Joe Biden's a little like The Mouth That Roared -- he's very smart and articulate, yet you never know quite what's going to come out of his mouth next. He's among the second tier of Democrat presidential aspirants, and is probably really running for a vice-presidential slot on the ticket, along with Chris Dodd and Bill Richardson.But he might not even be in the vice-presidential sweeps for long with statements like this, from an interview and article published today about Barack Obama in the New York Observer:
"I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy," he said. "I mean, that's a storybook, man."Is anyone else a little uncomfortable with how that sounds? One of the reasons I am intrigued by Obama is that he represents a move forward from the old-line civil rights black leadership (Jessie Jackson, Al Sharpton), whose views, tactics, and style are way past the due date for a large segment of the black community.
That community is shifting (or wants to be able to shift) to the middle and upper classes. I'd put him in there with Harold Ford, Bill Cosby, and Juan Williams on the left, and on the conservative side Thomas Sowell and Walter Williams. They're people who refuse to buy into the old stereotypes and the "blame whitey for everything" that the other black leaders still cling to.
But for Biden to say that Obama is the "first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy"? What's he implying? And compared to whom?
The equivalent for him would be to say of Hillary Clinton: "she has some good views, for a blond woman".
There are ways to say what I think he wanted to say about Barack Obama (i.e. with only two years in the Senate, Barack's too inexperienced) without giving him a backhanded borderline bigoted insult.
Who know, maybe Biden could still be Secretary of State under Clinton...
Reader Comments ( Page 2 of 3)
16. I don;t see what the fuss is about. Trouble today is people are so thin skinned and take offence at everything. Solution, don;t make comments about anybody, then no one will be offended
Shirley Chaplin at 11:07PM on Feb 1st 2007
17. I don't care at all for Joe Biden--never have, never will. However in defense of him, to make such a big deal out of what he said is typical of our day and age when every syllable uttered in public is scrutinized beyond belief. Unfortunately for Joe he appears to be getting a dose of his own medicine now because he's always been over opinionated, talks too damn much and is a pompous know it all but obviously he didn't intend, nor should he have expected his words to be interpreted as a racial slur. Welcome to the circus Joe, better start weighing your words or find some more to plagiarize if you don't want to withdraw from the race in the very near future. P.S. Don't ask John Kerry for suggestions.
Howard at 2:02PM on Feb 1st 2007
18. Mr. Biden, do you realize how cocky and smart aleck you sound. You are a mature adult, act like it, It is time you and all you Democract colleagues start doing the work of governmentand stop making hate cracks at the other side of the isle. Please lets get on with the business of governing.
Sanford C. Oyer
Age 81 and have witnessed the work of 10 presidents and congress. What goes on today is absolutely disgouraging.
Sanford C. Oyer at 2:09PM on Feb 1st 2007
19. Wow! Talk about an overblown story! Any time a politician (of any ethnicity) decides to bring race into a statement then surely they are a racist! Biden's comment was fair in political perspective. 1). Barack IS the first mainstream (read: represents one of the two major political parties) viable african-american candidate for president. Jackson and Sharpton don't truyly count as they didn't garner nearly the same level of public support and attention that Barack has even thus far. 2). The equivelant statement is FLAT OUT WRONG. the equivalent statement listed for Clinton: "she has some good ideas for a blond woman" That's just inaccurate. He didn't say "he's clean and articulate for an african-american," so stop pretending like he did. He might as well have said "he's a nice man who is clean and articulate." Do you think all nice men (or people acting on their behlf) would be up in arms, insinuating that Biden thinks that all "nice" men can't be clean and articulate?! How nice-ist!
Tyler W. at 4:15PM on Feb 1st 2007
20. Why hasn't anyone mentioned Congressman Ron Paul who is the only candidate running who is actually for the people and actually wants to change our corrupt system and revitalize our failing economy by doing away with the private cartel known as the Federal Reserve.
Put parties aside for a moment. Forget about the left/right divde and conquer paradigm for a moment and read up on Ron Paul. He is the only candidate who is not accepting money from special interest groups and wants to bring about REAL change.
Consider for a moment that the George Bush Sr. has been pulling the strings in the White House for 4 presidencies. No one can deny that he became the lead man as Vice President after Reagan was shot. He then turned his watch over to Bill Clinton who has been under Bush Sr.'s wing since he was a teenager (yes it's true, do some research). After Billy Bob we got Dubya. And now we want another Bush extended family member to be our next president? Have people lost their minds? Why don't we just convert to a monarchy?
People go wash your face, have a cup of joe and WAKE the eFF UP!
Click my link and read about Ron Paul. Forget his party and look at his voting record while in Congress.
Also see him in this excellent documentary...
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4312730277175242198&q=america+freedom+to+fascism&hl=en
Peace.
Not a genius, not a fool. at 2:17PM on Feb 1st 2007
21. "...how can you send to war all these people when you are a draft dodger?" Peter Schwarz at 2:11PM on Feb 1st 2007
Reply: It's psychologically more difficult to put others in harms way if one has a guilty conscience about one's own military record or has none at all.
His status as a draft dodger may have been a factor in Bill Clinton's reluctance and ineptitude in using force and responding effectively to the hostile actions of Islamic extremists, North Korea and the like.
At the time Clinton took office with the country relaxing from the end of the cold war and enjoying the "peace dividend" it didn't seem to matter. But it does raise the question of whether we can afford someone with this background and temperament in hostile times. And unless there is an enormous change of some sort in Islamic theology, it appears that the threat from these Islamic extremists will likely be with us for decades to come.
Cincinnati Rick at 2:52PM on Feb 1st 2007
22. I'm black and female. I have three young cousin in Iraq right now. I did not find Biden's comments to be offensive. I do not know a single person of color who knows his record who found his comments offensive. Both Sen. Clinton and Sen. Obama would be a major step up from the current administration, but neither of them have a snowballs chance of winning the presidential election. Biden is smart and experienced and I pray that he stays in the race. Even if he is perceived of having misspoke, he is preferable to the corrupt Republicans. Rather that nitpick about this, why isn't the media asking how much Cheney's net worth has increased due to the Halliburton stock he will get back when he leaves office?
Casey at 2:51PM on Feb 1st 2007
23. To Pat from Illinois who think's Obama has become
arrogant,have you been in his company or in his surrounds.Or just like many people who've only seen him on T.V.Why do we make such judgements when were're so far away.Pat remember "a mind is a terrible thing to waste".I am a former Chicago resident, and now live in Indiana and I'm sorry that I don't live in Illinois or that Sen.Obama isn't running in Indiana.Beside if you saw the Color Purple,while Sophia was in town with her family the Mayor's wife Ms. Millie walk up to her kids and remarked"Oh your children are so clean whould you like to come and be my maids and work for me?Sophia said"Hell No".Brings back memories but we as a black races aren't suppose to be offended.Pat of Illinois get your head out of your own "Asssske not what your country can do for you be what you can do for your country.
JoAnn
JoAnn at 4:05PM on Feb 1st 2007
24. I am from Delaware and find it very fitting that Biden announced his run for President on the Comedy Central Channel. I think he is the biggest joke Delaware has. He is always running his mouth and sticking his foot in it.
Helen at 5:23PM on Feb 1st 2007
25. I heard he was blaming Neil Kinnock for the statements
larsinkima at 10:40AM on Feb 2nd 2007
26. What was wrong with Biden's comments? HE WAS SIMPLY PRAISING OBAMA! Why twist and read into the Senator's words things that were never intended? Why such ill spirit and malice? More can be said about Jesse Jackson's character or, as I now see, lack thereof and Senator Obama's slipping on his character, as evidenced by his willingness to accept a twisted reading of his fellow colleague's flattering remarks, in good intent, than about Joseph Biden.
Senator Biden is highly regarded by his colleagues at the Senate Judiciary Committee and others such as myself, a C-SPAN viewer.
H. Shin at 1:03AM on Feb 2nd 2007
27. Oops, perhaps Senator Obama also did not mean to respond in a manner that may have seemed based on a twisted reading of Senator Biden's flattering remarks. Perhaps Obama's reading was based on a quasi-technical (albeit a misreading), to assume that Biden meant that because Obama was articulate, other African American candidates were inarticulate. It was just loose talk,. . praise. Perhaps Senator Obama was engaging in sort of a technical reading, which, in spirit and common sense understanding of the comments, was a twisted reading.
Sorry, Senator.
And I do still hold Obama in good regard.
H. Shin at 3:07AM on Feb 2nd 2007
28. PUT A LID ON GOSSIP,AND TALK ABOUT ABILITY,VOTING RECORD,LEGISLATION PROPOSED, ONES PERSONAL OPENION OF ANOTHER, HAS LITTLE OR NOTHING TO TO WITH SMARTS, AND ABILITY TO LEAD.
IT JUST PUTS WAGGING TONGUES ON FF,AND FOGS UP THE MINDS OF THE VOTERS
CREIGHDON at 12:05AM on Feb 22nd 2007
29. Ugly prune Biden, clearly suffers from a [FOOT/MOUTH] malady prevalent among [Politicians] these days. Your George "MACACA" Allens' [a self-denial half Jew; Hillary Clintons' & John Kerry et al. Question for Sissy, who I assume, is not from a minority group. Had Biden used the term "DIRTY" instead of "clean." ... would that have convinced you otherwise?!!
Leila Singh at 11:37PM on Feb 3rd 2007
30. This is why I hate politics, where people can be "shocked" by an obvious compliment. If they're implying that Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton are clean that would make me laugh, as one once called NYC "heimietown" and both do nothing these days but try to stir controversey. Things like this affecting how people vote is just stupid.
Nova at 10:34PM on Feb 3rd 2007