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Jill Biden Tells Oprah Her Hubbie Offered Choice of VP or Secy of State
January 19, 2009 2:29 PM
During the taping of the Oprah Winfrey show today, Dr. Jill Biden said that her husband, the vice president-elect, was given a choice of being either vice president or secretary of State.
This revelation came after Vice President-elect Joe Biden told Oprah that after then-Sen. Obama offered the job of VP he asked for some time to think about it and talk it over with his family.
Mrs. Biden interjected: "Joe had the choice of being secretary of State or vice president." She then seemed to realize she'd said something she wasn't supposed to have said.
Her husband laughed.
Said Oprah, trying to continue the conversation, "You said, 'Joe...?'"
"I said, 'Joe if you are secretary of State you will be away, I'll never see you,'" Mrs. Biden said. "We will see you at a state dinner once in a while. But I said if you are vice president, the entire family, because they worked so hard for the election, they can be involved ... They can come to our home, they can go to events, they can be with us and that is what is important to us."
Oprah turned to the VP-elect, asking "Were you worried about being number 2 because you wanted to be number one?"
"I think Barack was worried about it," the former senator said with a laugh.
This can't be the kind of thing that would please Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY.
More to come.
-- jpt
UPDATE: ABC News' Justin Anderson reminds me of this slightly more politic version of the story, from Ryan Lizza's Oct. 20th New Yorker profile of the loquacious Blue Hen:
"Obama also asked Biden whether he thought that he was more suited to a different position. 'He said, "You have a great interest in national-security policy, foreign policy,"' Biden told me. 'He wasn’t offering me this, but he said, "Would you rather be secretary of State instead of vice president?" And I thought a lot about that.'
"Biden consulted with his closest political advisers, including Ted Kaufman, Mike Donilon, and John Marttila, all of whom have been with him since the early days of his career. 'They convinced me that I could have more influence on policy as a vice president with Barack,' Biden said. 'And so the bottom line of all of this is that I said, "Barack, look, if you’re going to ask me to do this, please don’t ask me for any reason other than that you respect my judgment. If you’re asking me to join you to help govern, and not just help you get elected, then I’m interested. If you’re asking me to help you get elected, I can do that other ways, but I don’t want to be a vice president who is not part of the major decisions you make."'"
UPDATE #2: And ABC News' Karen Travers points out, this goes against what Obama folks are claiming now, as seen in Sunday's Washington Post.
"His first -- and arguably most startling -- major decision was to select Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) as his secretary of state, an idea that he had before the election and that he put on the table in his first post-election meeting in Chicago on Nov. 5, several advisers said. Obama never wanted Clinton for any other post and did not seriously consider any other candidates for the top diplomatic job, they said."
UPDATE #3: In a written statement, Elizabeth Alexander, spokesperson for the vice president-elect, writes: "Like anyone who followed the presidential campaign this summer, Dr. Jill Biden knew there was a chance that president-elect Obama might ask her husband to serve in some capacity and that, given his background, the positions of vice president and secretary of State were possibilities. Dr. Biden's point to Oprah today was that being vice president would be a better fit for their family because they would get to see him more and get to participate in serving more. To be clear, President-elect Obama offered Vice President-elect Biden one job only -- to be his running mate. And the Vice President-elect was thrilled to accept the offer."
January 19, 2009 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (226)
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you're my fan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Malik | Feb 18, 2009 5:37:12 PM
I very much doubt that Dr. Biden said that to be rude to Hillary. I'm pretty sure she was just elaborating on the question Joe was answering. Anyone who finds Jill dumb is rediculous. She's beautiful, intelligent and has a heart of gold for teaching on top of being the 'Second Lady'.
Posted by: maria | Jan 30, 2009 11:19:43 AM
'I am not a H Clinton supporter, but I don't understand why she accepted Secretary of State when in 4 years she could have ran against Obama and probably won. To know that she was considered after the fact is a real insult to HC.'
the statement was made for just that reason, to insult mrs clinton, who I really don't believe can be insulted. I also don't believe she can ever be elected potus; who would lend her money, provide services, want to hear two more years on how she was discriminated against because she is a woman where, if she hadn't been a woman her lack of experience would have kept her out of the contest?
'Great days to come as we look forward to a resurgent United States under the wisdom and leadership of Barack Obama and Joe Biden, with Hillary Clinton as the finest of Secretaries of State'.
you may have gotten 2 out of three here for mrs clinton will never be the finest anything. she is not brilliant but merely well educated nor is she creative and when challenged without a script she is paralized. Oh, I get it it's her experience as a diplomat; bringing peace to ireland, risking death to get information in the balkans that will lift her out of the mediocrity she has settled for all these years.
Posted by: lavina lyght | Jan 27, 2009 4:19:22 PM
"Somebody should put a muzzle on Jill Biden before she does more harm."
Anybody who doesn't have braces on his/her brain will recognize that Jill Biden would NEVER have said such a thing unless she'd been sent there for the purpose OF saying it.
YOU COULDNT BE MORE RIGHT BUT TELLING THE TRUTH IS STILL A PRETTY GOOD IDEA EVEN IF IT DOES RUFFLE THE FEATHERS OF BILL'S WIFE. SHE WAS LUCKY TO GET ANY POSITION IN THE NEW ADMINISTRATION GIVEN HER 8 YEAR LACK LUSTRE PERFORMANCE IN THE SENATE. SHE ACCOMPLISHED LITTLE, FELT THE GENERAL STRUCTURE (SENIORITY,SENIORITY..) WAS HIDDING HER LIGHT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR HER SUBSTANDARD PERFORMANCE. NO, MRS CLINTON YOUR SUBSTANDARD SKILLS AND LITTLE INTEREST IN NY STATE CAUSED YOU TO FAIL. OBAMA WAS GRACIOUS IN RESCUING MRS FROM THIS DEBACLE. SOMEONE MENTIONED THAT SHE WOULD BE A GREAT SEC OF STATE; IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN GREATNESS IS NOT WITHIN HER GRASP THE CLOSEST SHE CAME WAS GREATNESS ONCE REMOVED. GO JILL
Posted by: lavina lyght | Jan 27, 2009 3:59:11 PM
To the clearly uninformed woman who claimed that Jill Biden is "dumb" who can't teach...
A few of my graduates had the HONOR of having Dr. Biden as their freshman year English Composition teacher. They had nothing but positive comments about her teaching.
I hate it when people post comments that they know ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ABOUT.
Posted by: DEteacher | Jan 22, 2009 5:19:54 PM
What I thought was even more interesting than this slip-up was Joe Biden talking about the neighborhood he had to frequent which was a "very rough" neighborhood and that he was one of the only "whites". So is the vice president to our country's first black president saying that a neighborhood not made up of white people is necessarily rough? If he were a Republican (or worse - George W.) I bet this comment wouldn't have been ignored!
Posted by: Jenny | Jan 22, 2009 4:37:58 PM
Re: Dr. Jill Biden's True Admission
Dr.Biden, told the truth on the Oprah show..please re-examine the interview closly and you'l see it plain as day.
I believe there is more to this story, that meets the eye..What I mean, First, there was the incident involding the pay for play, inwhich the obama's seat was to be sold to the higest bider, and now, we have learned about another forcast. A major job being offered before,the Presidential Primary's or had election ended.
Sincerely,
Emmery
Posted by: Emmery Jones Jr Medical Records Admin,CCS-P | Jan 21, 2009 1:29:56 PM
Hey Palin! you might be able to see Russia from your house, but Vice President Biden can see President Obama's house from HIS house!
Posted by: Democrats 4 Ever | Jan 21, 2009 10:22:21 AM
This is just not the way to start out the administration. This smacks of something catty, and I hope it doesn't predict tension between Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton, who was the best pick for Secretary of State.
Posted by: Heather | Jan 20, 2009 4:44:39 PM
P.S.
The CCA jobs may serve as a stop gap measure, but the jobs the big corps sent overseas IN ORDER TO FURTHER ENRICH THEIR STOCK HOLDERS, IN ORDER FOR THE KRAPS TO BE KEPT ON AS CEOs, will have to be returned to the US.
Simultaneously, those who obtain those jobs are going to have to learn that jacking up union wages sky high will ONLY GUARANTEE THE JOBS GOING BACK OVERSEAS. No one's asking them to acdcept minimum wages, but $75./hour? Anyone needing that much, as is the same for stock holders and their being paid ridiculously high dividends, needs to be separated from the job in question and he/she sent overseas instead!
And, most importantly, Jill is a Fox.
Posted by: amenhotep_v | Jan 20, 2009 4:34:39 PM
Her Hubbie?
What is this? The National Enquirer?
Posted by: DrX | Jan 20, 2009 2:58:17 PM
Jill Biden is a dumb blonde who has no business as a teacher, I would be afraid of what kind of ignorance she would be teaching my children. Hoof in mouth disease should not be permitted in schools. Stay home and open mail for you hoof-in-mouth husband. Boy did Obama make a mistake when he chose you and your husband. Impeach Joe Biden so we can get rid of dumb blonde.
Hillary Clinton has more class and intelligence in her tiny little pinky than you have in your whole plastic surgery body.
Posted by: Linda | Jan 20, 2009 2:20:20 PM
"this goes against what Obama folks are claiming now"
Of COURSE it does! Not only have they hung Clinton out to dry AGAIN, but now The Pup's people are engaging in a SECOND ritual humiliation of The Dumb Blonde -- the first being the unexpected onstage mouth-kiss -- as a dig at MR. Biden.
It seems darn unlikely that Mrs. Biden said anything she hadn't been TOLD to say.
Posted by: Belle Starr | Jan 20, 2009 2:02:24 PM
I wonder if Vice-President Biden will be able to recognize the Thomas Jefferson statue . . . or will he pull an Al Gore . . . !
Posted by: Frank Chance Chenoweth, Esq. | Jan 20, 2009 11:58:38 AM
This isn't a big deal, but it is funny. Bidens' gaffes will be SNL and Daily Show fodder for at least the next 4 years. Look, we knew what we were getting - make the most of it.
Posted by: Corwin | Jan 20, 2009 10:56:48 AM
Does anyone rememeber that Joe biden had to step down from running for President many years ago becasue he made remarks that insulted the common man? Jill Biden saying something this ugly and spiteful does not surprise me. This entire Obama Biden ticket is is sickening. I give those dumb enough to vote for Obama one years, and they will see what a stupid mistake they made. Read Obamas autobiography "Dreams of my father" and you wioll see that Obama is a marxist, and has said he "would start a war aginst white people in this country if it were productive," Idiots voted this man in office.
Posted by: mark | Jan 20, 2009 10:49:42 AM
I can't believe Mrs. Biden said that V.P. elect Biden was offered both the Sec. of State and V.P. What is it with these two? How does she think Sen. Hillary Clinton felt when she heard that. Shame!
Posted by: kim | Jan 20, 2009 10:44:24 AM
Wow!! Such bitterness over an interview...perhaps this is the reason the GOP lost; They should have tried talking of substance rather than tearing other's accomplishments down....Now ask yourself: Is this what a maverick would do?
Posted by: Trey | Jan 20, 2009 9:34:54 AM
Somebody should be assigned to keep her mouth occupied and busy.... what a ditzy broad........
Posted by: gem | Jan 20, 2009 9:22:30 AM
As a payback to coastal liberals who propelled him on top Obama had to take one of their own very close to pinnacle of power. He picked mild-mannered Joe Bidden who is not going to make much trouble and let him choose. After he chose VP position, that job was taken from table.
Next Obama had to make rust belt faction happy too, so Hillary Clinton got right to choose next... My feeling is that she will have more power in creating policy then Condi Rice who was just glorified messenger. Not to mention hopeless yes-man Colin Powell.
Hey, that's how politics in Europe is conducted since first public assemblies 2500 years ago. Make enough allies and you rule.
Posted by: Mladen | Jan 20, 2009 7:51:46 AM
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