant change if elected remains to be seen, of course, but Biden would give him the insider maneuverability that Clinton didn't have.
I have no idea just who Barak Obama is. I know he talks about change. I know he is well educated from the finest Universities. I know he has been in politics for a time both in Illinois and Washington DC. Of course compared to Joe Biden's tenure in Congress, Obama is a newcomer. I don't know if he has so called progressive ideas or is tied to the patterns of the past. He is amorphous and slippery but very pleasant. He is a pleaser, all right. Even when he voted FOR giving retroactive immunity to the Telecommunication Companies and therefore giving his stamp of approval to unconstitutional spying, he came out smiling and talking about change. Biden is not necessarily going to shore up Obama's
touted weaknesses. Hopefully he will speak his mind and tell the truth about his positions on all the issues facing this country. Even if he is accused of having foot in mouth disease, it will be refreshing to hear someone speak up for what he believes in and not just tippy toe through the political jungle.
Where have you been--on another planet! Obama has been defining himself for months! The problem is, folks like you have not been listening. Too many folks have been listening to John McCain "definition" of who Obama is. By the way, do you know who John McCain is? He has been flip flopping on issues of concern to the American people like a fish out of the water.
I hear both of Chris Mathews' legs are now "quivering".
He did a much better job picking a VP than he did a Pastor.
As an Obama supporter I too agree that the choice of Joe Biden was brilliant. They look good together, and compliment each others strengths and weaknesses. Go Obama / Biden 08/ & 2012 I loved the fact that Biden didn't waste any time in going on the attack of John "used to be a Maverick" McCain.
If Biden is so smart why did he do so badly at a lousy law school? (I guess smart in the Senate means being able to walk and talk at the same time.)
Joe Biden boring dude
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