August 25, 2008
Wise VP Choice (Armstrong Williams)
DENVER — Kudos to Barack Obama for making the best of his vice presidential selection; in choosing Sen. Joseph Biden (D-Del.), Obama has chosen a running mate whose strengths complement Obama's weaknesses.
Obviously, Sen. Biden is an experienced politician, and is known for being a bareknuckle fighter on the issues. Obama has been criticized of late for being somewhat reluctant to fight back against blistering attacks from the McCain camp. Sen. Biden, if his past is any indication, will have no such reservations. This makes sense, because it allows Obama to go on looking presidential and staying above the fray, while having an attack dog at his side to go after the other side with a vengeance.
The other way in which Biden helps Obama is by deflecting criticism that Obama is an elitist and out of touch with the country. This will be especially helpful in the swing states, where Obama has had a tough time building support among working-class Americans.
Biden, although a Washington insider, nonetheless returned to his district in Delaware every day; unlike other senators, he did not use his position to enrich himself personally — he is said to be one of the five poorest senators. Biden is a true populist.
Sen. Biden also deflects the accusation that Obama lacks experience. Sen. Biden’s guidance and judgment may play well to undecided voters who find Obama’s age and inexperience somewhat unsettling.
Finally, and importantly, Obama did not cave in to pressure to pick Hilary Clinton; something that shows his toughness and independence. Given the cards he has been given, this was a hand well played.
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Senator Biden was rejected by his own party in the primary cycle. How wise was this really? It's simply a clumsy way to obtain some sort of foreign policy legitimacy for Obama who is nothing but a street activist made good. That doesn't mean he will do good, and based on what he has stated so far, good is not in our future if he is elected.
Comment by Robert Rosencrans — August 25, 2008 @ 10:34 am
Armstrong
3-things
1. I like Sen Biden. But he will still be in the #2 position should Obama win the election.
2. Should Obama win, we will see little of Sen Biden - I don't think Obama wants to share a stage or be upstaged by anyone.
3. I think it is a mute point now that Obama has given up 18 million Hillary voters… I truly feel he has a strange way of showing good judgement.
4. (I know I sais 3-things…) Ha!
Most importantly, Sen McCain is a steadfast leader and will be the President.
Comment by JFK-HRC — August 25, 2008 @ 12:15 pm
Biden, whose past positions and the sheer length of service in the Senate make a mockery of Obama's positions on "change", the Iraq war, and being experienced enough, cannot be a good choice. I guess he'll help Obama write a good concession speech full of hope and heartfelt expressions of something or other, so maybe he isn't so bad.
Comment by Igor R. — August 25, 2008 @ 2:00 pm
The issue is not Biden or Hillary for VP. It's the Democrats who again picked the wrong liberal (but the right Marxist) as their nominee for general election.
Comment by Misha — August 25, 2008 @ 2:59 pm
Yup, you can put lipstick on a pig, you can dress it up in the latest fashions and give it a human companion, but it's still a pig.
Comment by Igor R. — August 25, 2008 @ 7:48 pm
To enable McCain to win, I agree, it was a great choice for Obama. The only problem is, according to Biden's own words, he'd make a better running mate for McCain than Obama!
Comment by ObamaNOT — August 26, 2008 @ 7:16 am