Other Reasons for Biden -- His Religion and Abortion Views

The main reason Joe Biden makes most top ten lists these days is his experience with foreign affairs. Biden is probably the best pick in terms of religious politics. Obama desperately needs to retain his lead among Catholics and improve upon John Kerry's showing. But choosing a pro-choice Catholic could backfire because the Bishops and others will attack him or her for being a bad Catholic. Choosing a full-blown pro-life Catholic would alienate pro-choice, independent women and Hillary voters. Biden is pro-choice but got a low rating from abortion rights groups (60% in 2007, 39% in 2003). In other words, he's Catholic enough to appeal to Catholics, pro-life enough to avoid some Church attacks, and pro-choice enough to satisfy Hillary voters. (For more on the "faith factors" of the other VP nominees, click here).

In fact, now that Biden is the frontrunner, I'd like to hedge my bet with this more radical thought: now that Hillary's been pretty much ruled out, Obama can choose her. Two months ago, despite compelling arguments for Hillary, Obama could not have chosen her even if he'd wanted to. She and her people were pushing so hard that Obama he would have looked weak if he'd chosen her.

Since then, Obama campaign has let drop little hints that she's not being as seriously considered as the others. Most of the lists don't even mention her any more. She seems to have moved on as have most of her people. So, now if Obama were to choose her, he would look strong not weak. Because he doesn't have to choose her, he can.

In fact, come to think of it, the lack of Hillary being included in most of the lists is suspicious. If Obama were really serious about not picking Hillary, wouldn't he be sure to leak that she's being very seriously considered, in order to assuage her supporters? Her absence from the lists is the best sign that she's a strong contender!

Comments

[ESerafina42]

Pro-choice ENOUGH? Someone who gets a low ranking from pro-choice groups isn't pro-choice ENOUGH to satisfy me, and I'm not one of these people who's threatening to stay home or vote for McCain. And any Catholic who's even a little bit pro-choice (kind of like being a little bit pregnant?) will be attached by the Church. Here's an idea - how about NOT picking someone based on his or her religion? Or staying away from Catholics altogether, if you ARE going to play that game, though that would regrettably (in my opinion) eliminate Gen. Clark. By the way, there IS this little thing in the Constitution about there not being any religious test for public office.

[ESerafina42]

Having checked Sen. Biden's interest group ratings on votesmart.org, I now feel that I have been unjust to him. I'm not sure where Mr. Waldman gets his numbers. These are the ratings that votesmart has for the past couple of years. The 75 in 2007 is the worst number I see, and it's still pretty good.

2007 In 2007 NARAL Pro-Choice America gave Senator Biden a grade of 75.

2006 Senator Biden supported the interests of the NARAL Pro-Choice America 100 percent in 2006.

2006 Senator Biden supported the interests of the Planned Parenthood 100 percent in 2006.

2005-2006 Senator Biden supported the interests of the National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association 93 percent in 2005-2006.

2005-2006 Senator Biden supported the interests of the National Right to Life Committee 0 percent in 2005-2006.

2005 Senator Biden supported the interests of the NARAL Pro-Choice America 100 percent in 2005.

2004 Senator Biden supported the interests of the NARAL Pro-Choice America 100 percent in 2004.

This is a GOOD thing as far as I'm concerned, though it does undercut the (already questionable) assumption that the Catholic Church wouldn't be as hard on him if he's only somewhat pro-choice.

[Freesia2]

It would do no such thing. It would look like they ultimately bullied him into it. It would make him henpecked.