Obama on why he chose Biden as his running mate, August 2008

[highplainsdem]

[liberal N proud]

1. K&R

[Princetonian]

2. Because Biden was the best then and he is even better as the best now.

He always had Barack's back and still does. That kind of humility and loyalty is priceless.

[Buzz cook]

3. Because it was a strategic choice

Biden was and still is an inside the beltway favorite. He to a large degree reflects the conventional wisdom of the villagers.

Obama keyed his campaign in large part to playing to the political media. By choosing Biden he was able to signal that he wasn't a threat to the conventional wisdom of that clique.

It was a brilliant strategy that along with other factors got him an easy win.

[highplainsdem]

6. Are you suggesting that Obama was just trying to appease a clique when he chose Biden, and so the

the reasons he gave for the choice in this 2008 interview were lies?

I believe you're completely wrong about that. And it's a terrible thing to say about Obama.

[Buzz cook]

22. You ask a question

Then instead of waiting for a reply you plow ahead assuming I was being negative and insulting.

Both things can be true. Obama's stated reasons as well as the reasons I've given. That is my position, thanks for asking.

[Cha]

13. I'm taking President Obama at his

word.. not your "cliques" and "villagers" theory.

[Buzz cook]

23. It makes sense though doesn't it?

The greatest danger to any democratic campaign is the media. If all we had to worry about was republicans then we'd win almost every race.

So by disarming a large segment of the media Obama neutered his greatest threat.

[Drunken Irishman]

14. There's definitely some truths to that - but Obama didn't have to go with Biden

He could have picked Dodd or Jack Reed, two very well connected, inside the beltway white men - he even could have gone with Evan Bayh, who was strongly being considered. He didn't, though. He went with Biden. In fact, David Plouffe thought Obama would select Bayh because, as he put it, "Bayh's up side and down side are probably the closest spread of the three", while Biden would, "reach higher heights but could cause us real pain".

I think Obama picked Biden because he felt he could trust him and that he offered the type of leadership he wanted in his White House. Sure, Biden brought some decent things to the table to negate some of Obama's weaknesses, but overall, I think Obama wanted someone who would challenge him and he knew he would get that with Biden ... maybe less so with Dodd, and especially Bayh, who would've been a pretty passive VP.

[Cha]

18. And, then he said.. it was

one of the best decisions he ever made.. and I believe it.

[Buzz cook]

24. Ask yourself this

Which of those had greater TV time? Biden by a mile.

[Drunken Irishman]

25. Pretty silly idea...

That basically rests on the idea that the Obama campaign was run by a bunch of amateurs.

I think it's clear why Obama selected Biden. If you want to trivialize down to him being the status quo lapdog Obama only selected to appease the media, so be it. It shows what little you think of Obama, and especially Biden.

[Buzz cook]

26. I think you're the one

Trivializing here.

I feel that you and many other Biden supporters are threatened by the idea that he and or Obama are politicians and as such make political maneuvers.

[Drunken Irishman]

27. Not really.

I'll trust Obama's comments over yours. It's clear why he picked Biden and a large part of it was trust.

[Buzz cook]

30. How old are you?

How long have you followed politics?

VPs are chosen for several reason, to shore up regional support or to cover areas that the presidential candidate appear to be lacking.

Shall we go done the list?

Johnson was chosen to shore up regional support because Kennedy was too closely identified with North East liberalism.

Agnew was chosen again for regionalism but also because of his connection with East coast moneyed interests.

Rockefeller was chosen because he lacked association with Nixon.

Bush 1 was chosen because he had federal experience and was seen as being less radical than Reagan, a steadying hand.

Gore was chosen because he was a boyscout/choirboy. To balance Clinton's apparent trustworthiness.

Cheney was chosen because he could be the real president while GW could be a figure head. He was seen as having credibility and gravitas the the Shrub lacked.

Biden was chosen because he had the experience that Obama lacked. As well as the reasons I and Obama stated.

Since the 12th amendment was ratified every president has said they chose their VP because they were the best person for the job and able to take over the presidency at a moments notice.
I believe that was the case most Vice Presidents but history has shown us that was not true of all.

You trivialize Obama and Biden by not recognizing their ability to make political decisions that go beyond their stated reasons. You trivialize the process of getting presidents into office by pretending they are shallow and callow..

[Drunken Irishman]

31. Biden was chosen because Obama wanted him.

He trusted his judgment and felt he would be ready to be president on Day One. Nothing you say can change this. Obama wouldn't have selected Biden if he didn't trust his judgment, especially knowing that Biden was extremely outspoken and would likely not take a backseat like some past VPs have done.

[Buzz cook]

33. So you agree with me.

You just don't trust either Biden or Obama to be more than narrow and without nuance.

[Drunken Irishman]

34. You're the one who is saying Obama is lying...

I believe Obama over yo. Sorry if you can't agree.

[Buzz cook]

35. I never said Obama was lying.

That's your fever dream talking.

I say Obama and Biden are masterful politicians that have a nuanced approach to politics and policy. That is what you have a problem with. You just want black and white.

[Drunken Irishman]

36. So, is Obama telling the truth as to why he picked Biden?

It's easy - you either think he's telling the truth or you think he's lying. Which is it?

[Buzz cook]

37. Liberals used to get nuance

You're proposing a false dichotomy. That is a logical error.

Do you think a person can have reasons for saying something in public which are factual while at the same time not giving giving other reasons on the same subject which are also factual?

So there is a true dichotomy. I predict you will not answer.

[Drunken Irishman]

38. You either think Obama is lying or you don't.

There's no need for nuance - what Obama said in the video is either the truth or it isn't. You backed yourself into the corner and now refuse to answer the question.

Is this a true statement:

"Let me tell you the reason I picked Joe Biden to my Vice President: #1, he can step in and become president ... #2, is that if I am in the room making the kinds of tough decisions...both on domestic policy and international policy, then I want the counsel and advise from someone who will not agree with me 100% of the time ... give me different perspectives ... and Joe Biden doesn't bite his tongue, #3 someone I know in his heart cares about the American people and the American Dream and willing to fight for them as hard as he can - and Joe Biden fit that bill."

That's what Obama said. Do you think he was lying or not being honest here?

[Buzz cook]

39. When did you stop beating your wife?

Did Obama tell the truth? Did he tell the whole truth? You can answer yes to one and not the other can't you?

As I predicted you wouldn't answer an honest question. You're just being dogmatic and demanding conformity.

Let me suggest you look up a list of the logical errors such as this one.
https://thebestschools.org/magazine/15-logical-fallacies-know/

You should also read more widely on this and perhaps other subjects.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ticket_balance

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Running_mate

https://politicalsaints.siena.edu/2016/06/20/what-matters-when-picking-a-vice-president/

Lastly I admire that you think you are defending Obama and Biden. Saddened that you are unknowingly insulting them.

[NYMinute]

4. K&R nt

[Scurrilous]

5. K&R

[oasis]

7. Excellent choice for VP.

[ucrdem]

8. Brilliant.

He knew Joe better than we did!

[oasis]

9. Competence, authenticity, loyalty. With Biden, Obama got that

Last edited Sun Jul 28, 2019, 05:56 PM - Edit history (1)

and then some.

[treestar]

10. struggled a little trying to be positive

and Failin Palin.

Good points there about Biden too.

[Cha]

29. Little did he know and the rest

of us what Palin was to become.

treestar!

[trueblue2007]

11. i support him also

[Cha]

12. He(Biden) can step in and become President.

Someone who is independent enough who can pushback and give me perspective and catch any blind spots I may have..

Somebody who in his heart cares about the American People and the American Dream and is willing to fight for them as hard as he can!

Biden laughed at Obama dry wit!



Good FIND, highplainsdem! Mahalo!!!

[Peacetrain]

15. "Joe Biden doesn't bite his tongue and he is someone I can count on"

What more do we need!!! GO GO GO JOE!!

[wyldwolf]

16. Who remembers the fake-out, the union printshop printing Obama/Bayh stickers ...

... in the days leading up the Biden announcement?

[Cha]

17. I don't! lol

[wyldwolf]

19. of course it was a diversion - but some news outlets had pics of them...

... before Chris Matthews declared them fake. Got a lot of coverage. David Plouffe wrote in his book in late 2009 "It's a coin toss now between Bayh and Biden."

[Cha]

20. Thanks.. it had to be

Biden.

[Gothmog]

21. This interview is great

[Cha]

28. Wasn't it?! Like Classic Epic Great?!

Biden laughed at Obama's little joke. So did I. lol

[Cha]

32. KICK!