If Obama selects Joe Biden as VP; how will the change/non-Washington message play out?

[TeamJordan23]

It seems that Joe Biden may be high on Obama's VP list for obvious reasons (foreign policy, Catholic, straight-talker, etc). I am a fan of Biden, but if Obama selects him, will he have to continuously argue that he is still for change and non-Washington type of politics when he picks someone who is embodied with Washington politics for decades now?

Any ideas on how Obama will or should counter that criticism?

[NNadir]

1. I certainly hope that this is NOT his choice.

[napi21]

2. I know there are a lot of DUers who will disagree with me, but

Biden is more of a Maverick than McNut! I know he went along with the CC bill and a lot of people are pissed at him for that, but it wasn't a totally bad bill, and I suspect Joe not only voted for it because he's from Del. (that is where almost all cc's are headquartered) but like a lot of Dems do...they vote for flawed bills when a lot of what they agreed with are in them, and look to improve them in the future.

I admit, I am biased though. I was a strong Biden supporter in this primary, and I'd love to see him on the ticket.

[tokenlib]

13. How can Obama attack both Hillary and McCain on bankruptcy reform and pick Biden???

That would be one hell of a double standard to explain away... The benefits of picking Biden are minimal in light of having to explain that contradiction....

[Hippo_Tron]

3. IMO ticket "balancing" is outdated

It was useful back in the days of machine politics and south vs north competition when the nominee needed an insider or geographic diversity to win.

Clinton was the first to defy this conventional wisdom by picking Gore and that turned out to be a very strong ticket. Obama should do the same.

[Kahuna]

4. If not for Biden's own IWR vote I could have gleefully supported him. I think..

he would be a great asset to Obama as VP.

[Hatchling]

5. I think he can win the argument.

There are few viable choices he has that don't have some Washington background. He just has to insist that he is pulling the Washington insider into his new politics. Whomever he chooses will talk about how excited they are to get on the "change" bandwagon and looking forward to helping Obama change Washington.

[loyalsister]

6. Not only that how will he court the feminists?

Biden voted to override Bill Clinton's veto of the PBA bill.

[dansolo]

8. And the whole Clarence Thomas debacle

Wasn't Biden one of the guys who attacked Anita Hill during the Clarence Thomas hearings?

[loyalsister]

19. He didn't attack

and he voted against confirmation. But, his questioning was imbalanced enough for SNL to spoof him.
She was asked for details and Thomas was asked very general questions. Even asked if he felt he had been discriminated against.
Biden was chair of the Judiciary committee. It was his game and it was not pretty.

I think there are candidates who are more friendly with feminists.

[Think82]

20. Biden authored the Viloence Against Women Act

[Douglas Carpenter]

7. the experience and foreign policy background would be seen as a plus, but geography

would tend to work against Sen. Biden as a potential nominee.

It would seem unlikely that Sen. Obama would select a Northeasterner from a small urban safe-Democratic state.

[dorkulon]

9. I think it helps with people who fear "too much change."

Obama's got the change vote locked--what's holding back some voters is a fear of inexperience or naivete regarding foreign policy (I'm not one of them). Biden would go a long way to alleviating those doubts.

[saltpoint]

10. The gain in having an international affairs adept as a vice president

might outweigh the campaign issue you mention.

You have an entirely legitimate point but I'm just wondering if Biden's expertise would eclipse some voters' concerns.

Peace became completely out of reach under Bush/Cheney. But Obama/Biden -- if that is how it turns out to be in Denver -- would put peace back within reach. Biden would serve the goals set in place by Obama, and I think he would do it ably and loyally.

[4themind]

11. I guess it depends how far they want to take it

Obama wants to bring a different approach to the tone, tenor, and efficiency of washington.I think the question is really whether the person he selects is believable in advocating the type of change that obama wants, not so much how long they've been in washington(which is not to say you were implying that, just a general point) Obama himself is from washington, but its his behavior and approach to problem solving is what he's using to pitch himself now, and I think the big question is whether biden takes a similar approach. Personally Joe Biden isn't the first person (or even the second or third) that comes to mind when I think of partisan rancor and corruption(although he's had some gaffe's) and I have a hunch that he'll be ok, but we'll see.

[Peacetrain]

12. Change does not mean you go from yellow to blue.. change is

taking us green and moving from there..Biden would be a perfect pick for a change candidate.. change as Senator Obama has been putting forward, it a change from knee jerk reactions to thinking before you move..

[Thrill]

14. He won't pick someone like Biden. Look for someone who hasn't been in Washington much

Probably Kaine or Clark

[rucky]

15. What he'd do is contrast McCain's "maverick" image to a real independent thinker.

IMHO

But I don't think he'll be on the ticket.

[dailykoff]

17. (Resonding to you below)

[dailykoff]

16. Biden has always cultivated a kind of maverick image himself.

I don't know how well the electorate knows him already so I don't think he'd have any trouble playing the seasoned change agent to Obama's fresh prince. Interesting match.

[Think82]

18. Biden commutes everyday to Delaware on the train. He has never lived in DC Plus...

He has a history of creating change in DC, working in a bi-partisan manner, and of being ahead of the curve on major issues (eg. Bosnia, the Biden Crime Bill, the Biden Violence Against Women Act, and Iraq Federalization). He is a perfect choice, as he essentially embodies Barack's governing philosophy but has more experience doing it.

I think it is extremely superficial to immediately dismiss someone because they have experience or have been in politics a long time. You can have a lot of experience and make good decisions, or bad ones. You can also make good decisions as an outsider or very ill-informed bad ones. It depends on the individual.

One other note... I would also hesitate to dismiss someone because of a particular vote, without listening to their justifications for that vote and their statements regarding that particualr vote, rather than focusing ONLY on the "yea" or "nay."

[Debi]

21. Biden has never 'gone Washington'

and would be a great choice for Obama. They both have respect and affection for each other. What a great ticket!

[TheKentuckian]

22. I believe Biden would be a solid choice.

He doesn't do anything for you geographically but he's a nice fit for the 50 state strategy because he lends true heavy hitter experience both foreign and domestic, he's a familiar face but isn't especially tied to anything particularly other than the democratic party, and he is seen as a straight shooter.

[SoxFan]

23. Biden has never lived in Washington

Since 1973, Joe Biden has commuted to work from Wilmington.

Biden's first wife and infant daughter were killed in a horrific car wreck a few weeks after the 1972 elections. His two sons were badly injured. Biden commuted back and forth from Delaware so he could take an active role in their recovery. Even after they recovered, he kept up the practice, not wanting to become ensnared in the weird Beltway mindset.

Biden has never owned a home in the DC area. When he has had to stay late, he would crash with his brother or with another senator.