Um, Is Joe Biden INTENTIONALLY Trying to Sink Barack Obama?- Says Hillary Would Have Made a Better Running Mate

I know I promised no more election posts, but this was just strange. For those who don't know, Joe Biden is Barack Obama's running mate. You might not know who Biden is because he's been blown completely off of the news radar except for when he says and does incredibly odd things like tell a wheelchair bound man to stand up at a campaign rally.

Biden had an awkward moment during a rally in Columbia, Mo., Tuesday. At the start of his remarks, he pointed out several state lawmakers in the audience for praise. When he got to Chuck Graham, a state senator from Green Meadows, Biden urged the lawmaker to “stand up Chuck, let ‘em see ya.” Ben Smith's Blog, Politico.com


But Graham, who is in a wheelchair, can’t stand up - a fact Biden quickly picked up on.

“God love ya, what am I talking about,” Biden said. “You can tell I’m new,” he quipped, asking the audience to stand up for Graham instead.

That was a smooth recovery, but what about this most recent case, he says about Hillary Clinton,  "Quite frankly, she might have been a better pick than me."

I THINK that he was attempting to pay Hillary a compliment, but in this environment where the chattering class is basically saying the Obama campaign should have picked Clinton, Biden's comments only add fuel to that fire.

During the Q&A session after Biden's stump speech, a local voter brought up the former Democratic presidential candidate for the first time this week. "I am very pleased that Obama chose you over Hillary," he told Biden, as the crowd erupted with applause (a surprise, given that the Granite State was the site of Clinton's first primary win). As Biden struggled to shush the masses, the questioner rattled off a litany of unrelated points, veering from Freddie Mac to the "disgraceful ... Mexican wall." Eventually, Biden cut him off and came to Clinton's rescue.

The only question is whether he did too much rescuing.

"Make no mistake about this," said Biden. "Hillary Clinton is as qualified or more qualified as I am … She’s qualified to be president of the United States of America and equally qualified to be vice president of the United States of America. And quite frankly, it might have been a better pick than me."

Whoa. Did we just hear Joe Biden express ... humility?

We have no idea if the Delaware senator was sincerely saying that Clinton would've been better equipped to battle the Barracuda, or if he simply went a little overboard in rising to her defense. But if it was the former, Biden's not alone. Over the past few days, a number of prominent scholars, Republicans and even Democrats have taken to wondering what might have been. Newsweek

Remind me again, what Biden's usefulness as VP is supposed to be? Hopefully he will prove his worth sometime in October. October 2nd to be exact.

Previous Posts on VP Selections:

Obama Chooses Biden as VP: Because Biden’s Bright, Shiny and Clean!

McCain Brilliantly Aims Directly At Obama’s Weakspot..Pits the Ambitions of Blacks vs Those of White Women

Comments

[lormarie]

He might be right.

[gem2001]

Now Now lormarie. Obama picked Biden and now he is stuck with him. I think the best thing to do might be to make him stick to prepared text.

Its not like this wasn't predictable. The best predictor of future behavior is past behavior and Biden has always been gaffe-prone.

[Yme]

@gem2001
Remind me again, what Biden’s usefulness as VP is supposed to be? Hopefully he will prove his worth sometime in October.

LOL. I like Biden. Let's see. I've got a reason somewhere around here.

He appeals to working class folk who are color deficient. So, when folk pull out the ole, Obama's elite card. We can flash Biden. Looka here, we're giving you Biden.

In hindsight, had he gone with Clinton, McCain wouldn't have picked Palin and we wouldn't be talking about lipstick and pigs.

[Yme]

Was Biden the one that said Obama was a clean cut black man or something nutty like that?

[Shea]

Biden was supposed to give Obama some help with his foreign affairs policy.

[Yeah]

People have to understand that if Obama had picked Clinton, the conservative base would have mobilized. If that's one thing they hate and gets them to join forces is a Clinton. Clinton had her downsides and bad points.

My issue with Joe Bidden is I'm tired of all this complimenting he and Barrack do about Sarah and McCain. The other side attacks. And Barack and Joe barely defend themselves.

[deborah]

For the last few times around, the Republicans have run better, leaner, meaner campaigns than the Democrats. Sadly, it looks like we are heading into more of the same.

Biden is in fact the one who said Obama was the first Black prez candidate who was a "clean-cut, good-looking guy."

Let's hope someone can keep Biden on script from now on.

[Monica]

Yippee!!! Thanks for the political post Gina.

1) Point for Yeah to think about: Would the Republicans been any any more fired up than they are now? Palin would not have been selected if Obama selected Clinton or any other woman. She was the spark that McCain needed and she just might make a big enough difference to put his old butt in the White House.

2) No explanation as to why he didn't pick one of three female Democratic governors? I'm beginning to think he has mommy issues.

3) Clinton has earned the right to Obamites and Obama to kiss her behind.

[Somebodies Friend]

So Biden really said that did he, I am shocked. But it is rather funny given the circumstances.

I can't wait to see what he says October 2nd.

[Mommy B]

@yeah: "My issue with Joe Bidden is I’m tired of all this complimenting he and Barrack do about Sarah and McCain. The other side attacks. And Barack and Joe barely defend themselves."

SO true. It seems that they're almost afraid of being accused of beating up on a chick and an old dude. Screw all this chivalrous-play-nice mess. I better see some real teeth bared on October 2nd.

[Huemanity]

I think Palin was going to be the pick regardless of whether Obama picked Hillary. Remember, the GOP is supposed to lose this election and in order to win they have to appeal to the largest voting block - white women. Had Hillary been the nominee Sarah would have still been as effective. They would have been pitted against each other - the old guard pro-choice feminist vs. the new wave of evangelical feminism. Guess which one would win in middle America?

She is younger, more attractive and has more children. She is "cooler" and more hip. Whether you agree with her politics (and I most certainly don't) she is far more interesting from a human interest perspective than Hillary Cliton. She is fresh and new, Hillary is old and been around the block in Washington.

In a season of change, Palin is exactly what the Dems didn't anticipate. Picking a woman wouldn't have done Obama any good, IMO. I don't think he has "mommy issues", I think he picked someone he has good chemistry with and has done a pretty good job of defending him in the media. Biden's not afraid to sound and look like an idiot which is something Obama has a hard time doing. Bush won twice despite his gaffes.

Biden is still a good choice, IDK why people are missing how relatable he is. He is out there working and shaking hands which is what Obama needs. Can he sway those women back to Obama? Maybe, maybe not. But he has a good chance of getting those blue collar white MEN that the Dems haven't won since the early 60's.

Basically, he paid Hillary a great compliment but it doesn't mean he is saying he's not qualified and I think Biden is smart enough to defend this statement.

I wanna see Mama Moose's interview with Charles Gibson!!

[Yme]

Actually, what I'm hearing (probably false) was that up until the end McCain was trying to pick Lieberman and was talked out of by Charlie Black and Lieberman.

From NYTimes:

"For weeks, advisers close to the campaign said, Mr. McCain had wanted to name as his running mate his good friend Senator Joseph I. Lieberman of Connecticut, the Democrat turned independent."
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/31/us/politics/31reconstruct.html

[Lady C]

Monica, you cannot earn the right to be anyone's veep unless they choose you to be. Therefore, my lips will not be getting close to HRC's a$$ anytime sooner or later. He has Mommy issues, because he chose to make up his own mind?

The reason why he did not choose any other woman as his veep, is because the HRC supporters would not accept any other woman but HRC.

John McBush did not choose Sarah Palin. She was chosen by the party to, hopefully, grab onto some disaffected HRC supporters and to spark the base who are not too enthusiastic with McBush. Yme, you must have been reading what I've been reading, because it appears Senator Joe Liberman was McBush's first choice. But, you know those rethugs, no Jews for those people. Rominy is Mormon. No elaboration is necessary.

[Faith]

I really don't consider this a big deal. He was being irreverent not making a statement. McCain would have chosen Palin even if Clinton had been the nominee or the VP pick. It still would have been a calculated move to split the female vote and energize the base. Palin would have been touted as a woman with values and Clinton would have been the she-devil with the Bill baggage. Nothing would have changed. I'm not gonna get worked up over this anymore either.

[Free-Mom-of-Four]

This whole race has turned so depressing. I am shocked that people are falling for the standard "smear" campaign one more time. The Republicans don't even have to change....make someone look elite, unpatriotic, etc.....just like they did with Kerry. These last two ads regarding sex education to kindergarteners and Obama calling Palin a Pig...PLEASE! The fact that John McCain would endorse these disgustin ads should tell everyone what type of person he is.

Facts for both candidates need checked. We can't leave it up to the Hannity's and Olberman's. This election is too important.

This country is falling apart literally....major banks going out of business, unemployment at over 6%, 600,000 jobs lost...but John McCain is beating Obama in the polls. Sometimes, things just don't make sense.

You would think the spin would get old.

[BlackAchievement]

The Obama/Biden ticket has the chemistry of gas and flame. The Biden pick did give me pause. I stated from the very beginning that the governor of Kansas, Kathleen Sebelius was the right choice. I also stated from the beginning who in the heck vetted Obama's VP vet team. Eric Holder, Caroline Kennedy and Jim Johnson said a lot about Obama's CHANGE movement. Hey, now we (Obama supporters) have to live with it and make the most of it.

Although unelectable, with 36 years in the Senate does Biden think Obama is more qualified than he. If Biden does, he has a funny way of showing it. Biden has went through great pains to stress the qualifications of Hillary and McCain for president. What about Sarah Barracuda? Why is she off limits? Somebody, anybody scream!!!

[BlackScorpio]

@Yme: you must remember to read the very liberal- leaning NYT with a grain of salt... they are not correct sometimes. Gov. Palin was vetted thoroughly, just like Obama claims Biden was. I think McCain was going to name her because he KNEW Obama's ego would no allow him to offer the VP slot to Hillary Clinton. McCain was correct.

Biden says lots of things that he has to apologize for later. He has said more than "he's so clean and articulate" about Black men way before he said that about Obama. IMO, Obama embarrassed himself by naming Biden - of all people - because Obama was supposedly about "change." He picked an old white man to bolster his lack of foreign policy experience because the Republicans were hammering him on it.

If I were Obama, I would try to get the MSM to not be so reactive with spreading rumors about Gov. Palin and instead write articles about Obama's policy positions. That would be more helpful to Obama than what they are doing now.

[Kiely]

I still don't see how Clinton as VP could help Obama. Maybe some other woman but not her. Like Huemanity said, Palin would have won against Clinton because she's a fresh face and an 'evangelical feminist.' I'm not sure what Biden can do, but gaffes certainly haven't stopped someone from being elected yet and it's better if Biden makes them than Obama. Wasn't Palin the one who didn't even know what Fannie and Freddie do? And McCain thought Iraq and Pakistan shared a border. I don't think past and future gaffes will be slowing them down.

I've been reading posts where a lot of people want Obama/Biden to get dirty and hit back at the Repubs hard. I'm too young to remember the pre-Bush years when the Clintons got elected, but were they able to do that? Or did they have to use another strategy? Frankly Palin gets on my nerves more than McCain and I would love see someone snap back at her, but I'm not sure if Obama/Biden could get away with it. I don't know if Democrats have this, but why doesn't an organization that's 'not associated' with Obama do the attacks? Let a group of supporters do most of the smearing rather than O/B if that's what this campaign is winding down to. Again, I'm not political savy so I don't know if that's possible.

[Steve]

I think i've listened to 10-20 pinheads make absurd comments about this since I was at this Town Hall meeting yesterday. I guarantee you 9/10 videos you will see take this comment ENTIRELY out of context. When he said "she may have been the better choice", he was saying it out of DEFERENCE to her. He was praising her, in is usual humorous, self deprecating way.

Of course the media and people who automatically take information and assume it as the truth wouldn't know anything about accepting a comment in context. Joe Biden is a humble guy, this is the way he pays a compliment.

Just because people will say "oh well this undermines the ticket," doesn't make it so.

[Steve]

At least here in New Hampshire we know an honest compliment when we hear it.

[votetheday.com]

Biden is a perfect politician - experienced, intelligent, wise. But that's it. When Palin came to stage, and "PalinMania" started, Biden became invisible. So rumors claim, that Biden will officially "resign because of health problems", and Obama will invite Hillary to join his fight against Palin. Because she, and no longer McCain, is Obama's biggest problem now.
On the other hand, Obama's supporters don't like Hillary, and Obama himself does not like to be "the second", which is OK for McCain, as Palin now seems like presidential candidate, not McCain himself.
Another question is, if the rumors are correct, why should Mrs Clinton accept VP ticket anyway...
Moreover, similar talks were going about McCain dumping Palin, and majority of our visitors now see them as only misleading whispers. http://www.votetheday.com/polls/obama-is-dumping-biden-269/