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Did Biden offend Obama again at Racial Forum?
December 02, 2007 5:53 AM
ABC News' Eloise Harper, Raelyn Johnson and Sunlen Miller Report: At an event focused on minority issues--the Black & Brown forum in Des Moines, Iowa, Sen. Joe Biden D-Del., raised eyebrows when he answered a question about hate crimes. Citing the Jena 6, Sen. Barack Obama D-Ill., asked Biden if he would help him strengthen the enforcement of hate crimes legislation in the Senate as he would prioritize the issue in his presidency.
Biden responded, "I would be happy to make you the head of the civil right division of my administration."
When Sen. Obama appeared on camera following the remark, he appeared unmoved by the Biden proposal. Reporters watching the forum were a bit taken back by the comment and instantly remembered a well publicized off-color remark Biden made last February sizing up Obama saying, "I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy," adding "I mean, that's a storybook, man."
December 2, 2007 in Tancredo, Tom | Permalink | User Comments (26)
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Biden will be Obama's VP...
Obama/Biden '08!
Posted by: Watching | Dec 2, 2007 7:12:02 AM
The ultimate in PC language.
This is not any big deal in the world of real people. If those remarks are considered to belittle Obama, then this country is in really deep do-do. Only the most PC-sensitive of the Soft-Headeds would think Biden's remarks smacked of 'Bama Bashing.
Posted by: Keltin | Dec 2, 2007 7:20:10 AM
Keltin is correct. This is a load of nonsense.
Biden/Obama '08...One hell of a strong Dem ticket. They would win in a landslide.
Posted by: Jenny | Dec 2, 2007 8:22:24 AM
Why such a biased title?
Obama's question implied that he will win and Biden will stay in the Senate. Biden's reply of course implied that HE will be the one to win.
Excessive PCness, and looking under every tiny rock to find something that could possibly be turned into an attention-grabbing racial (or otherwise) slur is just plain wrong.
One of the things I like about Obama is that he seems to barely make his race an issue, and that's how it should be. IMHO of course.
Posted by: Azor | Dec 2, 2007 8:48:44 AM
There is nothing wrong with Biden's answer. Biden wants to be the president and Obama used to be a civil right attorney. If Biden said he will make Obama the head of the civil right commission, there is no fuse about it. Obama has class and smiles over those pettie things. He is a forward looking guy and "leaves the dead behind to bury their dead".
Posted by: Sam Lobey | Dec 2, 2007 9:24:32 AM
Ok I don't get it whats offensive? this is racial? But when Obama is suprised by an intelligent question from an Iowan farmer in "overalls and a straw hat" thats ok?
Posted by: Dennis | Dec 2, 2007 9:40:11 AM
Are you kidding me??? I'm raising my eyebrows at the people who actually think there is something to this. How about reporting on real issues instead of trying to make an issue out of nothing. Had the question been posed by Dodd, Clinton or any of the other candidates and Biden responded the same way to them, would eyebrows have been raised then?
Posted by: Jule | Dec 2, 2007 10:39:34 AM
I didn't see anything racist in Biden's comment. There are far more important issues at stake right now and I can't believe the amount of attention this comment is getting.
Posted by: Pat | Dec 2, 2007 11:24:45 AM
It's not getting that much attention, it's not even really being reported. It's such a non issue.
Posted by: Dana | Dec 2, 2007 11:31:29 AM
It was Senator Obama who brought up the important topic of hate crimes. Since today's Department of Justice is not interested in protecting the civil rights of minorities and going aggressively after the perpetrators of hate crimes, Senator Biden's remark was neither racist nor otherwise out of line with PC in the context of race in which everyone likes to tell his/her competitors that they are well suited for high offices--not the top job.
Posted by: Brigbrig | Dec 2, 2007 11:33:46 AM
Boy, I'm starting to really believe the media wants no one in this race other than Hillary and Barack. Joe Biden is one of the best leaders America has, and the media never covers him except when they try to spin it to make him look bad. Shame on the media.
Posted by: JDS NY, NY | Dec 2, 2007 11:55:56 AM
Question: Did Biden offend Obama again at Racial Forum?
Answer: Hell No.
Now, how about some coverage of how Senator Biden will respond to the real issues.
Posted by: Gary | Dec 2, 2007 12:53:57 PM
biden is an arrogant dude, to kucinich he said "the best thing i like about you is your wife" he may have enough experience, but thats is not enough, you must also know how to deal effectively with people without offending them, i find biden offensive, p.s i predict when obama is president, biden will quit the senate and go work on a farm, america has had enough arrogant leaders!!!
Posted by: jacobs | Dec 2, 2007 1:05:51 PM
No, Biden didn't offend Obama, and Obama didn't feel offended either...
However, I do not like the arrogant attitude of Biden. He's got that rude -nobody here knows what's going on but me- attitude... And he's idea aren't the best either... He's just best at making us believe so...
Posted by: SAM | Dec 2, 2007 1:23:04 PM
Biden simply personafies the rampant hypocrisy that permeates the democratic party;Kennnedy killing a woman in 1969,Al Gore's Occidental Petroleum holdings, Clinton being dishonorable to his wife and Biden making this racist comment and it goes on and on.Then they have the nerve to point their fingers at us,ascerting we engage in such bigoted behavior!! It's all their's.
Posted by: Bill | Dec 2, 2007 1:26:08 PM
Biden has more experience than Obama and Hillary put together and has shown better judgement on neocon Bush`s Iraq war than most Senators. If Obama sees this innocuous comment as a racial dig, he is certainly not ready for prime time.
Posted by: Luke | Dec 2, 2007 1:31:51 PM
No it wasn't racial, and it shouldn't even be an issue worth discussing. They were both exchanging barbs, and if Obama, and his supporters can't take the heat, maybe they need to get out of the kitchen. Seems to me that Obama's skin may be a bit too thin for politics if he was offended.
Posted by: Lynne | Dec 2, 2007 2:16:34 PM
jacobs; I for one, am ready for a president who is tough, arrogant, and in control. It's been a long 7 years with the current president being controlled by Cheney. At least Biden won't let his VP control him.
Obama will need a strong VP though, since he has little experience needed for the job in which he's seeking. If elected, the democrats will have just repeated the same mistake the republicans made 7 years ago. Going with who they *THINK* is the best, while all the while not even bothering to "open the hood"* and take a look inside.
*Disclaimer; the term "opening the hood" refers to that of a car. Not a black ghetto. Just thought I'd make that clear.
Posted by: Jackie | Dec 2, 2007 2:28:28 PM
Biden racist? NEVER!!!The man is a Democrat. A HOLY man!!! The minute you join the Democrats you're cleansed of all predjudice. Ask ROBERT BYRD.
Posted by: Mike | Dec 2, 2007 4:59:45 PM
The real answer would have been that the Jena Six are serving their sentences for attempted murder prior to I taking office.
Posted by: pat | Dec 2, 2007 5:41:46 PM
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