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Why did Obama choose Biden?
So-- I was thinking that he MIGHT choose Hilary but that he most likely would play it safe and not since she tends to alienate loads of people.
But-- even taking one look at old white dude Biden, without even knowing anything about him, I was like-- are you serious?
but then I thought-- okay, so he's playing the old white dude card to try to slide into home plate. okay. shitty but okay.
and know-- after not even researching this guy-- just clicking on a link here, or watching a tv snippet there, I can't credit Obama with very many smarts now-- as much as I want to vote for him (and probably will since there's no way in hell I'd vote for McCain.)
What the hell?
Why did he choose this person? wasn't there any smart decisions besides Hillary and this dweeb?
I think it was Chris Rock who jokes about how no white president would have a black vice president-- because some black person would kill the president just to get a black president in the white house. Rock continues the joke, saying-- even if the assassinator got sent to prison, he'd be treated like a king.
My conspiracy theorist side feels like Obama is on really shaky ground with this VP if they both get to the white house-- Biden very well could be sneaky enough to bump off the pres in a subtle way-- or not. like I said, conspiracy theories-- I just don't fricken trust Biden-- I really hope something happens that Obama has to name a new VP.
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Re: Why did Obama choose Biden?
some Biden comments are already posted at
The 'tin foil hat' crowd would definitely tell you that Biden is the ultimate candidate for the old school Democratic establishment (translation - rich, white, elite). Essentially, Biden is a career politician who has accomplished virtually nothing either outside or inside of government besides getting himself re-elected for the past 30 years. Biden tends to support / not support some policies that wouldn't fly well with various Democrat constituency groups i.e. black voters, anti-war activists, feminists, the 'poor' etc. - a fact which has become 'painfully' apparent on the two occasions when Biden has unsuccessfully attempted to seek the Democratic presidential nomination.
On the 'flip side', Biden really doesn't have any track record of strong positions that clash with Obama's positions. Biden doesn't have a closet full of skeletons that could potentially lead to trouble / scandal if any in-depth questions were to be asked between now and election day. And Biden does have foreign policy experience that Obama sorely lacks.
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Re: Why did Obama choose Biden?
Balance.
Biden is more centrist. Hilary as a running mate would have produced a campaign team that is on the more liberal end of the voting bell curve. Having Biden has a VP would not change Obama policies at all, but it does present a campaign face that's more aligned with voter philosophy and sensibilities, i.e., more toward the middle of that same bell curve.
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Re: Why did Obama choose Biden?
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Originally Posted by
fancygirl
and know-- after not even researching this guy-- just clicking on a link here, or watching a tv snippet there, I can't credit Obama with very many smarts now-- as much as I want to vote for him (and probably will since there's no way in hell I'd vote for McCain.)
Biden is actually highly respected among most democrats, he's a long time senator who balances off some of Obama's perceived weaknesses. What exactly is it about him that you don't like (besides being an old white dude)?
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Re: Why did Obama choose Biden?
IMHO, Biden pulls them more toward the center of the spectrum, not to mention he adds 30 some years of "experience". Experience is definately an area Obama wants to shore up.
Obama never wanted Hillary. Not so much from a political view point, as she would have shifted a lot of focus away from him, something I don't think he personally wanted to deal with.
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Re: Why did Obama choose Biden?
Plus he's Catholic. His father was a car salesman, whatever wealth he has he earned. Didn't marry into it, wasn't born into it.
ETA: According to an AP article his net worth is between $59,000 and $366,000. One of the least wealthy memers of the Senate. Apparently Mel's definition of wealthy is even lower than Obama's.
ETFA: Here's the AP link. I would think after 30 years in the Senate all you have to do is squirrell $10k a year in the mattress and you could get these numbers. Maybe he spends like a Democrat at home, too.
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5i...9CCzQD92OQL784
He's such an elitist he takes a commuter train home everyday, a practice started after a car accident in which his first wife and infant daughter were killed and his 2 sons seriously injured. He didn't abandon his sons for new ones, unlike McCain's first wife's experience after her disfiguring accident.
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Re: Why did Obama choose Biden?
Because Biden has tons of useful experience especially in areas that Obama is perceived to be lacking. He is respected and known in many, many areas around the world as honest and fair minded man. He makes an excellent right hand man in that respect.
He is also a very frank and no frills speaker who can help bring in voters who are intimidated by Obama's intelligent and nuanced way of responding to questions. This will be quite useful in the next few months in countering the republican lowbrow attack style.
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Re: Why did Obama choose Biden?
because hes an old white guy. obama would definitely not have been elected if he chose hilary because shes a chic and alot of people dont want a woman for president or even vice president. plus he is probably thinking it will make him look "less black"
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Re: Why did Obama choose Biden?
Quote:
ETA: According to an AP article his net worth is between $59,000 and $366,000. One of the least wealthy memers of the Senate. Apparently Mel's definition of wealthy is even lower than Obama's.
if you re-read my post you will see that my use of 'rich, white, elite' was not in regard to Sen. Biden, but in reference to the Old School Democratic establishment who considers him to be an ideal presidential candidate. Obviously, the 'rich, white, elite' democratic supporters cannot elect a candidate like Biden for president, but they can certainly make heavy cash campaign contributions, they can 'create' favorable political news coverage via the media outlets they own, they can use their own celebrity to 'stump' for the Democratic ticket, they can have the 529 organizations they fund provide favorable Democratic campaign commercials, etc.
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Re: Why did Obama choose Biden?
What difference does it make? Obama, Clinton, McCain, Biden, they're all just politicians with the same goals and ideals. The only difference is in the rhetoric. I guarantee you they are interchangeable regardless of who wins the election. Hell, McCain and Biden have been closely linked in the past.
Democrats and Republicans in Congress vote together more than 80% of the time; that's lauded as "bipartisanship," when in actuality it's a sign that neither party is representing its constituency. If you want to make a difference, vote third party.
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Re: Why did Obama choose Biden?
^^^ our last chance to try a third party alternative was Ross Perot ... he managed to get 15% of the vote, and also managed to swing the election results towards the most 'liberal' candidate (by splitting the center and conservative vote between himself and the republican candidate).
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Re: Why did Obama choose Biden?
That was most certainly not our "last chance." For actual liberals, Ralph Nader has been running regularly; for actual conservatives, there has been the Libertarian Party, the Constitution Party, and any number of independents. Whining about "splitting votes" and "swinging results" just buys into the lie that there is any significant difference between the Democrat and the Republican, when we all know there isn't.
Does anyone REALLY think that spending and big government will go down if John McCain is elected? Does anyone REALLY think that the corporate oligarchy is going down if Obama wins? Come on. Let's be honest with ourselves here.
As much as I don't like the guy, I'm voting for Bob Barr, the Libertarian candidate. I think it's total bullshit that a dude like McCain (and indeed the entire Republican Party) can feel entitled to conservative votes even though they aren't representing conservatives. And all you liberals on here need to vote for Ralph Nader or whoever else isn't feeding you a Democrat Party lie.
Too many people are holding their noses to vote nowadays because the ballot smells like bullshit. Stop holding your nose and hold somebody accountable. If they're not representing the constituency, then they DESERVE to lose some elections.
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Re: Why did Obama choose Biden?
Doesn't Biden also have a connection with Tony Rezko?
FBR
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Re: Why did Obama choose Biden?
Quote:
That was most certainly not our "last chance." For actual liberals, Ralph Nader has been running regularly; for actual conservatives, there has been the Libertarian Party, the Constitution Party, and any number of independents. Whining about "splitting votes" and "swinging results" just buys into the lie that there is any significant difference between the Democrat and the Republican, when we all know there isn't.
Yes there are certainly other candidates from 'minor' parties ... but the combined votes for all minor party candidates including Ralph Nader typically amount to less than 5% of the popular vote and zero percent of the electoral vote. As such, they do not offer any 'serious' challenge to Republican and Democratic candidates.
This was NOT the case with Ross Perot ... who offered the promise of a 'viable' third party option i.e. one that could potentially win elections at the state level and perhaps at the federal level, one whose policy differences would have to be recognized and potentially accomodated. This was the chance for America, like Canada's NDP, to have a third viewpoint inserted into its political discussions. But as I mentioned earlier, the best that Ross Perreau could manage was 15% of the vote and a handful of state level victories which were unsustainable.
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If they're not representing the constituency, then they DESERVE to lose some elections.
the problem stems from the fact that they ARE representing the majority of their constituents ... because if you add up social welfare benefit recipients plus public sector employees plus government contractor employees you come very close to
a voting majority these days !!!
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Re: Why did Obama choose Biden?
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Originally Posted by
FBR
Doesn't Biden also have a connection with Tony Rezko?
FBR
You're probably thinking of McCain's connection to Rick Renzi or Charles Keating (he of the Keating 5 and S&L fiasco) ;). What's the saying about glass houses again?
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Re: Why did Obama choose Biden?
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Originally Posted by
Yekhefah
That was most certainly not our "last chance." For actual liberals, Ralph Nader has been running regularly; for actual conservatives, there has been the Libertarian Party, the Constitution Party, and any number of independents. Whining about "splitting votes" and "swinging results" just buys into the lie that there is any significant difference between the Democrat and the Republican, when we all know there isn't.
Does anyone REALLY think that spending and big government will go down if John McCain is elected? Does anyone REALLY think that the corporate oligarchy is going down if Obama wins? Come on. Let's be honest with ourselves here.
As much as I don't like the guy, I'm voting for Bob Barr, the Libertarian candidate. I think it's total bullshit that a dude like McCain (and indeed the entire Republican Party) can feel entitled to conservative votes even though they aren't representing conservatives. And all you liberals on here need to vote for Ralph Nader or whoever else isn't feeding you a Democrat Party lie.
Too many people are holding their noses to vote nowadays because the ballot smells like bullshit. Stop holding your nose and hold somebody accountable. If they're not representing the constituency, then they DESERVE to lose some elections.
QFT
If Obama wanted someone with foreign policy expertise for his VP, why did he pick someone who made the wrong vote on what Obama considers the most important foreign policy decision of the last 7 years?
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Re: Why did Obama choose Biden?
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Originally Posted by
Melonie
Yes there are certainly other candidates from 'minor' parties ... but the combined votes for all minor party candidates including Ralph Nader typically amount to less than 5% of the popular vote and zero percent of the electoral vote. As such, they do not offer any 'serious' challenge to Republican and Democratic candidates.
They would if people quite holding their noses and made a damn difference. Demopublicans are NOT entitled to anyone's vote. We need to stop being a bunch of fucking sheep and voting for Demopublicans just because everyone else is. If you would vote for a Libertarian, and your neighbor voted for a Libertarian, and so on down the line, eventually you collect enough votes that the Libertarian Party represents a significant challenge to the Republican bullshit line.
It was not "Democrats vs. Republicans" throughout this nation's history. Parties rise and fall; they fill a need, and then they stop filling that need so they get replaced by another party that does. I think a challenge to the Demopublican monopoly is a need that is ready to be met.
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Re: Why did Obama choose Biden?
^^^ ITA
They are just two sides of the same coin. I'm voting Bob Barr as well.
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Re: Why did Obama choose Biden?
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Originally Posted by
jessica0585
because hes an old white guy. obama would definitely not have been elected if he chose hilary because shes a chic and alot of people dont want a woman for president or even vice president. plus he is probably thinking it will make him look "less black"
Not to mention people have a habit of dying around the Clintons. Why take the risk when the prize is the presidency? }:D
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Re: Why did Obama choose Biden?
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Originally Posted by
Nina77
^^^ ITA
They are just two sides of the same coin. I'm voting Bob Barr as well.
Another voter with the same sentiments.
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Re: Why did Obama choose Biden?
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Originally Posted by
Dirty Ernie
He's such an elitist he takes a commuter train home everyday, a practice started after a car accident in which his first wife and infant daughter were killed and his 2 sons seriously injured. He didn't abandon his sons for new ones, unlike McCain's first wife's experience after her disfiguring accident.
What?? Do you have a link for this story??
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Re: Why did Obama choose Biden?
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Originally Posted by
VenusGoddess
What?? Do you have a link for this story??
. No guarantee of accuracy.
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Re: Why did Obama choose Biden?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
jessica0585
because hes an old white guy. obama would definitely not have been elected if he chose hilary because shes a chic and alot of people dont want a woman for president or even vice president. plus he is probably thinking it will make him look "less black"
Can you imagine if we had a black president and female vice president! ;D Some stodgy people would probably think the world was coming to an end!
I really want to know why Bien shoce Obama. Earlier he said Obama wasn't ready and that McCain was. I want to get inside of Biden's head if not just for a moment.
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Re: Why did Obama choose Biden?
Nobody in the Secret Service wanted the official "food taster" title.