Pros And Cons In Letting Biden Be Biden

Washington Post: With Debate On Horizon, Loquacious Senator's Gaffes Give Democrats Reason For Concern

(Washingtonpost.com)  This story was written by Perry Bacon Jr..

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Introducing Sen. Barack Obama at a rally in Detroit on Sunday, his running mate did not hold back.

"John McCain said he'd follow Osama bin Laden to the gates of hell," said Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. "Well, let me tell you something: President Barack Obama will follow him to where he lives and then send him to hell."

Biden's latest ad-lib drew laughter and cheers from the crowd, but there has been a downside to the Democratic vice presidential nominee's freewheeling style: a string of comments that either don't reflect campaign positions or misstate basic facts.

Unlike his Republican counterpart, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, Biden has not been shy about talking to reporters, but comments he has made since Obama chose him last month have presented Democrats with their own problems and revived the longtime senator's reputation for gaffes.

In an interview with CBS News that aired last week, Biden described how Franklin D. Roosevelt had appeared before the country on television in 1929 to explain the stock market crash. But Herbert Hoover was president in 1929, and televisions sets did not start appearing in American homes until a decade later.

In that same interview, asked about an Obama campaign commercial that mocked Sen. John McCain's lack of computer skills, Biden called the ad "terrible." A few hours later, after McCain's campaign highlighted the remark in several news releases, Obama aides put out a statement under Biden's name in which the senator from Delaware said he had not personally seen the commercial and did not have any concerns once he watched it.

The next day, confronted with a interview in which Biden had said he opposed the bailout of the insurance company American International Group, a move that Obama supported, the Democratic nominee said that "I think Joe should have waited" before commenting.

And Obama aides spent much of the week defending the candidate's backing of the construction of "clean coal" plants, after a video surfaced on the Internet that showed Biden at a campaign event saying he opposed clean coal. The coal industry is a major employer in Ohio and Pennsylvania, two key swing states where Biden is doing much of his campaigning, and Obama has pledged support for coal plants that emit less carbon dioxide than traditional plants.

The McCain campaign has jumped on the remarks to attack Obama, and the Republican National Committee has started a "Joe Biden Gaffe Clock" that includes dates and video of the senator's comments, which also have included repeated references to brigades of soldiers as "battalions."

"If this race is close, any mistake can be really exploited," said Dan Bartlett, a former top adviser to President Bush who is supporting McCain. "He has this unique capability for someone who is so smart on the issues making these mistakes."

David Wade, Biden's spokesman, defended his boss's "straight talk," adding: "Unlike other campaigns that sequester running mates, we'll proudly continue to unleash Joe Biden to be Joe Biden."

Obama himself has defended Biden, telling NBC last week, "I am very proud of the choice that I made."

And Dan Pfeiffer, Obama's communications director, rejected any suggestion that Biden's role in the campaign would be reduced or changed, calling him a "huge asset" who was "in the battleground states, dominating the media coverage."

Some Democrats have suggested -- as Biden himself did recently -- that Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton would have been a better choice as Obama's running mate, but on the whole the party appears satisfied with him.

Kiki McLean, who was an adviser on Clinton's campaign and served on the staff of Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (I-Conn.) when he was the Democratic vice presidential nominee in 2000, said Biden's gaffes were "very human moments."

"He's very on-message on foreign policy and the economy," she said.

Celinda Lake, a Democratic pollster who advised the senator from Delaware during his own primary campaign, called the controversial remarks "Biden being Biden." Lake said focus groups of non-college-educated white voters, a group that has been a weak point for Obama, suggest Biden is helping sell Obama to skeptical audiences despite his occasional gaffes.

Biden has long been known for speaking for too long and making occasionally odd remarks, such as when he declared Obama "the first mainstream African American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy" when Biden launched his White House bid in early 2007. A few months earlier he had spoken of the prevalence of Indian accents in Dunkin' Donuts and 7-Eleven stores.

Initially hailed by the party as someone who would add experience as well as appeal to key voting groups such as Catholics, Biden has drawn little attention in recent weeks, crowded out of the media spotlight first by Palin and now by the financial meltdown.

Biden often travels with fewer than a dozen reporters, and even his aggressive attacks on McCain have generated little attention in national news, although Obama aides point out he often makes the front pages of local newspapers in the cities he visits. At the same time, many of those papers ran stories about his coal comments this week as well.

Bartlett, who is not formally involved with the McCain campaign, described Biden as "a rhetorical train wreck." He added: "Every utterance matters. But when he was announced I considered him to be a very good pick, and I haven't really changed my opinion."

[element51]

Hwy71So....You don''t have to reply if you choose not to but I was wondering what major city you live close to. I am close to Hwy 71 and just wondered if we were almost neighbors. I am close to Joplin/Springfield with Hwy 71 being about half way in between. No reason for asking, just curiosity. Thanks.

[rjs1955]

Yeah, OK Biden steps on his tongue, but are these blips in his knowledge of history as serious as Palin''s cutesies like "oops, I thought the red button was to to buzz my make-up assistant, not destroy the Western World, tee hee..., now where is she anyway, this fallout is just terrible for my complexion...."

[livewire190]

Everybody check out "What Jack Carrferty Really Thinks Of Sarah Palin" on youtube. A Must See! Funny Stuff!!!

I think I spelled his name right. Mabey not.

[livewire190]

Everybody check out "What Jack Carrferty Really Thinks Of Sarah Palin" on youtube. A Must See! Funny Stuff!!!

I think I spelled his name right. Mabey not.

[buffalonyusa]

Final word: If George Dubya can be President, any one can be President...

[cacatua08]

There is a vast difference between "having a Biden moment" and not knowing enough to say anything intelligent, or even coherent on the national/international stage. Joe Biden has forgotten more than Palin can cram into her head.

[livewire190]

Everybody check out "What Jack Carrferty Really Thinks Of Sarah Palin" on youtube. A Must See! Funny Stuff!!!

I think I spelled his name right. Mabey not.

[drputt45]

Yeah, great comment that Biden has fogotten more than Palin will know. Key is Biden "has forgotten." Is he getting senile already?

I am independent and I like a fresh voice from someone that seems more real than the typical Washington drones. I like Sarah Palin, just wish we could vote separately for Pres and VP.

[tonic1111]

SO WHAT JOE BIDEN SPEAKS HIS MIND BEFORE HE FILTERS IT WITH THE POLITICAL DOUBLESPEAK. GOOD FOR HIM.

[kittykatty2]

impeachNOW - you wanna talk about George Dubya Bush?

[usafuture]

I know the Palin debate strategy:

1- She will try to blame the collapse of the bail-out and the whole Wall Street fiasco on "tax and spend" liberals -- namely, Biden and Obama.
answer-
a- the Wall Street meltdown was a product of deregulation sponsored by the present Republican President who was supported by McCain 90% of the time. The bailout was initiated by the present Republican administration,which could not rally its party votes even with the "help" of John McCain who "dropped everything to go to Washington". Now Republicans are trying to blame Democrats for a mess they created -- the American people are too smart to fall for that.

b- the last Democratic administration under President Bill Clinton presided over the 22 million new jobs created and also the largest surplus $559 billion. Republicans not only squandered both those advantages over the past 8 years, they''re sticking Americans with the costs of their failed policies.

d- Obama''s tax cuts help the middle class; McCain wants more tax cuts for those earning more than $250,000 a year, and the big corporations. Not everyone in America has 8 homes and 10 cars. The proof is whether ordinary Americans feel that they are better off than they were 8 years ago.

[xmanborg]

Biden is going to blow Sarah Palin out of the water so bad. Even Anderson Cooper said he cant wait until the V.P Debate and he said that in a sarcastic way.

[bobnjersey]

[Bartlett, who is not formally involved with the McCain campaign, described Biden as "a rhetorical train wreck." He added: "Every utterance matters. But when he was announced I considered him to be a very good pick, and I haven''t really changed my opinion."]

and the guy you worked for reminded you of whom ... shakespeare?

[xmanborg]

USAfuture

Where is # C ????

I like A, B, D but where is # C ????

[bigmj9]

Biden and Palin both share a common positive trait and that is genuineness and an ability to see humor in him/herself. No way will the media give Palin a fair shot, but that''s not Biden''s fault. I''m hoping the debate will be pleasant and lighthearted as both the VP candidates.

[olderthnadam]

One would think that after the events of the past week the right would be a little bit cautious about calling anyone else socialists, seeing as how their leader George W. has embraced the very heart of socialism. For government to take over and control private enterprise is about as socialist as you can get.

[pensacola98]

I do know that Joe Biden has his long-winded style which is something that comes with experience, while Sarah Palin is more snappy.

Both actually have their stregnths and weaknesses.

The Dan Quale experience showed that when a VP paints theirself in a corner and the media lunges for it, the president can relax, take advantage of the distraction and pass legislation through that might upset the country.

VP antics are part of the culture, no matter who it is. The president could stumble and fall and it would be all over the headlines with concerns about the health of the president. When the vice-president does the same thing, the media grabs it and makes a circus side-show event from it.

[xmanborg]

Dude BigMJ9

Palin has shown she is not ready with her lame answer about Alaska and Russia and shotguning answers to questions. Beating around the bush with answers.

Sarah has as much of a chance on the Debate as Biden does, but Sarah knows nothing about D.C and the GOP game and Biden does and Sarah is going to STumble and Fall flat on her face with her shotgun answers.

[justspiffy]

My self I wish Sen. Biden was going to be President.
I have watched him for years he is a very smart man.
Obama was smart to choose him. When Sen. Obama said he wanted someone that would tell him when he was wrong I just knew it would be Joe Biden.
It''s a shame so many who post don''t actually read the news or understand what is going on.
Just like this bailout of brokage firms. Gee if we didn''t make a car payment they would sure take our car or house.
Wake up people we live in a free country and believe me the people in congress DO NOT know how to run the stock exchanges. Maybe they should ask the specialist on the NYSE to explain how the system works. People posting here sure need to understand it.

[lwc777]

According to Bible prophecy the U.S. economy will collapse. The Tribulation period mentioned in the Bible has begun, and the Great Tribulation period is soon to follow. The U.S. is clearly in Bible prophecy. If you read the detail of the vision of King Nebuchadnezzar found in the Bible Book of Daniel of the great image (IDOL), it represented EVERY great nation that would rise one after the other. The feet of this image were made of iron - this represented England - as they ruled with an iron fist 3/4 of the world. The next kingdom would be the feet, made of iron and clay. Not a coincidence that 1/2 was iron because the United States came out of England - the other 1/2 was clay. The two would not mix, according to the Bible, and a Rock (Jesus Christ was defined in the Bible as the Rock) would come out of the Mountain and hit the image in the feet (the U.S.) to bring down this image (idol - something worshipped). Jesus Christ said, "Ye cannot serve God and mammon." Mammon is defined as riches. God will bring down the U.S. economy that even other kingdoms are standing upon because riches has become our idol instead of truly serving him. On Monday, the stock market fell "777" points. That is a clear mark it was God, as it is his number, while "666" is Satans'' number. The Mark of the Beast and a one world economy and government are very near. The Great Tribulation will be get much worse. Read the book, "FIRESTORM!" to find out what happnens next.

[bobnjersey]

[Wake up people we live in a free country and believe me the people in congress DO NOT know how to run the stock exchanges. Maybe they should ask the specialist on the NYSE to explain how the system works. People posting here sure need to understand it.]
[Posted by justSpiffy at 01:30 PM : Sep 30, 2008]

nobody really knows how it works. if they did, they could define a plan that would be guaranteed to work ... and therefore would have been in place a long time ago.

economics is like religion ... everyone has their own flavor ... claim that theirs is the correct course to follow ... and yet ... it''s all really just based on ''belief''.

[bobnjersey]

[Read the book, "FIRESTORM!" to find out what happnens next.]
[Posted by lwc777 at 01:30 PM : Sep 30, 2008]

is that the one where the clint eastwood character (in the movie) steals the russian plane?

[hillary_ftw2]

Joe Biden - *** Cheney''s evil twin.

[bobnjersey]

[The rest of us know SOCIALISM isn''''t the answer.]
[Posted by pmsnbc2 at 01:37 PM : Sep 30, 2008]

it''s unlikely that you know much at all ... except for what you were told to repeat incesently.

[perceptions5]

Biden.........what a blow-hard.

Sarah should ask Biden if he stills thinks that after the 1929 stock market crash that FDR came out and spoke to the American people on television to tell them why.

........fyi Herbert Hoover was president not FDR and there were no televisions invented yet.

........Yeah Biden would make a great vp (insert eye roll)

[usamohammed]

Joe Biden is A jew He should never be allowed on a ticket with a muslim.

[leighg1]

Let%u2019s all help prevent our nation from falling into the disastrous hands of McCain. This thing is not locked in yet. Let%u2019s give Sen. Obama one last push and donate $5, $10, $50%u2026 whatever you can.

[armydog2]

Biden is a good man, he has the right family values,he is no washington insider.
Palin is an airhead plain and simple.

[perceptions5]

McBush...repigs 600,000 jobs lost!!!


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Posted by zoe2006

=================================
And the FACT is:

110th Do Nothing Democrat Congress...pigs 600,000 jobs lost!!!

.........That''s the story and truth, nice try.

[paris1969]

I think many democrats are fine with Biden because they really have no intention of voting for Obama anyway ... so who cares who his VP is!

[pleasechange-2009]

Posted by BARRYLIES at 01:34 PM : Sep 30, 2008

Berg might think he has "standing" to proceed with his case, but he wasting his time. Obama was born in THIS Country and he is a citizen based on that. Move on.

[leighg1]

Sen. Biden''s son will be deployed to Iraq Oct.3 for one year. Let''s all pray for his and our soldiers'' safety.

[perceptions5]

Biden is a good man, he has the right family values,he is no washington insider.
Palin is an airhead plain and simple.


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

Posted by armydog2
===================================

armydog2 you''re looking like an air head right now. Biden has been in Wasington DC since Richard Nixon was president.

Am I clear?

[perceptions5]

Can you even imagine having the "Axis of incompetence" running Washington DC after November 4th?

Obama, Harry, and Nancy.......three left-wingers.

You got a Chicago gangster, a Las Vegas Mobster, and a San Francisco snobster...........

It could be Jimmy Carter''s second term. Does everyone remember his first?

...........Disaster anyone?

[perceptions5]

McBush...repigs 600,000 jobs lost!!!

Posted by zoe2006

=================================
And the FACT is:

110th Do Nothing Democrat Congress...pigs 600,000 jobs lost!!!

.........That''''s the story and truth, nice try.

[thevicar1]

You got a Chicago gangster, a Las Vegas Mobster, and a San Francisco snobster........... It could be Jimmy Carters second term. Does everyone remember his first?
...........Disaster anyone? ------------------------------------------------------ Posted by perceptions5


Jimmah was a good man...a good man I tell ya! He just got unlucky with that hostage thing.
And the wizzing brother at the holy monument thing...but I tell ya, Jimmah was a good man!
He is makin all those houses for Habitat for Oprah!
Thats the sign of a good man!

[perceptions5]

perception5,

I can imagine any non-Republican running DC after January.

I just can''''t imagine your party being rewarded for total failure.


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

Posted by Mcliar
========================================

You''re right just look at our 110th Do Nothing DEMOCRAT Congress.

Even Bush''s approval is three times higher then these do nothing Democrats...... extremely sad.

And look how our economy is TODAY vs. when the Dems took over............night and day........night and day.

[bobnjersey]

[Get ready for your inevitable downfall, liberal media.]
[Posted by OneAmerican6 at 01:52 PM : Sep 30, 2008]

when is this slated to happen? look into the eyes of your authoritarian leaders and tell us what they told you to say.

[perceptions5]

perceptions5 at 01:49 PM

Nixon another impeached and disgraced Repiglicon for corruption charges and spying on the Democrats... laugh at your example...and both Rumsfeld and Cheney were Nixon''''s administration...just more continued corrution...


Posted by zoe2006

=========================================

zoe2006 and I guess your proud of your hero''s JFK and RFK who illegally wiretaped the phones of a great Lincoln Republican, Martin Luther King Jr.?

......The Dems what a truely sad party.
They only exist because the most corrupt institution in America, our corrupt liberal MSM wolfpack press continues to prop them up and cover for their lies and hate and incomptenence...........SAD

[joshstrike]

@usamohammed
re: "Joe Biden is A jew He should never be allowed on a ticket with a muslim."

...you know they''re both christians, right?

[perceptions5]

Get ready for your inevitable downfall, liberal media.]
[Posted by OneAmerican6 at 01:52 PM : Sep 30, 2008]

when is this slated to happen? look into the eyes of your authoritarian leaders and tell us what they told you to say.

Posted by bobnjersey

==================================

Isn''t New Jersey the most CORRUPT state in the Union?

And isn''t this mob-run state run by the Democrats?

.............Truely sad indeed............

[perceptions5]

With Biden ther''''s an up side.

There''''s no up side inletting Palin be Palin.


Posted by Mcliar

===================================

Yeah Biden can LIE like hell and our corrupt liberal wolfpack press will cover for him.

You know .........1929 FDR and televisions.

Can you EVEN IMAGINE if Sarah had said that?

Corruption my friends, plain and simple media corruption...........................sad/

[danstoned]

Airhead Evangelical extremist Palin still refuses to speak with reporters. This non-transparency is killing the ConDumbists in the polls. Barack now leading in Virginia, North Carolina, and Florida. America is not going to put 2 more neocon extremists in the White HOuse. McCain/Palin: PATHETIC!

[perceptions5]

Airhead Evangelical extremist Palin still refuses to speak with reporters. This non-transparency is killing the ConDumbists in the polls. Barack now leading in Virginia, North Carolina, and Florida. America is not going to put 2 more neocon extremists in the White HOuse. McCain/Palin: PATHETIC!

Posted by danstoned

======================================

danstone.........are you a bigot? What''s your issues with Christians?

If you''re the face of the left-wing Democrat Party they it''s an ugly face indeed.

[bracemic]

The best thing about Biden is that he is good for a few laughs in "shock factor."

[perceptions5]

Nixon was not impeached. Only Andrew Johnson and William Jefferson Clinton.


Posted by Hwy71So

=====================================

Johnson and Clinton......BOTH DEMOCRATS if I remember my history correctly.

Or maybe the left-wingers have re-written that part of American history, too................SAD.

[bracemic]

If it were Biden/Obama (which is far more practical) instead of Obama/Biden, then the ticket would lose hands down. That should tell you something.

[checkthepast]

110th Do Nothing Democrat Congress...pigs 600,000 jobs lost!!!
.........That''''''''s the story and truth, nice try.
Posted by perceptions5

and they still do nothing ... that is except let their speaker blow off at the mouth and make sure no one else does anything either ....more job losses to come.. coming soon to a neighborhood near YOU!!!

[dnsallday]

BREAKING NEWS: Biden just said he was shot at during a visit to Iraq. When pressed he started to backpedal on his remark. ANOTHER HILLARY SNIPER STORY? --------------------------------------------------
Posted by airmanc5 at 02:08 PM : Sep 30, 2008
**********************************************************
Oh really, how interesting. Oh by the way, where is that article?

[irreverent1-2009]

Joe is queueing on Sarah''s preparation by following a rigorous pre-interview schedule of tanning beds, body waxing, teeth whitening and botox injections.