I am really liking Hilary Rosen, redeemed former Hillary Clinton supporter.
She basically said that the Clintons would not want to be vetted.
msmartin
· 1 year ago
I'm glad you brought this up. Every since she told Hillary she was a Democrat first, she's been on point for Obama. I think she might have even been the first Democrat to call out Mr. straight talk on his lies about how he and Cindy got together.
She really has supported Obama each time I've seen her speak. She is genuine in her support.
TruthSeeker
· 1 year ago
I really respect her stance. She supported Hillary, but when it was over, she was done. One night on Larry King, she confronted Michael Reagan about how angry his family was at John McCain for abandoning Carol. Michael Reagan didn't say a word in response. Smart, he wanted that revelation to die.
Joe Biden just came on stage with Obama. I like how they look together, there's an ease ..similar to what I've seen with Richardson but not with Edwards. I have a good feeling about this choice. It's gonna be great.
msmartin
· 1 year ago
I like it. It reminds me of what Webb said about the Irish Catholic and blacks have in common.
GreenLadyHere
· 1 year ago
TruthSeeker: Me 2!! Sometimes, she doesn't let an opponent get a word in edgewise!! She's a great surrogate!! :>) :>)
She "LET IT [them] GO!!! :>) :>)
jdickenslaw
· 1 year ago
My first choice was Bill Richardson. He showed the most guts and loyalty endorsing Obama when he did, and he helped turn things around. CPL mentioned something about his womanizing, but I never heard anything about that. Since Richardson never seemed to be in the running, Biden is a good second choice. I work in local county government, and it is really true that you cannot change the system unless you know how the system works, and more importantly, you must have someone with contacts and influence in the system who can convince other influential people to support the changes to be made. Two change candidates with no experience in running the system or without sufficient contacts and influence in the system will not be able to get things done. Government resists change, and ideas alone won't do it. Change is not pretty, and while the idea may come from the outside, the implementaion must come from the inside
rikyrah
· 1 year ago
from the moment Richardson announced, there were rumblings that he had ' women' problems. That was consistently said about him.
jdickenslaw
· 1 year ago
What women problems? Affairs? Babies out of wedlock?
rikyrah
· 1 year ago
the two things I read were : affairs and possible sexual harrassment.
cheryl aka jill tubman
· 1 year ago
Richardson would have been great. It's too bad about the rumors dogging him about other women.
smoothie
· 1 year ago
Rikyrah
has anyone ever went into specifics about those problems..Like you I was an initial Richardson backer.. I just dont want these problems to cloud him when he's sitting in the chair of S.O.S.
Angela1
· 1 year ago
I read elsewhere on the internet that McCain is intimidated by Biden.
TruthSeeker
· 1 year ago
Got a link, perchance?
:)
Angela1
· 1 year ago
it was a quote in an article over at politico.com titled Obama on Biden "He Gets It"
"He knows McCain better than anyone else. He intimidates McCain more than anyone else. He can call McCain out better than anyone else on some of his positions," said Biden’s pollster, Celinda Lake, in a recent interview."
TruthSeeker
· 1 year ago
Thanks, Angela.
skymutt
· 1 year ago
How can you out and out call Biden a racist just five days ago and be so ambivalent about him today?
You said then:
It’s the diminishing, patronizing, great-white-burden, good-for-you! style of racism that is so repugnant to me and should be to the Obamas and their supporters. But for me, it’s the pandering, opportunistic, cynical flavor of Biden’s racism that makes it extra-special. Selecting Biden would be a great way to turn off the black voter base that the Democratic party will need to win this election.
If this guy were a Republican, Democrats would be hanging him out to dry. All he needs is a Confederate flag to complete the picture. We’re talking major Macaca moment potential here. And yes, as hilarious for George Allen as that was, is Obama ready to sign up a VP with a record of racism comments, including one aimed straight at himself during the primaries? I doubt it.
I've repeatedly seen some pretty innocuous comments met with all kinds of outrage here. Well, looks like Obama is repudiating that brand of racially-based outrage by picking Biden. Maybe that accounts for your bewilderment.
cheryl aka jill tubman
· 1 year ago
You're right to call me on it. I'm not ambivalent -- I would have preferred that Biden not be the VP choice. However, I support Obama and so I am going to support his ticket. I also believe that Biden would be a better VP for our country than anyone McCain is gonna pick. Like I said, I am not the target demographic for this VP selection. I admit I'm surprised at this choice since Republican ads recycling some of the offensive things Biden has said are coming.
skymutt
· 1 year ago
I would be shocked if Republicans tried to use Biden's old gaffes to their advantage. What demographic would be swayed by such an ad? I can't think of any. If they tried such an ad, it could backfire on them very easily. I think a lot of white people have already found Barack's charitable nature on racial issues to be very refreshing, long before this VP pick. To highlight an instance where Barack Obama was once again able to look past some clumsy (not hateful) racial remarks will only add to that appeal and spread the word to uninformed white people that Barack's not all about making white people the villain in America. So I welcome the GOP trying that line of attack.
I dunno, maybe it's just because I'm the target demographic that I buy into this pick. But if I didn't think Biden had a good heart, I wouldn't defend him.
msmartin
· 1 year ago
Great point!
TruthSeeker
· 1 year ago
LOL....I second msmartin, that IS a great point.
rikyrah
· 1 year ago
Jill, did you click on the update in CPL's post from below about the post from P6?
Thanks for this post.
But, what do I know...I was crazy enough to have wanted Richardson for the longest, then Webb, then the Governor Cowboy.
Tryexcellence
· 1 year ago
I absolutely love the choice of Biden!!!!! The goal is to win and Biden, in my opinion, ensures that Barack gets the vote for that precious demographic that Barack is having trouble reaching. I don't personally care for Joe, truth be told I love Dennis Kucinich, but Joe Biden is strategically a better choice because of who he can reach and how he can talk. Let's face it, Barack has had difficulty going pit-bull crazy on McCain, and to a certain extent as a black man he cannot go there. Joe can do it for him.
rikyrah
· 1 year ago
I didn't sign up for the text, but did it really come around 3 a.m.?
BWA HA HA HA HA HA
BlackButterfly
· 1 year ago
I got my text at 1a.m. (Pacific)
rikyrah
· 1 year ago
That would be 3 a.m. Chicago-time.
Miranda
· 1 year ago
Got it at 3:12 est!
TruthSeeker
· 1 year ago
They were being cute with that 3am call....and it WASN'T Hillary!
Some spoilsport leaked the info to CNN and ruined it though.
GreenLadyHere
· 1 year ago
TruthSeeker: I'm still laughing - "and it WASN'T Hillary!" Yaaaaa!!! :>) :>)
Symphony
· 1 year ago
"I've repeatedly seen some pretty innocuous comments met with all kinds of outrage here."
Here, there and everywhere. I'm curious as to who everyone thought would be best. I don't care how much Obama speaks of change, you have to do so within the reality of American politics. Exactly who is the best VP choice?
BlackButterfly
· 1 year ago
Agreed, I think he has made some stupid comments...but I think he is a good choice as VP and I like a good majority of his record! I can admit that I have made some comments that if in more diverse company would be considered racially insensitive but without a doubt I am about EVERYONE in America having the opportunity to live better lives. I think that Biden is the same.
I believe an Obama presidency is our best chance to getting on track for better opportunity in America.
TruthSeeker
· 1 year ago
There ARE a lot of Indians working in Seven-11's.
msmartin
· 1 year ago
Tell me how many people haven't said that.
TruthSeeker
· 1 year ago
Wow, I didn't know Biden's wife and daughter were killed in an accident when he was 30. Are those girls in the footage his daughters with his current wife, or his granddaughters?
jenny4434
· 1 year ago
His granddaughters. He and Jill have one daughter, who's 25, and he has two sons in their their 30s with the wife who was killed.
TruthSeeker
· 1 year ago
Ah....thanks.
Miranda
· 1 year ago
My friends and I make jokes about the Nail Salons all the time and how we know those little tiny asian ladies that are freakishly strong, are talking about us......is that wrong?
kate03
· 1 year ago
I don't know enough about Biden to say if he is the best choice, but he looks like an old weasel to me. I was really hoping for a refreshing surprise. And I don't think Obama needed to add a rich old weasel to win. To me, it shows a lack of confidence on Obama's campaign strategy.
Biden has taught law on Saturday mornings at Widener University since 1991. His income is his $165,200 Senate salary and $20,500 from teaching. In a 2005 ranking of the 100 senators for wealth, he was 99th. In other words, unlike most other presidential contenders, he isn't a millionaire.
"He's not even close," said David Wilhelm, who was Biden's campaign manager during his first run for the presidency in 1987 and is now a senior adviser to Biden.
Biden comes across as "a middle-class guy with middle-class aspirations, sometimes middle-class resentments," Wilhelm said. "I think it's something the folks inside the Beltway miss about him. But he's an outstanding retail politician with an innate ability to connect with folks."
kate03
· 1 year ago
Ok thanks, I didn't know that he was the least rich of them.
...And in Biden, we have a textbook example of the difference between holding racist ideations (his "clean and articulate" comments about Obama, his stereotypical remarks about Indian-Americans and convenience stores, etc.) and "race baiting" (the Clintonian and Republican penchant for willfully using the wedge of race to divide Americans in order to win elections). Biden is surely guilty of the former but, let's be honest, who isn't? You? Go to the mirror and think again! Watching Biden over the decades, I've not seen him willfully use race to divide others (which is what has placed so many of us in an unforgiving stance toward Bill Clinton, especially this past year). Even when they were still primary rivals for the nomination, Obama came to Biden's defense during a debate, defending that "in his soul," Biden's not a hater...
I like Giordano, but don't follow him regularly (damned work & real life, and the distractions they bring!). Just from this post, it appears Giordano would have preferred a non-insider, but he's apparently reconciled to Biden being the best choice from the short list of DC insiders, and IMHO, he lays out a pretty good case for his opinion.
rikyrah
· 1 year ago
I just came to post this. Al has been pretty good talking folks down from the ledge.
taritac
· 1 year ago
Ho. Ly. Shit. Did you read the update to the post? Giordano posted three Republican responses to the Obama/Biden ticket:
Sen. Chuck Hagel: U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel issued the following statement today following Senator Barack Obama's selection of Senator Joe Biden as the presumptive Democratic Vice Presidential nominee: "Joe Biden is the right partner for Barack Obama. His many years of distinguished service to America, his seasoned judgment and his vast experience in foreign policy and national security will match up well with the unique challenges of the 21st Century. An Obama-Biden ticket is a very impressive and strong team. Biden's selection is good news for Obama and America," Hagel said.
Sen. Richard Lugar: Tbilisi, Georgia - U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar made the following statement today en route to Tbilisi. "I congratulate Senator Barack Obama on his selection of my friend, Senator Joe Biden, to be his vice-presidential running mate. I have enjoyed for many years the opportunity to work with Joe Biden to bring strong bipartisan support to United States foreign policy..."
Sen. Arlen Specter: Pennsylvania's Arlen Specter, a Republican who serves on the Judiciary Committee with Biden and often rides Amtrak with him to Washington, also offered praise. "No one on the Democratic side knows more about foreign policy than Sen. Biden," Specter said. "He's been an articulate spokesman on the subject. He also knows about domestic policy. He's been a leader on crime control."
I love it, I love it, I love it . . .
GreenLadyHere
· 1 year ago
taritac: Great stuff! :>) :>) Thanks!! :>) :>)
Anonymous
· 1 year ago
Speaking of 'women' problems, it seems to me that Barack Obama just left a huge opening for McCain to pick a woman -- any woman, really -- and charge that he's the real change candidate and that he was willing to do something that Obama didn't have the balls to. Why on earth, in a country where well more than 50% of the electorate is female, isn't there a woman on the democratic party's presidential ticket? It shouldn't have been that idiot Hillary Clinton, but you mean to tell me he couldn't have gone with Sebelius? And what the hell does Biden do for the democratic party come 2016? Not a goddamn thing but sprout more gray hair plugs. I'm a committed Obama supporter, but add this to the still-growing list of things that I find especially unenlightened about this especially enlightened man.
NMP
· 1 year ago
Team Obama is more than aware of the gamble they are taking, but they are betting that they can not find a woman that can reassure Americans she can fill the Commander and Chief role in the event that 71-year-old McCain dies in Office.
Did Lieberman and Edwards not prove that picking someone from a much sought after demographic means nothing if voters don't connect with them. Lieberman couldn't help carry what is effectively Jewish state, Florida, and Edwards not only didn't care the South, he couldn't even carry his on state of North Carolina. What Team Obama has to do is figure out how to make the POW and Maverick appeal unappealing. George Bush damn sure figured it out. As a matter of fact, ALL southern states in 2000, which are more pro-military than any other region in the country, picked a draft dodger over a POW. If Conservatives weren't persuaded that McCain is owed the presidency because he was a POW, why should the rest of the country, specifically Democrats?
Anonymous
· 1 year ago
I agree that Lieberman and Edwards weren't smart picks. They seemed to me to be strikingly unconvincing, weak, and not particularly enlightened candidates. I was surprised it took so many others so long to turn against them. Sebelius strikes me as an exceedingly reasonable and deeply self-aware politician, though I understand that others feel differently both about her and the import of those qualities in this campaign.
About the demographics question, small, tightly-targeted groups like 'Jewish Floridians,' and 'southern white men,' aren't on the level of magnitude of women voters. Like I said, they're more than 50% of the electorate. The value of their vote is of an entirely different order than the much-smaller, more targeted groups, and the party that delivers policy and power to them most effectively won't have to deal in the Mark Pennish, micro-targeting bullshit that produced candidates like Lieberman and Edwards.
About McCain's POW sleeve-wearing, the Obama campaign actually went furthest in dismantling his credibility last week with their 'housing' media offensive. And of course that was all before Biden was even picked, let alone on the attack against McCain's POW cred.
Finally, I personally think Biden isn't an unredeemable pick. To his credit, he's about as liberal as pres ticket candidates are willing to be these days. But the Times reported that Obama picked him particularly for the micro-targeting reasons that you decry.
BlackButterfly
· 1 year ago
"And what the hell does Biden do for the democratic party come 2016?"
Can we deal with 2008 right now. I mean I am all about planning for the future that is why I am choosing Obama...but right now Obama/Biden is my choice because of our WTF present!
Anonymous
· 1 year ago
Certainly winning this election cycle is the most pressing concern. But it's possible to do two things at once. Past presidential candidates of both parties have chosen running mates with an eye to the future development of their parties. Edwards, Gore, and Quayle were examples of this kind of choice. There's no reason why Obama couldn't have done the same thing and still go on to win in November.
BlackButterfly
· 1 year ago
Look...I don't deny that the future is important. The future of America is very important to me and that is why I support Obama (not because he is a Democrat) because I believe that he will help to create a better future.
I am just not about the whole future of "the party" mantra because I've grown extremely tired of the whole Democrat vs Republican battle.
Anonymous
· 1 year ago
In response to Rikyrah's Richardson comments down below.
Miranda
· 1 year ago
What other women candidates running for the Democratic nomination have you supported in the past?
Anonymous
· 1 year ago
Me, personally? I'm not sure how it's related, but I thought Carol Mosely Braun was an impressive enough candidate, certainly as good as anyone else in 2004 short of Howard Dean. When I personally think of presidential contests, I mostly think of all the women who haven't run and who'd be strong in the chair -- Boxer, Lee, Sebelius, Napolitano, even Feinstein, Landreau, and Blanche Lincoln despite their sometimes neocon tendencies.
Again, I think I miss your point.
Miranda
· 1 year ago
Your prior post seemed to indicate you think Obama was somehow obligated to put a woman on the ticket "in a country where well more than 50% of the electorate is female". My point is, women have had the opportunity to vote for a qualified woman in darn near every election for the last five decades and have overwhelmingly not done so - by choice. Its not Obama's responsibility to do what women themselves have not been able to accomplish given the very real ability with the population breakdown.
Anonymous
· 1 year ago
I'm not sure 'obligated' is an appropriate word. To my mind, it would have been in the nation's longterm interest, and in Obama's political interest. I think both parties, each quadrennial cycle, have a responsibility to take a whack at this big problem, and getting women on their tickets is a simple way to do that. I don't personally think that responsibility recedes because some would-be beneficiaries aren't as vocal as some might like, though I understand you disagree.
That said, I think your comment is kind of into the weeds. It raises an unrelated issue against my main point without arguing it directly. Again, if you think too few women support female candidates, that's an important question for a different discussion. But my point doesn't really deal with that. And my current preference isn't colored by unwillingness to support other female candidates in the past. I'm a man who's supported women at all levels of elective office.
GreenLadyHere
· 1 year ago
miranda: Co-signing, enthusiastically!!! :>) :>)
rikyrah
· 1 year ago
Been surfing the net, and maybe it's not a representative sample, but it seems like old White Democrats REALLY like Biden. The AARP set
sharl
· 1 year ago
I noticed that as well, in a number of the comments to the Al Giordano post I linked to upthread. And speaking as the child of older white Democrats who have never missed a vote, this seems entirely plausible. I haven't asked my folks about politics lately - Mom was recently diagnosed with leukemia, and Dad has his own problems (including taking care of Mom) - but earlier in the year they expressed concerns about Obama as being 'new and unknown'. Subconscious racism could be a part of that judgment (always a possibility in situations like this), but I think the choice of Biden, for all of his flaws, will likely trump those concerns, at least in the case of my parents. I certainly plan on asking them, as soon as it is appropriate.
GreenLadyHere
· 1 year ago
rikyrah: So, I'm on the bus going to see my mom and an older [80's] white gentleman gets on the bus sporting an OBAMA SHIRT!!!
I said - "Nice shirt!" He said, VERY LOUDLY - "He's the only one to vote for! He's my man!!"
There was a thunderous applause on the bus!!! It was a great moment!!! :>) :>)
ruthdfw
· 1 year ago
Personally of the choices I heard, I like biden. In fact, I liked him over the years with what glimpses I have seen over the years. Let's be realistic - America was not going to vote for a woman and a black man on the ticket [notwithstanding what HRC supporters say]. I like the idea that Biden is not a yes man.
I totally agree with the Field's comments because if you get a group of black folk in a room or a group of white folk in a room: things are going to be said that should not be said. we also have to recognize right or wrong earlier generations did not grow up in the blended neighborhoods we now have --- they don't always realize that some things can be offensive.
In comparision to the other things that have been said since then, calling Obama clean and articulate is hardly offensive.
Plantsmantx
· 1 year ago
"I've repeatedly seen some pretty innocuous comments met with all kinds of outrage here. Well, looks like Obama is repudiating that brand of racially-based outrage by picking Biden. Maybe that accounts for your bewilderment."
" I think a lot of white people have already found Barack's charitable nature on racial issues to be very refreshing, long before this VP pick. To highlight an instance where Barack Obama was once again able to look past some clumsy (not hateful) racial remarks will only add to that appeal and spread the word to uninformed white people that Barack's not all about making white people the villain in America."
Like it or not, this is the main reason Biden is a good choice. Remember, Obama is playing by the Jackie Robinson rules. Choosing a guy who has said insulting things about blacks is a GOOD thing. It makes him look "not like the others" in the eyes of whites.
heartsandflowers
· 1 year ago
Well i see the people behind the curtain got their wish. If Obama's #1 and a white woman is #3 then they definitely want a older entrenched white male in at #2. Some change. And if anything were to happen guess who'd step right in. And Obama just confirmed it himself - Biden is ready for President. I had a little more hope that the people in this country would think more critically but I suppose Obama has decided to not take the chance. How disappointing. NARAL Pro-Choice America classifies Biden's record as a mixed choice.
And there's a Free Tibet rally going on in my neighborhood right now.
Nick: Thanks for this info. :>) BarackObama.com has a t-shirt 2! :>) :>)
NMP
· 1 year ago
McCain camp is now floating Colin Powell as the pro-abortion rights VP they've been entertaining. Would Colin Powell actually allow himself to be used AGAIN this time to derail the candidacy of another black man?
Miranda
· 1 year ago
Colin Powell is not going out like that.
McCain's camp is just trying to get some PRESS. What is crystal clear is that the Obama camp managed to make choosing his VP pick a week long media frenzy which built up to a huge peak, expertly carried out so that the entire day today, its been wall to wall coverage on MSNBC, CNN and Fox. A Saturday, so that all the people that work Mon thru Fri got the full brunt of the excitement. The biggest day of the week for print news is the Sunday paper and Obama and Biden are on EVERY front page tomorrow, and every Sunday talk show will have full VP coverage and then right on schedule, its Monday and time for the convention. Brilliant.
By Monday McCain's camp might be putting out the rumor that Oprah is a potential VP pick for him.
GreenLadyHere
· 1 year ago
Co-signing BIG TIME!!! :>) :>)
CO
· 1 year ago
I agree with Miranda. McCain's camp is trying the divide and conquer tactic-- with Hillary's women and African-Americans.
Powell has repeatedly praised Obama's presidential run, and has offered him foreign policy advice. I very much doubt that he would do anything to derail Obama. In fact, Powell has refused to even endorse any candidate.
Antoine Larotre
· 1 year ago
Biden was the best choice after HRC. HRC would have been too much of a headache, and Big Bill zipper will have cause more headaches for Obama. Biden reassures all those: Hard Working White People". He will wink at them and tell them that Obama is "one Of Us"! That's what counts, WINNING, and not inspiring.
So, I'm running into my house, STR8 to my computer, booting it up!!! :>)
Whew!! Really out of breath DEEP Breaths!! :>) :>)
Did I miss anything???? JUST KIDDING!!!! :>) :>)
Here's the song - - "Ebony and Ivory" [Stevie Wonder] :>) :>) :>)
So B O has been transformed into O - B and to me this says . . .
DING! DING! DING!! We have a WINNER!!!!
billary WHO???? :>) :>)
TruthSeeker
· 1 year ago
Larry King has GOT to go! Claire McCaskill was on, and he asked her if she was disappointed that she wasn't VP pick....WHAT A JERK!. Larry had that female Colombian hostage on, he asked her if she was raped...CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT? Larry had Rick Warren on, the guy who lied about the "cone of silence". Larry treated Rick with kid gloves, throwing him softball questions and virtually answering them for him. The richer you are, the more humanely you're treated on Larry King.
BARB
· 1 year ago
Remembering Joe Biden and Clarence Thomas and Anita Hill:
Biden's also a long-serving member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which, because it vets and approves Supreme Court nominees, has an incredibly important role in protecting choice. There's good and bad on Biden's record here. He chaired the committee from 1987 to 1995, presiding over the confirmation hearings of Robert Bork (who was rejected) and Clarence Thomas.
Biden's role in the Thomas hearings, particularly his treatment of Anita Hill, are something that get little mention these days. (Although some women remember.) Biden says he did not vociferously pursue Hill's charges of sexual harassment because he didn't want to go after a Supreme Court nominee the way Republicans would. Here's Charles Ogletree, who represented Hill, on why Biden's excuse is bullshit:
OGLETREE: (Senator Biden) doesn't understand that by sitting back and taking no position that he has encouraged the victimization of Anita Hill. She has civil rights and civil liberties, too. She wasn't applying for a lifetime appointment on the Supreme Court. She was not coming forward with an agenda to change the landscape of America.
And so for him to say that he didn't help her because he didn't want to be like the other side, to me, is to acknowledge that he has neglected to do his duties. He was the chairman. He was supposed to ask tough questions. He was supposed to get to the bottom of issues....And the bottom line is that Anita Hill was pilloried from beginning to end without any protection from anybody in that process....
What the senator did regrettably was to bend over in the wrong direction, and I think he did a great disservice in the sense of civil rights by being so tolerant of the lack of responsiveness on the part of one party and being so intolerant of efforts on the other side to bring out issues that may have shed light on (Thomas' character).
Some believe that thanks to Joe Biden, and his refusal to let those testify who confirmed Anita Hill's allegations, we now have Clarence Thomas on the Supreme Court.
everett
· 1 year ago
as an old white haired, white man - enjoy your short time - because you ain't won yet - besides i am putting trust in Mr latino who will out number both the whites and blacks and you know what-I would rather have them taking my last bit of cash than your obama
CO
· 1 year ago
Why all the hostility? Obama is working to keep your cash in your pocket. Look beyond skin color.
All Comments
She basically said that the Clintons would not want to be vetted.
She really has supported Obama each time I've seen her speak. She is genuine in her support.
Joe Biden just came on stage with Obama. I like how they look together, there's an ease ..similar to what I've seen with Richardson but not with Edwards. I have a good feeling about this choice. It's gonna be great.
She "LET IT [them] GO!!! :>) :>)
has anyone ever went into specifics about those problems..Like you I was an initial Richardson backer.. I just dont want these problems to cloud him when he's sitting in the chair of S.O.S.
:)
"He knows McCain better than anyone else. He intimidates McCain more than anyone else. He can call McCain out better than anyone else on some of his positions," said Biden’s pollster, Celinda Lake, in a recent interview."
You said then:
I've repeatedly seen some pretty innocuous comments met with all kinds of outrage here. Well, looks like Obama is repudiating that brand of racially-based outrage by picking Biden. Maybe that accounts for your bewilderment.
I dunno, maybe it's just because I'm the target demographic that I buy into this pick. But if I didn't think Biden had a good heart, I wouldn't defend him.
Thanks for this post.
But, what do I know...I was crazy enough to have wanted Richardson for the longest, then Webb, then the Governor Cowboy.
BWA HA HA HA HA HA
Some spoilsport leaked the info to CNN and ruined it though.
Here, there and everywhere. I'm curious as to who everyone thought would be best. I don't care how much Obama speaks of change, you have to do so within the reality of American politics. Exactly who is the best VP choice?
I believe an Obama presidency is our best chance to getting on track for better opportunity in America.
...And in Biden, we have a textbook example of the difference between holding racist ideations (his "clean and articulate" comments about Obama, his stereotypical remarks about Indian-Americans and convenience stores, etc.) and "race baiting" (the Clintonian and Republican penchant for willfully using the wedge of race to divide Americans in order to win elections). Biden is surely guilty of the former but, let's be honest, who isn't? You? Go to the mirror and think again! Watching Biden over the decades, I've not seen him willfully use race to divide others (which is what has placed so many of us in an unforgiving stance toward Bill Clinton, especially this past year). Even when they were still primary rivals for the nomination, Obama came to Biden's defense during a debate, defending that "in his soul," Biden's not a hater...
I like Giordano, but don't follow him regularly (damned work & real life, and the distractions they bring!). Just from this post, it appears Giordano would have preferred a non-insider, but he's apparently reconciled to Biden being the best choice from the short list of DC insiders, and IMHO, he lays out a pretty good case for his opinion.
I love it, I love it, I love it . . .
Did Lieberman and Edwards not prove that picking someone from a much sought after demographic means nothing if voters don't connect with them. Lieberman couldn't help carry what is effectively Jewish state, Florida, and Edwards not only didn't care the South, he couldn't even carry his on state of North Carolina. What Team Obama has to do is figure out how to make the POW and Maverick appeal unappealing. George Bush damn sure figured it out. As a matter of fact, ALL southern states in 2000, which are more pro-military than any other region in the country, picked a draft dodger over a POW. If Conservatives weren't persuaded that McCain is owed the presidency because he was a POW, why should the rest of the country, specifically Democrats?
About the demographics question, small, tightly-targeted groups like 'Jewish Floridians,' and 'southern white men,' aren't on the level of magnitude of women voters. Like I said, they're more than 50% of the electorate. The value of their vote is of an entirely different order than the much-smaller, more targeted groups, and the party that delivers policy and power to them most effectively won't have to deal in the Mark Pennish, micro-targeting bullshit that produced candidates like Lieberman and Edwards.
About McCain's POW sleeve-wearing, the Obama campaign actually went furthest in dismantling his credibility last week with their 'housing' media offensive. And of course that was all before Biden was even picked, let alone on the attack against McCain's POW cred.
Finally, I personally think Biden isn't an unredeemable pick. To his credit, he's about as liberal as pres ticket candidates are willing to be these days. But the Times reported that Obama picked him particularly for the micro-targeting reasons that you decry.
Can we deal with 2008 right now. I mean I am all about planning for the future that is why I am choosing Obama...but right now Obama/Biden is my choice because of our WTF present!
I am just not about the whole future of "the party" mantra because I've grown extremely tired of the whole Democrat vs Republican battle.
Again, I think I miss your point.
That said, I think your comment is kind of into the weeds. It raises an unrelated issue against my main point without arguing it directly. Again, if you think too few women support female candidates, that's an important question for a different discussion. But my point doesn't really deal with that. And my current preference isn't colored by unwillingness to support other female candidates in the past. I'm a man who's supported women at all levels of elective office.
I said - "Nice shirt!" He said, VERY LOUDLY - "He's the only one to vote for! He's my man!!"
There was a thunderous applause on the bus!!! It was a great moment!!! :>) :>)
I totally agree with the Field's comments because if you get a group of black folk in a room or a group of white folk in a room: things are going to be said that should not be said. we also have to recognize right or wrong earlier generations did not grow up in the blended neighborhoods we now have --- they don't always realize that some things can be offensive.
In comparision to the other things that have been said since then, calling Obama clean and articulate is hardly offensive.
" I think a lot of white people have already found Barack's charitable nature on racial issues to be very refreshing, long before this VP pick. To highlight an instance where Barack Obama was once again able to look past some clumsy (not hateful) racial remarks will only add to that appeal and spread the word to uninformed white people that Barack's not all about making white people the villain in America."
Like it or not, this is the main reason Biden is a good choice. Remember, Obama is playing by the Jackie Robinson rules. Choosing a guy who has said insulting things about blacks is a GOOD thing. It makes him look "not like the others" in the eyes of whites.
And there's a Free Tibet rally going on in my neighborhood right now.
McCain's camp is just trying to get some PRESS. What is crystal clear is that the Obama camp managed to make choosing his VP pick a week long media frenzy which built up to a huge peak, expertly carried out so that the entire day today, its been wall to wall coverage on MSNBC, CNN and Fox. A Saturday, so that all the people that work Mon thru Fri got the full brunt of the excitement. The biggest day of the week for print news is the Sunday paper and Obama and Biden are on EVERY front page tomorrow, and every Sunday talk show will have full VP coverage and then right on schedule, its Monday and time for the convention. Brilliant.
By Monday McCain's camp might be putting out the rumor that Oprah is a potential VP pick for him.
Powell has repeatedly praised Obama's presidential run, and has offered him foreign policy advice. I very much doubt that he would do anything to derail Obama. In fact, Powell has refused to even endorse any candidate.
Whew!! Really out of breath DEEP Breaths!! :>) :>)
Did I miss anything???? JUST KIDDING!!!! :>) :>)
Here's the song - - "Ebony and Ivory" [Stevie Wonder] :>) :>) :>)
So B O has been transformed into O - B and to me this says . . .
DING! DING! DING!! We have a WINNER!!!!
billary WHO???? :>) :>)
http://www.feministing.com/archives/010594.html
Biden's also a long-serving member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which, because it vets and approves Supreme Court nominees, has an incredibly important role in protecting choice. There's good and bad on Biden's record here. He chaired the committee from 1987 to 1995, presiding over the confirmation hearings of Robert Bork (who was rejected) and Clarence Thomas.
Biden's role in the Thomas hearings, particularly his treatment of Anita Hill, are something that get little mention these days. (Although some women remember.) Biden says he did not vociferously pursue Hill's charges of sexual harassment because he didn't want to go after a Supreme Court nominee the way Republicans would. Here's Charles Ogletree, who represented Hill, on why Biden's excuse is bullshit:
OGLETREE: (Senator Biden) doesn't understand that by sitting back and taking no position that he has encouraged the victimization of Anita Hill. She has civil rights and civil liberties, too. She wasn't applying for a lifetime appointment on the Supreme Court. She was not coming forward with an agenda to change the landscape of America.
And so for him to say that he didn't help her because he didn't want to be like the other side, to me, is to acknowledge that he has neglected to do his duties. He was the chairman. He was supposed to ask tough questions. He was supposed to get to the bottom of issues....And the bottom line is that Anita Hill was pilloried from beginning to end without any protection from anybody in that process....
What the senator did regrettably was to bend over in the wrong direction, and I think he did a great disservice in the sense of civil rights by being so tolerant of the lack of responsiveness on the part of one party and being so intolerant of efforts on the other side to bring out issues that may have shed light on (Thomas' character).
Some believe that thanks to Joe Biden, and his refusal to let those testify who confirmed Anita Hill's allegations, we now have Clarence Thomas on the Supreme Court.
besides i am putting trust in Mr latino who will out number both the whites and blacks and you know what-I would rather have them taking my last bit of cash than your obama