Biden's reference to Carol Moseley Braun wasn't a gaffe. It was accurate, and the attacks are unfair

[femmedem]

Admittedly, he was speaking quickly, his diction was poor, and the sentence construction was awkward, but he said, "the only black--African American woman who had ever been elected to the United States Senate."

He said had, not has: past tense. Carol Moseley Braun certainly was the only African American woman who had ever been elected to the United States Senate, although not the only African American woman who has been elected to the United States Senate.

I don't blame Harris for correcting him, because on the debate stage, she could have easily misheard him. But it's inexcusable for reporters who can replay the audio to accuse him of making a gaffe.

He's not my candidate of choice, but I hate to see the media weakening one of our frontrunners over nothing.

[still_one]

1. I suspect that won't matter among our illustrious media, nor among those who wait on the edge of

their seats waiting, hoping for a "gaffe" because they have preference for other candidates

[Thekaspervote]

3. This!!

[Bernardo de La Paz]

9. Looking for "gaffes" is a form of Confirmation Bias. . . . nt

[mountain grammy]

19. Agree!

[TheRealNorth]

56. I agree

No one in the media looked at Trump's or GWB's verbal gaffes as evidence that they were unfit. Fucking MSM double standards.

They will make this into the "but her e-mails" of 2020 if we don't fight the framing.

[treestar]

114. +1

It's funny they have to make them up, too. Just wait for a real one.

[UniteFightBack]

2. I thought he said the first black woman. nt

[DesertRat]

8. No, he said "only" before he was corrected

Link to tweet

[Fiendish Thingy]

24. He meant "first", but said "only" - it was a gaffe

A typical Biden misspeak, (has/had argument irrelevant) but not his worst.

[sacto95834]

66. Sen Kamala Harris was standing only a few feet away...

Which made the statement odd. I'm sure he meant first, but still....

[PatSeg]

121. Actually, I did as well

I think he became defensive as he thought he'd said "first" and he remembered the attack by Castro in an earlier debate, where Castro was mistaken.

There are so many things going on right now, but the media has to nitpick all the silly stuff.

[TidalWave46]

4. Race and bigotry has been weaponized.

The most nefarious players are online but it spreads to the big screen. These are people who will attack a Democrat over issues of race or bigotry in one second flat. No need for context or any actual understanding of what was said.

It is a form of racism and bigotry. Far too many don’t get this.

[loyalsister]

59. The Biden victim narrative is weaponized white fragility

If it prevails, racists will have found their way back home.
We should be secure enough to be willing to say looking past the two senators who were sharing the stage with him was a mistake which originates with a social habit shared by many white people who have lived our lives as the superior race. We can do better.

[TidalWave46]

65. I don't think Biden is a victim.

This is what I'm talking about.

[Bayoustep]

5. Come on...

I watched the debate in real time. Joe literally had to "correct" himself, mid- sentence, when describing an African American (he started to say Black, not that people would have had a problem with that) and then went on to say that he was endorsed by the ONLY AA female to ever be elected to the Senate. Don't parse the words has and had....that makes no difference and was not the defining jist of what he said. Whether he said 'had' or 'has' doesn't matter. What matters is he dismissed Harris, more than likely not in purpose...but the REAL problem I have is the fact that he went full "I have black friends!" Stop, Joe. Please stop. And then he had the nerve to say the Obama picked him as Veep because of his ties to black folks...um no. Barack had the black vote since the SC primary in 08. He didn't need ANY help with that. He picked Biden to shore up white working class voters and for his foreign policy chops. Not because he needed help with black voters. If he needed help with the black vote, Hillary would have won the nod in 08.

[StarfishSaver]

48. Thank you

[LongtimeAZDem]

109. Is Harris African-American or Indian-American? She was Indian-American when Biden swore her in

[StarfishSaver]

110. Why does she need to limit herself to one identity, given her mixed background

I'm a little tired of people of color being told to "pick one" as if people think an identity is some kind of a privilege that we shouldn't get greedy about.

[treestar]

115. How are others supposed to know all identities

another person has?

Obama is part Irish. You have to know their entire genealogy.

[StarfishSaver]

116. They know because people tell them

Last edited Fri Nov 22, 2019, 12:49 PM - Edit history (1)

Are you saying that Biden - or anyone else who has been paying any attention - doesn't know that Kamala Harris identifies as an African-American woman? Are you trying to suggest that, because she also identifies as an Indian-American, Biden was confused and didn't know she was the second African-American woman elected to the Senate and only learned it two nights ago in the debate when Kamala said, "The other one is here"?

C'mon, man ... just stop. Biden misspoke. It happens. But the attempts to explain it away and to blame everyone but him for his own mistake is ridiculous. You're not doing your guy any favors since anyone who needs that much explaining and defending doesn't come off looking so good.

Let it go.

[treestar]

118. I think Biden just forgot or referred only to the past

and was not thinking about Harris when he spoke. Harris is probably not in the forefront of his mind at all times. He was thinking about CMB - seems a "gotcha" to be wringing our hands about his forgetting about one of his many competitors.

[StarfishSaver]

119. That's probably true - it was a slip

And if he had just laughed and said "Did I say "only"? Whoops! I meant to say "First." Didn't mean to leave you out, Kamala!" it would have been over.

Instead, he testily insisted that he didn't say "only," but had said "first." And now his supporters are attacking everyone in sight, blaming everyone else for his slip, claiming either that everyone should have known what he meant or, even more ridiculously, that at the time she endorsed him, CMB was the only African-American female senator. And now - unbelievably - people are actually saying that Biden didn't know she was African-American because she's also identified as Indian - and some of them are making all of these contradictory arguments at the same time.

No one was wringing their hands or playing gotcha. Booker corrected him, Harris laughed. It's his supporters who are wringing their hands and carrying on over what was really not a big deal until they decided to turn it into one and are now, two days later, still fussing about how everyone is picking on poor Joe, who just can't seem to let it go.

[Tipperary]

122. My thought too.

All these threads defending Biden, while at the same time saying he needs no defense and is doing just fine. Rather confusing, that.

[evertonfc]

6. And

Biden will.still win with minority voters. If you don't get it by now- we know Joe. Ok. Gaffes and all. This debate changes nothing. Why? We want to beat Trump. Biden gas had 8 years as VP. We know him.

[Bayoustep]

15. Well...

Just because we know Joe, doesn't mean that he should automatically get our vote. We know he WROTE the 94 crime bill, we know how passionately he spoke in defense of it. Black voters are smarter than that

[Demsrule86]

25. The 94 crime bill included the violence against women act...and if you want to talk

about Crime and AA community,Corey Booker initiated broken window policing when he was mayor of Newark and hired one of Ghouiani's discredited police types. And this was not 30 years ago either. And when the crime bill passed, most Americans were on an anti-crime page including many in AA communities...also, this act applied to federal crimes and has nothing to do with locking up people on state charges. Biden and Obama worked to mitigate this so it is disingenuous to use this against Biden. Broken window policing has locked up millions in multiple states, given racist states a way to lock up Black men (can't vote then) and caused police shootings too. Has Booker ever apologized for his roll supporting broken window policing in Newark? It is my opinion that this is why he has not done better in the primary. I wouldn't vote for him nor would I vote for Bloomberg (Stop and Frisk) in a primary. And I do have some reservations about Harris's time as AG which has been discussed before.

[TidalWave46]

40. We know he was one of the main authors of the VAWA.

And how passionately he speaks out about it.

[emmaverybo]

81. The same bill also allocated for community policing, crime prevention programs, and drug deterrence

courts.

[TidalWave46]

107. Solid point.

We really need to educate all of these newcomers. It’s great that people like Sanders and others are getting them interested but they come to us only knowing what people like Cenk and Sirota have told them. That means they are coming to us with a very limited view of the big picture. We will keep working on them.

[StarfishSaver]

111. I wish people had been as forgiving of Hillary Clinton, who neither wrote nor voted for the Crime

Bill, but had her support for it used as a club against her by Democrats and then Republicans throughout 2015 and 2016

[OldRed2450]

75. I saw this and thought it applied here.

Link to tweet

[IndyOp]

7. +1

[jcgoldie]

10. It was obviously a gaffe

Whether that matters or not is debatable. But parsing that word does not explain away the rather ham handed mistake. If he was going for "had" as you try to maintain, then the implication would be that she was the only one when she made the endorsement as no other time period is referenced. That's obviously nonsensical.

[Demsrule86]

16. Everything is debatable...but that being said. It didn't hurt him...watched the coverage today...

first time they acknowledged Biden is the and always was the front runner...some said EW faded into the background...fact is Biden had a good night and did what he needed to. On the record, it was not a gaffe and those who continue to insist it was are wrong IMHO and do not help their candidate...fact is-it is very likely Biden will be the nominee so supporters of other candidates need to reign in the attacks on Biden...at this point it begins to help Republicans. And no I don't mean you.

[tonedevil]

63. What do you call it...

when Biden said that Carol Moseley Braun was the only African-American Woman elected to the US Senate and when it was pointed out that he was on stage with the second African-American Woman elected to the US Senate he insisted he had said the word first instead of only? That seems like a gaffe or misspeaking to me, but you may have some other name for it.

[emmaverybo]

82. I think he knows exactly who Senator Mosley Braun is and her role in history. What is more

Last edited Thu Nov 21, 2019, 11:37 PM - Edit history (1)

important than his gaffe, which was corrected, is that she is endorsing Biden. I am going to trust her judgement more than that of many who are salivating over Biden’s slip of the tongue.

[Funtatlaguy]

11. Joe is way too worried about the time constraints

in the debates.
Therefore, he speaks more rapidly than he normally does.
This causes him to fumble words, get tongue tied, and misspeak.
He needs to just slow down and not worry about the moderators stopping him.

[Demsrule86]

17. He has a stammer...both my brother and my son have one...neither was captain of the debate

team...and who really cares. I doubt many watched last night. But if they did saw a presidential Joe Biden who did just fine despite the nitpicking.

[Funtatlaguy]

21. I know about his stutter. It's not that.

In normal conversation, watch him.
He is more relaxed and makes much fewer stumbles or mistakes.
When he gets nervous and hurried, he makes more.

[Demsrule86]

28. Stress affects stammers...and if you know you have one, it can be very stressful indeed.

My son took enormous effort to get through his mandatory public speaking classes...but Biden can speak very well in a relaxed setting...I saw him numerous times during both the 08 and 12 campaigns...he was terrific and in my opinion saved Pres. Obama's bacon in the Mid West in 12 and also 08 after the Rev. Wright thing...I saw the polls and was truly concerned we could lose this one particularly in 12...I worked both campaigns...and Let me say Bill Clinton was wonderful too..he called himself the explainer in chief...said Obama was too modest to enumerate his accomplishments so he Bill Clinton was here to do it.

I saw both of them together in Youngstown when Sandy hit and Obama had to cancel...and they were both wonderful. Biden visited union halls too on behalf of president Obama both in 08 and 12.My son said he was a hell of a guy....he was invaluable in both elections. I have seen how Biden runs in Ohio and also Wisconsin...and I believe he will win the nomination and the presidency...despite the stammer. He will be a wonderful president and can begin cleaning up Trump shit on day one.

Also, my daughter suffers from depression...doing quite well now. But in 12, she was subject to panic attacks in crowds. I was working the Youngstown venue...which had people kind of caged in a certain area;I would not have brought her had I known...my daughter had a melt down. The secret service was about to toss her out when Biden intervened and had her escorted to the VP section where she watched the rally without further incident. Afterwards, he made a point to speak to her and tell her she was doing great and this too would pass. He then took a picture with her. He is a hell of a guy and nothing anyone says about him will change my opinion. He was one of the kindest people I have ever met. And I had met him before at various rallies and venues...been on phone calls too...but that day, I saw who he was...a great human being and now soon to be a great president.

[emmaverybo]

83. Thank you for sharing this personal story. Your daughter was a real trooper to make a recovery

in that situation. Panic attacks are so frightening and as with stuttering can be caused by being
in or addressing crowds and snowball because of the fear of having one and being seen to have one, or, with stuttering, being seen and heard doing it.

[Demsrule86]

127. She is now an accountant and has made remarkable progress...has a hipster boyfriend is about

to move to trendy Tremont area of Cleveland with him. He is a nice guy...didn't like the last one. I hope this one sticks. She is a Biden supporter by the way and has convinced said boyfriend to vote for Biden. She has said the words that Biden said to her still stick with her and made a difference in her life. I just love Joe Biden and that is one of the more important reasons...And for those who are curious about if he hugged her...no, she hugged him and this is a girl who never did that. I am touchy feely-this girl not so much. I must have messed up my post though...Cathy does not have a stutter but suffered from anxiety, at the time. We had moved three times in two years...with plant closings (auto) and it was really difficult for my older kids. My son has the stammer...rarely now. He had great speech therapy. But in moments of stress it comes back.

[emmaverybo]

129. Yes, I knew. Was comparing panic attacks and stammer as to stressors and the snowball/ anticipation

effect, but understood your daughter had anxiety in crowds and your son a stammer.

It is so nice to get a story directly about Joe as to how his empathy has affected some. But kudos to daughter for responding so well. And good she brought another voter on board.

I looked, among many other places, at Cleveland, to move to.

Isn’t it great when we get our kids through childhood and they find love and get a start on good lives?

I just love Joe too, and his ability to reach out to people with empathy is a major plus to me. No matter ho2 competitive a situation, and he is well able, he never derides, belittles, shames his opponent. I bristle at those who do. He sometimes bears the brunt of others’ blatant disrespect in pursuit of a score, but he maintains his dignity.

[Demsrule86]

131. I agree with every word you say. And Cleveland is nice. We have a theater

Which will surpass New York this year. Many museums are endowed and are free...lots of stuff to do. I live in Bedford just outside of Cleveland. They turn main street into `Bedford Falls straight out of It is wonderful life every year.

We bought a fixer and I am beginning to be fond of the old place. I miss my kitchen in the house we left though. My new house has a fake wall in the kitchen...a small hidden room; you can see the molding. The electrician found it while putting in a wall plug. I am dying to knock it down, but hubs made me swear to wait until after Christmas. I am hoping for treasure of course. But hubs is worried. He can't think of a good reason to wall up a room...and doesnt support the treasure theory. Always something interesting going on! We shall see.

[brooklynite]

29. I've been to a private lunch and dinner with him...

He doesn't stutter in personal settings. The problem seems to be in public forums, esp. debates with time pressures.

[Demsrule86]

31. Putting a person who stammers on the clock is very stressful...in my son's classes it was

very stressful for him...we spent hours working on his speeches and such...he had been released from treatment but under these setting it came roaring back. I though Biden did a great job controlling it.

[The Mouth]

123. I've been involved in Toastmasters for many years

And know of what you speak. I've seen dozens of people stammer in a formal, timed speech who don't, or barely do in a relaxed setting. It's not an easy thing to overcome, even with a lot- and I mean a *LOT* of work it can manifest at the worst possible time. Debates are vastly more stressful than even the most formal (timed, evaluated and prescribed) speech.

At this point, Joe just has to rely on his message and his ground game. Since he'll probably win the primary, prepping for a bully like Trump is going to be crucial.

[Demsrule86]

124. He is better one and one...and did fine in the VP debates...His town hall was great...I have come

to like Yang by the way...folks say Buttigeige will have a bright future in this party and I hope so ...but I think Yang does also... and that is my prediction...Smart and talented...and has innovative ideas.

[The Mouth]

125. Joe is, for both better and worse, a politician

from the days when that was not a derogatory description.

The best part about him is also his biggest vulnerability- we ALL know him. There are no surprises. Sure he's changed some of his views and priorities in 40 years, only an idiot wouldn't. I love Yang and Buttigeig; I damned well know neither of them has a chance, except *maybe* as VP, but I'm supporting them because this is the exposure and experience they need going forward. Yang would be brilliant in the cabinet, Pete would be the perfect Anti-Pence.

Joe is from the time before the sound byte, from before the Republican party utterly went off the rails, from the time where there simply wasn't the scrutiny and pressure of today's environment; not that he can't handle it or the Presidency; 40 years ago a stammer or the occasional gaffe just simply didn't matter as much, and in a way it was much better that way. Nowadays, it seems, there is no such think as "context" any more, any single sentence, any handshake or hug, any vote from 25 years ago can be isolated and presented across all media. Some of us can accept that, some people get hung up on such trivialities and miss the message

[Demsrule86]

128. That is very true...and you have great insight into the times we live in...where the gotcha

moment is more powerful than the truth...where if you repeat a lie enough time, it becomes a truth to some...My Grandma told me that is is a curse to live in 'interesting times'...not sure she wasn't right.

[SidDithers]

12. Why then, when called on it, did he claim he said "first"?...nt

Sid

[femmedem]

13. Because that was the meaning of what he actually said. n/t

[Celerity]

61. that may be the case, but he literally said he DIDN'T say 'only', when he DID say it, so regardless

of what his intent was, he doubled down and claimed something that simply did not happen

[Demsrule86]

20. Everyone knows what he meant...so hopefully you candidate won't attempt to capitalize on it...

won't work, and if she does no VP for her.

[R B Garr]

45. I had to listen hard to all of them because they were heckling him.

He obviously was talking about the FIRST black female senator who was in office when he served. Harris did not take office until after Biden left office when Obama's term expired.

Obama/Biden 2008 to 2016
Harris in office 2016

[BeyondGeography]

14. Stop grading him on a curve

Booker and Harris both heard what was said. If they “misheard” maybe it was because he misspoke.

[Demsrule86]

23. Or maybe they heard what they wanted to hear. No one other Lawrence O'Donnell has made anything of

it...so it won' help Warren. I don't believe last night was her night either...bottom line Joe did what he had to do...and the need didn't move and won't. I have always thought debates especially with this many candidates are pretty worthless in the primary. Joe as commentators finally admitted this morning...is and always was the front runner.

[brooklynite]

30. Not true...

Washington Post

Losers

Joe Biden: His shaky debate performances haven’t really cost him thus far, but that doesn’t change the fact that they are almost unfailingly shaky. He even stumbled through his first answer, which was basically a recitation of his usual talking points about why he would be the best Democratic nominee. Later, after Klobuchar’s Buttigieg answer, he assured awkwardly, “I think a woman is qualified to be president.” At another point, while talking about violence against women, he said we need to “keep punching at it and punching at it and punching.” Eek. Late in the debate, he played up his African American support, saying he was backed by the “only African American woman that had ever been elected to the United States Senate”: Carol Moseley-Braun (D-Ill.). Except he was standing a few people down from another one, Harris (which she and Booker were happy to point out). Biden insisted that he had said the “first” black female senator, but he was wrong.

CNN

Losers

Joe Biden: The former vice president's opening answer was shaaaaaky. And it was made all the worse given that the question was an absolute softball: How did he feel about being attacked by Trump? In the middle hour of the debate, Biden found his footing; his answer on why he wanted to be president and why he was singularly ready to do the job was his best answer of the entire debate season. But then things turned. New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker scored with a hit on Biden's equivocation on the legalization of marijuana. ("I thought you might have been high when you said it," Booker joked, to roars of laughter from the crowd.) And Biden committed something he is known for: An unforced error. In talking about domestic violence, he said that people have to just keep "punching" at the problem. I know what he meant. But that was definitely a poor choice of words. And then another: He said he had the support of the only black woman elected to the Senate. Except that he forgot that Harris was on the stage. "Proud to be the second Black woman elected to the U.S. Senate. #DemDebate," tweeted Harris shortly after. (Biden appeared to be referring to former Illinois Sen. Carol Moseley Braun, the first black woman elected to the Senate -- though not the only one. Moseley Braun is a strong Biden supporter.)

New York Times

Hour one: He was fine. Hour two: He seemingly lost the ability to speak and forgot that there have been two black women elected to the Senate, including one of his competitors. It was weird! And if the past is any indication, it will have no effect on his numbers or standing.

...snip...

Struggled to remember a two-item list, switched tracks mid-sentence and wrecked a strong point about his black support by forgetting how many African-American women have served in the Senate. Flashes of strength but a lot of liability.

[Demsrule86]

35. Shocking...the New York times find Biden wanting...OK then. I will ignore it just as I

have ignored their multiple articles doing the same thing...cancelled my subscription over their treatment of Biden. Biden had the best closing statement and it will be remembered long after the so called 'gaffe' will be forgotten for the petty politics it is.

[brooklynite]

36. It must be soothing to only read media that agrees with you.....

[Demsrule86]

39. I actually read right wing media...shocking I know..but what I won't read is slanted articles from

a supposedly great paper...sorry I expect better from the New York Times. I know you are pushing hard for your candidate but slamming Biden in multiple posts is not the way to do it. Your candidate does not have enough AA support and should not be our candidate...although it is a historic run. And should he win the primary, I will of course vote for him.

[brooklynite]

41. Ah, yes. "Slamming"..."bashing"..."hit jobs"

I post topical and newsworthy articles about all candidates, and in this case I was challenging the notion that only Lawrence O'Donnell had commented on Biden's gaffe.

As for "pushing hard for my candidate", I've been clear that I don't become emotionally involved (pro or con) with politicians, and that Buttigieg is my current choice but I'm always open to a better choice.

[Demsrule86]

43. I think you are emotionally involved...as the anti-Biden post have been many...and the

illegitimate child for Hunter is probably the worst...and has nothing to do with Biden personally. I will however take your word for it. I have no doubt that those who support a different candidate will also attack Biden now...but in the moments after the debate before the spin for whoever they support began, they said Biden did well...and any poll or pundit who says Klobachar got an A- deserves to be ignored. She was shaky during the entire debate. Biden will most likely be our nominee. He has been and continues to be the front runner. I have a real problem with attacking a front runner if you are in the media and support someone else.

[brooklynite]

51. You're welcome to believe what you want about me...

I've been clear in other posts that I endorse squeezing all emotions about decisions on which candidates to support, and that I'll drop prior support whenever it's no longer worthwhile.

More importantly, I've been clear of my opinion that what gets discussed at DU has no bearing on politics in the real world, no there would be no motive to attempt to steer opinions by posting srticles here.

[Demsrule86]

57. I already said, I will take you at your word.

[Bradshaw3]

79. You really should not accuse others of an emotional bias

Your posts demonstrate that more than anything else.

[Bradshaw3]

77. That AA voter "point" is just wrong

Hillary had as much as a 50 point lead over Bernie in the primary among AA voters, yet during the GE she got between 6 and 7 percent less AA voters than Obama did in 2012. So your "point" that how candidates fare among that group in the primaries determines how they will do in the GE is completely bogus. Not that it will stop being used I'm sure.

[redstateblues]

38. Media wants a horse race. Their efforts to knock Joe down

Have been largely unsuccessful but they will keep trying. I could not care less about the media’s critiques.

[The Valley Below]

42. CNN is tone deaf.

Booker hurt himself with that cheap shot. Biden was unscathed.

[R B Garr]

46. Wrong, it was actually Harris' mistake, a mistake to make it about herself to perpetuate

the Biden narratives she seems to push.

Biden didn't misspeak about the first black female senator.

[tonedevil]

64. But he said she was the only black female senator.

Meaning to say one word and saying a different one is misspeaking.

[R B Garr]

67. She wasn't a Senator. So he wasn't excluding her.

She wasn’t a Senator.

[tonedevil]

68. Are you trying to parse this...

as Biden was talking about Carol Moseley Braun being the only African-American Woman elected to the US Senate when he was Vice President? Why then would Biden say that he had said Carol Moseley Braun was the first African-American Woman elected to the US Senate when challenged about saying only? If he was trying to say she was the only one back-in-the-day why didn't he say that in the debate? He meant to say one word, "first", but said a different one, "only" that is misspeaking.

[R B Garr]

69. LOL, this is trying way too hard now to create

something out of nothing. I realize there is a huge need for gaffe kerfuffles, but this is really contrived now.

[tonedevil]

72. So you have nothing...

you have come up with an absurd explanation that is disproved by Biden's own explanation of what he meant. He distinctly said Moseley Braun was the only African-American Woman elected to the US Senate and then when confronted he said that he had said first. If there is reaching to explain what he said it is not being done by me.

[R B Garr]

73. You have nothing. He was talking about how people know him,

Kamala wasn’t a Senator until 2016. Braun was 20 years ago.

[tonedevil]

74. He was talking about being endorsed...

by Carol Moseley Braun when he referred to her as the only African-American Woman ever elected to the US Senate. As it turned out the second African-American Woman to be elected to the US Senate was on stage with him that very evening. I'm only going by the words he said.

[R B Garr]

91. You are embellishing what he said. That's how these

phony gaffe kerfuffles go. Kamala had nothing to do with what he was saying. Nothing. She was not a Senator then and she obviously would not endorse him now because they are direct competitors in the same damm primary race, lol. This is really petty.

[tonedevil]

93. No one thinks Biden was saying...

Harris would have been the Senator he was talking about who endorsed. Biden's misspeaking was to say that Carol Moseley Braun was the only African-American Woman elected to the Senate, but that isn't true anymore because Harris was elected to the Senate.

[R B Garr]

94. CMB was 20 years ago. Kamala wasn't a Senator then.

Obviously Kamala wouldn’t be endorsing him since they are direct competitors.

Carol Moseley Braun was 20 years ago. Biden is allowed to talk about his history just like any other candidate. I see some of you here are trying to limit the time frame he’s allowed to talk about, like there is a huge phony outrage if he speaks of his past and his current support as he describes the support from black voters. His Obama years aren’t going away either.

This seems like a waste of time now. Enough.

[tonedevil]

95. Who has suggested that...

Harris might endorse him and why do you keep bringing that up? For the record I know that Harris would not be endorsing Biden you can stop mentioning it.
There is no effort to restrict time frames as I understand it Moseley Braun has endorsed Biden currently in his bid to be the Democratic Presidential candidate which he is rightly proud of.The problem comes when Biden referred to Moseley Braun as the only African-American Woman elected to the US Senate, but Harris was right there and she is the second African-American Woman elected to the US Senate.

[R B Garr]

97. He was talking about support, and he was right. Kamala is

not supporting him. She is supporting herself. So it is you who can quit with the restrictions of the support he can talk about. She doesn’t support him, so she is not part of his discussion of the past. CMB was 20 years ago. Kamala was not a Senator until 2016.

[tonedevil]

98. He said that...

Moseley Braun was the ONLY African-American Woman elected to the US Senate. That is why Booker and Harris objected. You may or may not understand this, but Harris was elected to the US Senate and she is an African-American Woman.

[R B Garr]

99. You should read the OP.

Then read it again, thanks.

[tonedevil]

100. I read it and it doesn't...

scan with what I can see and hear in the video. I'm going by Biden's own words if you can show me where I am not point it out.

[R B Garr]

101. It has been pointed out. Sorry for your hearing

troubles.

[StarfishSaver]

84. In the same sentence, he also said three former CBC chairs endorsed him

No CBC chairs endorsed him in the past.

The argument that he was talking about the past before Harris was elected when CMB was the only black female senator is just stupid.

[tonedevil]

88. Stupid seems charitable,

but let's go with that.

[R B Garr]

96. What is stupid is to ignore the obvious, such as the

notion that Kamala would be endorsing Biden since she is his direct competitor and is obviously endorsing herself. Kamala wouldn’t be endorsing him, so she is not a part of his discussion of black support. Since you are restricting what he can talk about, then it’s stupid to imply that Kamala would be endorsing him. LOL.

He was talking about where his support comes from, so of course he wouldn’t be talking about only the present, although you seem invested in restricting what time frames of support he can discuss, obviously to downplay his Obama years.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

106. Ziiiiinnng!!

Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[FailureToCommunicate]

18. The gaffe didn't bother me but Kamila's incredulous laugh was too long.

[R B Garr]

47. Bingo, that was so annoying. She jumped on that to laugh at him and heckle, but it was

actually her mistake. I had to strain to hear it all myself because of her annoying laughter which made it hard to hear.

[StarfishSaver]

49. Her laugh is annoying

Where have I heard that before?

[R B Garr]

53. It was hard to hear Biden talking because of her laughing and heckling him.

How did it work for her the last time she attacked Obama's VP?? She got a temporary bounce in the polls and has since dropped.

[StarfishSaver]

54. That was the audience laughter that made it hard to hear him

The fact that you are so worked up over this shows you think he looked bad. Otherwise, you'd just let it go.

As Andrew Gillum's grandmother said, "A stuck dog hollers."

[R B Garr]

55. You are the one who seems "worked up". Biden has strong black support,

and Harris does not pull the same numbers in the polls. "A stuck dog hollers" indeed.

[treestar]

117. Long past time for Harris to realize

she is not going to get Biden's AA support. That she thinks this is the way to do it insults black voters who are supporting Biden.

[emmaverybo]

85. She has a strong speaking presence. She needs to get rid of the laugh as it is derisive at times

and at others forced. Not the most genuine of her communication habits.

[bucolic_frolic]

22. Easier to say "first"

and really this is being blown all out of proportion

[33taw]

26. In the full scheme of things, this is petty.

He did not say “first”, but I understood him. There is a reason Putin doesn’t want him. I suspect the same reason he didn’t want Clinton. He has always seemed like a fair and kind man. I think he would do anything to help this country and all of the citizens.

[lostnfound]

27. If Biden could try to recognize and be gracious to others on stage, he'd be stronger

How effective it would be if his answers could be seen as building up the others on stage, like the elder statesman that he is

Good for the party and I personally think good for him

Start answers with a quick compliment about another candidate. When he thinks “Carol Moseley Braun liked me”, he should say “Senator Harris has been a great addition to the Senate... I was proud to be supported the first African American woman in the Senate...”

a little debate prep with a handful of pithy positives... ”Our Rhodes scholars here, Pete and Cory, had the benefit of top notch education...” “The Senate didn’t have so many women when I started, glad America hasn’t missed out on the talent that Senators Klobuchar, Warren, and Harris have brought to that institution” Be the big unifier that he would try to be as President and leader, right? He can tie it together by closing with “I’m so proud and happy to see the strong democrats sharing the stage with me. I would draw on their talents as President. But i believe that my experience equips me better. I know firsthand how a well-run executive branch is built. (Etc., etc.)”

He doesn't need to introduce himself to the public, we know him. He needs to overcome perceptions of being out of touch, or a little guilty of stereotyping and white privilege. He’s naturally warm and caring, being generous with compliments will reinforce his stature, warm up the debate, strengthen the democrats as a whole and send a subtle message that the Democratic Party is the party of teamwork.

[Demsrule86]

32. Nonsense...he is Biden. He will be who he is period. He has always run from the heart and is not

a calculated politician. I like that. As for being gracious...I didn't see many other candidates doing this...and the bottom line is you won't support Biden in a primary just like I won't support Warren in a primary...and that is OK. In the end, we will vote blue no matter who.

[Peacetrain]

33. That was well said!!!

In the end, we are all an army of blue. Like the imagery..

[Demsrule86]

34. Thank you Peacetrain!

[lostnfound]

60. I genuinely think it would benefit him. Remind people why they love him

He is kindhearted and genuine. Play up a strength.

You’d be surprised - I’m not against Biden. I actually really would like a third “Obama / Biden “ term.

[emmaverybo]

86. I agree. As well, Biden has mentored and championed so many candidates, even ones on that stage,

that there is no reason for him to act like some host or ambassador.

They have shown themselves well able, even to the point of their getting childish and churlish, to punch up at him. If I were Biden, I’d have landed some real punches at them some time ago.

I see a lot of know it all-ness, arrogance, and ungraciousness on the stage with him. He is just about th3 only gentle person up there, at least among the more cocky group and you all and they all know who they are. Healers in chief they will never be.

[lostnfound]

108. The fact that Biden has mentored and championed them all 👍 So let America see that.

I like Biden. Even though Warren or Klobuchar might be my first choices, I’d rather see Joe than Bernie.

The things I love about Joe are the fact that he knows up close and personal what a well run White House looks like, and the fact that he mentors and is kind.

My friendly comment is simply that he can afford to appear magnanimous on the debate stage, because that is going to remind viewers what they love about him.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

105. These are excellent suggestions... which tells me they will be rejected out of hand.

And that only reinforces why I think Joe will not be our party's nominee.


Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[George II]

37. You do realize that Biden has had a speech impediment all his life, don't you?

[jberryhill]

78. And asthma

It was the asthma that kept him out of the draft after working as a life guard.

[emmaverybo]

87. Actually, and I mean this as no insult, I wondered if Warren had it or used to smoke. Her voice is

strong, but she takes audible gasps between, not words, but parts where one might normally take a breath. I have done a great deal of public speaking and do that too. Mild breathing problem. She
looks very healthy, however, so if she ever smoked Inam sure it was fr a short time only.

[R B Garr]

44. EXACTLY. It was Harris' mistake. In her eagerness to paint him as an out-of-touch old guy,

she clearly made an error. There is no possible way he could have been referencing her since she took office AFTER he left service when Obama's term expired. It's absurd she made herself the focus there.

Obama/Biden 2008 to 2016
Harris took office 2016

No overlap. There is no way he was referencing HER time in office.

[StarfishSaver]

50. Biden misspeaks, doubles down on the error, and it's all Harris' fault

LOL.

[R B Garr]

52. Your scenarios only work if you completely erase Obama and pretend

Biden is imagining he served as the first black President's VP.

LOL

[StevieM]

70. Obama/Biden were in office from 2009 to 2017.

They were elected in 2008.

Harris was elected in 2016 and took office in 2017.

[R B Garr]

71. Harris became a Senator when Biden was leaving

office as Obama’s VP.

[StevieM]

80. That is correct.

Kamala Harris was sworn into the Senate on January 3, 2017. Biden was VP until January 20, 2017.

[Jewls2]

58. He did not say , ... The first. He came back to say, the first. He did not say it.

What he said was not clear and Harris was absolutely correct in pointing herself out.

It was a gaffe.

But, I guess we have a word for that. Bidenism. Lol.

[OldRed2450]

76. Maybe he was thinking this...

Link to tweet

[tonedevil]

62. If VP Biden had used that...

it would be a reasonable if awkward explanation. He did not though, when it was pointed out that Carol Moseley Braun was not the only African-American Woman elected to the US Senate his response was that he had said first. I think that Biden knows what he meant to say better than you do what he didn't seem to know was what he had just said.

[emmaverybo]

89. More litany of gloating and pseudo-outraged attacks here. Thanks for the post though. Biden envy

is a horrible thing as is the growing progressive resentment against liberals. Admittedly, can cut both ways.

[tonedevil]

90. OK /nt

[R B Garr]

92. Totally right. Thank you. And a lot of embellishments into what

Biden was talking about. He was being interrupted and heckled and ridiculed and obviously paused to figure out what the phony outrage was about.

[KPN]

102. I don't know. If it wasn't a gaffe, what was it?

Gaffe - 1) a social or diplomatic blunder; 2) a noticeable mistake (Merriam-Webster Dictionary).

[StarfishSaver]

112. Apparently it wasn't a gaffe or a mistake. It was a perfect, accurate comment and anyone saying

it wasn't is wrong. In fact, everyone ELSE made a gaffe, not him.

[KPN]

120. Umm ... hmmmm. Lack of the ability to be clear on his part is everyone else's problem. It was a

"perfect" statement -- right.

[mvd]

103. Well, I don't want him to be the nominee..

but I would take his gaffes a gazillion times more than the Moron’s insanity. People might even see it as adding a certain genuine feel to Biden.

[emmaverybo]

104. There are two prominent themes in Biden attacks--attempts to depict him as a racist and attempts

to smear him as a sexist. As with any “swift-boating,” criticism is meant to take a strength and
undermine its validity, thus showing that not only is the attack subject the opposite of who s/he proclaims her or himself to be, that for which S/he has been widely known, but a loathsome hypocrite hiding her or his true nature from the duped public.

Biden, though not perfectly, but pretty consistently, has championed civil rights for women, for
AA communities, worked on issues relevant to these rights and formed relationships with
movement leaders.

What better way to undermine his candidacy than by exposing him as a fraud so as to demolish his character? The attempt started before he even announced. It comes from within. It demands defense, but the defense will only trigger more of same. How one tries to protest will be called into question. One will be asked again and again to apologize. The apology will prove the case or prove inadequate.

Rinse and repeat.

I call total bs on this latest example of swiftboating. I won’t defend against bs. I hope Biden doesn’t bother to either.

[treestar]

113. You had to know they were going to find something

to create a buzz where there was none.

"had ever been" indeed.

[tblue37]

126. K&R. nt

[Meub]

130. It's not clear rust he said "had ever"

Looking at the YouTube clip, it's not clear.