Barack Obama Picks Joe Biden as Vice President
August 23, 2008
The text message came into my phone at 3:07 AM. “Barack Obama has chosen Senator Joe Biden to be our VP nominee, watch the first Obama-Biden rally live at 3pm ET on www.barackobama.com”
Here are some quick thoughts:
From purely a politically strategic point of view, I think that I like it, but need to do some more homework. Sure, there will be some negative commentary on past Biden “debate clips”, and we will hear about how “clean” he thinks Obama is. In between, he may fill the perceived voter doubts about Obama’s foreign policy experience. I deliberately say “perceived” because I believe that Obama is already 1000 times more qualified than McCain on foreign policy. Any president — save our current one — can hire experts around them to fill in their gaps, but Obama goes into foreign policy dialogue as someone who is actually LIKED and RESPECTED all around the world. This is the first step of productive dialogue with any foreign nation. The fact that Obama is far superior a communicator than McCain doesn’t hurt either. But I digress.
I also like the pick for something that will most likely not reach the nightly news anytime soon. An Obama-Biden ticket is America’s best chance to signal an end to the despicable, devastating, disgusting, and discriminatory “crack vs. cocaine” disparity laws. This law along with mandatory minimum sentencing, prisons for profit, “3-Strikes”, and others were all enacted in the years after the success of the Civil Rights movement. In other words, they are Jim Crow’ direct off-spring the way Jim Crow was slavery’s first-born. Of course, this doesn’t mention a whole host of nephews, nieces, and cousins – but I digress.
Unlike Mccain, Obama is on record stating that he wants to end the crack vs. cocaine disparity. Biden is quite significant because not only does he want to end the disparity — but he is one of the original fools who strongly supported the legislation in the first place. And in the last couple of years, even he has been fighting hard to overturn them.
Anyway, something to consider. Expect a more thorough future post on this subject.
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18 Responses to “Barack Obama Picks Joe Biden as Vice President”
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Biden is the Senator From MBNA. Expect the travesty of last year’s bankruptcy bill to remain in place.
He’s probably the best choice Obama had for an attack dog. That is a side function of the running mate — and Biden will go to the mat gleefully. The vice presidential debates just became instant watching.
I remember during the Robert Bork confirmation hearings I watched Joe Biden lead the procedings. I remember him missing the opportunity time and again to address holes in Bork’s reasoning and history or prior rulings. Not because Biden was a fan of Bork, but because he simply wasn’t smart enough to see it. Biden’s greatest gift is that he looks the part. otherwise, he has a mediocre mind and really wouldn’t be up to the task of being President in the event of what is fairly, significantly possible, a President Obama assassination.
Kev-
Is Biden not bright, or is does he miss in a very calculated manner? Having watched him “miss” so many times during so many congressional-senate hearings, it becomes difficult to believe that after all these years he has failed to acquire some measure of competency.
D
True that. Hard to believe someone seemingly so dense could rise so far. Except that’s not that far from par for the course. Maybe we’ll have to wait until someone does the DD and puts out a full biography to answer the question. In any case, he seems to be a good choice by Obama.
This race is just boring me right now. I guess it’ll start to heat up this week with the DNC. Just watching things so far, Obama seems to be doing everything in his power to hand the race to McCain. Fool needs to stop acting like a Republican.
Kevdog, I’m thinking that Barack choose Biden for his long time familiarity with members of congress and particularly the senate. Someone is going to have to go to capitol hill to do the horse trading to get bills pass, that will be Biden’s job. Agree, Biden is not know for his intellectual prowess, again I’m guessing that Obama will rely upon his own intellectual acumen.
In addition the media will have you believe that Biden is strong on foreign policy, a supposed weak spot for Barack.
Ultimately this choice is about reasuring white folks, particularly the older one, Barack never really did crack that demographic. Also, Barack needs to reduce the size of the “undecided” vote and Biden should attract some of that undecided vote. Biden does not bring any strong policy positions, he bring whitness.
To a large extent Biden is the democrats version of McSenile. Long time senator, speaks his mind, not known for his intellect, will maintain the status quo, and the base likes him.
‘Hotep says
“To a large extent Biden is the democrats version of McSenile. Long time senator, speaks his mind, not known for his intellect, will maintain the status quo, and the base likes him.”
Yup, outstanding analysis
Decent pick I guess. As someone said this will probably bring in a stubborn demo-scary white folks.
As far as Obama, I do think he is “triangulating” too much at the risk of maybe alienating his base, but at the end of the day, if he is in a dog fight with McCain it is because of this country’s racism nothing more or less. If Obama looked like John Edwards yet still had all his present advantages personally and as a part of the Dem party, coupled with McCain’s obvious deficiencies and lack of support from his own party the fact that it is even a close race reflects this country’s racism. Ultimately, I think Obama will prevail but I hope this gives an opportunity for white people to see how their own innate racism alway eventually goes against their best interest.
And seriously, who the f*ck is undecided at this point?
Kev-
What I’m saying is Biden does not “miss” because he’s too dumb to know better. He’s fugazi - fake-ass tough guy who acts in the interest of the machine and knows exactly what he’s doing. He was the “Barack Obama of 1984,” after all and ran for POTUS in ‘88.
And Delaware, which is nearly an “offshore locale” in the midst of the continental US, if you catch my drift, is not an easy place to appease all the various people who have hands firmly placed on slices of the state’s financial pie.
“And seriously, who the f*ck is undecided at this point?”
You know, awb, i’ve asked myself this question a million times. How are polls changing? I just don’t see the “undecided” thought process? Given the gaps in just about EVERY policy — those are some really confused individuals. But you’re right, there is no good explanation why this race is close besides race. This is all the more true considering the unprecedented numbers Dems went to the polls during the primaries. Even if all the previous republicans stayed right where they were for years ago it would still be a landslide. If McCain wins it’ll be a modern day version of “dixiecrats” bolting for whiter pastures…
also cosign imhotep all day…
D
Good point and one I hadn’t even considered.
MODI - despite record turnout in the primary process, there are always people who do not pay attention to the voting process until about this time. I don’t understand why, especially because media coverage of this election has been going on for TWO FRICKIN’ YEARS at least (I will be happy when it is over and I don’t have to write another “horse race” story), and it’s featured two very high-profile politicians, but that’s just how it is.
well if biden is so stupid, what does that say about the guy that picked him?
A point to consider…..After an eight year Obama reign in the White House, Biden will be 76 years old, 4 years older than the oldest man running for President right now, and proably too old to govern until he’s 84!!. Although I’m sure it wasn’t first and foremost in Obama’s mind, but isn’t this the best way to make sure we don’t get another White male in the White House in 2012? Maybe even a token gesture to the White woman who thought she should be King?
Biden - what a guy!
Biden - what a guy!
hi, do you know why obama picked biden to be his vice president?
-julie
i wrote that @ 8:43 just so you know this website doesnt know how to tell time
I suspect to sure up the perceptions of him being short on “experience” and “foreign policy”. Also, to help sure up Pennsylvania…