by Deb Cupples |
The New York Times reports:
"Senator Barack Obama has chosen Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr. of Delaware to be his running-mate, turning to a leading authority on foreign policy and a longtime Washington hand to fill out the Democratic ticket, people told of the decision said."
"Mr. Obama’s selection ended a two-month search that was conducted almost entirely in secret. It reflected a critical strategic choice by Mr. Obama: To go with a running-mate who could reassure voters about gaps in his resume, rather than to pick someone who could deliver a state or reinforce Mr. Obama’s message of change." (NY Times)
From Jeralyn at TalkLeft, I recently learned a few things about Sen. Biden that trouble me. Three years ago, for example, Biden seemed very open to a military draft. He's not very progressive on crime issues, and he and his son have lucrative-looking ties to some big corporate interests.
That last item is especially troubling. Here's the skinny:
"'Over his long career in politics, Biden's biggest financial supporter has been the giant credit card company MBNA, which was also one of George W. Bush's biggest donors in 2000 and 2004. His son, Hunter Biden, was hired as a management trainee at MBNA straight out of law school, and was quickly promoted to executive vice president.
"'The younger Biden has since left MBNA to establish his own lawyer-and-lobbying firm, but still receives a $100,000 per year consulting fee from the bank, which has since been swallowed by Bank of America. In 2006, Hunter Biden was appointed by President Bush to a five-year term on the Amtrak Reform Board.'" (TalkLeft citing NNDB)
Those of us who pay attention of who's giving money and favors (i.e., playing old-style Washington politics) cannot help but see warning flags a-flapping.
Don't get me wrong, Biden does have good points -- like his impressive level of experience, his knowledge of foreign policy, and his bluntness.
Yes, I love his bluntness. I loved watching him, in person, verbally tear into Attorney General Michael Mukasey during a Judiciary Committee hearing in July.
Such bluntness will help Sen. Obama -- especially as he starts turning more attention to SEn. McCain -- as Sen. Biden will likely have no trouble playing hatchet man, leaving Sen. Obama's hands looking relatively mud-free.
And Sen. McCain has already lobbed a fist full of mud:
"'There has been no harsher critic of Barack Obama's lack of experience than Joe Biden,' McCain campaign spokesman Ben Porritt said in a written statement.
"Biden has denounced Barack Obama's poor foreign policy judgment and has strongly argued in his own words what Americans are quickly realizing -- that Barack Obama is not ready to be president." (CNN)
Of course, it's not untrue mud: over the last year, Sen. Biden has repeatedly (and publicly) questioned Barack Obama's experience and readiness for the White House.
After Sen. Obama won the primaries, Biden qualified his statements -- saying that he prefers Obama over McCain, because he thinks that Obama has superior wisdom. (CNN)
Update: The McCain campaign had some more true mud ready to lob: an ad showing Joe Biden back in August 2005, saying that he'd "be honored to run with or against John McCain because I think the country would be better off." (TPM)
I suspect that Sen. Biden is prepared to explain why he no longer feels that way about Sen. McCain -- and Biden won't tip-toe around it.
It'll be interesting to see how all this plays out. Memeorandum has commentary here and here.
Other Buck Naked Politics Posts:
* Problems w/Diebold Voting Machines in 34 States
* Yet Another Bail Out: Car Makers Want More $, Fewer Conditions
* Appeals Court upholds Sarbanes-Oxley
* Americans Detained in China for Protesting
* Fay, Gators & the Convention
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Definitely Senator Obama needs someone with great experience like Joe Biden. As the pygmies of the equatorial forest of Congo say,"The old elephant knows where to find water."
Posted by: Guy Blaise | August 23, 2008 at 07:18 PM
Guy,
You make a good point!
Posted by: Deb Cupples | August 23, 2008 at 11:52 PM