Biden Says 'Poor Kids' Are Just as Smart as 'White Kids' in Iowa

[WhiskeyGrinder]

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-08-09/biden-says-poor-kids-are-just-as-smart-as-white-kids-in-iowa

Joe Biden told a group of mostly Asian and Hispanic voters Wednesday that "poor kids are just as bright" as white children.

The former vice president, who is known for verbal gaffes, made the remarks to the Asian & Latino Coalition in Des Moines, Iowa, where he is on a four-day campaign swing for the Democratic presidential nomination.

“We should challenge students in these schools and have advanced placement programs in these schools,” Biden said. “We have this notion that somehow if you’re poor, you cannot do it. Poor kids are just as bright, just as talented, as white kids." He quickly added, "Wealthy kids, black kids, Asian kids, no I really mean it, but think how we think about it.”

“We think how we’re going to dumb it down. They can do anything anybody else can do given a shot."

[Princetonian]

1. "Wealthy kids, black kids, Asian kids... they can do anything anybody else can do given a shot."

Iowans know what he means.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

4. He got there...eventually.

[Princetonian]

6. What did you think of his speech yesterday?

[WhiskeyGrinder]

18. Didn't watch it, read the transcript, wasn't blown away.

[Princetonian]

28. Given this OP, I am not surprised. Which candidate does blow you away or interests you?

[WhiskeyGrinder]

37. None of them blows me away. Each of them has deficiencies that really irk me. With this many

candidates, it's a better use of my time, effort, cash money and energy to not put any of those things toward a candidate right now. I've posted before about how I think it's healthier for the entire party and the eventual candidate to use this time to find every candidate's weak spots and push on them to work them out. So I find it deeply disappointing that so many people with Biden avatars seem to find it hard to say something like, "Jesus, that's a bad look -- I respect him so much and hope he gets his act together."

[Princetonian]

43. Well, thank you for doing that for us, Whisky Grinder.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

44. Someone's got to do it.

[Thekaspervote]

51. Just a question.. but you really think fence sitting helps?

[WhiskeyGrinder]

55. I don't see it as fence-sitting. If it is, I don't see how it hurts.

I'll vote in my state primary and participate in campaigning/GOTV for the ticket.

[Thekaspervote]

79. I'm good with that.. everyone has their thoughts about it. When the general comes I too will

Vote for our nominee...regardless!

[pangaia]

130. everyone doesn't have a favorite. I don't. :)))

[tonedevil]

103. Yup...

Do you have a problem with that?

[highplainsdem]

118. I'm sorry our candidates' deficiencies irk you. Maybe when you find the perfect, superhuman

candidate you're looking for, you can let us know.

Untll then, I'll focus on candidates I know are only human, and consider their strengths as well as extremely trivial mistakes.

And I'll give both the strengths and the trivial mistakes the attention and weight they deserve.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

120. Oh, I don't look for a perfect candidate -- I know they don't exist. What I do want is for the

candidates we do have to do better, and to keep trying to do better. The campaign trail is the perfect place for that.

[pangaia]

128. i agree with you on this... i have no favorite at the moment and don;t plan to have one for quite

a while...if ever...

[Thekaspervote]

35. Should have watched! Most here with any candidate choice thought it was outstanding

[WhiskeyGrinder]

39. So I hear. Not interested, but thanks for the recommendation.

[John Fante]

56. But not in time to stop you from trashing him with a misleading

thread title.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

57. But...he did say that.

[Princetonian]

73. Please share the video link with us. I do not trust a random pool reporter playing up a storyline.

[brush]

70. I'm trying to figure what's the problem with this. There is none.

Everyone being given an equal chance to prove themselves is what we want, right?

Come on, people. Stop looking for a gaffe. This is not one, it's just plain speaking.

[Thekaspervote]

81. Yup, not one of our candidates is without their foibles. So, let's emphasize the + let the rest go

[wiley]

160. Politico had been trying to push this click bait nonsense without success.

The question is why anyone rec'd this diary when it is so obviously petty. Not a story. Maybe the GOP is right. In less than a week Democrats will be back to the circular firing squad mode, and no one will be talking about all the dead and wounded in El Paso and Dayton.

[pangaia]

127. Correct me if I am wrong, but that sounds to me just as bad as the first part.

I also DO understand the .. what can I call it-- the subtle 'back of the mind' mistake.. or...

I certainly do not hold that against him.... it is, to me, something that we white guys and gals need to just see and understand.. where it comes from in us... me included.

[Princetonian]

131. Amimnoch had a great take. Let me share it with you because it shocked me.

Here: https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1287&pid=233298

[pangaia]

133. Of course. We all know this.

I still think it was an.. um... odd comparison- "Wealthy kids, black kids, Asian kids,.."

But I'm not worried anout it...

[enough]

2. He can't help it. He's unreconstructed. It's who he is.

This is why I won’t vote for him in the Primary and hope he’s not the nominee. Not everyone his age is like this, but many are. I know because I’m the same age.

(And yes of course if he’s the candidate I will vote for him in the end.)

[WhiskeyGrinder]

5. Exactly.

[Princetonian]

7. Joe constructed a damned fine speech yesterday. Or don't you think so?

[Princetonian]

14. lol

[Thekaspervote]

54. As usual skya rhen you nailed. Myself, I prefer to walk around the man hole rather than to fall in

Took me a few tries to figure that one out. Some just like it down there

[Skittles]

46. yes, he is very good, scripted

[Princetonian]

76. Joe's been good unscripted too. There have been clips posted all day. I like the one when he...

.... faced down the troll.

Barack was very good, scripted too.

[Skittles]

78. if you say so

[Princetonian]

86. I saw all the clips of Beto, most of whom made me see his immense depth of compassion.

[Thekaspervote]

82. Indeed, he faced down a creep from Breitbart, set him straight and the guy just shut up

[Princetonian]

115. Here's the video of that smackdown!

Go here to watch: https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287232482

[Cha]

99. Biden wrote the speech that's

especially why it was from the heart.

He's good unscripted, too.. I've heard him.

[murielm99]

8. I don't think it has to do with his age.

He has been gaffing for years.

He could be the one to beat 45. I am good with that, even though he is not my first choice.

And...when he is on target, he is great. His speech the other day was masterful.

Let's look at his experience and leadership ability instead.

I am tired of watching us pick apart our candidates. The repiggies do it, we shouldn't.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

153. I feel bad for Joe... he should just stick to prepared remarks and he'll be fine.

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[bigtree]

3. huh?

[BannonsLiver]

139. Surely you can muster up more hatred than that.

[Autumn]

9. I would have loved to have seen a video of the room on that one.

[George II]

19. I would have loved to see a video of Biden saying that and how long the "quickly added" pause was.

[Joe941]

169. From the video he got a few claps, but most were just silent.

[melman]

10. Wow

[George II]

13. Wow

[melman]

24. Wow indeed

[George II]

26. Wow indeed

[Autumn]

16. Wow is right. Did you hear the applause in the room? Like 25 people at least.

[Princetonian]

17. Has Steyer qualified for the September debate yet?

[George II]

22. Bazinga!

[Autumn]

27. There's time. He's only asking for a dollar. nt

[sheshe2]

75. Ummm

He is a billionaire. He doesn't need money from those that can't.

Oh. Got it. He needs the dollar to get on the debate stage.

[Skya Rhen]

23. Not everyone can be as popular as Steyer.

[Autumn]

63. As the the top all-time Democratic donor, Steyer's very popular with Democrats .

Steyer, a consistent mega-donor to Democrats cycle after cycle, is leading efforts to impeach President Donald Trump and to combat climate change by pumping millions of dollars into races and advertising efforts through his PAC, Need to Impeach, and nonprofit organization NextGen America.

He leads every other liberal donor, including Michael Bloomberg and George Soros, contributing almost $248 million cumulatively to candidates, PACs and other political organizations. Much of that cash goes toward PACs and organizations that spend money independently of candidates, including attack ads on Republicans.

https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2019/07/tom-steyer-enters-2020presidential-field/

[Skya Rhen]

71. Joe had better watch out. Steyer is gaining on him in the polls because he is so popular.

[melman]

29. No

I haven't heard the audio yet. Kind of scared to listen don't know if I can handle the cringe.

[Autumn]

33. The applause was underwhelming to say the least.

A tweet was edited out in the OP that had the video.

[melman]

49. I've heard it now

Ouch. So bad.

[George II]

30. Applause in the room? Did I miss it? There doesn't seem to be an audio of him at the link.

[Autumn]

32. Click on OP thread information George. Video was included. nt

[George II]

38. I did Autumn, all I got was a 1:03 audio of a reading of the text in the "article". Maybe...

....since I don't subscribe to Bloomberg I don't get that?

BTW, the only source of this story is Bloomberg, it hasn't appeared anywhere else except for regurgitations of the Bloomberg story.

[Autumn]

41. Maybe you didn't look at the other links in the OP George. All stories start somewhere.

[George II]

45. Indeed, Autumn, all stories start somewhere.

[Autumn]

59. Ask your friend George. He assures me it was all over the news and the pundits PRAISED it

as being a powerful statement. I guess it wasn't just Bloomberg.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287232853#post42

[George II]

61. What friend are you talking about? If it was "all over the news" why not tell us where?

Looks like we're back on that Merry-Go-Round again, round and round and round. Hope I get the brass ring this time!

[Autumn]

66. Come on George. Surely you know how to click on the link I posted in my response to you?

Your Merry-Go-Round gig is such an obvious, silly little deflection when you have nothing to respond with.

[George II]

68. That's not a friend of mine....

Can I get a horsie that goes up and down this time instead of one of those stationary ones? Used to love them on the Central Park ride.

Thanks!!!!

[sheshe2]

97. Is this like the Cap link issue you had earlier with your server?

Copy and paste and voila, non caps.

[Lordquinton]

102. Going round and round

Don't get too dizzy.

Mahalo Autumn!

[Autumn]

113. Mahalo Lordquinton!

That's a high kick on this fine thread.

[George II]

157. Yep, she and I go back and forth three or four times, then as an "explanation"...

....I'm directed back to the origin of the back and forth.

No one ever gets to snatch the brass ring on that Carousel.

[LakeArenal]

151. luv you george...

[Thekaspervote]

42. Regardless of the number of attendees, he was praised by all the pundits.. they felt it was a very

Powerful statement and clips were shown on all the ntl evening news channels

Not sure why you want to continue to throw shade his way. it doesn’t work. Why not just build up your candidates of choice?!

[George II]

47. C'mon man, you're ruining the "narrative"!!!!

[Autumn]

50. Be sure and post the videos of all the praise by the pundits and clips of his powerful statement

the OP referenced. Some in this thread must have missed them.

[Thekaspervote]

77. How many would you like

Wednesdaywisdom Twitter with 225k followers posted his speech 14+k hearts

Embedded in this one. CBS news

https://theweek.com/speedreads/857662/biden-blasts-trumps-lowenergy-vacanteyed-shooting-response-prompting-realtime-angry-tweet


Washington post op Biden puts trump to shame

https://www.washingtonpost.com/

See comment #91. ABC politics

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287231558 also see post #90. Washington post opinion: Joe Biden reminds us all what a presidential president should sound like

CNN interview with Biden moves many DU’ers to tears

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287229037

Joy Reid: this was a powerful indictment coming from the former VP

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287231070.. see post #5

Nicole Wallace.. deadline White House.. see post #13
https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287231070

I could continue, but you get my point.. backed up as requested with links!!

[Autumn]

80. So you weren't talking about the actual event being discussed.

I see.

[Princetonian]

83. I wish Joe was a billionaire donor so you would like him too.

[Autumn]

85. Biden's likable enough. I just like several others more, a lot more.

[Thekaspervote]

90. Yes I am! If you opened the links you would see that I was so don't even go there!

You just don’t like Mr. Biden and you know that’s okay, but don’t like it when someone points that out that he is doing well.

Go ahead and post another baseless snipe. It seems that’s what you do.

[sheshe2]

98. ...

[Autumn]

119. You replied to my post discussing the event in the OP

Autumn (35,540 posts)

50. Be sure and post the videos of all the praise by the pundits and clips of his powerful statement

the OP referenced. Some in this thread must have missed them.

with this

Thekaspervote (3,678 posts)

77. How many would you like

Wednesdaywisdom Twitter with 225k followers posted his speech 14+k hearts

Embedded in this one. CBS news

https://theweek.com/speedreads/857662/biden-blasts-trumps-lowenergy-vacanteyed-shooting-response-prompting-realtime-angry-tweet


Washington post op Biden puts trump to shame

https://www.washingtonpost.com/

See comment #91. ABC politics

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287231558 also see post #90. Washington post opinion: Joe Biden reminds us all what a presidential president should sound like

CNN interview with Biden moves many DU’ers to tears

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287229037

Joy Reid: this was a powerful indictment coming from the former VP

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287231070.. see post #5

Nicole Wallace.. deadline White House.. see post #13
https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287231070

I could continue, but you get my point.. backed up as requested with links!!

It's really not my fault you didn't pay attention or didn't understand what was in my post. It seems rather simple to me, so keep your baseless snipe to yourself.

be sure and post the videos of all the praise by the pundits and clips of his powerful statement
the OP referenced.

[Thekaspervote]

156. Well, once again you did bother to open the links

Just another snipe... that’s all you offer

[Autumn]

166. I'm sorry. I didn't bother to look at the links. I didn't need to, you described them

None of those links were praise for what Biden said that was linked in the OP, as you claimed. Talk about sniping, you do nothing but snipe at me.

[Thekaspervote]

168. You win??

[sheshe2]

67. So.

Autumn
16. Wow is right. Did you hear the applause in the room? Like 25 people at least.

25 people applauded. How many people were in the room...30?

[melman]

84. So

Are you saying the majority of Biden supporters in a given room would applaud this...


...or are you saying Biden appearances only draw 30 people?


Cause I'm not really seeing how either of those is all that helpful.

[sheshe2]

87. Cute, Melman.

Ta.

[melman]

88. cute, she?

I don't think so. I think this is all rather disturbing.

[sheshe2]

89. Interesting what disturbs you and what does not. nt

[melman]

91. Really?

Please enlighten me as to..

- what is it that doesn't disturb me that you think should

- how it is that you know this, and..

- why you think this statement isn't disturbing


Do tell.

[sheshe2]

92. No mel.

You tell me.

You opened it up, explain.

[melman]

93. No

I'm pretty sure you just professed to know what doesn't disturb me. What are these things and how do you know?

[sheshe2]

94. Not playing.

It is late.

Night Night~

[melman]

95. Okay

I'll take that as an acknowledgement that you can't back up what you claimed. Thank you for admitting it.

[sheshe2]

96. Take it any way you wish.

I admitted nothing.
Night,

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

154. LOL... good one!!

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[George II]

12. Pile on!

[Cha]

100. lol.. The OP thinks he has a really

big Gotcha.. wouldn't want to spoil that for him, would we?

[IronLionZion]

15. And poor white kids? Wealthy minority kids? and 76 year old kids?

We know he means well, but these gaffes are not helping.

[IronLionZion]

25. He's going to need minorities to win the general election

and shouldn't take us for granted

[George II]

31. What makes you think he's taking minorities for granted? Are you saying...

...that if he's the nominee you won't vote for him in the general election?

[Thekaspervote]

48. No he isn't, the let's pile on because our candidate isn't doing well is showing

Seriously, time and again using mr. Biden as a punching bag is shown not to work. As far as minority voters Biden now has 50+% of the AA vote.

If all the negativity isn’t working... then why not try saying positive things about your candidate of choice

[Princetonian]

21. They are part and parcel of the good man Joe is. Iowans sure don't think worse of him.

They are Iowa nice there. Iowans are some of the best folks that I have ever met and befriended when I volunteered for Barack way back when he and Michelle had no bodyguards of any kind.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

34. Uh oh. History repeats

[Princetonian]

40. Hey now...

[zackymilly]

107. It sure looks like it's going to repeat itself for Bernie again. n/t

[CentralMass]

52. Doh !

[Lordquinton]

53. Yikes!

That is not a sound bite we want hanging onto our presidential campaign. The sooner he steps aside, the better.

[Auggie]

58. Disappointed. Very disappointed.

[dalton99a]

60. Cringe worthy, but no big deal - people know it's Joe Biden

[WhiskeyGrinder]

62. Your comment says so much.

[dalton99a]

65. It's a Jerry Ford moment in the scheme of things

[Joe941]

117. Classic joe. Nothing new here - we know his heart.

[Voltaire2]

148. Jerry was a political disaster.

Is that what you meant?

[BlueTsunami2018]

69. Shit happens when you talk all the time.

Are we now to expect certain candidates to call him a racist again because he said white instead of wealthy, which is obviously what he meant?

It didn’t help before. It’s not going to help them now.

Nothing really to see here but the perpetually outraged are going to be outraged. Whatever.

[Princetonian]

72. Bingo!

[EveHammond13]

74. thank u next

[BootinUp]

101. This could bring his numbers down big!

[ucrdem]

104. .. and the well-oiled gears of the Gaffe Industrial Complex click and whir

signifying nothing as usual.

[hlthe2b]

105. Occasional malapropisms and "Bidenisms" have always been Biden

It is what he does and what he plans to do that matter more.

[True Dough]

106. A thread with over 100 posts and not one of them includes the video and audio?

Let's fix that.

[BeyondGeography]

108. In the 2008 campaign, Obama reportedly cut Biden's press access

because he got tired of the screw-ups:

"Biden had been hanging around with reporters running his mouth about how he was more qualified to be president than Barack Obama," Halperin said.

Obama apparently made his feelings known.

"'How many times is Biden going to say something stupid?" Obama reportedly said after Biden said that it would not be "six months before the world tests Barack Obama like they did John Kennedy."

Staffers said Obama's response was as angry as they had ever seen him, according to the book.

"There was always a big concern that Biden would talk too much, say the wrong things," Heilemann said today. "And as soon as that happened, that was the moment they cut back Biden's access to the press."

https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/game-change-authors-halperin-heilemann-shocked/story?id=9530045

That’s from Game Change. Biden's office criticized the book but didn’t challenge anything specifically.

[zackymilly]

109. Maybe Obama is holding back his support for Biden because of what he might say next. n/t

[BeyondGeography]

110. He wouldn't endorse anyone until there's a winner

Presidential custom. But what that anecdote tells me at least is we didn’t hear a steady steam of gaffes from VP Biden because he was managed very carefully by Obama. The guy just made more slip-ups in one day than in eight years working for a highly-disciplined boss who ran a very tight ship.

[Princetonian]

121. What did Barack do from 2009-2012 besides calling Joe his brother & "the best decision I have made"?

[BeyondGeography]

123. Both things can easily be true

Biden was a great VP. Biden is dangerous when he goes off-script.

[Princetonian]

124. lol... is that you, David Axelrod?

[Thekaspervote]

162. Dangerous?? Really?? I call dangerous dotard having his fingers on the nuke buttons

The rest ...dangerous... not really

[Autumn]

136. I'll have to download that book. Thanks for the link.

[Princetonian]

147. Written by Mark Halperin who called Barack a "dick" and was accused by 5 women of sexual harassment

Expect an agenda.

[wellst0nev0ter]

111. He eventually corrected himself

[thesquanderer]

112. Thanks. He did correct it really quickly, but still unfortunate.

My worry would be that some Trump-aligned dirty-tricks group could use that against him by running the clip in an ad that cuts off before his correction.

[Princetonian]

116. lol... Joe is alot faster than I am when I call my husband by our dog's name or tell my son to...

... close the door when I meant to say the window.

Social media being what it is, would catch that sucker within five minutes. Also, television stations and news outlets have discretion in placing ads they feel are deceptive. I doubt such an ad would get wide play. There would be angry protests and bad social media publicity.

Even so, such dirty tricks would just give Joe a full range of rebuttal options like his speech two days ago. The media would televise Joe anytime as they did the other night. Trump, not so much... unless it is Faux News.

[Thekaspervote]

163. Good point. The gopeeee are going to try and take him down regardless of what he says or does

Even if he is not the nominee, it will be the same. Nasty nicknames, twisted statements, false claims. It’s what they do.

[Princetonian]

164. Exactly. We just have to watch Joe's back without mercy and let him do the rest.

[cwydro]

125. I've seen it on both CNN and MSNBC.

Several times.

[myohmy2]

114. what's wrong...

...with what Joe said?...his intent and meaning was clear and sincere...

...the was no malice in his words...

...there was no hidden meaning...

...I think Joe's being hammered unfairly...

...el trumpo can say anything, but Joe has to cross ever 't' and dot every 'i'?

...not right, not fair...

...

[Amimnoch]

122. Tells me he has an accurate sense of racial wealth inequality.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/niallmccarthy/2017/09/14/racial-wealth-inequality-in-the-u-s-is-rampant-infographic/#fd0f6db34e86

yes, it is a bit of an inappropriate blanket statement, but it's not entirely dishonest, when it comes to wealth distribution White is by and far the majority beneficiary and entitled. I don't know about everyone else, but addressing inequality of education and wealth are core reasons I'm proudly Democrat to begin with.

[Princetonian]

126. Wow. That is some stark sh*t!

Bookmarked to show my politically active family and friends.



https://www.forbes.com/sites/niallmccarthy/2017/09/14/racial-wealth-inequality-in-the-u-s-is-rampant-infographic/#fd0f6db34e86

[loyalsister]

134. It's classist

For someone who does not have those views it does need to be said. It is a given that all kids have potential.
The problem is policy makers not investing. Because they accept the old mythology about intellectual deficiencies as valid conventional wisdom.

[BannonsLiver]

140. If Bernie said that's how his supporters would spin it

[AtheistCrusader]

150. I supported Bernie last time around.

I would have considered that gaffe deplorable from him. But like Biden, I don't think it's some unearthing of some under-the-hood hidden bias. I think it's just a verbal blurble. Not very material. It just sucks/bad luck.

Everyone misspeaks from time to time. (Though some do it more often than others.)

[elleng]

129. and he immediately corrected himself. Are WE gonna keep this going?

Just go right along with the russkies' intentions, I guess.

[AtheistCrusader]

141. Well, it's on the front page of MSNBC right now...

[Princetonian]

146. Not now it isn't. I'll bet they got near zero hits and lots of pissed off voters calling.

[AtheistCrusader]

149. Still there. Look harder.

It's in the carousel, near the top of the stack.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/biden-tells-minority-voters-in-iowa-that-poor-kids-are-just-as-bright-as-white-kids/ar-AAFzuRl?ocid=spartanntp

I don't have a place to host a screenshot for you.

Edit: Heh, I see the URL discloses what browser I am using. Clever. (Project Spartan is Edge, in Windows 10)

[Princetonian]

155. You said MSNBC not MSN. I see it. Oh well, I think lots of voters know what he's talking about.

[AtheistCrusader]

158. Sorry, I still tend to think of them as the same thing.

But yeah, there was a divorce some time ago.

[Princetonian]

159. lol... yeah. I forgot MSN still existed. Good to know!

[AtheistCrusader]

161. Default site on all Windows machines.

And since the news aggregation is chosen in-house at Microsoft since 2012... That says something about the article that is on one site, and not the other.

Interesting.

I wonder when the last time the Media Bias Map was updated, and whether it includes MSN.

[George II]

167. Bill Gates never makes that mistake.

[emulatorloo]

144. Thank you

[Lordquinton]

145. Are you saying this was a Russian plan?

To have Biden say that.

[wyldwolf]

135. the poutrage gets more and more ridiculous ...

[Mike Nelson]

137. This shows...

... nothing. He's done this for decades. Everyone knows what he meant. An overall debate performance or live town hall will show us Biden and any performance issues. He's been doing well, and these misspeaks are meaningless.

[ooky]

138. So the real story here is that the Trump campaign disingenuously omitted his correction.

What a surprise.

[treestar]

142. He was recognizing white privilege

Lol I guess they got another one on him. He’s so much more hurtful than the Dotard.

[Gothmog]

152. Please watch this video

Link to tweet

[rzemanfl]

165. Well, it's not a holy Toledo moment now, is it? n/t