Obama Announces Joe Biden as His Running Mate
On Saturday, Barack Obama announced that Democratic Senator Joe Biden of Delaware will be his running mate in the 2008 presidential election.
Obama’s selection of Biden for the vice-presidential slot surprised no one. Joe Biden best embodies all of the desirable qualities Obama described in a recent CBS interview:
“Obviously, the most important question is: Is this person prepared to be president?” he said.
“The second most important question, from my perspective, is: Can this person help me govern? Are they going to be an effective partner in creating the kind of economic opportunity here at home, and guiding us through some dangerous waters internationally?” he added.
“And the third criteria for me, I think, was independence. I want somebody who is going to be able to challenge my thinking and not simply be a yes-person when it comes to policy-making.”
The third point is especially notable because it demonstrates Barack Obama’s message of change, and is vastly different from the Bush administration’s perilous mode of “group think” in which dissent is punished. The Iraq War is largely the result of the “neo-con” faction of the right-wing, recklessly pushing through an agenda regardless of intelligent contrary opinion. Obama recently stated his admiration of Doris Kearns Goodwin’s important book: Team of Rivals: the Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln, which describes how Lincoln assembled his cabinet by choosing the most talented politicians available, especially his rivals.
Joe Biden enjoys widespread popularity among Democrats. Although he is not especially well-known, all political junkies have seen him on TV talk shows. He is especially articulate in speaking about foreign policy, and he was an early forceful critic of the Bush administration’s mishandling of the Iraq War.
As the Democrats and Barack Obama work to assemble a winning coalition, Joe Biden certainly brings more depth to the ticket, and he is potentially appealing to some undecided voters. Biden communicates well by conveying obvious intelligence and in-depth knowledge in a way that “the rest of us” can understand and appreciate. Recent American politics have given us some candidates that seem too aloof or effete, or the other extreme of being anti-intellectual or immature. Joe Biden is “a regular guy” with a brain and a heart.
Joe Biden also fits a target demographic in a year of “identity politics”: he is Catholic, has a working class background, and was born in Pennsylvania. If voters of similar demographic characteristics vote Democrat in November, Obama will be the next president. Unlike John McCain, Joe Biden knows how many houses he owns.
For more information, read this article from the Washington Post: Obama Picks Biden as VP.
Loading …
Comment by Lucy
Posted on August 24, 2008 at 9:55 am
I heartily agree with Obama’s decision.
I will vote for any democrat who is running but I have never been that high on Obama (the experience thing) and now that he has made this intelligent choice, I have hope (some) for this country. I have always admired Biden and his honesty and especially the way he speaks out, So what if some don’t like that. This man has dedicated his whole life to his country and his kids and it’s about time other Americans just know what he is made of. No real surprise for me - I wanted him for president, but he has no money and a big mouth. About time …
go Joe … now the question remains for me … Obama’s wife. She can’t afford the disloyal big mouth she has already displayed about Barack and that will be a real detriment to the campaign unless Rahm and David Axelrod can shut her up.
Comment by voter2008
Posted on August 25, 2008 at 11:47 pm
Hello,
A friend of mine has created a very interesting video. It has inspired me vote in the upcoming election, and if you aren’t already going to, I am sure it will for you too.
You can find the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4kg514DcTA
I would love to hear what you think about it after you watch it. Thank you for your time.