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Joe Biden's Mouth: 'If the Sparks Fly, So Be It'
August 23, 2008 10:22 AM
"The White House isn't the place to learn how to deal with international crisis, the balance of power, war and peace, and the economic future of the next generation," said a TV ad for Sen. Joe Biden's 1988 presidential campaign. "A President has got to know the territory, but that's not enough."
The ad says, "Joe Biden thinks its time to remind the world of what America stands for. Freedom. Equality. Justice. Opportunity. He thinks it's time to put courage over compromise, time to express America's outrage once again towards repression, brutality, violence, the abuse of human dignity around the world. And if the sparks fly, so be it."
If the sparks fly, so be it. Not a bad slogan for Mr. Biden.
Sen. Joe Biden, D-Dela., has long said what's on his mind with that attitude.
He's got a mouth on him. The sparks have flown.
Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, and his team are hoping it's a mouth that does them good, not ill.
He told our friend Jeffrey Goldberg three years ago, "The Lord Almighty, or Allah, whoever, if he came to every kitchen table in America and said, 'Look, I have a Faustian bargain for you, you choose. I will guarantee to you that I will end all terror threats against the United States within the year, but in return for that there will be no help for education, no help for Social Security, no help for health care. What do you do?' My answer is that seventy-five per cent of the American people would buy that bargain."
Campaigning for president in New Hampshire in 1987, Biden admitted he had misstated several facts about his resume after a man named Frank questioned his Syracuse Law School resume.
''I think I have a much higher I.Q. than you do," Biden responded.
He added that he ''went to law school on a full academic scholarship - the only one in my class to have a full academic scholarship,'' adding that he ''ended up in the top half'' of his class (not true) and ''graduated with three degrees from college" (not true).
Five months later, Biden acknowledged that he graduated 76th in a class of 85. ''I did not graduate in the top half of my class at law school and my recollection of this was inaccurate," he said in a statement. He graduated with one degree -- a B.A. -- in two majors, history and political science.
''I exaggerate when I'm angry,'' Biden told the New York Times, ''but I've never gone around telling people things that aren't true about me...'I guess every single word I've ever said is going to be dissected now.''
More recently, Biden raised eyebrows as a presidential candidate running in 2008, telling an Indian-American, "In Delaware the largest growth in population is Indian-Americans, you cannot go to a 7-11 or a Dunkin' Donuts unless you have a slight Indian accent." (Watch HERE.)
Responding to a question from Fox News' Chris Wallace about how a Northeastern liberal like him could compete in the South, Biden said, "you don't know my state. My state was a slave state, my state was a border state, my state has the 8th largest black population, it's anything but a Northeast liberal state." (Watch HERE.)
He has a grittiness, a candor, a feistiness.
He said he would shove a troop funding bill veto down President Bush's throat. (Watch HERE.)
He called former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani "the most underqualified man since George Bush to seek the presidency...Rudy Giuliani, there's only three things he mentions in a sentence -- a noun, and a verb and 9/11." (Watch HERE.)
And of course he said of Obama himself, "I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy." The implication that other African-American leaders weren't clean or articulate certainly raised some hackles.
"Barack Obama is probably the most exciting candidate that either the Democratic or Republican party has produced at least since I've been around," Biden later qualified. "He's fresh, he's new, he's insightful."
Biden said he regretted that "some have taken totally out of context my use of the word 'clean.'..My mother has an expression 'clean as a whistle, sharp as a tack,'" Biden said. "Look, the idea is, this guy is something brand new no one has seen before."
According to Biden, Obama told his colleague, "'Joe, you don't have to explain anything to me.'" Biden said he felt Obama "knew what I meant by it."
Both men are no doubt hoping he doesn't have any similar explanations to make in the next three months.
- jpt
August 23, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (122)
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THIS ELECTION HANGS ON A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE AND JOE BIDEN IS THERE FOR A REASON. SO,IF I HAVE NOT CAUSED YOU TO PANIC YET...YOU NEED TO STAND...JOE BIDEN KNOWS HIS STUFF AND WE NEED HIM DESPERATELY. ALQAEDA IS IN THE UNITED STATES AND JOE BIDEN IS AWARE OF THAT FACT...SOMETHING THAT BUSH HAS HIDDEN FOR A VERY LONG TIME. I JUST FINISHED AIDING A CASE MYSELF...PLEASE..WAKE UP..WE ARE IN TROUBLE HERE. THE BUSH REGIME DOES NOT WANT YOU TO KNOW WHAT THE ABSOLUTE DANGERS ARE WHILE THEY ARE STILL IN OFFICE.
SUMMATION: ALQAEDA IS IN THE UNITED STATES.
BUSH HAS LIED TO FUND A USELESS WAR IN IRAQ AND DRAINED OUR ECONOMY.
BUSH DOES NOT WANT YOU TO KNOW HOW MUCH HE HAS DRAINED UNTIL HE IS GONE.
BUSH DOES NOT KNOW THAT HELL HAS NO LIMITS AND HE IS NOT AN EXCEPTION IN CRAWFORD , TEXAS. WHAT GOES AROUND, COMES AROUND...GEORGE GET A SADDLE...YOUR MERRY GO ROUND WILL FIND YOU WITHOUT MY HELP. MAY GOD BLESS AMERICA!
Posted by: SUE DUVALL SMITH | Sep 15, 2008 12:46:54 PM
PEOPLE...PLEASE WAKE UP...WHILE YOU HAVE BEEN BUSY FIGHTING OVER PETTY,POLITICAL ARGUMENTS...THIS COUNTRY HAS BEEN OCCUPIED BY ALQAEDA CELLS...SLEEPERS...JUST WAITING FOR AN AMERICAN COLLAPSE.WE HAVE SLEEPERS IN EVERY STATE IN THIS COUNTRY...AND THEN SOME. SO WAKE UP TO THE ABSOLUTE AND REAL ISSUES HERE BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE
OR YOU WON'T LIVE LONG ENOUGH TO SEE YOUR PENSION OR YOUR GRANDKIDS. WE ARE IN TROUBLE..BY THE WAY...YOUR GRANDKIDS ARE A PRIORITY...YOUR PENSION IS NOT NOR IS IT GUARANTEED!
Posted by: SUE DUVALL SMITH | Sep 15, 2008 12:29:22 PM
OUR FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS ARE CRASHING...THERE ARE NO JOBS...AND THE OUTLOOK FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE IS QUITE POOR. WHAT ELSE DO YOU NEED AMERICA?
WE ARE ON THE DOWNSLIDE. WHEN YOU HIT ROCK BOTTOM..CALL ME! I CAN SAY..'I TOLD YOU SO.'
Posted by: sue duvall smith | Sep 15, 2008 12:07:42 PM
I was really offended with the opening sentence of Joe Biden's VP acceptance speech last night. I quote "This has been a h--- of a week." Also at least two times he used God's name in vain. Is this the kind of rhetoric we are going to have to listen to over the next two months? He may not drink or smoke but he could use a little more class in his oratory and a little less profanity in public speaking.
Posted by: Betty Frair | Aug 28, 2008 9:52:05 AM
These two gaffe machines were meant for each other! LOL, this will be a laughable convention if nothing else.
First Obama calls Biden 'The next president of the United States' then it's Biden's turn to shine by calling Obama, 'Barack Amer...Obama', LOL
All of this hoopla to elect the next democrat losers!!
Posted by: Typical White Woman | Aug 25, 2008 12:49:58 PM
I have voted dem every election - except I did vote for Schwarzenegger- since 1972. Now I will vote for McCain. I will vote Dem downticket but not for Barry O. I can't stand him, he is a joke, half baked fake creation of the Daley machine. I have detested him and his more disgusting wife from the beginning. Go back to Illinois. In fairness to the people there they had no choice - him or Keyes. I feel sorry for them. He will lose in a landslide. I will not feel safe if he is elected. Our enemies are waiting to test him. He will be the liberal Bush - another incompetent unqualified joke.
Posted by: mrsnivel | Aug 25, 2008 2:59:44 AM
A week ago you couldn't have paid us to vote for Obama, but now he has shown that he really does have good judgment by selecting Joe Biden for VP. Now we will both be there for the ticket because with Joe Biden on board we know that the country would be in good hands.
We volunteered for Joe in Iowa and he was wise and genuine and wonderful. I will now not only vote for Obama/Biden but will likely volunteer to work for the campaign as well.
Posted by: Donna Hughes | Aug 24, 2008 8:48:51 PM
I read these supposed opinions and there are so many disingenuous remarks, but what should I expect?! This chat is just politics, where accountability doesn't count and inverted hyperbole passes for sincere home spun humor. One liar even said he was a Dem going over to vote Rep for the first time. Oh, yea, right, and he had such big issues with Geo Bush. Hey, you want it sraight, say it straight. Try that for a change, because unless we go bi-partisan, everybody loses.
Posted by: DTK | Aug 24, 2008 8:42:11 PM
Biden provides familiarity and gravitas to the ticket. For those intrigued by Obama but have reservations because he is less familiar Biden will add some comfort. Biden is well known highly respected both at home and abroad.
Obama/Biden will improve Americas image around the world.
Posted by: JuJu | Aug 24, 2008 4:10:57 PM
If Joe really thinks he can support abortion and be a good Catholic - he's a fool and a liar.
Posted by: mary | Aug 24, 2008 1:40:16 PM
USA/GAllOP POLL latest :
The poll, taken Saturday of 876 registered voters, showed just 14 percent of registered voters said Obama’s choice makes them more likely to vote for him.
After John Kerry chose former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards as his running mate in 2004, 24 % of registered voters said they were more likely to vote for him.
16% said they were more likely to vote for Al Gore in 2000 after he chose Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman. In 1992, Gore gave Bill Clinton much more clout — 33 percent said they were more likely to vote for Clinton because of his running mate selection.
We know the history ...only Clinton won the GE.
Posted by: Dead Cat Bounce | Aug 24, 2008 12:52:57 PM
Not since Dan Quayle has there been a stranger choice.
Posted by: greg | Aug 24, 2008 10:30:13 AM
Obama made a fantastic choice! What have the Conservatives delivered? A nation more hated around the world, a nation less safe, more in debt, lies, deceit, trampling on the Constitution, outing a CIA agent, lost emails during critical times of the Bush administration, prisoner torture, and on and on. Obama and Biden will restore our moral compass in the world, get our allies behind us again, implement a sensible energy policy, and get our economy back on track. McSame, McBush, McNoMore.
Posted by: George | Aug 24, 2008 6:37:02 AM
Biden is going to be a disaster. If Obama is smart, he will keep Biden far, far in the background.
Posted by: DennisNC | Aug 24, 2008 6:08:56 AM
Where are those Obama supporters that were saying that Obama was going to get a huge double digit jump in the polls after the nominee was named at the convention? You guys are so wrong...and are going to be doing good not to lose double digits following this naming.
Posted by: chattyway | Aug 24, 2008 2:10:05 AM
Bwahahah Change you can believe in alright---------Change at every turn of the wind. Now, Obama is supporting the same old broken down malfunctioning Washington insiders.......Geez.
Posted by: chattyway | Aug 24, 2008 2:07:13 AM
Lol....Biden is going to be an easy target for the Republicans...the guy said obama wasn't ready to lead that McCain was basically.
Posted by: chattyway | Aug 24, 2008 2:05:01 AM
Biden's a liar and a buffoon and I just can't wait for all of his lies to be exposed in the coming weeks. I guess the Dems are hoping no one cares that he's a plaigarizing liar. Obama and Biden -- lovely pair, that.
Posted by: What A Phool | Aug 24, 2008 12:02:14 AM
The only person shares money with his himself and his corrupt puppet master handlers like Rezko. He raises taxes (and has voted to raise taxes on all making $32,000 or more a year) to pay for scams like building faulty dangerous public housing that his puppet handlers make millions/billions $$$$$ off of and then pay him under the table. Voting for Obama to raise someone's taxes thinking is going to help the poor is a scam. Obama is a scam. If you want to donate to charity, donate your own money to charity just ensure it isn't a scam like Obama supports.
Posted by: chattyway | Aug 23, 2008 11:46:59 PM
Oh, one last thing....Has Barack Obama told us exactly what this change is that he is going to bring to Washington? No foreign experience, very little national experience and totally out of touch with the American middle working class. Then he picks a guy who has been in the Senate for 30 years. Yes, sir that is real change. In truth he is nothing but hot air and trying to make the American people think he is another John F. Kennedy. My 19 year old son has as much experience to be President as Barack Obama does.
Posted by: Dennis Andrews | Aug 23, 2008 11:10:44 PM
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