Getting to know Joe Biden
Focus
Channing Barker
Issue date: 9/3/08 Section: Opinion
Obama vs. McCain: It's been slammed into our heads for months.
But now the potential voters are focused on a package deal: the president and his running mate.
Because both vice presidents recently have been named, we should be briefed on the chosen ones. I have yet to understand totally who the vice-presidential candidates are or what they stand for. Let's focus on Sen. Barack Obama's running mate, Joe Biden.
Biden surprised me with his background. He received his bachelor's degree from the University of Delaware and his law degree from Syracuse University. He's a senator from Delaware and has been for more than 30 years, longer than most of Obama's supporters have been around.
Some see Biden's stage in political office as a reverse in the Obama campaign that is rooting for "change."
But Obama's pick allows for a balance with Biden being rehearsed in the section of foreign policy and defense issues. This creates a
bonus because Obama was rated poorly in his experience of foreign policy in comparison to McCain.
Fox News reported Biden voted to authorize the war in Iraq, but long ago he became one of the Senate's surest critics of the conflict.
Ironically, perhaps, his son, Beau,
attorney general of Delaware, is due to spend a tour of duty in Iraq beginning this fall with his National Guard unit.
Although Sen. Hillary Clinton didn't get the nod for vice president, Biden probably will bring a new demographic of voters for Obama's campaign.
Critics accuse Obama of not having enough experience, but this is where Biden brings in a huge bonus (but also could bring in some political baggage).
Researching about Biden, I found he's not exactly what I thought of a model vice-presidential candidate.
Ron Elving, on NPR.org, said this: "It's not that Biden can't be a team player. But he is not the sort to stick to a script. From time to time, his lively spirit and fits of temper have led him astray, especially in moments of stress."
But now the potential voters are focused on a package deal: the president and his running mate.
Because both vice presidents recently have been named, we should be briefed on the chosen ones. I have yet to understand totally who the vice-presidential candidates are or what they stand for. Let's focus on Sen. Barack Obama's running mate, Joe Biden.
Biden surprised me with his background. He received his bachelor's degree from the University of Delaware and his law degree from Syracuse University. He's a senator from Delaware and has been for more than 30 years, longer than most of Obama's supporters have been around.
Some see Biden's stage in political office as a reverse in the Obama campaign that is rooting for "change."
But Obama's pick allows for a balance with Biden being rehearsed in the section of foreign policy and defense issues. This creates a
bonus because Obama was rated poorly in his experience of foreign policy in comparison to McCain.
Fox News reported Biden voted to authorize the war in Iraq, but long ago he became one of the Senate's surest critics of the conflict.
Ironically, perhaps, his son, Beau,
attorney general of Delaware, is due to spend a tour of duty in Iraq beginning this fall with his National Guard unit.
Although Sen. Hillary Clinton didn't get the nod for vice president, Biden probably will bring a new demographic of voters for Obama's campaign.
Critics accuse Obama of not having enough experience, but this is where Biden brings in a huge bonus (but also could bring in some political baggage).
Researching about Biden, I found he's not exactly what I thought of a model vice-presidential candidate.
Ron Elving, on NPR.org, said this: "It's not that Biden can't be a team player. But he is not the sort to stick to a script. From time to time, his lively spirit and fits of temper have led him astray, especially in moments of stress."
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 4
Bman
posted 9/02/08 @ 9:58 PM CST
This writer failed to expound on the "accusation" of plagiarism. The man completely plagiarized Kinnock's life story. It wasn't some phrase or abstract analogy. (Continued…)
jennifer
posted 9/02/08 @ 10:59 PM CST
Biden's misrepresentation of his academic performance (transcript) is amusingly not discussed. Nor is it discussed the death of his wife, which nonetheless did not stop him from his only position in life: a Washington insider for more years than McCain. (Continued…)
Alex
posted 9/03/08 @ 6:33 AM CST
If either of you two previous posters check back on this thread, feel free to drop some links. I'd like to read more about claims mentioned in the two previous comments. (Continued…)
Check it Yourself
posted 9/04/08 @ 9:17 PM CST
If you are Alex Downs, I'm sure you can check it yourself. These are well known facts, they aren't on some underground propaganda machine like moveon. (Continued…)
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