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Donkees

(31,392 posts)
Thu Mar 3, 2016, 08:51 AM Mar 2016

"Biden shushes wife after secretary of state slip"

"The wife of vice-president-elect Joe Biden let it slip on Oprah Winfrey's TV talk show today that her husband had a pick of two jobs in the Obama administration.

Jill Biden said Barack Obama gave Biden the choice of being secretary of state or vice-president. The vice president-elect tried to hush his wife as soon as the words came out of her mouth, with a loud "shhh!" that sent the audience into laughter.

The secretary of state's job went to another Obama campaign rival, Hillary Rodham Clinton.


The vice president-elect said he only accepted Obama's offer to be his running mate after talking it over with "Jilly," his pet name for his wife. Mrs Biden said she told him vice-president would be better for the family.

"If you're secretary of state, you'll be away, we'll never see you, you know," she said. "I'll see you at a state dinner once and awhile. But I said, if you are vice-president, the entire family, because they worked so hard for the election, they can be involved. They can come to our home. They can go to events, they can be with us all the time. And that's what's important to us."

Obama's transition office did not immediately respond to a request for comment about whether he was offered both jobs.

The vice-president-elect didn't address his wife's comments, but said didn't immediately take the vice-presidential offer since he wasn't sure it was the best place for him to serve. But Biden, who ran against Obama in the Democratic primary race, said he agreed after getting some assurances from Obama about his role.

"This is a partnership," Biden said. "He's president of the United States, but as I said to him when he asked me, I said, 'Barack, don't ask me unless the reason you're asking me is, you're asking me for my judgment. I get to be the last guy in the room before you make every important decision. You're president. Any decision you make, I will back'."

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/jan/19/joe-jill-biden-vp-secretary-of-state

8 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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"Biden shushes wife after secretary of state slip" (Original Post) Donkees Mar 2016 OP
Isn't it interesting how major decisions of this type are made? monicaangela Mar 2016 #1
It's a big club demwing Mar 2016 #3
Thank God for that! monicaangela Mar 2016 #8
OMG! Hillary Clinton was Obama's 2nd choice for Secretary of State!?!? Skinner Mar 2016 #2
I'm sure HRC wasn't his 3rd choice either, but deals had to be made for party unity. nt TheBlackAdder Mar 2016 #5
this isn't exactly a revelation wyldwolf Mar 2016 #4
You do realize that this is normal politics? UCmeNdc Mar 2016 #6
Thats what presidents do. JaneyVee Mar 2016 #7

monicaangela

(1,508 posts)
1. Isn't it interesting how major decisions of this type are made?
Thu Mar 3, 2016, 08:58 AM
Mar 2016

These decisions make such a great difference in our lives and those in power, the ruling elite if you will find the buddy buddy system a method of deciding who will get such important jobs. So your opponents become your co-workers? What is this, keep your friends close but your enemies closer or Establishment Politics as usual? I wonder...

monicaangela

(1,508 posts)
8. Thank God for that!
Thu Mar 3, 2016, 09:21 AM
Mar 2016

I believe our job is to dissolve the club, make it null and void, give it an expiration date and discontinue manufacture of more of the same.

Skinner

(63,645 posts)
2. OMG! Hillary Clinton was Obama's 2nd choice for Secretary of State!?!?
Thu Mar 3, 2016, 08:58 AM
Mar 2016

Now she can NEVER be president!!!!

UCmeNdc

(9,600 posts)
6. You do realize that this is normal politics?
Thu Mar 3, 2016, 09:17 AM
Mar 2016

Chris Christie is kissing Donald Trump's hand now in the 2016 race because Trump has promised Chris some sort of position in a Trump administration.

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