Biden Emerges From The Denver Background

CBSNews.com Analysis: Amid Party Intrigue, VP Nominee Delivers Solid Performance

(CBS)  This analysis was written by CBSNews.com senior political editor Vaughn Ververs.

---

In the five days since being unveiled as Barack Obama’s running mate, Delaware Senator Joe Biden has been somewhat of a forgotten man in all the hoopla surrounding the Democratic convention.

That changed Wednesday night as Biden took his turn in the spotlight, formally accepting his party’s vice presidential nomination and serving notice that he’s ready and willing to take the fight to the Republican ticket this fall. (Joe Biden's speech: Video | Text)

Obama’s decision to wait until the eve of his nominating convention in Denver, and on a weekend at that, to announce his running mate meant it probably didn’t get the full amount of media attention it might have received at the beginning of the week. And the vast amounts of time and attention spent on looking for divisions within the party dampened Biden’s exposure even more.

Even Wednesday night, Biden was momentarily eclipsed by the appearance on stage of former President Bill Clinton, whose presence in the primary resulted in some of the hardest feelings on both sides. The call for “change” in the election must have struck the former president as a repudiation of his eight years in office and the nomination.

Clinton delivered a brief speech, but one that did what it had to do - support Obama’s readiness to be president. (Bill Clinton's speech: Video | Text)

“Everything I learned in my eight years as President and in the work I’ve done since, in America and across the globe, has convinced me that Barack Obama is the man for this job,” the former chief executive said. Like his wife, Bill Clinton urged her supporters to rally around the party flag and support the ticket in the fall. The fact that he isn’t sticking around for Obama’s speech Thursday night will be fodder for more psychoanalysis about the Clintons, but for one night, he was the good soldier.

But the night belonged to Biden, and the challenge was not minor. For a politician already known for his tendency toward verbosity, trying to boil down the kind of speech he’s had 35 years in the United State Senate to think about into a made-for-TV event couldn’t have been easy.

Biden spoke between some major moments in the convention. Senator Ted Kennedy’s appearance on the stage Monday night was an emotional high point for Democrats everywhere. Hillary Clinton’s speech, imploring her supporters to line up behind Barack Obama, may not have provided the catharsis some imagined, but it was a start. And Barack Obama’s speech -- in a giant stadium before tens of thousands -- is yet to come.

The mission for the vice presidential nominee, however, was different from those. It was threefold - to introduce himself to the American people, to vouch for Obama’s readiness to become commander-in-chief, and to rip into his longtime friend and colleague John McCain.

Democrats hungering for a McCain lashing may have come away disappointed from the lack of heavy rhetoric. There was no single moment like Ann Richards skewering George H. W. Bush for having been born with a "silver foot in his mouth." There was no mention about how many houses the McCains own.

There was something that has been missing for much of this convention however - clear contrasts drawn between Obama and McCain on very specific issues, both economic and on national security and foreign policy. On point after point, the mantra Biden repeated for John McCain was, "that’s not change; that’s more of the same."

And while Biden, like many others from the podium in Denver, declared his admiration for McCain’s service, he did take his jabs at him. "The choice in this election is clear," Biden said. "These times require more than a good soldier; they require a wise leader, a leader who can deliver change-the change everybody knows we need."

Biden was at his best, however, when talking about himself. Recounting the hard times in his life; the death of his father, the tragic accident that took his first wife and a child, and his childhood stutter, Biden recalled what his mother taught him. "After the accident, she told me, ‘Joey, God sends no cross you cannot bear.’ And when I triumphed, she was quick to remind me it was because of others. My mother’s creed is the American creed: No one is better than you. You are everyone’s equal, and everyone is equal to you."

Biden may have had a tall order, competing with Hillary Clinton and both Obamas in prime time. But he may have connected more on an emotional level than any of them at the end of this convention.

The theme of Wednesday was "Securing America’s Future," and most of the speakers who were paraded to the stage hit on the themes of national security, foreign policy and the war in Iraq. Like Tuesday, when the convention focused on economic matters, Democrats again sought to tie McCain to the Bush Administration at every turn.

The overall impact of the message was likely to be lost though, thanks to the roll call vote which formally bestowed the party’s nomination on Obama.

After days, if not weeks, of conversations between the Clinton and Obama camps over how to orchestrate something that would recognize Clinton supporters, not embarrass the nominee and satisfy both sides. The result couldn’t have come off much better, resulting in Hillary Clinton calling to stop the roll call and nominate Obama by acclamation right in the middle of the evening news.

In all the intrigue and positioning this week, the magnitude of the history being made in Denver has sometimes gotten lost. Forty years ago, Robert Kennedy predicted that a major party would possibly be ready to nominate an African American candidate at this time, and on Wednesday, it happened.

Thursday, on the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream” speech, Barack Obama will accept that nomination, making all the gamesmanship of the days leading up to it seem petty in the larger perspective.

If you have ever wanted an example of an unethical person filled with grrrd and avarice you need only to look to the Vice presidential candidate. Did you notice how he secured employment for his family? One with large credit card concerns which Biden toadyed to, and what a surprise, another on is a lobbyist. You can see why these politicians want to hold on to their seats of power. They want to make certain that the rules do not apply to them.
Listening to Biden, you can understand that the truth and he are strangers. The people of Deleware must certainly want roaylty to re-elect this bozo time and again.
The New England folks like to feel superior to Southerners. What a laugh. These stupid northerners will elect themselves into servitude and feel superior all the way to the poor house. Biden is the typical greedy northern senator that wouldn''t know or tell the truth about Obama unless his life depended on it. They are all trying to establish a record for Obama that does not exist in fact. Their lying knows no bounds.

[starleo146]

Quotes:

- Leonardo DiCaprio is "an androgynous wimp." -- McCain.

- "The thought of [McCain] being president sends a cold chill down my spine. He is erratic. He is hotheaded. He loses his temper and he worries me." -- Senator Thad Cochran of Mississippi, who has known McCain for 35 years.

Sources:

"McCain Says He''s Been Baptist For Years", by Bruce Smith, The Associated Press, September 12, 2007

"Candidates invite questions about their faith", by Stephen Dinan, Washington Times, September 18, 2007

"The Pampered Politician", by Amy Silverman, The Phoenix New Times, May 15, 1997

"See John Run Off at the Mouth", Phoenix New Times, October 1, 1998

"Opiate for the Mrs.", Phoenix New Times, September 8, 1994

"Flashes: What''s Up, Murdoch?", Phoenix New Times, September 17, 1998

the US Veteran''s Dispatch web site.

[starleo146]

Mafia ties:
In 1995, McCain sent birthday regards, and regrets for not attending, to Joseph "Joe Bananas" Bonano, the head of the New York Bonano crime family, who had retired to Arizona. Another politician to send regrets was Governor Fife Symington, who has since been kicked out of office and convicted of 7 felonies relating to fraud and extortion.

Family Problems
McCain has a reputation as a politician who has difficulty keeping his pants zipped, according to Republican sources. He acknowledges that his adultery broke up his first marriage. His second wife Cindy, the daughter of a wealthy Budweiser beer distributor, was addicted to prescription narcotics and even stole hard drugs from a medical charity that she ran. McCain acknowledges that she didn''t want him to run, and only agreed once he promised that she doesn''t have to go to New Hampshire or Iowa

[starleo146]

"Keating Five," congressmen investigated on ethics charges for strenuously helping convicted racketeer Charles Keating after he gave them large campaign contributions and vacation trips.

Charles Keating was convicted of racketeering and fraud in both state and federal court after his Lincoln Savings & Loan collapsed, costing the taxpayers $3.4 billion. His convictions were overturned on technicalities; for example, the federal conviction was overturned because jurors had heard about his state conviction, and his state charges because Judge Lance Ito (yes, that judge) screwed up jury instructions. Neither court cleared him, and he faces new trials in both courts.)

Though he was not convicted of anything, McCain intervened on behalf of Charles Keating after Keating gave McCain at least $112,00 in contributions. In the mid-1980s, McCain made at least 9 trips on Keating''s airplanes, and 3 of those were to Keating''s luxurious retreat in the Bahamas. McCain''s wife and father-in-law also were the largest investors (at $350,000) in a Keating shopping center; the Phoenix New Times called it a "sweetheart deal."

[starleo146]

John McCain grew up Episcopalian. He went to an Episcopalian high school. For at least 15 years, he has been listed as an Episcopalian in authoritative directories such as the Almanac of American Politics and Congressional Quarterly''s Politics in America 2008. He told a reporter from McClatchy News Service in June 2007 that he was an Episcopalian.

Suddenly, in September 2007, he''s campaigning in South Carolina, the heavily Baptist state where George W. Bush barely managed to stop McCain''s presidential campaign 8 years ago. And guess what? McCain tells a reporter "By the way, I''m not Episcopalian. I''m Baptist."

When pressed, he said he''s attended the North Phoenix Baptist Church in Arizona for more than 15 years, though he has never been baptized in that church. Now see, that''s exactly the problem. Baptism is kind of a big thing in the Baptist Church. (That''s how they got the name.) No baptism, not Baptist.

Anyway, details aside, this is one very clear indication of how McCain has changed. Now, he''s just another hungry politician, happy to pander if it helps him win. Which eliminates the very reason people were excited about him in 2000 -- his honesty.

[starleo146]

John McCain is a maverick senator, Vietnam veteran and former prisoner of war for 5 years in North Vietnam. In 2000, he nearly beat George W. Bush by being an outspoken, even honest politician, which stunned everybody. He also is known for crafting bipartisan approaches to issues such as smoking and campaign reform.

This time around though, at 71, he apparently decided "now or never" and seems to have sold his soul, suddenly adopting a bunch of boilerplate conservative positions he was brave enough to resist 8 years ago. Now, conveniently, he''s even claiming to be a Baptist instead of an Episcopalian

[starleo146]

McCain Will pick billionaire NYC Mayor Bloomberg for his VP!!
Posted by dasfarg at 04:12 PM : Aug 28, 2008
*** I wouldn''''t care if he picked Jesus Christ to be his running mate! I still wouldn''''t vote for a ticket that has Amnesty Mccain on it! Amnesty Mccain voted to let over 20 million illegals to get amnesty / citizenship! No to Amnesty Mccain! Obama 2008!

Posted by tomcool1277 at 04:15 PM : Aug 28, 2008

There you go and if he doesn''t win this election(which he will not) he will not get reelected in Arizona unless his mafia friends help him

[starleo146]

McCain Will pick billionaire NYC Mayor Bloomberg for his VP!!

Posted by dasfarg at 04:12 PM : Aug 28, 20

All the media thinks Pawlenty. I don''t know, but I think it may be someone from Ohio or Michigan

[juless5]

http://rednecksforobama.net/

[minuteman-5]

Guess who''s running with the Old White Guy Washington Insider ? Obama....

What an Obad move picking OBiden as his Vice Appeaser

[minuteman-5]

Did you know that McCain will privatize Social Security? Like that plan? Wall Street does. Wall Street brokers stand to make TRILLIONS off this warmed-over McBush plan.

That%u2019s McCain%u2019s gift to Wall Street.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by broadwayphi at 04:53 PM

Well you are now crowned the new king of cut-and-paste, we are really getting tired of seeing the same pasted garbage over and over and over again, I mean come on, have an original thought now and then....you just post the same BS every day, delete those files already....

[specialty8]

Are these no talent rappers at the DNC going to hang out at the Whitehouse to? Lets see,we have good ole Jesse, Al, and do not forget the Rev. Wright. Is their enough bedrooms for all of this talent or are we going to have to build on?

[broadwayphi]

Did you know that McCain will privatize Social Security? Like that plan? Wall Street does. Wall Street brokers stand to make TRILLIONS off this warmed-over McBush plan.

That%u2019s McCain%u2019s gift to Wall Street.

[nevadapundit]

Just an fyi tomcool, post such as yours sent over and over again doesn''t make you right, it just makes your comments annoying and without meaning. I''m also glad to see you have a Darwinist view of the country where you believe that one half should have all the say and the beliefs of the other half should be discarded because you believe them trivial. Like it or not there are dems and repubs in this country and for anything to happen that is meaningful to all then they do need to work together on compromise. This isn%u2019t a dictatorship where ideas are squashed and debate is outlawed.

[talkingham]

If Bill stayed around for tonight''s speech the media would says he''s trying to steal the limelight, if he leaves he''s criticized for leaving. The reporting is as rigged as the Fall election is going to be.

[tomcool1277]

Obama / Biden 2008!

[tomcool1277]

Biden is changing the theme of the campaign. It is now "It''''s not hyperbole". Sadly enough he has to say it often just so people don''''t think he is spouting words from his fantasyland. Obama''''s pick here really shows his want of change. Biden is a straight down the line partisan Democrat with no history of bipartisan efforts. He relishes his lobbyist money. And half the time he is full of it...AND HE ADMITS IT. If that''''s the change you want you should really ask yourself why. Posted by NevadaPundit at 04:21 PM : Aug 28, 2008
*** Why should Biden have gone across the isle to republicans??? to share some of their big oil money with Biden? Obama/Biden is a whole lot better for this country than Amnesty Mccain and big oil!

[jsilver2th]

America is with you Barack!

The stage looks great! 100% All American!

Thomas Jefferson chose Greek Columns as a symbol of our new Republic because they symbolize strength and freedom.

The McSmear team will trash even our patriotic emblems for some cheap points. McSame is rude interupting the convention with rumor and smears- like a rude punk on the playground... what a joke.

Sign me another White Middle aged gun owning male in Rural Western State for Obama - Biden-

The McCains are just rich weirdos that live in the capitol of the new age anti-Christian capitol of the US- Sedona Arizona- do you know the kooks that live there? It makes Shirley McClain look like Tammy Faye Baker.

[nevadapundit]

Biden is changing the theme of the campaign. It is now "It''s not hyperbole". Sadly enough he has to say it often just so people don''t think he is spouting words from his fantasyland. Obama''s pick here really shows his want of change. Biden is a straight down the line partisan Democrat with no history of bipartisan efforts. He relishes his lobbyist money. And half the time he is full of it...AND HE ADMITS IT. If that''s the change you want you should really ask yourself why.

[tomcool1277]

xlib, if you are truley and xlib, how can you tolerate a candidate like Amnesty Mccain that voted to let over 20 million illegals get amnesty/citizenship??? I''m conservative and hate Amnesty McCain! I wouldn''t vote for Amnesty Mccain if he was the last person left alive! Obama may have his faults, but Amnesty Mccain has way more!