If people thought Joe the Plumber was some kind of stumble for Barack Obama, a rediscovered interview from 2001 should dispel any doubts about Barack Obama’s redistributionism. Seven years ago, Obama told Chicago Public Radio that the Warren Court was too conservative and missed its opportunity to redistribute wealth on a much grander scale. In fact, Obama wanted them to break the Constitution and reorder American society far outside of what the founders intended.

"If you look at the victories and failures of the civil rights movement and its litigation strategy in the court. I think where it succeeded was to invest formal rights in previously dispossessed people, so that now I would have the right to vote. I would now be able to sit at the lunch counter and order as long as I could pay for it I’d be o.k. But, the Supreme Court never ventured into the issues of redistribution of wealth, and of more basic issues such as political and economic justice in society.

To that extent, as radical as I think people try to characterize the Warren Court, it wasn’t that radical. It didn’t break free from the essential constraints that were placed by the founding fathers in the Constitution, at least as its been interpreted and Warren Court interpreted in the same way, that generally the Constitution is a charter of negative liberties. Says what the states can’t do to you. Says what the Federal government can’t do to you, but doesn’t say what the Federal government or State government must do on your behalf, and that hasn’t shifted and one of the, I think, tragedies of the civil rights movement was, um, because the civil rights movement became so court focused I think there was a tendency to lose track of the political and community organizing and activities on the ground that are able to put together the actual coalition of powers through which you bring about redistributive change. In some ways we still suffer from that.

I’m not optimistic about bringing about major redistributive change through the courts. You know, the institution just isn’t structured that way."

One more clarifying thought is in order. Barack Obama complains that the Constitution is a “charter of negative liberties”. That’s because the Constitution was intended as a limiting document, to curtail the power of the federal government vis-a-vis the states and the individual. The founders intended at the time to limit the reach of the federal government, and built the Constitution accordingly.

Barack Obama wants to reverse that entirely. And that’s radical change you’d better believe in, or else.

Biden is a big baby! How many times have CBS, NBC, CNN, and ABC gone after Sarah Palin with stupid questions about what she reads and what constitutional ammendment yaddie yaddie and now this from Obama's Camp AGAIN. Biden gets babied and a free pass. No press talking since Sept 7! talk about no access i say let him talk so he can blow the election for Barak. oh that's why they shut him up! That's the VP you want?

Wow, and they think Palin's a diva..... she's got nothing on Joe.

I saw that interview : It was HORRIBLE. Joe Biden is a a really nice man, anyone else would have DESTROYED that unethical woman on the air!

I saw that interview : It was HORRIBLE. Joe Biden is a a really nice man, anyone else would have DESTROYED that unethical woman on the air!

Millions of us are so sick of divisive politics! How much more mud will be thrown -- thank goodness it's only 8 more days. Note to Mud Throwers: Whether on a blog, on tv or on radio, you are turning millions of us off on McCain/Palin. Who the heck wants another 4 or 8 years of ugly politics, Rove style?? What the heck does McCain stand for aside from just standing against everything Barack Obama believes in. It's pathetic and ugly, folks. We're sick of it!!!

Good to see things are as usual..silly season at it's peak. Not only did this broad really ask that question of Joe, but there are people here actually defending her for doing so. Keep it up, just like this...this is how it's done. Look at the big shiny thing over here while you lose the election.

The interviewer must have gotten her Republican conspiracy talking points from her husband, Wade West, Political Media Consultant for the GOP.

How many times have CBS, NBC, CNN, and ABC gone after Sarah Palin with stupid questions about what she reads and what constitutional ammendment yaddie yaddie

Posted by: espacher | Oct 27, 2008 12:15:05 PM

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There are millions of us who consider those questions to be very valid. Many of us want people in office who get there information from someplace other than the quotes on their starbucks cup.

What is the matter Joe tough questions got you upset? The Obama crew will not allow anymore interviews with you because you are afraid of some tough questions? Can you just here the Mainstree Media if Palin and McCain said they were no longer doing interviews because of tough questions!

Give me a break JoeBama, you have finally been asked questions that the media has been avoiding asking and you are scared people are seeing the real Obama/Biden agenda! It is about time the mainstreet media started rasing a heck of alot more questions.

Maybe the tape from 2001 interview Obama gave to a Chicago Radio show will make it into the mainstreet media! Seems that Obama has always felt that "Spreading the Welath" was best!

Before any of you crazy Liberals say it is a desperate attempt from the right side, just ask yourself one question.. DID THE WORDS COME OUT OF OBAMA'S MOUTH?
Does not make any difference if Joe the Plumber was a plant, or this interview that was just posted was from the Right, the word still came out of Obama's mouth!

WAKE UP AMERICA!

Barbara West is a right wing nut job. Her husband is a Repub strategist. See her softball McCain interview last week where she asked... 'Why are you not attacking Obama enough for his ACORN ties?"

She is hoping to get a job on Fox.. 'Joe the senator' was gracious enough to complete the interview!!

Jack, why did you not disclose that:

the anchor in question is the wife of right-wing strategist, possible tied to McCain campaign?

Disclose that and then let the readers judge. Anything less is just unfair.

Don't blame my republican side. We're just throwing anything to the wind and hopefully anything will stick to you Joe Biden. You should just tell her that, that question isn't worthy of an answer. Is just like asking...Is President Bush a terrorist? He led us to an undeclared war with Iraq.

I'm sure she is sorry, I'm sure no other reporter will ask you tough questions. How do I know, because you are saving all your tough interviews for Mario Lopez. Poor babies!

I watched part of the interview in our local tv station,and it was apparent since the beginning of the interview, that Barbara West wanted to put Senator Biden in the corner. I switched to the other channel because barbara west interview was not interesting, she just wanted to attack. To me she was not professional at all. I don't blame Joe for that.

Base republicans can't think, they just repeat their programmed instructions. That anchor woman knows as much about Karl Marx as she does about the intertubes.

Which is why educated conservatives are running from the republican party as fast as they can.

2001 OBama: Hey, why didn't the court become Robin Hood?....got a fancy long name fella, just like our Sarah Palin's long rhetoric of nothing. To answer your question...because Robin Hood is a fictional character, just like our fictional Sarah Palin. If you believe of all those things about Obama, why aren't we heard of them? I'll answer that too. Because those are all lies, and people are tired of that.

The Obama campaign has been babied by the media to the extent that their candidates cannot even answer a simple question. Instead of laughing and acting silly, Biden should have said "Well, of course he's not like Marx, because.....". He would have given a BS answer, but at least he should have answered it just the same. Palin and McCain don't back down from idiotic questions that they get constantly. Maybe Marxist is too strong an association to make with Obama. But, on the other hand, redistribution of wealth is redistribution of wealth. Biden should have answered. The fact that he didn't shows that he was not prepared. The fact that he was not prepared to compare Obama to Socialism/Marxism just shows how they have been catered to by most of the media. Now McCain needs to blast that 2001 tape of Obama all over the airwaves. He sure sounds like a Marxist on that tape. Maybe Biden would like to go back and answer the question now.

Poor Joe, say it ain't so. For once a reporter asks a valid, not softball question, and you get all hemmed up about it. Is this a sign of things to come? And the left whined and complained about Bush's cocoon of acess style administration. Gee, double standard? Here's one thing I do believe, Obama is going to have to explain why he either has to A: increase the deficit, B: go back on all of his promises (thereby disappointing his constituency) or C: raising taxes, because everyone should know, those at 250,000 and above will not generate enough, and he will have to dip down to the lower levels. Remember, Obama thought anyone making 90,000 was rich, hmm? Last point, the 2001 quote about income redistribution as part of a social justice is just downright scary. I have to admit, 2 months ago I didn't know who I was going to vote for, but now the decision is easy. When you look at punishing people for success, or the desire to step above mediocrity being strangled by an, "I know what's best" politician is not my America. I would rather make charitable contributions than have the government decide who deserves it. Oh, and Joe, you cheap Delaware senator, what a disgrace that you gave about 3,600 to charities over the last 5 years. How embarrassing. Think about this, how in the world could this guy possibly KEEP all of his promises?

Land Slide for MacCain.