Oct. 19, 2007
(CBS) Joe Biden Keeps Fighting
Political Players: Democratic Candidate Discusses Iraq, Health Care And The "Commander-In-Chief Test"
CBSNews.com: Not long ago, the Biden-Brownback idea for a federal system for moving forward in Iraq passed the Senate, 75 to 23. What do you think that says about President Bush's strategy and where it's heading?
Joe Biden: It's a flat, total repudiation of the strategy. The entire thesis was that the President's strategy has been to focus on building a strong central government, getting an agreement among the parties from the center to govern the whole country.
And what this said, flat out, is not only does the Senate not think that's a good idea, but argued that the only way in which we're going to be able to remove our troops without leaving chaos behind is if you implement their Constitution and help them implement a federal system, because there is not going be a day in your lifetime or mine where you're going to have Shia troops controlling Sunni neighborhoods and vice versa.
So, their Constitution calls for a circumstance where any of the 18 political subdivisions can choose to be a region within a whole country that allows them to write their own constitution, including for their own security, as long as it doesn't supersede the federal Constitution--kind of what we had in the Articles of Confederation after we defeated the British in the Revolutionary War. And that's the only way out. The Senate came around to that position overwhelmingly.
You notice most Iraqi leaders have embraced that position now publicly after being told exactly what it is, which is not partition. And that's where the vast majority of the foreign policy scholars in this country are as well. So, it's the end of any support as a practical matter for his overall strategy.
CBSNews.com: The other major issue you mentioned is the plight of the middle class. And as you know, the Republicans just had an economic debate last week. How do you think the Democratic priorities for the middle class, your priorities, differ most from the Republicans’?
Joe Biden: Well, we realize that their entire tax structure is, in fact, tilted against the middle class. The Wall Street Journal front page a few days ago had a big headline about the widening gap, points out the top one percent of the wage earners in America earn I think it's 22.3 percent of all the income in America. And the bottom 50 percent earn less than 14 percent of all of it.
Well, the reason for that is in part because of the fundamental change in the tax code where investment, unearned income now provides less of a total government cost, and earned income, people who pick up a paycheck, is paying more of that.
Secondly, there is a significant tilt against doing anything about health care. What are the three reasons why the middle class is in trouble? Health care costs, energy costs, and education costs. Since Bush has been president, they've gone up, you average them all out, about 70 percent. And it's a killer for people.
When I say middle class, I'm talking about two family wage earners making $75,000, $80,000, $85,000 a year. They're having real difficulty. And so, the Republicans have absolutely zero plan, zero plan for helping on the health care side. Look, Bush just vetoed a bill that brought the middle class into the so-called CHIP program, children's health insurance. The President has--and none of the people running have--any serious plan to significantly take the burden off the cost of education, so middle class families can afford to go.
They have done virtually nothing on the energy front, except reward energy companies. And so, I think that they have virtually no, emphasize no, reasonable prospect of doing anything to alleviate the stress on the middle class.
CBSNews.com: My last question is do you completely rule out serving as Vice President or as Secretary of State?
Joe Biden: Yes.
Joe Biden has served as a United States Senator from Delaware since 1973. He was elected at 29--and turned the Constitutionally required age of 30 before he was sworn in. Biden is the longest serving senator in his state's history. Biden currently serves as Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and is a former Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. He was an unsuccessful candidate for the 1988 Democratic presidential nomination, and considered running in 2004. A graduate of the University of Delaware and Syracuse University College of Law, Biden is married with three children--the eldest of whom, Beau, serves as Delaware's Attorney General. His first wife and infant daughter were killed in a car accident shortly after Biden was first elected to the Senate.
By Brian Goldsmith
© MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
More From Political Players
Best-selling author Mitch Albom on his first nonfiction work since "Tuesdays with Morrie."
Start with modesty. Follow with decency. And seal the deal with abstinance. The morality of this country falls just a bit lower everytime someone chooses murder as a form of birth control.
You sick, derainged people. May you be dealt with in the same manner as you would have these precious little ones dealt.
And no, this country can''t afford SCHIP. There''s no way my company''s going to give me a COLA raise.
-- Congressman Ron Paul, June 26, 2006
ronpaul2008.com
When people ask Biden a question, they always get a straight, non-political answer. He will not tell an audience what he thinks they may want to hear. He tells them the truth. He is refreshingly forthright and his answers always make sense. He is my first choice in this race.
When people ask Biden a question, they always get a straight, non-political answer. He will not tell an audience what he thinks they may want to hear. He tells them the truth. He is refreshingly forthright and his answers always make sense. He is my first choice in this race.
When people ask Biden a question, they always get a straight, non-political answer. He will not tell an audience what he thinks they may want to hear. He tells them the truth. He is refreshingly forthright and his answers always make sense. He is my first choice in this race.
If you want an anti-war and pro-liberty president, the only candidate for you is Dr. Ron Paul.
ronpaul2008.com
I believe this country was founded on having different points of views and holding different positions on issues. We should not breed hate against those that hold a different position. We can argue our positions are better yes-but at the same time have respect for different points of view. It is what makes us free.
As far as Joe biden, If you want to have a clear-true view of who he is-you should listen to him in the senate. It is also on his website. This guy is great! it is probably why he has been re-elected for 34 years. His speech on Sept 26 on Iraq gained the support of John Warner-a top Republican, along with many other republicans. We need someone that can work with both Democrats and Republicans to get anything done. i have yet to see anyone else that can do this as well. No plans that any of the candidates have will get passed without some support from both sides. So if anyone wants to put aside there partisan differences-I challenge you to take another look at this guy.
www.joebiden.com
Not a one of the candidates, save Hunter and Thompson, stand up for the conservation of our constitutional rights in the tradition of our founding fathers.
We need Hunter to stand up and make himself known.
1) Intelligence
2) Experience in ALL phases of government
3) Strength
4) Respect from world leaders
5) Diplomacy
6) Command of issues
7) Solutions to problems that face our nation
8) Honesty
9) Integrity
10) Respect and trust from his peers
11) Respect and trust from the people who follow him
Joe Biden certainly meets ALL of the criteria above.
I pray and hope every day that Mr. & Mrs. America, the people of Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina know in their hearts, that if we lose Joe Biden, we''ll have lost one of the best Presidents our nation will ever have.
Please watch a video I produced to show my support for Senator Biden. If you support him, please send the link below to family and friends, and ask them to do the same.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=OtGCaqOdIJ4
If you want a candidate who would defend the constitution, there''s only one and his name is Ron Paul.
He is totally incapable of obeying the presidential oath of office.
- by hwy71so October 19, 2007 12:36 PM EDT
- Hey, I know. Let''s elect another immoral Democrat so we can bury the morals of this country just a little deeper.
- Reply to this comment
See all 20 Comments